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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32292-8.txt b/32292-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0db8e20 --- /dev/null +++ b/32292-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11233 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15) + The Romance of Reality + +Author: Charles Morris + +Release Date: May 8, 2010 [EBook #32292] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL 14 (OF 15) *** + + + + +Produced by Christine Aldridge and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. + +2. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected. + +3. A complete list of spelling corrections and notations is located at + the end of this text. + + + + + _Édition d'Élite_ + + + Historical Tales + + The Romance of Reality + + By + + CHARLES MORRIS + + + _Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," "Tales + from the Dramatists," etc._ + + + IN FIFTEEN VOLUMES + + Volume XIV + + + King Arthur + + 2 + + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + + PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON + + + Copyright, 1891, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + Copyright, 1904, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + Copyright, 1908, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + +[Illustration: CONWAY CASTLE.] + + + + + CONTENTS TO VOLUME II. + + + BOOK VIII. + + TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE AT JOYOUS GARD. + + CHAPTER. PAGE. + + I.--THE TREACHERY OF KING MARK 9 + + II.--HOW TRISTRAM BEFOOLED DINADAN 23 + + III.--ON THE ROAD TO LONAZEP 36 + + IV.--HOW PALAMIDES FARED AT THE RED CITY 46 + + V.--THE TOURNAMENT AT LONAZEP 55 + + VI.--THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT 70 + + VII.--THE WOES OF TWO LOVERS 83 + + VIII.--THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES 92 + + + BOOK IX. + + THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL. + + I.--THE ENCHANTED CASTLE OF KING PELLAM 117 + + II.--THE MARVEL OF THE FLOATING SWORD 125 + + III.--HOW GALAHAD GOT HIS SHIELD 141 + + IV.--THE TEMPTATION OF SIR PERCIVALE 155 + + V.--THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS 173 + + VI.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAGIC SHIP 195 + + VII.--HOW LANCELOT SAW THE SANGREAL 207 + + VIII.--THE DEEDS OF THE THREE CHOSEN KNIGHTS 217 + + + BOOK X. + + THE LOVE OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER. + + I.--THE POISONING OF SIR PATRISE 226 + + II.--THE LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT 239 + + III.--HOW ELAINE DIED FOR LOVE 251 + + IV.--THE CHEVALIER OF THE CART 260 + + + BOOK XI. + + THE HAND OF DESTINY. + + I.--THE TRAPPING OF THE LION 280 + + II.--THE RESCUE OF THE QUEEN 288 + + III.--THE RETURN OF GUENEVER 297 + + IV.--THE WAR BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LANCELOT 314 + + V.--THE STING OF THE VIPER 323 + + VI.--THE PASSING OF ARTHUR 335 + + VII.--THE DEATH OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER 339 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + KING ARTHUR. VOL. II. + + PAGE + + CONWAY CASTLE _Frontispiece._ + + ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL 10 + + THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR 16 + + MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM 24 + + THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM 42 + + SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD 55 + + THE DEPARTURE 93 + + ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL 118 + + JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA 134 + + OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD 144 + + SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS 153 + + AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL 183 + + THE MAGIC SHIP 198 + + SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL 217 + + SALISBURY CATHEDRAL 225 + + "YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH," SAID SIR BERNARD 241 + + ELAINE 259 + + SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER 287 + + THE TOWER OF LONDON 324 + + THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY 345 + + * * * * * + + + + + KING ARTHUR + + AND THE + + KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. + + + + + BOOK VIII. + + TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE AT JOYOUS GARD + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TREACHERY OF KING MARK. + + +The story of Tristram's valorous deeds, and of the high honor in which +he was held at Camelot, in good time came to Cornwall, where it filled +King Mark's soul with revengeful fury, and stirred the heart of La Belle +Isolde to the warmest love. The coward king, indeed, in his jealous +hatred of his nephew, set out in disguise for England, with murderous +designs against Tristram should an opportunity occur. + +Many things happened to him there, and he was brought into deep +disgrace, but the story of his adventures may be passed over in brief +review, lest the reader should find it wearisome. + +Not far had he ridden on English soil before he met with Dinadan, who, +in his jesting humor, soon played him a merry trick. For he arrayed +Dagonet, the king's fool, in a suit of armor, which he made Mark believe +was Lancelot's. Thus prepared, Dagonet rode to meet him and challenged +him to a joust. But King Mark, on seeing what he fancied was Lancelot's +shield, turned and fled at headlong speed, followed by the fool and his +comrades with hunting cries and laughter till the forest rang with the +noise. + +Escaping at length from this merry chase, the trembling dastard made his +way to Camelot, where he hoped some chance would arise to aid him in his +murderous designs on Tristram. But a knight of his own train, named Sir +Amant, had arrived there before him, and accused him of treason to the +king, without telling who he was. + +"This is a charge that must be settled by wager of battle," said King +Arthur. "The quarrel is between you; you must decide it with sword and +spear." + +In the battle that followed, Sir Amant, by unlucky fortune, was run +through, and fell from his horse with a mortal wound. + +"Heaven has decided in my favor," cried King Mark. "But here I shall no +longer stay, for it does not seem a safe harbor for honest knights." + +He thereupon rode away, fearing that Dinadan would reveal his name. Yet +not far had he gone before Lancelot came in furious haste after him. + +[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL.] + +"Turn again, thou recreant king and knight," he loudly called. "To +Arthur's court you must return, whether it is your will or not. We know +you, villain. Sir Amant has told your name and purpose; and, by my +faith, I am strongly moved to kill you on the spot." + +"Fair sir," asked King Mark, "what is your name?" + +"My name is Lancelot du Lake. Defend yourself, dog and dastard." + +On hearing this dreaded name, and seeing Lancelot riding upon him with +spear in rest, King Mark tumbled like a sack of grain from his saddle to +the earth, crying in terror, "I yield me, Sir Lancelot! I yield me!" and +begging piteously for mercy. + +"Thou villain!" thundered Lancelot, "I would give much to deal thee one +buffet for the love of Tristram and Isolde. Mount, dog, and follow me." + +Mark hastened to obey, and was thus brought like a slave back to +Arthur's court, where he made such prayers and promises that in the end +the king forgave him, but only on condition that he would enter into +accord with Tristram, and remove from him the sentence of banishment. +All this King Mark volubly promised and swore to abide by, though a +false heart underlay his fair words. But Tristram gladly accepted the +proffered truce with his old enemy, for his heart burned with desire to +see his lady love again. + +Soon afterwards Dinadan, with Dagonet and his companions, came to court, +and great was the laughter and jesting at King Mark when they told the +story of his flight from Arthur's fool. + +"This is all very well for you stay-at-homes," cried Mark; "but even a +fool in Lancelot's armor is not to be played with. As it was, Dagonet +paid for his masquerade, for he met a knight who brought him like a log +to the ground, and all these laughing fellows with him." + +"Who was that?" asked King Arthur. + +"I can tell you," said Dinadan. "It was Sir Palamides. I followed him +through the forest, and a lively time we had in company." + +"Aha! then you have had adventures." + +"Rare ones. We met a knight before Morgan le Fay's castle. You know the +custom there, to let no knight pass without a hard fight for it. This +stranger made havoc with the custom, for he overthrew ten of your +sister's knights, and killed some of them. He afterwards tilted with +Palamides for offering to help him, and gave that doughty fellow a sore +wound." + +"Who was this mighty champion? Not Lancelot or Tristram?" asked the +king, looking around. + +"On our faith we had no hand in it," they both answered. + +"It was the knight next to them in renown," answered Dinadan. + +"Lamorak of Wales?" + +"No less. And, my faith, a sturdy fellow he is. I left him and Palamides +the best of friends." + +"I hope, then, to see the pair of them at next week's tournament," said +the king. + +Alas for Lamorak! Better for him far had he kept away from that +tournament. His gallant career was near its end, for treachery and +hatred were soon to seal his fate. This sorrowful story it is now our +sad duty to tell. + +Lamorak had long loved Margause, the queen of Orkney, Arthur's sister +and the mother of Gawaine and his brethren. For this they hated him, and +with treacherous intent invited their mother to a castle near Camelot, +as a lure to her lover. Soon after the tournament, at which Lamorak won +the prize of valor, and redoubled the hatred of Gawaine and his brothers +by overcoming them in the fray, word was brought to the victorious +knight that Margause was near at hand and wished to see him. + +With a lover's ardor, he hastened to the castle where she was, but, as +they sat in the queen's apartment in conversation, the door was suddenly +flung open, and Gaheris, one of the murderous brethren, burst in, full +armed and with a naked sword in his hand. Rushing in fury on the +unsuspecting lovers, with one dreadful blow he struck off his mother's +head, crimsoning Lamorak with her blood. He next assailed Lamorak, who, +being unarmed, was forced to fly for his life, and barely escaped. + +The tidings of this dread affair filled the land with dismay, and many +of the good knights of Arthur's court threatened reprisal. Arthur +himself was full of wrath at the death of his sister. Yet those were +days when law ruled not, but force was master, and retribution only came +from the strong hand and the ready sword. This was Lamorak's quarrel, +and the king, though he vowed to protect him from his foes, declared +that the good knight of Wales must seek retribution with his own hand. + +He gained death, alas! instead of revenge, for his foes proved too +vigilant for him, and overcame him by vile treachery. Watching his +movements, they lay in ambush for him at a difficult place, and as he +was passing, unsuspicious of danger, they set suddenly upon him, slew +his horse, and assailed him on foot. + +Gawaine, Mordred, and Gaheris formed this ambush, for the noble-minded +Gareth had refused to take part in their murderous plot; and with +desperate fury they assaulted the noble Welsh knight, who, for three +hours, defended himself against their utmost strength. But at the last +Mordred dealt him a death-blow from behind, and when he fell in death +the three murders hewed him with their swords till scarce a trace of the +human form was left. + +Thus perished one of the noblest of Arthur's knights, and thus was done +one of the most villanous deeds of blood ever known in those days of +chivalrous war. + +Before the death of Lamorak another event happened at Arthur's court +which must here be told, for it was marvellous in itself, and had in it +the promise of wondrous future deeds. + +One day there came to the court at Camelot a knight attended by a young +squire. When he had disarmed he went to the king and asked him to give +the honor of knighthood to his squire. + +"What claim has he to it?" asked the king. "Of what lineage is he?" + +"He is the youngest son of King Pellinore, and brother to Sir Lamorak. +He is my brother also; for my name is Aglavale, and I am of the same +descent." + +"What is his name?" + +"Percivale." + +"Then for my love of Lamorak, and the love I bore your father, he shall +be made a knight to-morrow." + +So when the morrow dawned, the king ordered that the youth should be +brought into the great hall, and there he knighted him, dealing him the +accolade with his good sword Excalibur. + +And so the day passed on till the dinner-hour, when the king seated +himself at the head of the table, while down its sides were many knights +of prowess and renown. Percivale, the new-made knight, was given a seat +among the squires and the untried knights, who sat at the lower end of +the great dining-table. + +But in the midst of their dinner an event of great strangeness occurred. +For there came into the hall one of the queen's maidens, who was of high +birth, but who had been born dumb, and in all her life had spoken no +word. Straight across the hall she walked, while all gazed at her in +mute surprise, till she came to where Percivale sat. Then she took him +by the hand, and spoke in a voice that rang through the hall with the +clearness of a trumpet,-- + +"Arise, Sir Percivale, thou noble knight and warrior of God's own +choosing. Arise and come with me." + +He rose in deep surprise, while all the others sat in dumb wonder at +this miracle. To the Round Table she led him, and to the right side of +the seat perilous, in which no knight had hitherto dared to sit. + +"Fair knight, take here your seat;" she said. "This seat belongs to you, +and to none other, and shall be yours until a greater than you shall +come." + +This said, she departed and asked for a priest. Then was she confessed +and given the sacrament, and forthwith died. But the king and all his +court gazed with wonder on Sir Percivale, and asked themselves what all +this meant, and for what great career God had picked out this youthful +knight, for such a miracle no man there had ever seen before. + +Meanwhile, King Mark had gone back to Cornwall, and with him went Sir +Tristram, at King Arthur's request, though not till Arthur had made the +Cornish king swear on Holy Scripture to do his guest no harm, but hold +him in honor and esteem. + +Lancelot, however, was full of dread and anger when he heard what had +occurred, and he told King Mark plainly that if he did mischief to Sir +Tristram he would slay him with his own hands. + +"Bear this well in mind, sir king," he said, "for I have a way of +keeping my word." + +"I have sworn before King Arthur to treat him honorably," answered Mark. +"I, too, have a way of keeping my word." + +"A way, I doubt not," said Lancelot, scornfully; "but not my way. Your +reputation for truth needs mending. And all men know for what you came +into this country. Therefore, take heed what you do." + +[Illustration: Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1897 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR.] + +Then Mark and Tristram departed, and soon after they reached Cornwall a +damsel was sent to Camelot with news of their safe arrival, and bearing +letters from Tristram to Arthur and Lancelot. These they answered and +sent the damsel back, the burden of Lancelot's letter being, "Beware of +King Fox, for his ways are ways of wiles." + +They also sent letters to King Mark, threatening him if he should do +aught to Tristram's injury. These letters worked harm only, for they +roused the evil spirit in the Cornish king's soul, stirring him up to +anger and thirst for revenge. He thereupon wrote to Arthur, bidding him +to meddle with his own concerns, and to take heed to his wife and his +knights, which would give him work enough to do. As for Sir Tristram, he +said that he held him to be his mortal enemy. + +He wrote also to Queen Guenever, his letter being full of shameful +charges of illicit relations with Sir Lancelot, and dishonor to her +lord, the king. Full of wrath at these vile charges, Guenever took the +letter to Lancelot, who was half beside himself with anger on reading +it. + +"You cannot get at him to make him eat his words," said Dinadan, whom +Lancelot took into his confidence. "And if you seek to bring him to +terms with pen and ink, you will find that his villany will get the +better of your honesty. Yet there are other ways of dealing with +cowardly curs. Leave him to me; I will make him wince. I will write a +mocking lay of King Mark and his doings, and will send a harper to sing +it before him at his court. When this noble king has heard my song I +fancy he will admit that there are other ways of gaining revenge besides +writing scurrilous letters." + +A stinging lay, indeed, was that which Dinadan composed. When done he +taught it to a harper named Eliot, who in his turn taught it to other +harpers, and these, by the orders of Arthur and Lancelot, went into +Wales and Cornwall to sing it everywhere. + +Meanwhile King Mark's crown had been in great danger. For his country +had been invaded by an army from Session, led by a noted warrior named +Elias, who drove the forces of Cornwall from the field and besieged the +king in his castle of Tintagil. And now Tristram came nobly to the +rescue. At the head of the Cornish forces he drove back the besiegers +with heavy loss, and challenged Elias to a single combat to end the war. +The challenge was accepted, and a long and furious combat followed, but +in the end Elias was slain, and the remnant of his army forced to +surrender. + +This great service added to the seeming accord between Tristram and the +king, but in his heart Mark nursed all his old bitterness, and hated him +the more that he had helped him. His secret fury soon found occasion to +flame to the surface. For at the feast which was given in honor of the +victory, Eliot, the harper, appeared, and sang before the king and his +lords the lay that Dinadan had made. + +This was so full of ridicule and scorn of King Mark that he leaped from +his seat in a fury of wrath before the harper had half finished. + +"Thou villanous twanger of strings!" he cried. "What hound sent you into +this land to insult me with your scurrilous songs?" + +"I am a minstrel," said Eliot, "and must obey the orders of my lord. +Sir Dinadan made this song, if you would know, and bade me sing it +here." + +"That jesting fool!" cried Mark, in wrath. "As for you, fellow, you +shall go free through minstrels' license. But if you lose any time in +getting out of this country you may find that Cornish air is not good +for you." + +The harper took this advice and hastened away, bearing letters from +Tristram to Lancelot and Dinadan. But King Mark turned the weight of his +anger against Tristram, whom he believed had instigated this insult, +with the design to set all the nobles of his own court laughing at him. +And well he knew that the villanous lay would be sung throughout the +land, and that he would be made the jest of all the kingdom. + +"They have their sport now," he said. "Mine will come. Tristram of +Lyonesse shall pay dearly for this insult. And all that hold with him +shall learn that King Mark of Cornwall is no child's bauble to be played +with." + +The evil-minded king was not long in putting his project in execution. +At a tournament which was held soon afterwards Tristram was badly +wounded, and King Mark, with great show of sorrow, had him borne to a +castle near by, where he took him under his own care as nurse and leech. + +Here he gave him a sleeping draught, and had him borne while slumbering +to another castle, where he was placed in a strong prison cell, under +the charge of stern keepers. + +The disappearance of Tristram made a great stir in the kingdom. La Belle +Isolde, fearing treachery, went to a faithful knight named Sir Sadok, +and begged him to try and discover what had become of the missing +knight. Sadok set himself diligently to work; and soon learned that +Tristram was held captive in the castle of Lyonesse. Then he went to +Dinas, the seneschal, and others, and told them what had been done, at +which they broke into open rebellion against King Mark, and took +possession of all the towns and castles in the country of Lyonesse, +filling them with their followers. + +But while the rebellious army was preparing to march on Tintagil, and +force King Mark to set free his prisoner, Tristram was delivered by the +young knight Sir Percivale, who had come thither in search of +adventures, and had heard of King Mark's base deed. Great was the joy +between these noble knights, and Tristram said,-- + +"Will you abide in these marches, Sir Percivale? If so, I will keep you +company." + +"Nay, dear friend, I cannot tarry here. Duty calls me into Wales." + +But before leaving Cornwall he went to King Mark, told him what he had +done, and threatened him with the revenge of all honorable knights if he +sought again to injure his noble nephew. + +"What would you have me do?" asked the king. "Shall I harbor a man who +openly makes love to my wife and queen?" + +"Is there any shame in a nephew showing an open affection for his +uncle's wife?" asked Percivale. "No man will dare say that so noble a +warrior as Sir Tristram would go beyond the borders of sinless love, or +will dare accuse the virtuous lady La Belle Isolde of lack of chastity. +You have let jealousy run away with your wisdom, King Mark." + +So saying, he departed; but his words had little effect on King Mark's +mind. No sooner had Percivale gone than he began new devices to gratify +his hatred of his nephew. He sent word to Dinas, the seneschal, under +oath, that he intended to go to the Pope and join the war against the +infidel Saracens, which he looked upon as a nobler service than that of +raising the people against their lawful king. + +So earnest were his professions that Dinas believed him and dismissed +his forces, but no sooner was this done than King Mark set aside his +oath and had Tristram again privately seized and imprisoned. + +This new outrage filled the whole realm with tumult and rebellious +feeling. La Belle Isolde was at first thrown into the deepest grief, and +then her heart swelled high with resolution to live no longer with the +dastard who called her wife. Tristram at the same time privately sent +her a letter, advising her to leave the court of her villanous lord, and +offering to go with her to Arthur's realm, if she would have a vessel +privately made ready. + +The queen thereupon had an interview with Dinas and Sadok, and begged +them to seize and imprison the king, since she was resolved to escape +from his power. + +Furious at the fox-like treachery of the king, these knights did as +requested, for they formed a plot by which Mark was privately seized, +and they imprisoned him secretly in a strong dungeon. At the same time +Tristram was delivered, and soon sailed openly away from Cornwall with +La Belle Isolde, gladly shaking the dust of that realm of treachery from +his feet. + +In due time the vessel touched shore in King Arthur's dominions, and +gladly throbbed the heart of the long-unhappy queen as her feet touched +that free and friendly soil. As for Tristram, never was lover fuller of +joy, and life seemed to him to have just begun. + +Not long had they landed when a knightly chance brought Lancelot into +their company. Warm indeed was the greeting of those two noble +companions, and glad the welcome which Lancelot gave Isolde to English +soil. + +"You have done well," he said, "to fly from that wolf's den. There is no +noble knight in the world but hates King Mark and will honor you for +leaving his palace of vile devices. Come with me, you shall be housed at +my expense." + +Then he rode with them to his own castle of Joyous Gard, a noble +stronghold which he had won with his own hands. A royal castle it was, +garnished and provided with a richness which no king or queen could +surpass. Here Lancelot bade them use everything as their own, and +charged all his people to love and honor them as they would himself. + +"Joyous Gard is yours as long as you will honor it by making it your +home," he said. "As for me, I can have no greater joy than to know that +my castle is so nobly tenanted, and that Tristram of Lyonesse and Queen +Isolde are my honored guests." + +Leaving them, Lancelot rode to Camelot, where he told Arthur and +Guenever of what had happened, much to their joy and delight. + +"By my crown," cried Arthur, joyfully, "the coming of Tristram and +Isolde to my realm is no everyday event, and is worthy of the highest +honor. We must signalize it with a noble tournament." + +Then he gave orders that a stately passage-at-arms should be held on +May-day at the castle of Lonazep, which was near Joyous Gard. And word +was sent far and near that the knights of his own realm of Logris, with +those of Cornwall and North Wales, would be pitted against those of the +rest of England, of Ireland and Scotland, and of lands beyond the seas. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW TRISTRAM BEFOOLED DINADAN. + + +Never were two happier lovers than Tristram and Isolde at Joyous Gard. +Their days were spent in feasting and merriment, Isolde's heart +overflowing with joy to be free from the jealousy of her ill-tempered +spouse, and Tristram's to have his lady love to himself, far from +treacherous plots and murderous devices. + +Every day Tristram went hunting, for at that time men say he was the +best courser at the chase in the world, and the rarest blower of the +horn among all lovers of sport. From him, it is said, came all the +terms of hunting and hawking, the distinction between beasts of the +chase and vermin, all methods of dealing with hounds and with game, and +all the blasts of the chase and the recall, so that they who delight in +huntsmen's sport will have cause to the world's end to love Sir Tristram +and pray for his soul's repose. + +Yet Isolde at length grew anxious for his welfare, and said,-- + +"I marvel that you ride so much to the chase unarmed. This is a country +not well known to you, and one that contains many false knights, while +King Mark may lay some plot for your destruction. I pray you, my dear +love, to take more heed to your safety." + +This advice seemed timely, and thereafter Tristram rode in armor to the +chase, and followed by men who bore his shield and spear. One day, a +little before the month of May, he followed a hart eagerly, but as the +animal led him by a cool woodland spring, he alighted to quench his +thirst in the gurgling waters. + +Here, by chance, he met with Dinadan, who had come into that country in +search of him. Some words of greeting passed between them, after which +Dinadan asked him his name, telling his own. This confidence Tristram +declined to return, whereupon Dinadan burst out in anger. + +[Illustration: MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM.] + +"You value your name highly, sir knight," he said. "Do you design to +ride everywhere under a mask? Such a foolish knight as you I saw but +lately lying by a well. He seemed like one asleep, and no word could be +got from him, yet all the time he grinned like a fool. The fellow was +either an idiot or a lover, I know not which." + +"And are not you a lover?" asked Tristram. + +"Marry, my wit has saved me from that craft." + +"That is not well said," answered Tristram. "A knight who disdains love +is but half a man, and not half a warrior." + +"I am ready to stand by my creed," retorted Dinadan. "As for you, +sirrah, you shall tell me your name, or do battle with me." + +"You will not get my name by a threat, I promise you that," said +Tristram. "I shall not fight till I am in the mood; and when I do, you +may get more than you bargain for." + +"I fear you not, coward," said Dinadan. + +"If you are so full of valor, here is your man," said Tristram, pointing +to a knight who rode along the forest aisle towards them. "He looks +ready for a joust." + +"On my life, it is the same dull-plate knave I saw lying by the well, +neither sleeping nor waking," said Dinadan. + +"This is not the first time I have seen that covered shield of azure," +said Tristram. "This knight is Sir Epinegris, the son of the king of +Northumberland, than whom the land holds no more ardent lover, for his +heart is gone utterly out to the fair daughter of the king of Wales. +Now, if you care to find whether a lover or a non-lover is the better +knight, here is your opportunity." + +"I shall teach him to grin to more purpose," said Dinadan. "Stand by and +you shall see." + +Then, as the lover approached, he cried,-- + +"Halt, sir knight, and make ready to joust, as is the custom with errant +knights." + +"Let it be so, if you will," answered Epinegris. "Since it is the custom +of you knight-errant to make a man joust whether he will or no, I am +your man." + +"Make ready, then, for here is for you." + +Then they spurred their horses and rode together at full speed, Dinadan +breaking his spear, while Epinegris struck him so shrewd a blow that he +rolled upon the earth. + +"How now?" cried Tristram. "It seems to me that the lover has best +sped." + +"Will you play the coward?" queried Dinadan. "Or will you, like a good +knight, revenge me?" + +"I am not in the mood," answered Tristram. "Take your horse, Sir +Dinadan, and let us get away from here, where hard blows are more +plentiful than soft beds." + +"Defend me from such fellowship as yours!" roared Dinadan. "Take your +way and I will take mine. We fit not well together." + +"I might give you news of Sir Tristram." + +"Sir Tristram, if he be wise, will seek better company. I can do without +your news, as I have had to do without your help," and he rode on in +high dudgeon. + +"Farewell, then," cried Tristram, laughing. "It may happen we shall soon +meet again." + +Tristram rode back in much amusement to Joyous Gard, but on coming near +he heard in the neighboring town a great outcry. + +"What means this noise?" he asked. + +"Sir," he was told, "a knight of the castle has just been slain by two +strangers, and for no other cause than saying that Sir Lancelot was a +better knight than Sir Gawaine." + +"Who would dispute that?" said Tristram. "It is a small cause for the +death of a good man, that he stands for his lord's fame." + +"But what remedy have we?" said the towns-men. "If Lancelot had been +here, these fellows would soon have been called to a reckoning. But, +alas, he is away." + +"I may do something in his service," answered Tristram. "If I take his +place, I must defend his followers." + +Thereupon he sent for his shield and spear, and rode in pursuit of the +two knights, whom he overtook before they had gone far. + +"Turn, sir dastards," he cried, "and amend your misdeeds." + +"What amends wish you?" asked one of the knights. "We are ready with +spear and sword to make good whatever we have done." + +He rode against Tristram, but was met so sturdily in mid career that he +was thrust over his horse's tail. Then the other rode against him, and +was served in the same rough manner. + +They rose as quickly as they could, drew their swords, and challenged +him to battle on foot. + +"You shall tell me your names," he said, sternly. "I warn you that if it +comes to sword-play you will find more than your match. Yet you may have +that in your lineage which will keep you from my hands, however much you +deserve punishment for your evil deeds." + +"As for our names, we dread not to tell them. We are Agravaine and +Gaheris, brothers to the good knight Gawaine, and nephews of King +Arthur." + +"For Arthur's sake, then, I must let you pass unscathed. Yet it is a +crying shame that men of such good blood as you should play the part of +murderers. You slew among you a better knight than the best of your kin, +Lamorak de Galis, and I would to God I had been by at that time." + +"You would have gone the same road," said Gaheris. + +"Not without more knights to do it than you had in your murderous crew." + +With these words he turned from them and rode back towards Joyous Gard. +When he had gone they regained their horses, and feeling themselves safe +in the saddle their courage returned. + +"Let us pursue this boaster," they said, "and see if he fares so much +better than Lamorak." + +They did so, and when they came near Tristram, who was jogging slowly +along, Agravaine cried,-- + +"Turn, traitor knight!" + +"Traitor in your teeth!" cried Tristram, in a rage. "I let you off too +cheaply, it seems." And drawing his sword, he turned upon Agravaine and +smote him so fiercely on the helm that he fell swooning from his horse, +with a dangerous wound. + +Then he turned to Gaheris and dealt him a blow that in like manner +tumbled him from his saddle to the earth. This done, Tristram turned and +rode into the castle, leaving them like dead men in the road. + +Here he told La Belle Isolde of his several adventures. When he spoke +of Dinadan, she asked,-- + +"Was it not he that made the song about King Mark?" + +"The same," answered Tristram. "He is the greatest jester at Arthur's +court, but a good knight withal, and I know no man whom I like better as +a comrade." + +"Why did you not bring him with you?" + +"No need of that. He is seeking me through this country, and there is no +fear that he will give up the search lightly." + +As they spoke, a servant came and told Tristram that a knight-errant had +entered the town, and described the device on his shield. + +"That is our man now," said Tristram. "That is Dinadan. Send for him, +Isolde, and you shall hear the merriest knight and the maddest talker +that you ever spoke with. I pray you to make him heartily welcome, for +he is a cherished friend of mine." + +Then Isolde sent into the town with a message to Dinadan, begging that +he would come to the castle and rest a while there, at a lady's wish. + +"That will I, with a good will," answered Dinadan. "I were but a churl +else." + +He hastened to mount and ride to the castle, and here he was shown to a +chamber where he laid aside his armor. Then he was brought into the +presence of La Belle Isolde, who courteously bade him welcome. + +"Whence, come you, and what name do you bear?" she asked. + +"Madam," he answered, "I am from King Arthur's court, and am one of the +small fry of Round Table Knights. My name is Dinadan." + +"And why came you hither?" + +"I am seeking my old friend and comrade, Sir Tristram, who I am told has +made his way to this country." + +"That I cannot answer for," said Isolde. "He may and he may not be here. +Sir Tristram will be found where love leads him." + +"I warrant me that. Your true lover has no will of his own, but is led +like an ox, with a ring in his nose. I marvel what juice of folly gets +into the pates of these lovers to make them so mad about the women." + +"Why, sir," said Isolde, "can it be that you are a knight and no lover? +I fancy that there can be no true man-of-arms who seeks not by his deeds +to win the smiles of the fair." + +"They who care to be fed on smiles are welcome to them, but I am not +made of that fashion," answered Dinadan. "The joy of love is too short, +and the sorrow thereof too long, to please my fancy." + +"Say you so? Yet near here but to-day was the good knight Sir Bleoberis, +he who fought with three knights at once for a maiden's sake, and won +her before the king of Northumberland." + +"I know him for a worthy fellow," said Dinadan, "as are all of +Lancelot's kindred. Yet he has crotchets in his head, like all that +crew." + +"Now, I pray you," said Isolde, "will you not do me the grace to fight +for my love with three knights that have done me great wrong? As you +are a knight of King Arthur's, you can never say me nay in such a duty." + +"Can I not?" cried Dinadan. "This much I will say, madam, that you are +as fair a sample of womankind as ever I saw, and much more beautiful +than is my lady Queen Guenever. And yet, heaven defend me, I will not +fight for you against three knights; and would not, were you Helen of +Troy herself." + +At these words, and the odd grimace which he made, La Belle Isolde burst +into a merry peal of laughter, and broke out with,-- + +"I know you better than you fancy, Sir Dinadan. And well you keep up +your credit of being a merry fellow. You are very welcome to my castle, +good sir." + +They had much more of gameful conversation together, and Dinadan was +treated with all honor, and slept serenely at the castle that night. But +Tristram took good care to keep out of his sight. + +Early the next day Tristram armed himself and prepared to ride away, +saying to the Lady Isolde that he would contrive to meet with Dinadan, +and would ride with him to Lonazep, where the tournament was to be held. +He promised also to make arrangements to provide her with a good place +from which to see the passage-at-arms. Then he departed, accompanied by +two squires, who bore his shield and a brace of great and long spears. + +Shortly afterwards Dinadan left the castle, bidding a merry adieu to the +lady, and rode so briskly forward that he soon overtook Tristram. He +knew him at sight for his yesterday's comrade, and made a sour grimace +at beholding him. + +"So," he said, "here again is my easy-going friend, who wears his armor +for a holiday parade. You shall not get off so lightly to-day, fellow. +You shall joust with me, despite your head." + +"Faith, I am not eager," said Tristram, "but a wilful man will have his +way; so let us have it over, if fight we must." + +Then they rode at each other, and Dinadan broke a spear on Tristram's +shield, but Tristram purposely missed him. + +Dinadan now bade him draw his sword. + +"Not I," he answered. "What makes you so warlike? I am not in the humor +to fight." + +"You shame all knights by your cowardice." + +"So far as that goes, it troubles me little," said Tristram. "Suppose, +my good sir, you take me under your protection. Though I bear arms I +shall gladly accept the patronage of so worthy a knight as you." + +"The devil deliver me of you!" cried Dinadan. "You are a fellow of +goodly build, and sit your horse like a warrior; but heaven knows if you +have blood or water in your veins. What do you propose to do with those +great spears that your squire carries?" + +"I shall give them to some good knight at the tournament. If you prove +the best there, you are welcome to them." + +As they thus conversed they saw a knight-errant in the road before them, +who sat with spear in rest as if eager to joust. + +"Come," said Tristram, "since you are so anxious for a fight, yonder is +your man." + +"Shame betide you for a dastard," cried Dinadan. "Fight him yourself. +You can't get more than a fall." + +"Not so. That knight seems a shrewish fellow. It will need a stronger +hand than mine to manage him." + +"Good faith, then, here's to teach you a lesson," said Dinadan, and he +rode fiercely against the other knight, with the unlucky result that he +was thrust from his horse, and fell headlong to the earth. + +"What did I tell you?" said Tristram. "You had better have taken a +lesson from my prudence, and let that good fellow alone." + +"The fiends take you, coward!" cried Dinadan, as he started to his feet +and drew his sword. "Come, sir knight, you are my better on horseback, +let us have it out on foot." + +"Shall it be in love or in anger?" said the other. + +"Let it be in love. I am saving all my anger for this do-nothing who +came with me." + +"Then I pray you to tell me your name." + +"Folks call me Dinadan." + +"Ah, and I am your comrade Gareth. I will not fight with an old friend +like Dinadan." + +"Nor I with you, by my faith!" cried Dinadan, seizing Gareth's hand and +giving it a warm pressure. "Beaumains is safe from my spear. Here is a +chap now, if you want to try your skill; but if you can get him to fight +you must first learn the art of converting a coward into a man of +valor." + +Tristram laughed quietly at this, and bided his time. Nor was there long +to wait, for just then a well-armed knight rode up, on a sturdy horse, +and put his spear in rest as he approached. + +"Now, my good sirs," said Tristram, "choose between yourselves which +will joust with yonder knight; for I warn you that I will keep clear of +him." + +"Faith, you had better," said Gareth. "Leave him to me." + +And he rode against the knight but with such ill-fortune that he was +thrust over his horse's croup. + +"It is your turn now," said Tristram to Dinadan. "Honor requires that +you should avenge your comrade Gareth." + +"Honor does, eh? Then reason does not, and I always weigh reason against +honor. He has overturned a much bigger fellow than I, and with your kind +permission I will not stir up that hornet." + +"Aha, friend Dinadan, your heart fails you after all your boasting. Very +well, you shall see what the coward can do. Make ready, sir knight." + +Then Tristram rode against the victorious knight, and dealt him so +shrewd a buffet that he was thrust from his horse. + +Dinadan looked at this in amazement. Was this the fellow that professed +cowardice and begged protection? "The cunning rogue," he said to +himself, "has been making game of me. The rascal! where has he learned +the art of turning my weapons on myself?" + +The dismounted knight rose to his feet in anger, and drawing his sword, +challenged Tristram to a fight on foot. + +"First, tell me your name?" asked Tristram. + +"My name is Palamides." + +"And what knight hate you most?" + +"I hate Sir Tristram to the death. If we meet, one of us must die." + +"You need not go far to seek him. I am Tristram de Lyonesse. Now do your +worst." + +At this Dinadan started, and struck his hand sturdily on his knee, like +one who has had a shock of surprise. Nor was Palamides less astonished, +and he stood before Tristram like one in a sudden revulsion of feeling. + +"I pray you, Sir Tristram," he said, "to forgive my ill-will and my +unkind words. You are a noble knight and worthy of the love of all +honorable warriors. I repent my truculent temper towards you, and, if I +live, will rather do you service than assail you." + +"I know your valor well," answered Tristram, "and that it is anything +but fear makes you speak so. Therefore I thank you much for your kind +words. But if you have any shreds of ill-will towards me I am ready to +give you satisfaction." + +"My wits have been astray," answered Palamides. "There is no just reason +why we should be at odds, and I am ready to do you knightly service in +all things you may command." + +"I take you at your word," cried Tristram, as he grasped Palamides by +the hand. "I have never been your enemy, and know none whom I would +rather have as a friend." + +"Would you?" cried Dinadan. "And would have me as your fool, mayhap? By +my knightly faith, you have made a sweet butt of me! I came into this +country for your sake, and by the advice of Sir Lancelot, though he +would not tell me where to find you. By Jove's ears, I never thought to +find you masquerading as a milk-brained coward." + +"He could have told you," said Tristram, "for I abode within his own +castle. As for my little sport, friend Dinadan, I cry you mercy." + +"Faith, it is but one of my own jests, turned against me," said Dinadan, +with a merry laugh. "I am pinked with my own dart. I forgive you, old +comrade; but I vow I did not know you had such a jolly humor." + +"It comes to one in your company," said Tristram, laughing. "The disease +is catching." + +And so the four knights rode gayly onward, conversing much as they went, +and laying their plans for the tournament. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ON THE ROAD TO LONAZEP. + + +The four knights rode onward in company until they came in sight of the +castle of Lonazep, where they saw striking preparations for the +tournament. For not less than four hundred tents and pavilions covered +the plain outside the great circle of the lists, and war-horses and +knights in armor were there in hundreds. + +"Truly," said Tristram, "this is the royalest show that I ever saw." + +"You forget," answered Palamides. "It had its equal at the Castle of +Maidens, where you won the prize." + +"And in that tournament which Galahalt of the Long Isles held in Surluse +there was as great a gathering," said Dinadan. + +"I was not there; who won the prize?" asked Tristram. + +"Lancelot du Lake, and the next after him was the noble knight Lamorak +de Galis." + +"A noble fellow, indeed, I never met his better, save Sir Lancelot. His +murder was shameful, and were they not the nephews of my lord Arthur +that slew him, by my faith they should die the death. And this without +prejudice to you, Sir Gareth." + +"Say what you will on that point; I am with you," answered Gareth. +"Though my own brothers did that bloody work, I hold not with them. None +of them love me, as you well know, and I have left their company as +murderers. Had I been by when Lamorak was killed there might have been +another tale to tell." + +"Truly that is well said of you," rejoined Tristram. "I would rather +have been there than to have all the gold between here and Rome." + +"And I also," said Palamides. "It is a burning disgrace to the Round +Table fellowship that such a knight should have been ambushed and slain +on his way from a passage-at-arms where he had won the prize of valor." + +"Out on such treason!" cried Tristram. "The tale of it makes my blood +run cold." + +"And mine as well," said Gareth. "I can never love or respect my +brothers again for that ruthless deed." + +"Yet to speak of it is useless," said Palamides. "His life is gone; we +cannot bring it back again." + +"There lies the pity," said Dinadan. "No matter how good and noble a man +may be, when he stops breathing all else stops with him. By good luck, +though, the same rule holds with villains and cowards. As for Gawaine +and his brothers, except you, Sir Gareth, they hate the best knights of +the Round Table, and Lancelot and his kindred above all. Only that +Lancelot is well aware of this, they might draw him into as deadly a +trap as they drew poor Lamorak." + +"Come, come, remember that Gareth is their brother," said Palamides. +"Let us change the subject. Here is this tournament,--what part shall we +play here? My advice is that we four hold together against all that may +assail us." + +"That is not my counsel," said Tristram. "By their pavilions we may +count on some four hundred knights, and doubtless many of them worthy +ones. If we play the game of four against all comers we are likely to +find ourselves borne down by numbers. Many good knights have lost the +game by taking too great odds. Manhood is of little avail if it be not +tempered by wisdom. If you think it best we may try it, and see what we +can do in company, but, as a rule, I prefer to fight for my own hand." + +As they thus talked they rode away from Lonazep, and in due time came to +the banks of the Humber, where they were surprised by a loud and +grievous cry that seemed full of doleful meaning. Looking over the +waters they saw approaching before the wind a vessel richly draped with +red silk. Not long had they waited when it came to the shore, at a point +close by where they stood. + +Seeing this strange thing and hearing the doleful cries which came from +the vessel, the knights gave their horses in care of their squires, and +approached on foot, Tristram boarding the vessel. When he reached the +deck he saw there a bed with rich silken coverings, on which lay a dead +knight, armed save the head, which was crimsoned with blood. And through +great gaps in his armor deadly wounds could be seen. + +"What means this?" said Tristram. "How came this knight by his death?" + +As he spoke he saw that a letter lay in the dead knight's hand. + +"Master mariners," he asked of those on board the vessel, "what does +this strange thing signify?" + +"Sir knight," they answered, "by the letter which the dead knight bears +you may learn how and for what cause he was slain, and what name he +bore. Yet first heed well this warning: No man must take and read that +letter unless he be a knight of proved valor, and faithfully promises to +revenge the murder of this good warrior." + +"There be those among us able to revenge him," answered Tristram. "And +if he shall prove to have been foully treated his death shall not go +unredressed." + +Therewith he took the letter from the knight's hand and opened it. Thus +it read,-- + +"I, Hermance, king and lord of the Red City, request of all +knights-errant and all noble knights of Arthur's court, that they find +one knight who will fight for my sake with two false brethren, whom I +brought up from nothingness and who have feloniously and treacherously +slain me. And it is my will and desire that the valiant knight who +avenges my death shall become lord of my Red City and all my castles." + +"Sir," said the mariners, "the king and knight that lies here dead was a +man of great virtue and noble prowess, and one who loved all +knights-errant, and, above all, those of King Arthur's court." + +"It is a piteous case, truly," said Tristram. "I would fain take the +enterprise in hand myself, but that I have made a solemn promise to take +part in this great tournament. It was for my sake in especial that my +lord Arthur made it, and I cannot in honor and courtesy fail to attend +it. Therefore I am not free to undertake any adventure which may keep me +from the lists." + +"I pray you, dear sir," said Palamides, who had followed Tristram into +the vessel, "to put this enterprise into my hands. I promise to achieve +it worthily or to die in the effort." + +"Be it so," said Tristram. "You may go if you will. But first I wish +your promise to return so as to be with me at the tournament this day +week, if possible." + +"That promise I freely give. If I be alive and unhurt, and my task be +not too arduous and long, I shall be with you by that day." + +This said, Tristram left the vessel, leaving Palamides in it, and he, +with Gareth and Dinadan, stood watching it as the mariners hoisted its +sails and it glided swiftly away over long Humber. Not till it was out +of sight did they return to their horses, and look about them. + +As they did so they beheld near them a knight, who came up unarmed save +a sword, and saluted them with all courtesy. + +"Fair sirs," he said, "I pray you, as knights-errant, to come and see my +castle, and take such fare as you may find there. This I heartily +request." + +"That shall we willingly do, and thank you for your courtesy," they +answered, and rode with him to his castle, which was near by. + +Here they entered a richly-furnished hall, and, having laid off their +armor, took their seats at a well-laden table. But when the host saw +Tristram's face, he knew him, and first grew pale and then angry of +countenance. + +"Sir, mine host," said Tristram, on seeing this threatening aspect, +"what is wrong with you, I pray?" + +"I know you, Tristram de Lyonesse," answered the knight, hotly. "You +slew my brother. Honor demands that I shall not seek revenge here, but I +give you warning that I will kill you when I meet you outside my +castle." + +"I have no knowledge of you or your brother," answered Tristram. "But no +man can say that I ever killed any one except in fair and open fight. If +I have done as you say I stand ready to make what amends are in my +power." + +"I desire no amends," rejoined the knight. "But I warn you to keep from +me." + +Tristram at this rose from the table and asked for his arms, his +companions following him. Seeking their horses they rode away, but they +had not gone far from the castle when Dinadan saw a knight following +them, who was well armed, but bore no shield. + +"Take care of yourself, Sir Tristram," he said. "Yonder comes our host +to call you to account." + +"Then I must abide him as I may," answered Tristram. + +Soon the knight came up, and, loudly bidding Tristram to be on his +guard, he rode furiously upon him with couched spear. But his valor went +beyond his strength, for he was hurled over his horse's croup. + +Not content with this, he rose, mounted again, and driving his horse at +full speed upon Tristram, struck him two hard blows on the helm. + +"Sir knight," said Tristram, "I pray you leave off this sport. I do not +care to harm you after having just eaten at your table, but beg you not +to try my patience too far." + +The furious assailant would not cease, however, and continued his +assaults until Tristram was provoked to anger. In the end he returned +the knight a blow with the full strength of his mighty arm, so fierce a +buffet, indeed, that the blood burst out from the breathing holes of his +helm, and he fell to the earth and lay there like one dead. + +[Illustration: THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM.] + +"I hope I have not killed him," said Tristram. "I did not think to +strike the man so hard a blow, but I am not a log to stand at rest and +let him whet his sword on." + +Leaving the fallen knight to the care of his squire, they rode on; but +not far had they gone when they saw coming towards them two well-armed +and well-horsed knights, each with a good following of servants. One of +these was Berrant le Apres, he who was called the king with the hundred +knights, and the other Sir Segwarides, both men of might and renown. + +When they came up the king looked at Dinadan, who, through sport, had +put on Tristram's helmet. This he recognized as one he had seen before +with the queen of Northgalis, whom he loved. She had given it to La +Belle Isolde, and she to Tristram. + +"Sir knight," asked Berrant, "whence had you that helm?" + +"Not from you, I fancy. What have you to say to it?" + +"That I will have a tilt with you, for the love of her who once owned +it. Therefore, defend yourself." + +So they drew asunder, and rode at each other with all the speed of their +horses. But Dinadan, good knight as he was, was no match for the tough +and hardy warrior before him, and was sent, horse and all, to the +ground. + +"I fancy I have something to say about the helmet now," said Berrant, +grimly. "Go take it off him, and keep it," he ordered his servant. + +"What will you do?" cried Tristram. "Hands off, fellow. Touch not that +helm." + +"To what intent do you meddle, sir knight?" demanded Berrant. + +"To this intent, that the helm is mine. Nor will you get it from me till +you buy it at a dearer price." + +"Do you mean that as a challenge?" asked Berrant. "Be it so, then; make +ready." + +Together they rode with all speed, but with a change of fortune, for +Berrant found himself thrust over the tail of his horse. In a moment he +was on his feet, sprang briskly to his saddle, and, riding in anger upon +Tristram, struck at him fiercely with his sword. + +Tristram was not taken unawares, but in an instant had his sword in +hand. A fierce combat followed, for the king with the hundred knights +was a warrior of tough sinews and tried valor, but at the last he +received such a buffet on the helm that he fell forward on his horse's +neck, stunned and helpless. + +"By my faith, that helmet has proved unlucky for two of us," said +Dinadan. "It brought me a tumble, and now, sir king, you owe it a +buzzing head-piece." + +"Who will joust with me?" asked Segwarides. + +"It is your right," said Gareth to Dinadan, "but I pray you let me have +it." + +"You are heartily welcome to it. One tumble a day is enough for my weak +appetite," answered Dinadan. "I make you a free present of the +opportunity." + +"That is no fair exchange," said Tristram. "The joust is yours by +right." + +"But not by choice," rejoined Dinadan. "Good faith, sir bruiser, I have +lived long enough to know when I have had my share, and that is a +lesson it would pay many of you battle-hungry knights to learn." + +Then Gareth and Segwarides rode together, the result being that Gareth +and his horse went in a heap to the earth. + +"Now," said Tristram, "the joust is yours." + +"But the appetite is lacking," said Dinadan. "I have even less stomach +for it than before." + +"Then will I try him." + +With these words Tristram challenged Segwarides, who received a sore +fall in the joust that followed. Then the three knights rode on, leaving +their late antagonists the worse in heart and limb for the encounter. + +They continued their ride till they reached Joyous Gard. Here Gareth +courteously declined to enter the castle, but Tristram would not hear of +his departure, and made him alight and enter as his guest. So they +disarmed and had good cheer, with La Belle Isolde as their hostess. + +But Dinadan, when he came into the presence of Isolde, roundly cursed +the hour that he had been persuaded to wear Tristram's helm, and told +her of how he had been mocked by his comrade knight. + +Much laughing and jesting at Dinadan followed, but this was a game in +which he was quite able to hold his own, however he might lack with +sword and spear. For Arthur's court held no other so witty of tongue and +merry of heart. And thus in jest and feast they passed the hours happily +away. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HOW PALAMIDES FARED AT THE RED CITY. + + +Leaving Tristram and his companions to their merry talk in Joyous Gard, +we must now return to Palamides. The ship into which he had entered +sailed far along the Humber, until in time it reached the open sea. It +continued its course through the sea-waves till it came to a part of the +coast where stood a stately castle. + +All day and night they had sailed, and it was now early in the morning, +before day-dawn. Palamides was sound asleep in the vessel's cabin when +the mariners came to call him. + +"Sir knight," they said, "you must arise. We have reached a castle, +which you must enter." + +"I am at your command," he replied. + +Rising, he armed himself quickly, and then blew a loud call upon a horn +which the mariners gave him. + +At the ringing music of that bugle-blast the sleeping castle seemed to +stir into life. Soon many eyes could be seen looking from the windows, +and ere long the walls were crowded with knights, who called to +Palamides as with one voice, "Welcome, fair sir, to this castle." + +The day had now fully dawned, and Palamides entered the castle, where a +crowd of knights came to greet him, and led him to a stately +dining-hall, where an abundant breakfast awaited him. But as he ate he +heard much lamentation, and saw many whose eyes were wet with tears. + +"What means this?" he asked. "I love not such sorrow, and would fain +know what gives rise to it." + +"We mourn here daily," answered a knight named Sir Ebel, "and for this +cause. We had a king named Hermance, who was lord of the Red City, and +in every way a noble and generous monarch. And he loved nothing in the +world so much as the knights-errant of King Arthur's court, together +with the sports of jousting, hunting, and all knightly diversions. A +king so kind of heart as he was never before known in this country, and +we shall ever be filled with sorrow for his loss. Yet he acted unwisely, +and is himself at fault for his death." + +"Tell me how he was slain and by whom," asked Palamides. + +"In this wise it came to pass," answered Ebel. "He brought up, in pure +charity, two children, who are now strong knights. And to them he gave +all his trust and confidence, in default of those of his own blood. +These two men governed him completely, and, through him, his lands and +people, for they took the best of care that none of his kindred should +come into power. He was so free and trustful, and they so politic and +deceitful, that they ruled him as though they were the kings and he the +subject. When the lords of our king's blood saw that he had fallen into +this dotage they left the court in disgust, and sought their livelihood +elsewhere. This it proved not wise to do, for when these villains found +that all the king's kindred had left the realm they schemed to have more +power still; for, as the old saw says, 'Give a churl rule in part, and +he will not be content till he has it all.' It is the instinct of the +base-born to destroy gentlemen-born, if the power be put in their hands, +and all rulers should take warning by the fate of King Hermance. In the +end our king, by the advice of these traitors, rode into the forest here +by, to chase the red deer. When he had become warm from the hunt he +alighted to drink at a woodland spring, and, while he was bent over the +water, one of these villains thrust him through the body with a spear. +They then fled from the spot, thinking he was dead. Shortly after they +had gone, fortune brought me to the spot, where I found my lord still +alive, but mortally hurt, and learned from him his story. Knowing that +we had no knights able to revenge him on his murderers, I had him +brought to the water, and put into the ship alive, and the letter which +he bore in his hand I wrote from his own words. Then he died, and, as he +had ordered, the ship set sail up the Humber, bound for the realm of +Logris, where it was hoped that some valiant Knight of the Round Table +would take this adventure on himself." + +"Truly your doleful tale grieves me sorely," said Palamides. "I saw the +letter you speak of. It was read to me by one of the best knights upon +the earth, and it is by his command I am here. I came to revenge your +king, and I shall never be at ease till I meet with and punish his +murderers." + +"You have my hearty thanks and best wishes," said Ebel. "Since you +accept this adventure, you must enter the ship again, and sail forward +till you reach the Delectable Isle, which is near by the Red City. We +shall await here your return. If you speed well this castle is yours. +King Hermance built it for the two traitors, but we hold it against +them, and they threaten us sorely unless we yield it." + +"Look that you keep it, whatsoever may come to me," said Palamides. "For +if fortune decides that I am to be slain in this quest, I trust that one +of the best knights in the world will come to revenge me; either +Tristram de Lyonesse or Lancelot du Lake." + +Then Palamides entered the ship and sailed away towards the Red City. +But as he came near it, and landed on the coast, another ship touched +shore near by, from which came a goodly knight, with his shield on his +shoulder and his hand on his sword. + +"Sir knight, what seek you here?" he asked Palamides. "If you have come +to revenge King Hermance you must yield this quest to me, for it was +mine before it was yours, and I shall yield it to no man." + +"You speak like a true knight," said Palamides. "But when the letter was +taken from the dead king's hand there was nothing known of any champion +for him, and so I promised to revenge him. And this I must and shall do, +lest I win shame instead of honor." + +"You have right on your side," said the knight. "What I propose is this. +I will fight with you; and he who proves the better knight shall have +the quest." + +"That fits with my fancy," said Palamides; "for from what I hear no +second-rate champion can watch this pair of villains." + +With this they advanced their shields and drew their swords, and began a +stern and well-contested combat. For more than an hour the fight between +them continued, but at the end of this time Palamides seemed stronger +and better-winded than at the beginning, and he finally dealt his +opponent a blow that brought him to his knees. Then the discomfited +combatant cried out,-- + +"Knight, hold your hand." + +Palamides let fall his sword at this request. + +"You are the better of us two, and more worthy of this battle," said the +knight. "But fain would I know your name." + +"My name is Palamides. I am a Knight of the Round Table, and one well +known in Arthur's realm." + +"In good faith it is, and much beyond that realm," answered the knight. +"I know only three living men besides yourself who are fitted for this +task, and they are Lancelot, Tristram, and my cousin Lamorak. As for me, +my name is Hermind, and I am brother to the murdered King Hermance." + +"I shall do my best to revenge your brother," said Palamides. "If I am +slain, I commend you to Lancelot or Tristram. As for Lamorak, he will +never strike blow again." + +"Alas, what mean you?" + +"That he has been murdered--waylaid and slain treacherously by Gawaine +and his brothers, except Sir Gareth, the best of them all." And he told +the story of the death of Lamorak, much to the grief and indignation of +his hearer. + +Then Palamides took ship again, and sailed on till he came to the +Delectable Isle. Meanwhile Hermind made all haste to the Red City, where +he told of the arrival of the famous knight Palamides and of his combat +with him. The people were filled with joy at these tidings, and quickly +sent a messenger to the two brethren, bidding them to make ready, as a +knight had come who would fight them both. The messenger found them at a +castle near by, and delivered his message. + +"Who is this champion?" they asked. "Is it Lancelot or any of his +blood?" + +"No." + +"If it were, we would not fight. But we care for no one else." + +"It is a good knight though, Sir Palamides, a Saracen by birth, and +still unchristened." + +"He had best have been christened before he came here, for it will be +too late when we have done with him. Let him know that we will be at the +Red City in two days, and will give him all the fighting he is likely to +want for the rest of his life." + +When Palamides came to the city he was received with the greatest joy, +and the more so when the people saw what a handsome and well-built man +he was, neither too young nor too old, with clean and powerful limbs, +and no defect of body. + +At the time appointed there came to the city the two brethren, Helius +and Helake by name, both of them strong and valiant men, of great +prowess in war, false as they were at heart. And with them they brought +forty knights, to guard them against any treachery from the Red City, +for they knew well that it was filled with their enemies. + +The lists had already been prepared, and at the appointed hour Palamides +entered full armed, and confronted his antagonists boldly. + +"Are you the two brethren Helius and Helake, who slew your king by +treason?" he asked. + +"We are the men who slew King Hermance," they replied. "And bear in +mind, Sir Saracen, we are able to stand by our deeds, and will handle +you so before you depart that you will wish you had been christened +before you came so far." + +"I trust to God I shall die a better Christian than either of you," +Palamides replied. "And you had best kill me if you get the chance, for +I vow not to spare you." + +As he spoke the trumpet sounded, and, reining back their horses, they +rode against each other with terrific speed. Palamides directed his +spear against Helake, and struck him so mighty a blow that the spear +pierced through his shield and hauberk, and for a fathom's length +through his breast, hurling him dead to the earth. As for Helius, he +held up his spear in pride and presumption, and rode by Palamides +without touching him. + +But when he saw his brother stretched in death on the earth his +assurance changed to doubt, and rage drove the pride from his heart. +"Help thyself, villain!" he cried, and rushed upon Palamides before he +could prepare to encounter him, striking him a blow with his spear that +bore him from his saddle to the earth. Then he forced his horse over +him backward and forward before the dismounted champion could regain his +feet. + +As he came again, the fallen knight reached up and caught the horse by +the bridle, dragging himself by its aid to his feet. Then, as the animal +reared, he pressed so strongly upon it that it toppled backward to the +ground, the rider barely saving himself from being crushed beneath his +fallen horse. But he was on his feet in an instant, and, sword in hand, +struck Palamides a blow on the helm that brought him down to one knee. + +Before he could repeat the blow the gallant Saracen was on his feet and +had drawn his trenchant blade, with which he attacked his antagonist in +turn. A fierce and deadly combat succeeded, the two knights hurtling +together like two wild boars, now both hurled grovelling to the earth, +now on foot again and hewing at each other with the strength of giants. + +Thus for two hours they fought, without time for rest or a moment's +space to recover breath. At the end of that time Palamides grew faint +and weary from the violence of his efforts, but Helius seemed as strong +as ever, and redoubling his strokes he drove back the Saracen knight +step by step, over all the field. At this the people of the city were +filled with fear, while the party of Helius shouted with triumph. + +"Alas!" cried the citizens, "that this noble knight should be slain for +our king's sake." + +While they thus bewailed his threatened fate and the seeming victory of +their tyrant, Helius showered so many vigorous blows on his weakened +foe that it was a wonder he kept his feet. But when he saw how the +common people wept for him his heart was filled with a sense of shame, +while a glow of fury burned like fire in his veins. + +"Fie on you for a dastard, Palamides!" he said to himself. "Why hang you +your head so like a whipped hound?" + +Then, with a new spirit burning hotly within him, and fresh strength +animating his limbs, he lifted his drooping shield and turned on Helius +with lion-like fury, smiting him a vigorous blow on the helm, which he +followed quickly by others. This violent onset was too much for the +strained strength of the false knight, and he retreated in dismay, while +the sword of Palamides fell with ever more and more might. At length +came so mighty a blow that he was hurled like a log to the earth. The +victorious Saracen gave him no time to recover, but sprang upon him like +a fury, tore the helm from his head, and with a final stroke smote the +head from his body. + +Then he rose and stood leaning upon his sword, hardly able to bear +himself on his feet, while from all the people of the city went up loud +shouts of joy and congratulation. + +"Palamides, the conqueror! Palamides, our deliverer! Palamides, our +king!" they shouted, while one adorned his brows with a wreath of +laurel, and others tore off his armor and applied ointments to his +bleeding limbs. + +"Fair friends, your crown is not for me," he said. "I have delivered you +from your tyrants, but you must choose some other king, as I am under +promise to return with all speed to my lord King Arthur at the castle of +Lonazep." + +This decision filled them with grief, but they brought him to the city +and treated him with all the honor which they could bestow upon him. And +as he persisted in his refusal of the crown, they proffered him a third +part of their goods if he would remain with them. All this he declined, +and in a short time departed, bearing with him a thousand good wishes +and prayers for success and fortune. + +He was received with like joy and congratulation at the castle, Sir Ebel +warmly pressing him to change his decision and remain as their king. To +this Palamides would by no means consent, and after a day's stay he took +ship again, and sailed up the Humber to the castle of Lonazep. + +[Illustration: SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE TOURNAMENT AT LONAZEP. + + +When Palamides learned that Tristram was not at Lonazep, he tarried not +there, but crossed the Humber, and sought him at Joyous Gard. Here he +found lodgings in the town, and word was quickly brought to Tristram +that a knight-errant had come. + +"What manner of man is he? and what sign does he bear?" he asked. + +The messenger described his armor and appearance. + +"That is Palamides," said Dinadan. "The brave fellow is already back, +and victorious, I doubt not." + +"It looks that way, indeed. Go and bid him welcome to Joyous Gard," said +Tristram. + +So Dinadan went to Palamides, and joyfully greeted him, listening +eagerly to the story of his exploits, and congratulating him on his +signal success. He remained with him that night, and in the morning they +were visited by Tristram and Gareth before they had arisen. + +Many were the warm congratulations which Tristram gave Palamides on his +noble achievement, and after they had breakfasted he invited him to ride +into the fields and woods, that they might repose under the cool shelter +of the forest. Here they alighted by a refreshing spring, and as they +sat conversing an armed knight came riding towards them. + +"Who are those knights that are lodged in Joyous Gard?" he asked. + +"That I cannot say," answered Tristram. + +"At any rate you can tell me who you are. You are not knights-errant, I +fancy, since you ride unarmed." + +"Whether we be or no, we prefer not to tell our names." + +"You are not courteous, sir knight, and this is the way I pay +discourtesy," said the stranger. "Guard yourself, or you shall die by +my hands." + +Then, spear in hand, he rode on Sir Tristram, with brutal intent to run +him through. But Palamides sprang up hastily, and smote the knight's +horse so fierce a blow with his clinched fist that horse and man fell +together to the earth. He then drew his sword to slay him. + +"Let the dog go," said Tristram. "He is but a fool, and it were a shame +to slay him for his folly. Take the fellow's spear from him, though. It +is a weapon he has not learned the use of." + +The knight rose groaning, and when he had regained his saddle he again +requested their names. + +"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse, and this knight's name is Palamides. +Would you know more?" + +"No, by my faith!" cried the other, and, hastily putting spurs to his +horse, he rode away as fast as the animal would carry him. + +Hardly had he gone when a knight, who bore a bended shield of azure, +came riding up at a furious gallop. + +"My fair sirs," he asked, "has a knight passed here bearing a shield +with a case of red over it?" + +"Yes. We but now had some trouble with such a fellow. Who is he?" + +"And you let him escape? That was ill-advised, fair sirs. He is the +falsest rogue and the greatest foe to knights-errant living. His name is +Breuse Sans Pité." + +"And I had him under my sword!" cried Palamides. "Fool I was to let him +go." + +"If I overtake him there will be another story to tell," answered the +knight, as he spurred onward on the track of the fugitive. + +Then the four friends mounted and rode leisurely back towards Joyous +Gard, much conversing as they went. When they reached the castle +Palamides wished not to enter, but Tristram insisted on it, and, taking +him by the hand, led him in. + +When Palamides saw La Belle Isolde, whom he had not met for years, but +for whom his love burned as warmly as ever, he was so ravished with joy +that he could scarcely speak. And when they were at dinner he could not +eat a morsel, but sat like a dumb man, scarcely venturing to raise his +eyes to Isolde's lovely countenance. + +Poorly he slept that night, and with many dreams of her he loved. When +morning broke they all prepared to ride to Lonazep. Tristram took with +him three squires, and Queen Isolde had three gentlewomen, all attired +with great richness. These, with the other knights and their squires, +and valets to bear their shields and spears, formed their train. + +Not far had they gone before they saw on the road before them a group of +knights. Chief of these was the knight Galihodin, who was attended by +twenty companions. + +"Fair fellows," said Galihodin, "yonder come four knights escorting a +richly-attired lady. What say you? shall we take her from them?" + +"That is not the best counsel," said one. + +"At any rate, it is my counsel," answered Galihodin. "We shall show them +that we have the right of the road." And he sent a squire to them, +asking them if they would joust, or else lose their lady. + +"We are but four," said Tristram. "Tell your lord to come with three of +his comrades, and win her if he can." + +"Let me have this joust," said Palamides. "I will undertake them all +four." + +"As you will," said Tristram. "Go tell your lord that this one knight +will encounter him and any three of his fellows." + +The squire departed with his challenge, and in a trice Galihodin came +riding forward spear in rest. Palamides encountered him in mid career, +and smote him so hard a blow that he had a terrible fall to the earth, +and his horse with him. His three comrades were served in the same +summary manner, while Palamides still bore an unbroken spear. At this +unlooked-for result six knights rode out from the opposite party with +purpose of revenge on the victor. + +"Hold your hands," cried Galihodin. "Let not one of you touch this noble +knight, who has proved himself a man of worth. And I doubt if the whole +of you could handle him." + +When Palamides saw that the field was yielded to him he rode back to Sir +Tristram. + +"Well and worshipfully have you done," said Tristram. "No man could have +surpassed you." + +Onward they rode again, and in a little while after met four knights in +the highway, with spears in rest. These were Gawaine and three +companions. This joust also Tristram gave to Palamides, and he served +these four as he had served the others, leaving them all unhorsed in +the road. For the presence of La Belle Isolde gave the strength of ten +men to the arm of her lover, the Saracen. + +They now continued their route without molestation, and in good time +reached the spot where Tristram had ordered his pavilions to be set up. +Here were now many more pavilions than they had seen on their previous +visit, and a great array of knights, who had been gathering for many +days, for far and wide had spread the news of the great tournament. + +Leaving Palamides and Gareth at the pavilions with Queen Isolde, +Tristram and Dinadan rode to Lonazep to learn what was afoot, Tristram +riding on the Saracen knight's white horse. As they came into the castle +the sound of a great bugle-blast met their ears, and many knights +crowded forward. + +"What means the blast?" asked Tristram. + +"Sir," answered a knight, "it comes from the party who hold against King +Arthur at this tournament. These are the kings of Ireland, of Surluse, +of Listinoise, of Northumberland, of North Wales, and of other +countries. They are calling a council to decide how they shall be +governed in the lists." + +Tristram thereupon followed them to their council, and listened to the +debate. He then sought his horse again, and rode by where King Arthur +stood surrounded by a press of knights. Among those were Galihodin and +Gawaine, who said to the king: "That knight in the green harness, with +the white horse, is a man of might, whoever he be. To-day he overthrew +us both, with six of our fellows." + +"Who can he be?" said the king, and he called Tristram to him, and +requested to know his name. + +"I beg pardon, my liege lord," answered Tristram, "and pray that you +will hold me excused from revealing my name at this time," and he turned +his horse and rode away. + +"Go after him, Sir Griflet," said the king. "Tell him that I wish to +speak with him apart." + +Griflet rode to Tristram and told him the king's wish, and the two +returned in company. + +"Fair sir," said the king, "what is the cause that you withhold your +name?" + +"I have an excellent reason, but beg that you will not press me for it." + +"With which party do you hold?" + +"Truly, my lord, that I cannot say. Where my heart draws or my fancy +bids I will go. To-morrow you shall see which side I take. To-day I know +not myself." + +Leaving the king, he rode back to where his pavilions were set. When the +morning dawned he and his three companions armed themselves all in green +and rode to the lists. Here young knights had begun to joust, and, +seeing this, Gareth asked leave of Tristram to break a spear. + +"Go in and do your best if you care to play with beginners," said +Tristram, laughing. + +But Gareth found himself encountered by a nephew of the king with the +hundred knights, who had some of his uncle's tough fibre, and both got +ugly falls, and lay on the ground till they were helped up by their +friends. Then Tristram and Palamides rode with Gareth back to the +pavilions, where they removed their helmets. When Isolde saw Gareth all +bruised in the face, she asked him what ailed him. + +"Madam, I had a hard buffet, and gave another, but none of my fellows +would rescue me." + +"Only unproved knights are yet in the field," said Palamides. "The man +that met you, though, was a strong and well-trained knight, Sir Selises +by name, so you have no dishonor. Rest here and get yourself in +condition for to-morrow's work." + +"I shall not fail you if I can bestride my horse," said Gareth. + +"What party is it best for us to join to-morrow?" asked Tristram. + +"Against King Arthur, is my advice," said Palamides. "Lancelot and many +other good men will be on his side, and the more men of prowess we meet +the more honor we will win." + +"Well and knightly spoken," said Tristram. "Hard blows is what we court. +Your counsel is well given." + +"So think we all," said the others. + +On the morrow, when day had broken, they arrayed themselves in green +trappings, with shields and spears of green, while Isolde and her three +damsels wore dresses of the same color. For the ladies Tristram found +seats in a bay window of a priory which overlooked the field, and from +which they could see all that took place. This done, they rode straight +to the party of the king of Scots. + +When Arthur saw this he asked Lancelot who were these knights and the +queenly lady who came with them. + +"That I cannot say for certain. Yet if Tristram and Palamides be in this +country then it is they and La Belle Isolde." + +Then Arthur turned to Kay and said,-- + +"Go to the hall and see how many Knights of the Round Table are missing, +and bring me word." + +Kay did so, and found by the roll of knights that ten were +wanting,--Tristram, Dinadan, and eight others. + +"Then I dare say," remarked Arthur, "that some of these are here to-day +against us." + +The tournament began with a combat in which two knights, cousins to +Gawaine, named Sir Edward and Sir Sadok, rode against the king of Scots +and the king of North Wales and overthrew them both. This Palamides saw, +and in return he spurred upon these victorious knights and hurled both +of them from their saddles. + +"What knight is that in green?" asked Arthur. "He is a mighty jouster." + +"You will see him do better yet," said Gawaine. "It was he that unhorsed +me and seven others two days ago." + +As they stood talking Tristram rode into the lists on a black horse, and +within a few minutes he smote down four knights of Orkney, while Gareth +and Dinadan each unhorsed a good knight. + +"Yonder is another fellow of marvellous arm," said Arthur; "that green +knight on the black horse." + +"He has not begun his work yet," said Gawaine. "It is plain that he is +no common man." + +And so it proved, for Sir Tristram pushed fiercely into the press, +rescued the two kings who had been unhorsed, and did such mighty work +among the opposing party that all who saw him marvelled to behold one +man do so many valiant deeds. Nor was the career of Palamides less +marvellous to the spectators. + +King Arthur, who watched them both with admiring eyes, likened Tristram +to a furious lion, and Palamides to a maddened leopard, and Gareth and +Dinadan, who seconded them strongly, to eager wolves. So fiercely did +Tristram rage, indeed, among the knights of Orkney that at length they +withdrew from the field, as no longer able to face him. + +Then loud went up the cry of the heralds and the common people,-- + +"The green knight has beaten all Orkney!" And the heralds took account +that not less than fifty knights had been smitten down by the four +champions in green. + +"This will not do," said Arthur. "Our party will be overmatched if these +fellows rage on at such a rate. Come, Lancelot, you and Hector and +Bleoberis must try your hands, and I will make a fourth." + +"Let it be so," answered Lancelot. "Let me take him on the black horse, +and Bleoberis him on the white. Hector shall match him on the gray +horse" (Sir Gareth). + +"And I," said Arthur, "will face the knight on the grizzled steed" (Sir +Dinadan). + +With this conversation they armed and rode to the lists. Here Lancelot +rode against Tristram and smote him so hard a blow that horse and man +went to the earth, while his three companions met with the same ill +fortune from their new antagonists. + +This disaster raised a cry throughout the lists: "The green knights are +down! Rescue the green knights! Let them not be held prisoners!" For the +understanding was that any unhorsed knight not rescued by his own +strength or by his fellows should be held as prisoner. + +Then the king of North Wales rode straight to Tristram, and sprang from +his horse, crying,-- + +"Noble knight, I know not of what country you are, but beg you to take +my horse, for you have proved yourself worthier to bestride it than I +am." + +"Many thanks," said Tristram. "I shall try and do you as welcome a turn. +Keep near us, and I may soon win you another horse." + +Then he sprang to the saddle, and meeting with King Arthur struck him so +fierce a sword-blow on the helm that he had no power to keep his saddle. + +"Here is the horse promised you," cried Tristram to the king of North +Wales, who was quickly remounted on King Arthur's horse. + +Then came a hot contest around the king, one party seeking to mount him +again and the other to hold him prisoner. Palamides thrust himself, on +foot, into the press, striking such mighty blows to the right and left +that the whole throng were borne back before him. At the same time +Tristram rode into the thickest of the throng of knights and cut a way +through them, hurling many of them to the earth. + +This done, he left the lists and rode to his pavilion, where he changed +his horse and armor; he who had gone forth as a green knight coming back +to the fray as a red one. + +When Queen Isolde saw that Tristram was unhorsed, and lost sight of him +in the press, she wept greatly, fearing that some harm had come to him. +But when he rode back she knew him in an instant, despite his red +disguise, and her heart swelled anew with joy as she saw him with one +spear smite down five knights. Lancelot, too, now knew him, and withdrew +from the lists lest he should encounter him again. + +All this time Tristram's three friends had not been able to regain their +saddles, but now he drove back the press and helped them again to horse, +and, though they knew him not in his new array, they aided him with all +their knightly prowess. + +When Isolde, at her window, saw what havoc her chosen knight was making, +she leaned eagerly forth and laughed and smiled in delight. This +Palamides saw, and the vision of her lovely and smiling countenance +filled his soul so deeply with love's rejoicing that there seemed to +flow into him the strength and spirit of ten men, and, with a shout of +knightly challenge, he pressed forward, smiting down with spear and +sword every man he encountered. For his heart was so enamoured by the +vision of that charming face that Tristram or Lancelot would then have +had much ado to stand before him. + +"Truly Palamides is a noble warrior," said Tristram, when he beheld +this. "I never saw him do such deeds as he has done this day, nor heard +of his showing such prowess." + +"It is his day," said Dinadan, simply. But to himself he said, "If you +knew for whose love he does these valorous deeds, you would soon be in +the field against him." + +"It is a crying pity that so brave a knight should be a pagan," said +Tristram. + +"It is my fancy," said Dinadan to himself, "that you may thank Queen +Isolde for what you have seen; if she had not been here to-day that +shouting throng would not be giving Palamides the palm of the tourney." + +At this juncture Lancelot came again into the field, and hearing the +outcry in favor of Palamides he set his spear in rest and spurred upon +him. Palamides, seeing this, and having no spear, coolly awaited +Lancelot, and as he came up smote his spear in two with a sword-stroke. +Then he rushed upon him and struck his horse so hard a blow in the neck +that the animal fell, bearing his rider to the ground. + +Loud and fierce was the outcry then: "Palamides the Saracen has smitten +Sir Lancelot's horse! It is an unknightly deed!" + +And Hector de Maris, seeing his brother Lancelot thus unfairly +dismounted, rushed upon Palamides in a rage, and bore him from his horse +with a mighty spear-thrust. + +"Take heed to yourself, sirrah," cried Lancelot, springing towards him +sword in hand. "You have done me a sorry deed, and by my knightly honor +I will repay you for it." + +"I humbly beg your pardon, noble sir," answered Palamides. "I have done +so much this day that I have no power or strength left to withstand you. +Forgive me my hasty and uncourteous deed, and I promise to be your +knight while I live." + +"You have done marvellously well indeed," said Lancelot. "I understand +well what power moves you. Love is a mighty mistress, and if she I love +were here to-day you should not bear away the honor of the field, though +you have nobly won it. Beware that Tristram discovers not your love, or +you may repent it. But I have no quarrel with you, and will not seek to +take from you the honor of the day." + +So Lancelot suffered Palamides to depart, and mounted his own horse +again, despite twenty knights who sought to hinder him. Lancelot, +Tristram, and Palamides did many more noble deeds before that day's end, +and so great became the medley at length that the field seemed a dense +mass of rearing and plunging horses and struggling knights. + +At length Arthur bade the heralds to blow to lodging and the fray ended. +And since Palamides had been in the field from first to last, without +once withdrawing, and had done so many, noble and valiant deeds, the +honor and the prize for the day were unanimously voted him, a judgment +which Arthur and the kings of his counsel unanimously confirmed. + +But when Palamides came to understand that the red knight who had +rescued him was Sir Tristram his heart was glad, for all but Dinadan +fancied he had been taken prisoner. Much was the talk upon the events of +the day, and great the wonder of king and knights at the remarkable +valor of the Saracen knight. + +"And yet I well know," said Lancelot, "that there was a better knight +there than he. And take my word for it, this will be proved before the +tournament ends." + +This also thought Dinadan, and he rallied his friend Tristram with +satirical tongue. + +"What the fiend has ailed you to-day?" he asked. "Palamides grew in +strength from first to last, but you have been like a man asleep, or a +coward knight." + +"I was never called coward before," said Tristram, hotly. "The only fall +I got was from Lancelot, and him I hold as my better, and for that +matter the better of any man alive." + +But Dinadan kept up his railing accusations till the growing anger of +Tristram warned him to desist. Yet this was all from friendship, not +from spite, for he wished to stir up his friend to do his best in the +lists the coming day, and not permit the Saracen again to carry off the +prize. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. + + +When the next morning dawned, Tristram, Palamides, and Gareth, with La +Belle Isolde and her ladies, all arrayed as before in green, took horse +at an early hour, and rode into the fresh forest. But Dinadan was left +still asleep in bed. As they passed the castle at a little distance, it +chanced that King Arthur and Lancelot saw them from an upper window. + +"Yonder rideth the fairest lady of the world," said Lancelot, "always +excepting your queen, Guenever." + +"Who is it?" asked Arthur. + +"It is La Belle Isolde, Cornwall's queen and Tristram's lady-love." + +"By my troth, I should like to see her closer," said the king. "Let us +arm and mount, and ride after them." + +This they did, and in a short time were on the track of the gay +cavalcade they had seen. + +"Let us not be too hasty," warned Lancelot. "There are some knights who +resent being intruded on abruptly; particularly if in the company of +ladies." + +"As for that, we must take our chances," said Arthur. "If they feel +aggrieved I cannot help it, for I am bent on seeing Queen Isolde." + +Seeing Tristram and his companions just in advance, Arthur rode briskly +up and saluted Isolde courteously, saying, "God save you, fair lady." + +"Thanks for your courtesy, sir knight," she replied. + +Then Arthur looked upon her charming countenance, freshened by the +morning air, and thought in his mind that Lancelot had spoken but the +truth, and that no more beautiful lady lived. But at this moment +Palamides rode up. + +"Sir knight, what seek you here?" he asked. "It is uncourteous to come +on a lady so suddenly. Your intrusion is not to our liking, and I bid +you to withdraw." + +Arthur paid no heed to these words, but continued to gaze upon Isolde, +as one stricken with admiration. Seeing this, Palamides flamed into +anger, and spurred fiercely upon the king, with spear in rest, smiting +him from his horse. + +"Here is an awkward business," said Lancelot to himself. "If I ride down +Palamides I shall have Tristram on me; and the pair of them would be too +much for me. This comes from too head-strong a will. But whether I live +or die I must stand by my lord and king." Then riding forward, he called +to Palamides, "Keep thee from me!" + +Fierce was the onset with which they met, but it ended in Lancelot's +favor, for Palamides was flung from his saddle and had a hard fall. + +When Tristram saw this he called to Lancelot, "Be on your guard, sir +knight. You have unhorsed my comrade, and must joust with me." + +"I have no dread of that," said Lancelot; "and yet I did but avenge my +lord, who was unhorsed unwarily and unknightly. You have no cause for +displeasure; for no honorable knight could stand by and see his friend +ill-treated." + +Tristram now felt sure that it was Lancelot who spoke, and that it was +King Arthur whom Palamides had unhorsed. He therefore laid aside his +spear and helped Palamides again to his saddle, while Lancelot did the +same for the king. + +"That deed of thine was not knightly nor courteous," said Tristram, +sternly to Palamides, after the others had departed. "I cannot see any +harm in a knight accosting a lady gently and courteously; nor am I +pleased to have you play such masteries before my lady. If I deem her +insulted, I am quite able myself to protect her. And if I am not +mistaken, it was King Arthur you assailed so rudely, and the other was +Lancelot du Lake. You may yet have to pay for your violence." + +"I cannot think," said Palamides, "that the great Arthur would ride thus +secretly arrayed as a poor knight-errant." + +"Then you know him not," said Tristram. "No knight living is fonder of +adventure. King Arthur is always ready to take his part as an errant +knight, nor does he bear malice against those who may overthrow him when +in disguise. I tell you, Palamides, that our king is the true model of +knightly honor, and that the best of us might learn from him." + +"If it were he I am sorry," said Palamides. "I may have been over-hasty. +But a thing that is done cannot be undone, and I must abide the +consequences." + +Then Tristram sent Isolde to her lodging in the priory, from which she +might behold the tournament, and made ready to enter the lists. + +Fierce was the shock of the first encounter of the knights, and the +three champions in green began the day with many deeds of might. + +"How feel you?" asked Tristram of Palamides. "Are you able to repeat +yesterday's work?" + +"Hardly," was the reply. "I am weary and sore yet from my hard labors." + +"I am sorry for that, as I shall miss your aid." + +"Trust not to me," answered Palamides. "I have not much work left in +me." + +"Then I must depend on you," said Tristram to Gareth. "We two should be +able to make our mark. Keep near me and rescue me if I get in trouble, +and I will do the same for you." + +"I shall not fail you," was the reply. + +Leaving them, Palamides rode off by himself, and, pushing into the +thickest press of the men of Orkney, did such deeds of arms that +Tristram looked on in amazement. + +"Is that his soreness and weariness?" he asked. "I fancy he is weary of +my company, and wishes to win all the honor to his own hand." + +"That is what Dinadan meant yesterday when he called you coward," said +Gareth. "He but wished to stir you to anger so that Palamides should not +rob you of credit." + +"By my faith, if Palamides bears me ill will and envy I shall show him +what a knight of Cornwall can do. He has gained the acclamations of the +crowd already. He has left our company and we owe him no courtesy. You +shall see me rob him of his honors." + +Then Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, and laid about him +with such might that all eyes were turned upon him, and men began to +say, "There is a greater than Palamides come into the field." + +"Is it not as I told you?" said Lancelot to Arthur. "I said you would +this day see the Saracen distanced." + +"It is true enough," answered Arthur. "Palamides has not such strength +of arm." + +"It is Tristram himself you look upon." + +"That I can well believe," said Arthur. "Such knights as he do not grow +like mushrooms in every field." + +The noise from the other part of the lists now drew the attention of +Palamides, and when he saw what puissant deeds his late comrade was +doing he wept for spite, for he saw that the honor of that day was not +for him. + +Seeing to what straits their party was put, Arthur and Lancelot and many +other knights now armed and rode into the field, and by their aid so +changed the tide of victory that the other side was driven quite back, +until Tristram and Gareth stood alone, bravely abiding all who came upon +them. But Lancelot and his kinsmen kept purposely away from them. + +"See," said Lancelot to Arthur, "how Palamides hovers yonder like one in +a dream, sick, I fancy, from envy of Tristram." + +"Then he is but a fool," said the king. "He is not and never was the +match of Tristram. I am glad to see the fellow repaid for the way he +served me this morning." + +As they stood thus conversing, Tristram withdrew quietly from the lists, +his going noted only by Isolde and Palamides, who kept their eyes upon +him. He rode back to his pavilions, where he found Dinadan still asleep, +his slumbers not broken by all the uproar of the tournament. + +"As I am a living man, here is a lusty sleeper," cried Tristram. "Wake, +Dinadan. The day is half spent and the field half won, and here you are +still a-bed." + +At this Dinadan sprang hastily up and rubbed his eyes. + +"I dreamt of wars and jousts," he said. "And, i' faith, I like that way +the best, for one gets all the good of the fight and is safe from sore +limbs and aching bones. But what's to do?" + +"Get on your harness and ride with me to the field. You will find +something there to waken you up." + +Dinadan, as he armed, noted Tristram's battered shield, and remarked,-- + +"I slept both well and wisely, it seems. If I had been there I must have +followed you, from shame if not from courage. And by the looks of your +shield I would have been worse battered than I was yesterday. Why did +you not let me sleep out the balance of it, friend Tristram?" + +"A truce with your jests. Come, we must to the field again." + +"How now, is there a new deal in the game? Yesterday you did but dream; +to-day you seem awake." + +Meanwhile Tristram had changed his armor, and now was attired all in +black. + +"You have more fight in you than you had yesterday, that is sure," said +Dinadan. "Did I stir up your sleeping spirit?" + +"It may be so," said Tristram, smiling. "Keep well up to me, and I shall +make you a highway through the press. If you see me overmatched, do what +you can to aid me." + +When ready they took their horses and rode back to the lists, where +Isolde and Palamides noted their entrance. When the Saracen saw that +Tristram was disguised, a new fancy came into his scheming brain. +Leaving the lists, he rode to where a knight sat sorely wounded under a +tree outside. Him he prayed for an exchange of armor, saying that his +own was too well known in the field, and that he wished for a disguise. + +"That is very true," said the knight, as he recognized the green armor. +"You have made your array somewhat too well known. You are welcome to my +arms, if they will be of use to you. They will gain more credit in your +hands than they have won in mine." + +Palamides thereupon exchanged armor with him, and, taking his shield, +which shone like silver, rode into the field. He now joined the party of +King Arthur, and rode spitefully against Tristram, who had just struck +down three knights. They met with such force that both spears splintered +to their hands, though neither lost his seat. Then they dashed eagerly +together with drawn swords and fought with the courage and fury of two +lions. But Tristram wondered much what knight this was that faced him +so valiantly, and grew angry as he felt that he was wasting in this +single combat the strength he wished to treasure up for the day's work. + +La Belle Isolde, who had watched Palamides from her window, had seen him +change his armor with the wounded knight. And when his treacherous +purpose came to her mind she wept so heartily and was so deeply +disturbed that she swooned away. + +At this juncture in the fray Lancelot rode again into the field, and +when the knights of Arthur's party saw him the cry went up. "Return, +return, here comes Sir Lancelot du Lake!" + +And some said to him, "Sir Lancelot, yonder knight in the black harness +is your man. He is the best of our opponents, and has nearly overcome +the good knight with the silver shield." + +At this Lancelot rode between the combatants, and cried to Palamides,-- + +"Let me have this battle; you need repose." + +Palamides knew Lancelot, and readily gave way, hoping through his mighty +aid to gain revenge upon his rival. Then Lancelot fell upon Tristram, +and, unknowing who he was, dealt him blows that would have stunned a +less hardy fighter. Tristram returned them but feebly, for he knew well +with whom he fought. And Isolde, who saw it all, was half out of her +mind with grief. + +Dinadan now told Gareth who the knight in black armor was, and said, +"Lancelot will get the better of him, for one is weary and the other +fresh, and Tristram is not fighting with his old vim. Let us to his +aid." + +"I am with you," said Gareth. "Yonder fellow with the silver shield is +waiting to fall on Tristram, if he can to advantage. It is our business +to give our friend what help we can." + +Then they rode in, and Gareth struck Lancelot a sword-blow that made his +head swim, while Dinadan followed with a spear-thrust that bore horse +and man together to the earth. + +"Why do you this?" cried Tristram, angrily. "It is not a knightly act, +and does not that good knight any dishonor. I was quite his match +without you." + +Then Palamides came to Lancelot's aid, and a close medley of fighting +began, in which Dinadan was unhorsed and Tristram pulled Palamides from +his saddle, and fell with him. Dinadan now sprang up and caught +Tristram's horse by the bridle, calling out, with purpose to end the +fight,-- + +"My lord Sir Tristram, take your horse." + +"What is this?" cried Lancelot. "What have I done? Sir Tristram, why +came you here disguised? Surely I would not have drawn sword on you, had +I known you." + +"Sir," said Tristram, "this is not the first honor you have done me." + +Then they mounted their horses again, while the people on one side gave +Lancelot the honor of the fray, and those on the other side gave it to +Tristram. + +"The honor is not mine," said Lancelot. "He has been longer in the +field, and has smitten down many more knights; so I give my voice for +Sir Tristram, and pray to all my lords and fellows to do the same." + +This was the verdict of the judges, and the prize of that day's tourney +was by all voted to the noble Sir Tristram. + +Then the trumpets blew to lodging, and the knights left the field, while +Queen Isolde was conducted to her pavilion. But her heart burned hot +with wrath against Palamides, all whose treachery she had seen. As +Tristram rode forward with Gareth and Dinadan, Palamides joined them, +still disguised. + +"Sir knight," said Tristram, "you are not of our party, and your company +is not welcome. So begone." + +"Not I," he answered. "One of the best knights in the world bade me keep +fellowship with you, and till he relieve me from that service I must +obey him." + +"Ha, Palamides, I know you now!" said Tristram. "But, by my faith, I did +not know you before, for I deemed you a worthy knight and not a traitor. +I could have handled you well enough, but you brought Lancelot to your +aid against me." + +"Are you my lord, Sir Tristram?" said Palamides, in a tone of surprise. + +"That you know, well enough." + +"How should I know it any more than you knew me? I deemed you the king +of Ireland, for you bear his arms." + +"I won them in battle, from his champion Sir Marhaus," said Tristram. + +"Sir," answered Palamides, "I fancied you had joined Lancelot's party, +and that caused me to turn to the same side." + +"If that be so, I forgive you," said Tristram. + +But when they reached the pavilion and had disarmed and washed, and were +come to table, Isolde grew red with wrath on seeing Palamides. + +"You traitor and felon!" she cried, "how dare you thrust yourself into +this goodly company? You know not how falsely he has treated you, my +lord Tristram. I saw it all. He watched you when you rode to your tent +and donned the black armor. Then he changed armor with a wounded knight +and rode back and wilfully changed sides, and drew sword upon you. I saw +it all, my lord, and I impeach him of treason." + +"Madam," said Palamides, calmly, "you may say what you will. I cannot in +courtesy deny you. Yet by my knighthood I declare I knew not Sir +Tristram." + +"I will take your excuse," said Tristram, "though it seems a lame one. +You spared me little in the field, but all that I have pardoned." + +At this, Isolde held down her head in despite and said no more. + +While they were still at table two knights rode to the pavilions, and +entered in full armor. + +"Fair sirs," said Tristram, "is this courtesy, to come upon us thus +armed at our meal?" + +"We come with no ill intent," said one, "but as your friends, Sir +Tristram." + +"I am come," said the other, "to greet you as a friend and comrade, and +my companion is eager to see and welcome La Belle Isolde." + +"Then remove your helms, that I may see what guests I have." + +"That we do, willingly." + +No sooner were their helmets off than Tristram sprang hastily to his +feet. + +"Madam, arise," he cried; "this is none less than my lord King Arthur; +and this my very dear friend Sir Lancelot." + +Then the king and queen kissed, and Lancelot and Tristram warmly +embraced, while deep joy filled all hearts there. At the request of +Isolde the visitors removed their armor and joined them at their meal. + +"Many is the day that I have longed to see you," said Arthur to Isolde, +"for much praise have I heard of you, and not without warrant. For a +nobler match for beauty and valor than you and Sir Tristram the world +does not hold." + +"We thank you heartily," replied Tristram and Isolde. "Such praise from +King Arthur is the highest honor that men's lips could give." + +Then they talked of other things, but mainly of the tournament. + +"Why were you against us?" asked Arthur. "You are a Knight of the Round +Table, and have fought to-day against your own." + +"Here is Dinadan, and your own nephew Gareth. You must blame them for +that," said Tristram, smiling. + +"You may lay all the blame on my shoulders, if Tristram wishes it," said +Gareth. + +"Not on mine, then," said Dinadan. "Mine are only broad enough to carry +my own sins. It was this unhappy Tristram brought us to the tournament, +and I owe to him a whole body full of aches and pains as it is, without +taking any of his sins in my sack, to boot." + +At this the king and Lancelot laughed heartily, and the more so at the +sour grimace with which Dinadan ended. + +"What knight was he with the shield of silver that held you so short?" +asked Arthur. + +"Here he sits," said Tristram. + +"What! was it Palamides?" + +"None less than he," said Isolde. + +"That was not a courteous action." + +"Sir," said Palamides, "Tristram was so disguised that I knew him not." + +"That may well be," said Lancelot, "for I knew him no better." + +"However it be, we are friends again," said Tristram, "and I hope will +continue so." + +And so the evening passed, till the time came for Arthur and Lancelot to +take their leave. + +That night Palamides slept not for the pain and envy that burned in his +heart. But when his friends entered his chamber in the morning they +found him fast asleep, with his cheeks stained with tears. + +"Say nothing," said Tristram. "The poor fellow has been deeply wounded +by the rebuke that I and Isolde gave him. Lay no heavier load upon his +heart." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE WOES OF TWO LOVERS. + + +Early on the third morning of the tournament the knights of Tristram's +party were up and armed, they now being all arrayed in red, as was also +Isolde and her maidens. And rare was the show they made as they rode +gayly to the priory, where they left Isolde and her maidens to occupy +their proper seats. As the knights turned thence towards the field they +heard three loud bugle-blasts, and saw the throng of armed knights press +eagerly forward, while already from the listed space came the thunder of +hoofs and the cries of combatants. + +Into the field they rode, Palamides in advance, and such havoc did he +make in the opposing ranks that shouts of approval went up from all the +seats. But Tristram now rode forward at the full speed of his great +war-horse, hurled Kay the seneschal from his saddle, smote down three +other knights with the same spear, and then, drawing his sword, laid +about him like a roused giant. + +Quickly changed the cry from Palamides. "O Tristram! O Tristram!" +shouted the throng of spectators, and the deeds of this new champion +threw those of the former victor into the shade. + +Gareth and Dinadan also nobly aided the two champions, rousing the +admiration of Arthur and Lancelot by their gallantry, and the four +knightly comrades soon cleared a wide space in the ranks before them. + +"Come," said Arthur, "we must to the rescue, or our side will be driven +from the field before the day is an hour old. See how the others crowd +in on Tristram's steps, like wolves to the prey." + +Then he and Lancelot hastily armed and sought the field, where they +quickly fought their way into the thickest press of the tumult. +Tristram, not knowing them, rode upon them and thrust King Arthur from +his horse, and when Lancelot rushed to his rescue he was surrounded with +such an eager host that he was pulled from his saddle to the ground. + +Seeing this, the kings of Ireland and Scotland, with their knights, +rushed forward to take Lancelot and Arthur prisoners. But they counted +without their host, for the dismounted knights laid about them like +angry lions, driving back all who came near them. Of all that passed in +that hot turmoil it were too much to say. Many a knight there did deeds +of great prowess, and Arthur and Lancelot being mounted again, strewed +the earth with fallen knights, Lancelot that day unhorsing thirty +warriors. Yet the other side held so firmly together that, with all +their ardent labor, Arthur and his party were overmatched. + +At this juncture, Tristram turned to his companions and said,-- + +"My good comrades, I begin to fancy that we are to-day on the wrong +side. King Arthur's party is overborne more by numbers than valor, for I +must say I never saw so few men do so well. It would be a shame for us, +who are Knights of the Round Table, to see our lord Arthur and our good +comrade Lancelot dishonored. I am in the humor to change sides, and help +our king and liege lord." + +"We are with you in that," cried Gareth and Dinadan. "We have been +fighting against the grain these three days." + +"Do as you will," said Palamides. "I shall not change my hand in the +midst of the fray." + +"As you will," said Tristram. "You are your own master. Speed well in +your way, and we will do our best in ours." + +Then he, Gareth, and Dinadan drew out of the press and rode round to +Arthur's side, where they lent such noble aid that the fortune of the +field quickly changed, and the opposing party began to give ground. As +for Palamides, King Arthur struck him so fierce a blow that he was +hurled from his horse, while Tristram and Lancelot unhorsed all before +them. Such havoc did they make, indeed, that the party of the opposing +kings was soon in full flight from the field, bearing Palamides, who +wept for rage and grief, with them. + +Then rarely sounded the trumpets, and loudly shouted the spectators, +while the names of Tristram and Lancelot were in every mouth, some +voting one the prize, some the other. But neither of these good comrades +would have it alone, so that in the end it was divided between them. + +When evening drew near, and the knights had all withdrawn to their +pavilions, Palamides rode up to that of Sir Tristram, in company with +the kings of Wales and Scotland. Here he drew up his horse, praying his +companions to wait a while while he spoke to the knight within. Then he +cried loudly at the entrance,-- + +"Where are you, Tristram of Lyonesse?" + +"Is that you, Palamides?" answered the knight. "Will you not dismount +and join us?" + +"I seek better company, sir traitor," cried Palamides, in tones that +trembled with fury. "I hate you now as much as I once esteemed you, and +bear this in mind, if it were daylight as it is night, I would slay you +with my own hands. You shall die yet for this day's deeds." + +"You blame me wrongly, Palamides," said Tristram, mildly. "If you had +done as I advised you would have won honor instead of disgrace. Why come +you here seeking to lay your own fault on me? Since you give me such +broad warning, I shall be well on my guard against you." + +"Well you may, sir dastard, for I love you not," and, fiercely spurring +his horse, the hot-blooded Saracen joined his kingly companions. + +When the next day dawned the festive array which had long spread bustle +and splendor round Lonazep broke up, and knights and ladies rode off in +all directions through the land, to carry far and wide the story of the +wondrous deeds of valor that had been performed at the great tournament. +Tristram and his two comrades, with Hector de Maris and Bleoberis, +escorted La Belle Isolde to Joyous Gard, where for seven days the guests +were nobly entertained, with all the sports and mirthfulness that could +be devised. King Arthur and his knights drew back to Camelot, and +Palamides rode onward with the two kings, his heart torn with mingled +sorrow and despair. Not alone was he in grief for his disgrace in the +field, under the eyes of her he loved, but was full as sorrowful for the +hot words he had spoken in his wrath to Tristram, who had been so kind +and gentle to him that his heart was torn to think how falsely and +treacherously he had requited him. + +His kingly companions would have had him stay with them, but he could +not be persuaded, so the king of Ireland presented him with a noble +courser, and the king of Scotland with valuable gifts, and he rode his +way, still plunged in a grief that was almost despair. Noon brought him +to a forest fountain, beside which lay a wounded knight, who sighed so +mournfully that the very leaves on the trees seemed to sigh in echo. + +"Why mourn you so, fair knight?" asked Palamides, mildly. "Or if you +care not to tell, at least let me lie beside you and join my moans to +yours, for I dare say I have a hundredfold deeper cause for grief, and +we may ease our hearts by mutual complaints." + +"What is your name, gentle sir?" + +"Such as I am, for better or worse, men call me Palamides, son to King +Astlabor." + +"Noble sir, it solaces me much to meet you. I am Epinegris, son to the +king of Northumberland. Now repose you on this mossy bank and let us +tell our woes, and so ease somewhat our sad hearts." + +Then Palamides dismounted and laid himself beside the wounded knight. + +"This is my source of woe," he said. "I love the fairest queen that ever +drew breath, La Belle Isolde, Cornwall's queen." + +"That is sheer folly," said Epinegris, "for she loves none but Tristram +de Lyonesse." + +"Know I it not? I have been in their company this month, daily reaping +sorrow. And now I have lost the fellowship of Tristram and the love of +Isolde forever, through my envy and jealousy, and never more shall a +glad thought enter my sorrowful heart." + +"Did she ever show you signs of love?" + +"Never. She hated me, I fear. And the last day we met she gave me such a +rebuke that I will never recover from it:--yet well I deserved it by my +unknightly acts. Many great deeds have I done for her love, yet never +shall I win a smile from her eyes." + +"Deep is your grief, indeed," said Epinegris, with a heart-breaking +sigh, "yet it is but a jest to my sorrow. For my lady loved me, and I +won her with my hands. But, alas! this day I have lost her and am left +here to moan. I took her from an earl and two knights that were with +her; but as we sat here this day, telling each other of our loves, there +came an errant knight, named Helior de Preuse, and challenged me to +fight for my lady. You see what followed. He wounded me so that he left +me for dead and took my lady with him. So my sorrow is deepest, for I +have rejoiced in my love, and you never have. To have and lose is far +worse than never to own." + +"That is true," said Palamides. "But yet I have the deepest cause for +grief, for your love is not hopeless, like mine. And I shall prove this, +for if I can find this Helior he shall be made to yield you your lady, +unless he prove able to deal with me as he has with you." + +Then he helped Epinegris on his horse and led him to a hermitage near +by, where he left him under the care of the holy hermit. Here Palamides +stayed not long, but walked out under the shadow of the green leaves, to +be a while alone with his woes. But not far had he gone before he saw +near him a knight, who bore a shield that he had seen Hector de Maris +wear. With him were ten other knights, who sheltered themselves from the +noontide heat under the green leaves. + +As they stood there another knight came by whose shield was green, with +a white lion in its midst, and who led a lady on a palfrey. As he came +up, the knight who bore Sir Hector's shield rode fiercely after him, and +bade him turn and defend his lady. + +"That I must, in knightly duty," cried the other. + +Then the two knights rode together with such might that horses and men +together were hurled to the earth. Drawing their swords, they now fought +sturdily for the space of an hour. In the end the knight of the white +lion was stricken to the earth and forced to beg for his life. + +Palamides stood under the leaves, watching this combat till it came to +its end. Then he went to the lady, whom he believed to be her whom he +had promised to rescue. Taking her gently by the hand, he asked her if +she knew a knight named Epinegris. + +"Alas! that ever I did," she sadly replied. "For his sake I have lost my +liberty, and for mine he has lost his life." + +"Not so badly as that," said Palamides. "He is at yonder hermitage. I +will take you to him." + +"Then he lives!" she cried in joy. "You fill my heart with gladness." + +But not many steps had Palamides led her before the victorious knight +cried out in tones of fierce anger,-- + +"Loose the lady, sirrah! Whither take you her?" + +"Whither I will?" answered Palamides. + +"You speak largely, sir knave," cried the knight. "Do you fancy you can +rob me of my prize so lightly? Think it not, sirrah; were you as good a +knight as Lancelot or Tristram or Palamides, you should not have that +lady without winning her at a dearer rate than I did." + +"If fight it is, I am ready for you," answered Palamides. "I promised to +bring this lady to her lover from whom yonder knight stole her, and it +will need more swords than one to make me break my word." + +"We shall see if that be so," said the other, attacking him so fiercely +that Palamides had much ado to protect himself. They fought for so long +a time that Palamides marvelled much who this knight could be that +withstood him so sturdily after his late hard battle. + +"Knight," he said, at length, "you fight like a hero. I would know your +name." + +"You shall have it for yours in return." + +"I agree to that." + +"Then, sir, my name is Safere. I am son of King Astlobar, and brother to +Palamides and Segwarides." + +"Then heaven defend me for having fought you, for I am your brother +Palamides." + +At these words Safere fell upon his knees and begged his brother's +pardon; and then they unlaced their helms and kissed each other with +tears of joy. + +As they stood thus, Epinegris advanced towards them, for he had heard +the sounds of fighting, and, wounded as he was, he came to help +Palamides if he should stand in need. + +Palamides, seeing him approach, took the lady by the hand and led her to +him, and they embraced so tenderly that all hearts there were touched. + +"Fair knight and lady," said Safere, "it would be a cruel pity to part +you, and I pray heaven to send you joy of each other." + +"You have my sincere thanks," said Epinegris. "And deeper thanks has Sir +Palamides for what he has done for me this day. My castle is near by; +will you not ride there with me as a safeguard?" + +"That we gladly will," they said, and when Epinegris had got his horse +they rode with him and the lady to the castle, where they were nobly +received and treated with the highest honor. They had such good cheer +and such enjoyment as they had rarely before known. And never burned the +flame of love more warmly than that between Epinegris and his rescued +lady. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES. + + +When morning again dawned over the forest and the smiling fields that +surrounded the castle of Epinegris, the two brothers rode out, taking +with them the blessings and prayers for good fortune of those they left +behind. But had they known into what deadly peril they ventured they +would not for days have left those hospitable gates. + +For they rode on hour by hour, until afternoon came, and then found +themselves in front of a noble manor-house from which came to their ears +doleful sounds of woe and lamentation. + +"What means this woful noise? Shall we enter and see?" said Safere. + +"Willingly," answered Palamides. + +Leaving their horses at the gates, they entered the court-yard, where +they saw an old man tremblingly fumbling his beads. But when they came +within the hall they beheld many men weeping and lamenting. + +"Fair sirs, why make you such a moaning?" asked Palamides. + +"We weep for our lord, who is slain," they dolefully replied. + +But one of the knights observed the new-comers closely, and said +secretly to his fellows,-- + +"Know you not this man? Fortune has thrown into our hands the knight who +slew our lord at Lonazep. That tall fellow is Palamides. Let him not go +as easily as he came." + +Hearing this, most of them quietly withdrew and armed themselves, and +then came suddenly upon their visitors to the number of threescore, +crying,-- + +"Defend yourself, if you can, Sir Palamides. We know you for the +murderer of our lord, and it is our duty to revenge him. Die you shall, +though you had the might of a giant." + +Palamides and his brother, finding themselves in this desperate strait, +set themselves back to back in the midst of their assailants, and fought +like very giants, keeping their ground for two hours, though they were +attacked by twenty knights and forty gentlemen and yeomen. But strength +cannot hold out forever against odds, and at the end they were forced to +yield, and were locked up in a strong prison. + +Within three days thereafter a court of twelve knights sat upon the +charge against them, and found Sir Palamides guilty of their lord's +death. + +Sir Safere, who was adjudged not guilty, was given his liberty, and +bidden to depart from the castle. He parted with his brother in the +deepest woe. + +"Dear brother, grieve not so greatly," said Palamides. "If die I must, I +shall meet death bravely. But had I dreamed of such a doom as this, they +should never have taken me alive." + +[Illustration: Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE DEPARTURE.] + +Then Safere departed in untold sorrow, though not without hope of rescue +if he could raise a force to storm the castle. This he had no chance to +do, for on the next morning Palamides was sent under an escort of twelve +knights to the father of the dead knight, who dwelt in a strong castle +by the sea-side, named Pelownes, where it had been decided that the +sentence should be put into execution. + +Palamides was placed on a sorry old steed with his feet bound beneath +it, and, surrounded by the guard of twelve armed knights, was taken +towards the place of death. + +But through the favor of fortune their route lay by the castle of Joyous +Gard, and here they were seen by one who knew Palamides, and who asked +him whither he was borne. + +"To my death," he answered, "for the slaying of a knight at the +tournament. Had I not left Sir Tristram this would not have happened to +me. I pray you, recommended me to your lord and to my lady Isolde, and +beg them to forgive me my trespasses against them. And also to my lord +King Arthur, and to all my fellows of the Round Table." + +When the yeoman heard this he rode in all haste to Joyous Gard, where he +told Tristram of what he had seen and heard. + +"To his death, you say?" cried Tristram. "And for an accident of the +tournament? Why, I and twenty others might be served in the same manner. +I have reason to be angry with Palamides, but he shall not die the death +of a dog if I can rescue him." + +This said, he armed in all haste, and taking two squires with him, he +rode at a fast gallop towards the castle of Pelownes, hoping to overtake +the party before they could pass its gates. + +But fortune had decreed that the prisoner should be otherwise rescued. +For as the guard of knights rode on their way they passed by a well +where Lancelot had alighted to drink of the refreshing waters. + +When he saw the cavalcade approach he put on his helmet and stood +watching them as they passed. But his heart swelled with anger when he +saw Palamides disarmed and bound in their midst, and seemingly led to +his death. + +"What means this?" he cried. "What has this knight done that deserves a +shameful death? Whatever it be, I cannot suffer him to be foully dealt +with." + +Then he mounted and rode after the twelve knights, soon overtaking them. + +"Sir knights," he said, "whither take you that gentleman? To ride thus +bound is not befitting for a man of his metal." + +At this the guard of knights turned their horses and faced Lancelot. + +"We counsel you not to meddle with us," they said, sternly. "This man +has deserved death, and to death he is adjudged." + +"I tell you, sirs, it shall not be. He is too good a knight to die a +shameful death. Defend yourselves, then, for I will try my one hand +against your twelve, and rescue him or die in the effort." + +The knights of the guard now put their spears in rest, and Lancelot rode +upon them with such fury that the foremost and three of those behind him +were hurled to the ground before his spear broke. Then he drew his sword +and laid about him so shrewdly that in a little time the whole twelve of +them were stretched upon the earth, most of them being sorely wounded. +Lancelot now cut the bonds of Palamides, mounted him upon the best of +their horses, and rode back with him towards Joyous Gard. + +As they went forward they saw Sir Tristram approaching. Lancelot knew +him at sight, but was himself unknown, because he bore a golden shield +which neither Tristram nor Palamides recognized. He therefore mystified +them for a time, and declined to enter Joyous Gard on the plea that he +had other pressing business on hand. But when strongly entreated, he at +length consented, and entered the castle with them. + +Great was their surprise and joy when he had unhelmed, to find that they +had their host for guest. Tristram took him in his arms, and so did +Isolde, while Palamides kneeled before him and thanked him for his life. +When Lancelot saw this he took him by the hand and made him rise. + +"Good sirs," he said, "could I, or any knight of worship in this land, +hesitate to rescue from an ignoble death such a knight as Palamides? Had +there been fifty instead of twelve, I fear I should have braved them +all." + +Much joy was there in Joyous Gard at the visit of the lord of the +castle, but Lancelot stayed there but four days. Palamides, however, +remained for two months and more, his love and grief growing deeper, +till he faded away to a shadow of himself. + +One day, at the end of this time, he wandered far into the neighboring +forest, and here by chance saw the reflection of his face in a clear +pool. The wasted visage disturbed and affrighted him. + +"What does this mean?" he asked himself. "Am I, who was called one of +the handsomest knights in the world, wasted to such a frightful figure? +I must leave this life, for it is idle to grieve myself to death for +that which I can never possess." + +Then he threw himself beside the well, and from the fulness of his heart +began to make a song about La Belle Isolde and himself, a rhyme made up +of music, love, and grief. + +As chance would have it, Tristram had ridden into the forest that day in +chase of the hart. And as he rode up and down under the green leaves the +summer air brought to his ears the sound of a voice singing loud and +clear. He rode softly towards the sound, for he deemed that some +knight-errant lay there solacing himself with song. + +When he came nigh he tied his horse to a tree and advanced on foot. Then +he became aware that the singer was his guest Palamides, and that his +song was about La Belle Isolde, a doleful and piteous, yet marvellously +well-made song, which the singer sang loudly and in a clear voice. +Tristram stood listening till he had heard it from beginning to end. But +at the last his anger grew so high that he needed to restrain himself +from slaying the singer where he lay. + +Remembering that Palamides was unarmed, he resisted this impulse, and +advanced slowly towards him. + +"Sir Palamides," he said, in a gentle voice, "I have heard your song, +and learned your treason to your host. If it were not for the shame of +an unknightly act I would deal you here the meed you have earned. How +will you acquit yourself of treachery?" + +"Thus will I," said Palamides, springing to his feet in his surprise. +"As for Queen Isolde, you may know well that I love her above all other +ladies in the world. I loved her before you ever saw her, as you know, +and have never ceased nor shall ever cease to love her. What honor I +have won is due for the most part to my love of her. Yet never for a +moment has she returned my love, and I have been her knight without +guerdon. Therefore I dread not death, for I had as lief die as live." + +"Well have you uttered your treason," said Tristram. + +"No treason is it," said Palamides. "Love is free to all men, and I have +a right to love any lady I will. If she return it not, no man is harmed. +Such wrong as is done I have suffered, not you, for your love is +returned and mine has brought me but pain. Yet I shall continue to love +La Belle Isolde to the end of my days as deeply as you can." + +That there was reason in these words Tristram could not but have seen, +had not anger blinded his wisdom. + +"None shall love my lady but myself," he cried, in passion. "And for +what you have said I challenge you to battle to the uttermost." + +"I can never fight in a better quarrel," said Palamides. "And if you +slay me I can never die by a nobler hand. Since I cannot hope for favor +from La Belle Isolde, I have as good will to die as to live." + +"Then set a day in which we shall do battle in this cause." + +"Let it be fifteen days hence. And let the place be in the meadow under +Joyous Gard." + +"Why so long a time?" demanded Tristram. "To-morrow will suit me +better." + +"It is because I am meagre and weak, and have fallen away to a shadow +through hopeless love. I must rest until I get my strength again before +I can face so doughty a knight." + +"So let it be, then," said Tristram. "Yet once before you broke a +promise to meet me in battle at the grave near Camelot." + +"What could I do?" rejoined Palamides. "I was in prison, and could not +keep my word." + +"If you had done so, there would have been no need of a fight now," said +Tristram, as he strode haughtily away. + +Then Palamides took his horse and rode to Arthur's court, where he did +his utmost to rest and regain strength. When the appointed time +approached he returned, attended by four knights and four +sergeant-at-arms. + +Meanwhile Tristram spent his time at the chase. And by evil fortune, +about three days before the time of battle, a wild arrow shot by an +archer at a hart struck him in the thigh and wounded him so deeply that +he could scarcely return to Joyous Gard. + +Great was his heaviness of heart, and neither man nor woman could bring +him cheer, for it was now impossible to keep his word with his rival; +and his heart grew full of the fancy that Palamides himself had shot +that arrow, so as to prevent him doing battle on the appointed day. But +this no knight about Tristram would believe. + +When the fifteenth day came Palamides appeared at the place fixed, with +the knights and sergeants whom he had brought with him to bear record of +the battle. One sergeant bore his helm, a second his spear, and a third +his shield. And for two hours he rested in the field, awaiting the +approach of his antagonist. + +Then, seeing that Tristram failed to come, he sent a squire to Joyous +Gard to remind him of his challenge. When Tristram heard of this message +he had the squire brought to his chamber, and showed him his wound. + +"Tell Sir Palamides," he said, "that were I able to come he would not +need to send for me, and that I had rather be whole to-day than have all +King Arthur's gold. Tell him, moreover, that as soon as I am able I +shall seek him throughout the land, as I am a true knight; and when I +find him he shall have his fill of battle." + +This message the squire brought to his master, who heard it with much +secret satisfaction. + +"I would have had hard handling of him, and very likely have been +vanquished," he said, "for he has not his equal in battle, unless it be +Sir Lancelot. So I am well content to give up the fight." + +A month passed before Tristram was well. Then he took his horse and rode +from country to country in search of Palamides, having many strange +adventures by the way, but nowhere could he meet or hear of his rival +in love. But during his search Tristram did so many valiant deeds that +his fame for the time quite overtopped that of Lancelot, so much so that +Lancelot's kinsmen in their anger would have waylaid and slain the +valiant warrior. + +For this jealousy Lancelot sternly rebuked them, saying,-- + +"Bear it well in mind, that if any of you does any harm to Sir Tristram, +that man shall I slay with my own hands. To murder a man like this for +his noble deeds! Out upon such base designs! Far rather should you +worship him for his valor and royal prowess." + +And so time went on for the space of two years, during which Tristram +sought in vain for his rival. + +At the end of that time he came home to Joyous Gard from one of his +journeys of adventure, and there was told by La Belle Isolde of a great +feast to be held at the court on the coming day of Pentecost, which she +counselled him strongly to attend. + +Much debate passed between him and his lady-love on this subject, for he +was loth to go without her, and she cared not to go. In the end he +declared that he would obey her wishes, but would ride thither unarmed, +save for his sword and spear. + +This he did, and though she in her loving anxiety sent after him four +knights, he sent them back within half a mile. Yet he soon had reason to +repent his rashness. For hardly had he gone a mile farther when he came +upon a wounded knight, who told him he owed his hurt to Sir Palamides. +What to do now, Tristram knew not. Near by was the foe he had so long +sought in vain, and he was unarmed. Should he ride back for his armor, +or go on as he was? + +While he stood thinking, Palamides appeared, and knew him at sight. + +"Well met, Sir Tristram!" he cried. "I have heard much of your search +for me. You have found me now, and we shall not part till we have +settled our old scores." + +"As for that," answered Tristram, "no Christian can boast that I ever +fled from him, nor shall a Saracen make this boast, even if I be +unarmed." + +Then he put his horse to the gallop and rode on Palamides with such fury +that his spear broke into a hundred pieces. Throwing it away, he drew +his sword and struck Palamides six great strokes upon the helm, while +the Saracen stood unresisting, and wondering at the folly and madness of +his foe. Then Tristram cried out in fury,-- + +"Coward knight, why stand you thus idly? You dare not do battle with me, +for doubt not but I can endure all your strength and malice." + +"You know well, Sir Tristram," answered Palamides, "that I cannot in +honor strike at your unarmed head. If I should slay you thus, shame +would be my lot. As for your valor and hardiness, those I shall never +question." + +"You speak well," answered Tristram. + +"Tell me this," continued Palamides. "Were I here naked of armor, and +you full armed as I am, what would you do?" + +"I shall not answer from fear, but from truthfulness. I would bid you +depart, as I could not have ado with you." + +"No more can I with you," said Palamides, "therefore ride on your way." + +"I shall ride or abide as I may choose," said Tristram. "But tell me +this, Palamides: how is it that so good a knight as you refuses to be +christened, as your brothers have long been?" + +"I cannot become a Christian till a vow I made years ago is fulfilled. I +believe fully in Jesus Christ and His mild mother Mary; but there is one +battle yet I must fight, and when that is done I will be baptized with a +good will." + +"If that is the battle with me," said Tristram, "you shall not long wait +for it. For God defend that through my fault you should continue a +Saracen. Yonder is a knight whom you have hurt. Help me to put on his +armor and I will aid you to fulfil your vow." + +So they rode together to the wounded knight, who was seated on a bank. +Tristram saluted him, and he weakly returned the salute. + +"Will you tell me your name, sir knight?" asked Tristram. + +"I am Sir Galleron of Galway, and a Knight of the Round Table." + +"I am sorry for your hurts, and beg you to lend me your armor, for I am +unarmed, and would do battle with this knight who wounded you." + +"You shall have it with a good will. But you must beware, for this is no +common knight." + +"I know him well," answered Tristram, "and have an old quarrel with +him." + +"Will you kindly tell me your name?" + +"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse." + +"Then it was idle to warn you. Well I know your renown and worship; and +Sir Palamides is likely to have no light task." + +Tristram now took off the armor of the wounded knight, who, as well as +he could, helped him to put it on himself. This accomplished, Tristram +mounted his horse and took in his hand Sir Galleron's spear. + +Riding to where Palamides stood waiting, he bade him make ready. In a +minute more the two strong knights came hurtling together like two +lions. Each smote the other in the centre of the shield, but Palamides's +spear broke, while that of Tristram overturned the horse of Palamides. +In a moment the unhorsed knight had sprung to his feet and drawn his +sword, while Tristram alighted, tied his horse to a tree, and advanced +to the fray. + +The combat that succeeded was a hard and well-fought one, as only it +could be between two such knights. For more than two hours it continued, +Tristram often bringing Palamides to his knees by his mighty strokes, +while Palamides cut through Tristram's shield and wounded him. Then, in +a fury of anger, Tristram rushed upon his rival and hurled him to the +earth. But in an instant the agile Saracen was on his feet again, +fighting with all his old strength and skill. And so the combat went on, +hour by hour, and, hard as Tristram fought, Palamides stood as nobly to +his work, and gave him stroke for stroke. + +But, as fortune willed, in the end a fierce blow struck the sword from +Palamides's hand, nor dare he stoop for it, for fear of being slain. So +he stood moveless, regarding it with a sorrowful heart. + +"Now," said Tristram, "I have you at advantage, as you had me this day. +But it shall never be said that Tristram de Lyonesse killed a weaponless +knight. Therefore take your sword, and let us make an end of this +battle." + +"As for that, I am willing to end it now," said Palamides. "I have no +wish to fight longer. Nor can I think that my offence is such that we +may not be friends. All I have done is to love La Belle Isolde. You will +not say that I have done her aught of dishonor by holding that she is +peerless among ladies, or by the valor which love for her has given me. +As for such offence as I have given you, I have atoned for it this day, +and no one can say that I have not held my own like a man. But this I +will affirm, that I never before fought with a man of your might. +Therefore I beg you to forgive me for all wrongs which I have done you, +and as my vow is now fulfilled, I stand ready to go with you to the +nearest church, there to be confessed, and to receive baptism as a true +and earnest Christian knight." + +"I gladly forgive you all you have done against me," said Tristram; "the +more so that you have done it rather from love than from hatred. It +fills my heart with joy to be the means of bringing the valiant +Palamides into the Church of Christ, and hereafter I shall hold you +among my best friends. Within a mile from here is the suffragan of +Carlisle, who will gladly give you the sacrament of baptism; and all +Christendom must rejoice to gain so noble a convert." + +Then they took their horses and helped Galleron to his, and rode to the +church, where Tristram told the suffragan the purpose of their coming. +Proud to bring into the fold of the church so notable a convert, the +suffragan filled a great vessel with water, and hallowed it. This done, +he confessed and baptized Sir Palamides, while Tristram and Galleron +stood as his godfathers. + +Afterwards the three knights rode to Camelot, much to the joy of the +king and queen, who gladly welcomed Tristram to their court, and were no +less glad to learn that the valiant Palamides had become a Christian, +and that the long rivalry between him and Tristram was at an end. The +great feast of Pentecost that followed was the merriest that had ever +been held at Arthur's court, and the merriest that ever would be, for +the breath of coming woe and trouble was in the air, and the time was +near at hand in which that worthy fellowship of noble knights was +destined to break up in dire disaster. + +But first of all the tide of disaster came upon Tristram the brave and +Isolde the fair, as we must now relate. The chronicles tell the story at +length, but the record of treachery and crime had always best be short, +and so we shall make that of King Mark, the murderer. + +Many years before the time to which we have now come, King Mark's +treachery had filled Cornwall with mischief and all the land with +horror, through a deed of frightful crime. And in thus wise it came +about. Cornwall had been invaded by a host of Saracens, but before they +could do any mischief, Prince Baldwin, King Mark's brother, attacked +them, burned their ships, and utterly destroyed them. Furious at heart +that his brother should win such honor, while he lay cowering with fear +in his castle, Mark invited him to Tintagil, with his wife and child. +There suddenly charging him with treason for attacking the Saracens +without orders, he stabbed him to the heart, and would have slain his +wife and child as well had not the lady Anglides fled for life with her +child. + +Mark sent after them an old knight named Sir Sadok, with orders to bring +them back to Tintagil. But he suffered them to escape, and brought back +to the king a false tale that he had drowned the boy. + +Many years now passed by, during which Baldwin's son, Alexander the +orphan, grew up to be a youth large of limb and strong of arm. In due +time he was made a knight, whereupon Anglides produced the bloody +doublet and shirt of her murdered husband, which she had carefully +preserved, and laid upon the young knight the duty of revenging his +father's death. The story of the crime had been diligently kept from +him, but he now accepted this heavy charge with alacrity, and vowed +solemnly to devote his life to the duty of revenging his murdered +father. + +News of all this was quickly brought to King Mark, by a false knight who +hoped to win favor by turning informer. + +"By my halidom," cried Mark, "whom can I trust? I fancied the young +viper was dead years ago. That false hound, Sadok, let him escape. As I +am a living man, he shall pay the penalty of his treason." + +Seizing a sword, he burst furiously from the chamber, and rushed madly +through the castle in search of the knight who had deceived him. When +Sadok saw him coming, with fury in his face, he guessed what had +happened, and drew his own sword in haste. + +"King Mark," he cried, "beware how you come nigh me. I saved the life of +Alexander, and glory in it, for you slew his father cowardly and +treacherously. And it is my hope and prayer that the youth may have the +strength and spirit to revenge the good Prince Baldwin on his murderer." + +"What, traitor! What, dog! Do you dare rail thus at me?" cried the king, +and in a voice of fury he bade four knights of his following to slay the +traitor. + +These knights drew their swords and advanced in a body on Sadok; but he +got the wall of them, and fought so shrewdly that he killed the whole +four in King Mark's presence. + +Then, shaking his clinched fist at the king, he said,-- + +"I would add your false body to the heap, but that I leave you for +Alexander's revenge." + +This said, he took horse and rode briskly away, and in all his court +Mark could not find a knight willing to pursue him, for all that held +with the king feared the old knight's sturdy arm. + +King Mark now finding his wrath of no avail, set himself to devising +some scheme of treachery by which the danger that threatened him might +be removed. In the end he made a compact with Morgan le Fay and the +queen of Northgalis, both false sorceresses, in which they agreed to +fill the land with ladies that were enchantresses, and with false +knights like Malgrim and Breuse Sans Pité, so that the young knight +Alexander le Orphelin should be surrounded with magic and treachery, and +without doubt be taken prisoner or slain. + +Soon after his knighting, Alexander set out for King Arthur's court, and +on the way there had many adventures, in which he proved himself a +knight of great valor and skill. Among these was a mighty battle with +the false knight Malgrim, whom in the end he killed. + +But now Morgan le Fay sought to entrap him by her false devices. She +gave him a sleeping draught, and had him taken in a horse-litter to a +castle of hers named La Belle Regard. + +Here she cured him of his wounds by healing salves, but not until he had +promised that he would not set foot beyond the boundaries of that castle +for a twelvemonth and a day. When he had recovered, Alexander chafed +bitterly at his confinement, for he felt sure that the pledge had been +exacted from him to save King Mark from his vow of revenge. Yet his word +held him close prisoner. + +As one day he wandered through the halls of the castle, like a young +lion in a cage,--now heavy and sad, now burning with desire for +action,--there came to him a damsel who was cousin to Morgan le Fay, and +to whom the castle of La Belle Regard by right belonged. + +"Sir knight," she said to him, "I find you doleful of aspect; yet I bear +tidings that should make you merry!" + +"I pray you tell them to me," he answered. "I am here now a prisoner by +promise, but must say that time hangs very heavy on my hands." + +"You are more of a prisoner than you deem," she replied. "My cousin, +Morgan le Fay, keeps you here for purposes of her own which you will +scarcely find to your liking." + +"I fancy she keeps me here through an understanding with King Mark," he +rejoined. "I have no faith in her, but I cannot break my word of honor." + +"Truly, fair sir," she said, "I pity your unhappy lot, and have a plan +in mind through which you may escape from this durance without loss of +honor." + +"Do that and I shall owe you my life's service," he answered, warmly. +"Tell me, dear lady, by what means I can be freed." + +"This I may justly say, that this castle of right belongs to me. I have +been unjustly deprived of it, and in right and honor you are my +prisoner, not Morgan's. I have an uncle who is a powerful nobleman, the +Earl of Pase, and who hates Morgan le Fay above all persons. I shall +send to him, and pray him for my sake to destroy this castle, which +harbors only evil customs. He will come at my wish and set fire to the +building throughout. As for you, I shall get you out at a private +postern, and there have your horse and armor ready." + +"Truly, fair maiden, you are as wise as you are beautiful," he answered, +in eager accents. "Release me from imprisonment to Morgan and I will +hold myself your prisoner for life." + +Then she sent to her uncle the earl, and bade him come and burn that +haunt of mischief,--a design which he already had in mind. + +When the appointed day came the Earl of Pase sought the castle with four +hundred knights, and set fire to it in all parts, ceasing not his +efforts till there was not a stone left standing of the once proud +stronghold. + +But Alexander was not willing to take this as a release from his vow, +but stationed himself within the limits of the space where had stood the +castle of La Belle Regard, and made it known far and wide that he would +hold that ground against all comers for a twelvemonth and a day. + +Word of this knightly challenge soon came to Arthur's court, where was +then a lady of famous beauty and great estate, known as Alice la Belle +Pilgrim, daughter of Duke Ansirus, called the pilgrim, since he went on +a pilgrimage to Jerusalem every third year. + +When this fair maiden heard of Alexander's challenge, she went into the +great hall of Camelot and proclaimed in the hearing of all the knights +that whoever should overcome the champion of La Belle Regard should wed +her and be lord of all her lands. + +This done, she went to La Belle Regard, where she set up her pavilion +beside the piece of earth held by the young knight. And as the weeks +passed by there came from all directions knights who had heard of +Alexander's challenge and Alice's offer, and many a hard battle was +fought. Yet from them all Alexander came as victor. + +But the more he triumphed over his knightly foes the deeper he fell +captive to his fair neighbor, for whom he grew to feel so deep a love +that it almost robbed him of his wits. Nor was his love unrequited, for +his valor and youthful beauty had filled her heart with as ardent a +passion for him in return, and she prayed as warmly for his victory in +every combat as though he had been her chosen champion. + +And so time passed on, varied by fighting and love-making, till one day, +after Alexander had unhorsed two knights, there came to him the lady to +whom he owed the burning of the castle, who told Alice the whole story +of what had then occurred. + +"You worked wisely and well," answered Alice. "Sir Alexander, indeed, +has not gained much more freedom, except it be freedom to fight. But +that is more his fault than yours." + +"Have I not?" exclaimed the young knight. "I have gained freedom to love +also; for which I am ever beholden to this fair damsel." + +At this Alice turned away with a rosy blush, while the maiden stood +regarding them with merry smiles. + +"I have, by right, the first claim on you, Sir Alexander," she said. +"But if this fair lady wants you, I should be sorry to stand in love's +light. I yield my claim in her favor." + +As they thus conversed in merry mood, three knights rode up, who +challenged Alexander to joust for the proffered prize of the hand and +estate of Alice la Belle Pilgrim. But the three of them got such falls +that they lost all desire to wed the lady, and, like all knights whom +Alexander overcame, they were made to swear to wear no arms for a +twelvemonth and a day. + +Yet love may bring weakness as well as strength, as the young lover was +to find to his cost. For there came a day in which, as he stood looking +from his pavilion, he saw the lady Alice on horseback outside, and so +charming did she appear in his eyes that his love for her became almost +a frenzy. So enamoured was he that all thought of life and its doings +fled from his brain, and he grew like one demented. + +While he was in this state of love-lorn blindness the false-hearted +knight Sir Mordred rode up with purpose to joust. But when he saw that +the youthful champion was besotted with admiration of his lady, and had +no eyes or mind for aught beside, he thought to make a jest of him, and, +taking his horse by the bridle, led him here and there, designing to +bring the lover to shame by withdrawing him from the place he had sworn +to defend. + +When the damsel of the castle saw this, and found that no words of hers +would rouse Alexander from his blind folly, she burned with indignation, +and bethought her of a sharper means of bringing him back to his lost +senses. + +So she put on her armor and took a sword in her hand, and, mounting a +horse, rode upon him with the fury of a knight, giving him such a buffet +on the helm that he thought that fire flew from his eyes. + +When the besotted lover felt this stroke he came of a sudden to his +wits, and felt for his sword. But the damsel fled to the pavilion and +Mordred to the forest, so that Alexander was left raging there, with no +foe to repay for that stinging blow. + +When he came to understand how the false knight would have shamed him, +his heart burned with wrath that Sir Mordred had escaped his hands. But +the two ladies had many a jest upon him for the knightly stroke which +the damsel had given him on the helm. + +"Good faith," she said, "I knew not how else to bring back his strayed +wits. I fancy I would have given him some shrewd work to do if I had +chosen to stand against him. These men think that none but they can wear +armor and wield swords. I took pity on your champion, Alice, or it might +have gone hard with him," and she laughed so merrily that they could not +but join her in her mirth. + +After that nearly every day Alexander jousted with knights of honor and +renown, but of them all not one was able to put him to the worse, and he +held his ground to the twelvemonth's end, proving himself a knight of +the noblest prowess. + +When the year had reached its end and his pledge was fully kept, he +departed from that place with Alice la Belle Pilgrim, who afterwards +became his loving wife, and they lived together with great joy and +happiness in her country of Benoye. + +But though he let love set aside for the time his vow of revenge on King +Mark, he did not forget the duty that lay before him, nor did that +evil-minded king rest at ease under the knowledge that an avenger was in +the land. Many a false scheme he devised to keep Alexander from his +court, and in the end his treacherous plots proved successful, for the +young knight was murdered by some of King Mark's emissaries, with his +father's death still unrevenged. + +But vengeance sleeps not, and destiny had decided that the false-hearted +king should yet die in retribution for the murder of Prince Baldwin. +Alexander left a son, who was named Bellengerus le Beuse, and who grew +up to become a valiant and renowned knight. He it was who avenged the +slaughter of Prince Baldwin, and also of Sir Tristram, for this noble +knight was also slain by the felonious king, as we must now tell. + +Through the good services of King Arthur and Queen Guenever, after +Tristram and Isolde had long dwelt at Joyous Gard, peace was made +between them and King Mark, and they returned to Tintagil, where for a +long time all went on in seeming friendship and harmony. + +But the false king nursed the demon of jealousy deep within his breast, +and bided his time for revenge. At length, on a day when Tristram, +dreaming not of danger, sat harping before La Belle Isolde, the +treacherous king rushed suddenly upon him with a naked sword in his hand +and struck him dead at her feet. + +Retribution for this vile deed came quickly, for Bellengerus was at +Tintagil Castle at the time, brought there by thirst of vengeance, and +with a heart filled with double fury by the news of this dastardly deed, +he rushed upon King Mark as he stood in the midst of his knights and +courtiers, and struck him to the heart with his father's avenging +blade. + +Then, aided by Dinas, Fergus, and others of Tristram's friends, he +turned upon Andred and the remainder of King Mark's satellites, and when +the work of blood was done not one of these false-hearted knights +remained alive, and the court of Cornwall was purged of the villany +which had long reigned there supreme. + +But La Belle Isolde loved Tristram with too deep a love to survive his +death, and she fell swooning upon the cross above his tomb and there +sobbed out her life; and she was buried by his side, that those who had +been so united in life should not be parted in death. + +Great was the grief and pity aroused throughout England, and through all +lands where knighthood was held in honor, by this distressful event, for +never before had two such faithful lovers breathed mortal air. And long +thereafter lovers made pilgrimages to their tomb, where many prayed +fervently for a draught from that magic goblet from which Tristram and +Isolde drank, and whose wine of love forever after ran so warmly in +their veins. + + + + + BOOK IX. + + THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ENCHANTED CASTLE OF KING PELLAM. + + +After many years had come and gone, and all at the court of Arthur the +king had grown older and wiser, there came to pass a series of +adventures more marvellous than had ever been known upon the earth +before, and of a nobler kind than mere tourneyings and joustings, being +no less than the quest of the holy vessel named the Sangreal, in which +was kept a portion of the blood of our blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ. + +And through this quest much disaster came upon the land, and the noble +fellowship of the Round Table was broken up and destroyed, for many went +in search of the holy vessel who had lived evil lives, and of these few +came back, but most of them died deaths of violence. + +This sacred talisman--the Sangreal--had been brought to England +centuries before by Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of our Saviour, and +had passed down from him to his descendant, King Pellam, of Listengeise, +him whom Balin struck the dolorous stroke, and who was destined to lie +in misery and pain until he should be healed of his wound by the winner +of the holy vessel. + +But to tell how this perilous quest began we must go long years back and +relate a story of strange adventures and marvellous deliverances. + +For it had happened that during a feast of Whitsuntide Lancelot du Lake +left Arthur's court at Camelot and rode afar in search of adventures. +And after a long journey, in which many strange things came to pass, he +arrived at Listengeise, the land of King Pellam. Here he rescued the +king's fair daughter, Elaine, from a dismal enchantment, under which she +had long lain through the wiles of Morgan le Fay and the queen of +Northgalis, who hated her bitterly from her renown for beauty. + +After the rescue of the lady, Lancelot fought with and killed a mighty +serpent that haunted a tomb near by, and had done much harm in the land. +Then there came to him a dignified and noble baron, who thanked him +heartily in the name of the king, and invited him to a repast in the +castle hall. + +But as they sat at table a wonderful thing took place. For in at the +open window of the hall there flew a dove, which bore in its mouth what +seemed a little censer of gold. And from this censer came such a rich +and penetrating perfume as if all the spicery of the world had been +there, while upon the table suddenly appeared the most delicious of +meats and drinks. Then came in a damsel, young and beautiful, who bore +in her hands a vessel of gold, before which all who were there kneeled +and prayed devoutly. + +[Illustration: ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.] + +"What may all this mean?" asked Lancelot in deep surprise. + +"It has been granted you to see the most precious and wonderful thing in +the world," answered the noble baron. "For you have been permitted to +gaze upon the holy Sangreal. In the time to come all Arthur's knights +shall take part in a quest for this precious talisman, and great shall +be the woe therefrom, for through that quest the Round Table fellowship +shall be broken up and many of its noble knights destroyed." + +But all that passed in that land is too much for us to tell. We shall +say only that the fair Elaine came to love Lancelot dearly, but he gave +her no love in return, for all the affection of his heart was centred +upon Queen Guenever. Yet King Pellam so desired that Lancelot should wed +his fair daughter that in the end he used enchantment, and brought him +to make her his wife when under a magic spell, the deluded knight +fancying that it was Guenever whom he had wedded. + +This delusion last not long, and when the deceived spouse came to his +senses and learned how he had been dealt with, he broke away like a +madman, and, gaining his horse, rode wildly through the land. And every +knight-errant who dared to joust with him was made to suffer from the +fury that burned in his blood. + +Long afterwards, as chance and adventure brought about, there came to +King Pellam's castle Sir Bors de Ganis, Lancelot's nephew. He was gladly +received, and treated with all the good cheer and honor which the castle +could afford. And as he sat at his repast with, the castle lords, there +came in, as it had come to Lancelot, the dove with the censer, at which +the air was filled with the richest perfume, and the table covered with +the most delicious viands. Then entered the maiden with the holy grail, +and all fell to their prayers. + +"Truly," said Bors, "this is a strange place, and a land full of +marvels." + +"This I will say," answered the noble baron who sat in the king's chair, +"that of the knights who come here few see the holy vessel, and fewer go +away with any honor. Gawaine, the good knight, was here but lately; but +he saw not what your eyes have beheld, and he left here in shame. None +but those of a worshipful life and who love God devoutly can behold this +marvel, or sleep in this castle without coming to harm." + +"I am in quest of adventures," said Bors, "and shall lie in your castle +this night, come what will. Men call me honest and virtuous, and I stand +ready to dare all perils the castle may hold." + +"I counsel you not," said the baron. "You will hardly escape without +harm and shame." + +"Let come what will come, I am ready." + +"Then I advise you to confess, and go to your chamber with a clean soul, +for you will be sorely tried." + +"Let it be so. Your counsel is wise." + +After Sir Bors had been confessed and received absolution, he was led +into a fair large chamber, around which were many doors, while a bed of +royal richness stood in the middle of the floor. Here he was left alone, +and threw himself on the bed in his armor, deeming it wise to be +prepared for all that might come. + +Not long had he lain there with open eyes and alert wits, when the room +was all at once brilliantly lighted up, though whence the light came he +could not tell. And suddenly a great and long spear, whose point burnt +like a taper, shot across the chamber without hand to guide it, and +struck him in the shoulder so fierce a blow that his armor was pierced, +and he received a wound, a hand's-breadth in depth, which pained him +bitterly. + +Quickly afterwards an armed knight strode in, with shield on shoulder +and sword in hand, who cried in a harsh voice,-- + +"Arise, sir knight, and fight with me." + +"I shall not fail you," said Bors, hot with the pain of his wound. "I am +sorely hurt, but I have vowed boldly to dare aught that might come to +me. If that burning spear came from your hand you shall pay dearly for +it." + +With these words he sprang from the bed and attacked the intruder, and a +hard and stern battle began, which lasted long. At the end the intruding +knight was driven backward to a chamber door, through which he passed, +leaving Bors master of the floor. + +But hardly had he rested a minute when the defeated knight returned, as +fresh as at the start, and attacked Bors with renewed strength. Again +the battle went on fiercely. But when Bors saw his antagonist once more +retreating towards the chamber door, he cried out,-- + +"Not so, my good fellow. You played that trick on me once; you shall +not again. Back and defend yourself. If you defeat me it shall be by +strength, not by magic." And he stationed himself before the door, and +drove back his opponent with such fury, that in a moment more he hurled +him to the floor. + +"Yield, or you die!" he cried, setting his foot on the fallen knight's +head. + +"I yield," came the answer. + +"What is your name?" + +"I am Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches." + +"Then, Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches, take yourself away. And if +you have any of your fellows behind yonder door, bid them to keep out of +this room, for I came here to sleep, not to fight. At Whitsunday next, +present yourself at King Arthur's court, and tell him that you have come +thither as a prisoner of Sir Bors of the sharp sword." + +This, Sir Pedivere swore to do, and left his conqueror to what rest he +could get. But this was little, for enchantment surrounded the daring +knight. The room suddenly became full of frightful noises and alive with +peril. Whence they came he knew not, whether through doors or windows, +but a flight of arrows and of crossbow bolts filled the air, whistling +shrewdly past his ears, while many of them fell upon him and pierced his +flesh through the open places in his armor. + +"Who can sleep in such a den of witchcraft as this?" he cried, in a +rage, springing from the bed. As he did so one of the doors opened, and +a great lion leaped fiercely in, with a hideous roar. + +"It is better to fight a lion that one can see, than arrows which nobody +shoots," cried Bors, and he rushed without hesitation on the dangerous +animal. + +Sharp was the fight that followed, but of short duration. The lion +sprang wildly upon him, and tore the shield from his arm, while the +sharp claws rent his flesh. But the knight retorted with a sweeping +stroke that cut off the frightful beast's head, and stretched its tawny +body lifeless on the floor. + +Then Bors walked to the window to see whither the arrows had come, and +as he looked into the castle court he beheld a wondrous sight. For +before his eyes stood a dragon, huge and horrible of aspect, in whose +forehead were letters of gold which seemed to him to form King Arthur's +emblem. And as he gazed there leaped into the court an old and mighty +leopard, which sprang upon the dragon and engaged in desperate battle +with the huge monster. + +At last the dragon spit out of its mouth a hundred of what seemed small +dragons, and these quickly leaped upon the frightful beast and rent it +to fragments. Then all the animals disappeared, and an old man came into +the court, around whose neck two adders wreathed their folds. In his +hand was a harp, upon which he played, while he sang an old song telling +how Joseph of Arimathea came to that land. When his song was ended he +said to Sir Bors,-- + +"Go from this land, sir knight, for you shall have no more adventures +here. You have played your part well and nobly, and shall do still +better hereafter, for wondrous things are reserved for you." + +Then Bors saw a dove of whitest plumage fly across the court with a +golden censer in its mouth, from which seemed to stream the most +delicious perfumes. And the tempest which had raged in the sky suddenly +ceased, while from the rent clouds the full moon poured down its white +light to the earth. + +Next there came into the court four children who bore four tapers, and +an old man in their midst with a censer in one hand a spear in the +other, and that spear was called the spear of vengeance. + +"Go to your cousin, Sir Lancelot," said the old man, "and tell him what +you have seen, and that if he had been as clean of sin as he should be, +the adventure which all this signifies would have been his. Tell him, +moreover, that though in worldly adventures he passes all others in +manhood and prowess, there are many his betters in spiritual worth, and +that what you have seen and done this night he was not deemed worthy +of." + +Then Bors saw four meanly-dressed gentlewomen pass through his chamber, +and enter an apartment beyond which was lit up with a light like that of +midsummer. Here they knelt before an altar of silver with four pillars, +where also kneeled a man in the dress of a bishop. And as the knight +looked upward he beheld a naked sword hovering over his head, whose +blade shone like silver, yielding a flashing light that blinded him as +he gazed. As he stood thus sightless, he heard a voice which said,-- + +"Go hence, Sir Bors, for as yet thou art not worthy to be in this +place." + +Then the door of that chamber closed, and he went backward to his bed, +where he lay and slept undisturbed till morning dawned. But when the +regent of King Pellam learned what had happened to his guest in the +night, and how he had escaped the perils of the enchanted chamber, he +greeted him joyfully, and said,-- + +"You are the first that ever endured so well that chamber's mysteries. +And more has been shown to your eyes than any others have seen. Go home, +worthy knight. You are chosen for great deeds in the time to come." + +Sir Bors thereupon took his horse and rode away, thinking long and +deeply on all that had happened to him. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MARVEL OF THE FLOATING SWORD. + + +Many and strange were the events that followed those we have just +related, and great trouble and woe came therefrom. For when Sir Bors +returned to Camelot and told the story of the wedding of Lancelot and +Elaine, much was the secret talk and great the scandal. And when the +news came to Guenever's ears she flamed with wrath. + +Not long afterwards, Lancelot returned, still half frenzied with the +deception that had been practised upon him. When Guenever saw him she +accused him bitterly of being a traitor to love, and harshly bade him +leave the court, and never come again within her sight. + +This bitter reviling turned Lancelot's frenzy to a sudden madness. With +distracted brain he leaped from a window into a garden, and ran like a +wild man through wood and brake, heedless that his clothes were torn and +his flesh rent with thorns and briers. Thus hotly burns despised love in +the human heart and brain, and thus it may turn the strongest senses +away and bring madness to the clearest mind. + +On learning what had passed, Bors and Hector went to the queen, and +accused her harshly of the great wrong she had done to the noble +Lancelot. But she was already torn with remorse, and she knelt before +these noble knights, begging their forgiveness, and praying them +pitifully to seek Lancelot and bring him back to the court. + +Months passed and Lancelot returned not, nor could he be found, though +he was sought through many lands. For he kept afar from cities and +courts, and roamed through wilds and wastes, where he had many +adventures in his madness, and did strange and wild things. + +For two years he wandered hither and thither in frenzy, until at length +he came to King Pellam's city of Corbin, and to the castle where dwelt +the fair Elaine. Here he was given shelter in a little outhouse, with +straw to sleep on, while every day they threw him meat and set him +drink, for none would venture near a madman of such savage aspect. + +But one day as he slept, Elaine chanced to behold him, and knew him at +once for Lancelot. Telling a trusty baron of her discovery, she had the +distracted knight borne still sleeping into a tower chamber in which was +kept the holy vessel, the Sangreal, concealed from all eyes save those +of persons of saintly life. Lancelot was laid near this, and when all +had left the chamber a man of sanctity entered and uncovered the vessel. +Such was its holy influence that it wrought marvellously upon the +distracted knight as he lay there asleep and the madness passed away +from his brain. When he woke he was himself again, as whole a man in +mind and body as any that stood upon the earth. For so healing was the +virtue of that precious vessel that it not only drove the cloud of +madness from his mind, but gave him back all his old might and +comeliness of body. + +Then, ashamed of his frenzy, and anxious not to be known, Lancelot +assumed the name of the Chevalier Mal Fet, or the knight who has +trespassed, and took up his abode with Elaine and many knights and +ladies at a castle given him by King Pellam. This stood on an island in +the midst of a deep and clear lake, which Lancelot named the Joyous +Isle. And now, filled again with martial fervor, he made it known far +and wide that he would joust with any knights that came that way, and +that any one who should put him to the worst would receive as a prize a +jewel of worth and a jerfalcon. + +But none won the prize, though very many noble knights jousted with the +Chevalier Mal Fet. + +Last of all came Percivale and Hector, who had been long in search of +Lancelot. Learning the challenge, Percivale jousted with Lancelot, and +afterwards they fought with swords. So long and even was their combat, +that a length both paused for breath. And now Percivale, wondering who +this sturdy knight could be, told his name, and asked for his in return. +At this, Lancelot threw away his weapon, and took his late opponent in +his arms, crying out that he was Lancelot du Lake. + +Glad was the meeting between these old friends and comrades, and richly +were the new-comers entertained in the castle. But in the end they +persuaded Lancelot to go with them to Camelot, and the disconsolate +Elaine was left to return, with her knights and ladies, to her father's +castle. + +After these events years came and went, until many summers and winters +had passed over England's fair isle, and age had begun to lay its hand +on those who had been young, while those who had been children grew up +and became knights and ladies. Then came at length the time fixed by +destiny for the adventure of the Sangreal. And thus this adventure +began. + +When again approached the vigil of Pentecost, and all the fellowship of +the Round Table had come to Camelot, and the tables were set to dine, +there rode into the great hall a gentlewoman of noble aspect, whose +horse was white with sweat and foam. + +She saluted Lancelot and begged him to go with her, though whither and +for what purpose she would not say. Stirred by his love of adventure, he +armed and rode with her, and before the day's end reached an abbey of +nuns in a secluded valley. Here, as he stood conversing with the abbess, +there came in to him twelve nuns, bringing with them a youth who had not +yet reached manhood, but was large and powerful of frame, and as +handsome of face as any man he had ever seen. + +"Sir," said the ladies, with weeping eyes, "we bring you this child, +whom we have long nourished, and pray you to make him a knight; for +there is no worthier man from whom he can receive the order of +knighthood, and we hold him worthy of your sword." + +Lancelot looked long at the young squire, and saw that he was seemly, +and demure as a dove, and of wonderful beauty of form and features, and +his heart went out with great love for the beautiful youth. + +"What is his name?" asked Lancelot. + +"We call him Galahad." + +"Comes this desire from himself?" + +"It does," said they all. + +"From whom has he sprung?" + +"His mother is dead. His father is a full noble knight, as you shall +soon learn." + +"Then he shall be knighted by my hand to-morrow at the morning services, +for truly he seems worthy of it." + +That night, Lancelot's cousins, Bors and Lionel, stopped at the abbey, +and spent there a cheery evening with their noble kinsman. At early morn +of the next day he gave the accolade to the youth, pronouncing him +knight, and bidding Bors and Lionel to stand as his godfathers in the +order of knighthood. + +"And may God make you a good man and a noble knight," he said. "Beauty +you have now, equal to any I have ever seen, and strength and courage I +doubt not; if you bear with these a noble heart and an earnest mind you +have the best treasures that God can confer or man possess." + +Then, when they had broken their fast, Lancelot said to the demure and +modest young knight,-- + +"Fair sir, will you come with me to the court of King Arthur?" + +"I humbly beg your pardon," said Galahad, "but I cannot come at this +time. Trust me to follow soon." + +Then Lancelot and his cousins left the abbey and rode to Camelot, where +they arrived before the hour of the feast. In the great hall were many +noble knights, some of them strangers, who walked about the Round Table, +reading the names in letters of gold in the several seats, and saying,-- + +"Here sits Gawaine, here Lancelot, here Percivale," and so with the +others. + +At length they came to the seat perilous, in which no man but Percivale +had hitherto dared to sit, and which he no longer occupied. To their +deep surprise they found there newly written in letters of gold these +words,-- + +"Four hundred and fifty-four winters after the passion of our Lord Jesus +Christ, the knight shall come for whom this seat is held by destiny." + +"What marvellous thing is this?" cried all who saw it. "Here is a +miracle." + +"In the name of God, what means it?" cried Lancelot. "Percivale long +since had warning to leave that seat. Who shall fill it to-day, for this +is the feast of Pentecost of the four hundred and fifty-fourth year. The +year and day have come, but where and who is the man? I advise that +these letters be hidden, till he come for whom this seat is +pre-ordained." + +Then it was ordered that the writing should be covered with a cloth of +silk; and the king bade his guests to hasten to dinner, and forget for +the time being what they had seen. + +"Sir," said Kay, the steward, "if you go to table now you will break +your old custom, not to sit at dinner on this day till you have seen or +heard of some adventure." + +"Very true," said the king. "I had forgotten my custom through this +strange event." + +As they stood thus speaking, there came hastily into the court a squire, +whose eyes were big with wonder. + +"Sire, I bring you marvellous tidings," he cried to the king. + +"What are they?" demanded Arthur. + +"As I stood but now by the river, I saw floating on its waters a great +square stone, and above this stood the hilt of a sword, whose blade was +thrust deeply into the stone." + +"A stone that floats!" said the king. "That is strange, indeed. I must +see this marvel." + +Then he, followed by all the knights, went to the river, and saw there +that the squire had spoken truly; for a great stone that seemed of red +marble floated like wood on the water, and thrust deeply into it was a +rich sword, in whose pommel were many jewels of price. As they looked in +wonder the stone whirled inward on an eddy and came aground at their +feet. And now they saw that the precious stones were set in letters of +gold, which none there could read. But there was a man at the court +learned in strange tongues, and he being sent for, read these with ease, +and thus interpreted them,-- + +"Never shall the hand of man draw me from this stone until he comes by +whose side I am to hang; and he shall be the best knight in the world." + +"Lay your hand on this sword and draw it," said the king to Lancelot. +"To you it surely belongs; for you are the best knight in the world." + +"Best of hand, mayhap, but not of heart and life," said Lancelot, +soberly. "Certes, sir, that sword is not for me, nor have I the +hardiness to set hand thereto. I had a vision in my last night's sleep, +and this it told me: that he who seeks to draw that sword, and fails +therein, shall in time receive from it a wound which shall be very long +in healing. And this more I learned, that this same day, and with the +drawing of that sword, shall begin the marvellous quest of the holy +vessel, the Sangreal. For fate has destined that this precious amulet +shall be sought throughout the world; and to him who finds it the +greatest of earth's honors shall come." + +The king and all the knights heard these words with wonder, for Lancelot +spoke like one inspired. Then Arthur turned to Gawaine. + +"Fair nephew," he said, "try you this task for my love." + +"Saving your good grace," said Gawaine, "that I shall not do." + +"Then, sir, seek to draw the sword at my command." + +"Your command I must obey," said Gawaine, "yet I dread to meddle with +magic." + +Then he took the sword by the handle, and pulled with all his might, but +he could not stir it. + +"I thank you," said the king, "for the trial, even if you have failed." + +"My lord Gawaine," said Lancelot, "bear well in mind, this sword shall +touch you so sore that you would give the best castle in this kingdom +not to have set your hand thereto." + +"It may be," answered Gawaine. "Yet I could not disobey the command of +the king." + +Then the king turned to Percivale, and asked him for his love to try the +task. + +"Gladly will I," he said, "if only to bear Gawaine fellowship." + +But pull as strongly as he would, the sword yielded not to his hand. And +there were more there so hardy as to disregard Lancelot's warning and +seek to draw the sword, but to no hand would it yield. + +"Try no more," said Kay to the king. "You have seen your marvel, and now +may, with a good appetite, go to your dinner." + +This advice seemed timely to the king, and all went to the court, where +the knights took their seats at the Round Table, and were served by +young men lately made knights. When they had been fully served, every +seat being filled save the seat perilous, another marvellous thing +happened. For suddenly all the doors and windows of the hall shut of +themselves. Yet the room was not greatly darkened, and men looked into +one another's faces with abashed and frightened visages. + +"Fair fellows and lords," said the king, "this is a day of strange +events. And I doubt if we shall not see greater before night comes, for +it seems a day set aside by the fates." + +As he spoke, there came into the hall an ancient man, clothed all in +white, but no knight knew through which door he had entered. By the hand +he led a young knight, clad in red armor, but without sword or shield, +an empty scabbard hanging by his side. + +"Peace be with you, fair lords," said the old man. Then he turned to +King Arthur, and said,-- + +"Sir, I bring with me a young knight who is of kingly lineage, and of +the kindred of Joseph of Arimathea. By his hand many strange marvels are +destined to be accomplished." + +The king heard these words with close attention, and answered +graciously,-- + +"Sir, you are right welcome here, and the young knight you bring." + +Then the old man removed the youth's armor, and put upon him a coat of +red sendal and a mantle that was furred with ermine. And Lancelot saw +that the young man was he whom he had knighted that morning at the +abbey. + +[Illustration: JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.] + +But the chief wonder of the day was now to appear. For the old man said +to his young companion,-- + +"Sir, follow me." He led him around the table till they came to the seat +perilous, beside which sat Lancelot. Here the old man lifted up the +silken cloth, and lo! the letters which had been covered were gone, and +new letters of gold were visible, which read,-- + +"This is the seat of Galahad, the high prince." + +"Sir," said the old man, "this seat is yours. Long has it waited your +coming." + +And he seated him therein, while all the circle of knights looked on in +wonder. Now for the first time the young knight spoke. + +"Dear sir," he said, "you may now depart, for you have done well what +you were commanded to do. Recommend me to my grandsire, King Pellam, and +say to him that I will come and see him as soon as I may." + +With this the old man departed. Outside there waited twenty noble +squires, who mounted when he came, and rode away with him. The Knights +of the Round Table marvelled greatly at all this, and the more so on +seeing that he who occupied that chair of peril was one so tender of +age, and a youth whom no one knew, nor whence he came; but to one +another they privately said,-- + +"This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved; for none ever sat +there before but Percivale, and he was not long deemed worthy to occupy +that seat." + +The talk of this strange event quickly passed through the palace, and +came to the queen, who heard it with wonder. Those who brought word +said that the youth resembled Sir Lancelot. + +"I must see this strange thing," she said, and, followed by her ladies, +she entered the hall. + +"It is Sir Lancelot in youth again," she cried, on looking the young +knight in the face. "Fair sir, tell me truly, what father had you, and +what mother." + +"King Pellam is my grandsire," answered Galahad, "and Elaine was my +mother. As for my father, I know him not." + +"Then do I," cried the queen, "for he sits beside you. Sir Lancelot is +your father. You are son unto the noblest knight that ever wore sword." + +At these words Lancelot rose up in haste, for he had not dreamed of what +was to come; and he clasped the youth in his arms and kissed his fair +young face with a love that overflowed his heart. + +"My son!" he said. "Can it be? Greatly, indeed, have I felt drawn unto +you." + +"And my heart went out to you, dear father," said Galahad, "from the +moment I looked upon your noble face." + +The sight of this affecting meeting filled all hearts there with joy, +and the king warmly congratulated Lancelot on having found so worthy a +son; "for to him, I dare avow," he said, "is destined that great +achievement of the Sangreal of which you have this day told us." + +Then Arthur took Galahad by the hand, and said,-- + +"Come with me, young sir," and led him from the palace to the river to +show him the marvel of the stone. After them followed the knights, and +the queen and ladies of the court, all full of hope of greater wonders +yet to come. + +"Sir," said the king, "that sword floated hither this day. Many knights +of great prowess have tried to draw it and failed." + +"That is no marvel," said Galahad. "The sword is not theirs, but mine. +And since I knew it awaited me I have brought no sword; but its +scabbard, as you may see, hangs by my side." + +Then he laid his hand upon the sword, and, while all eyes opened wide +with wonder, drew it from the stone as easily as if it came from the +water only, and thrust it into the scabbard, saying to the king,-- + +"It fits there better than in a floating stone." + +"God has sent it you," said the king. "And I doubt not he will send you +a shield in as marvellous a manner." + +"This is the sword that at one time belonged to Balin le Savage," said +Galahad, "and with which he killed his brother Balan, in that terrible +joust which happened many years ago. The scabbard I wear was Balin's +scabbard, and it was Merlin who put the sword into that stone, saying +that no hand should draw it but that of Lancelot, or his son Galahad. +Nor can any man have forgotten the dolorous stroke which Balin dealt my +grandfather King Pellam, of which he is not yet healed, nor shall be +till I heal him. So has Merlin prophesied." + +As they talked thus a lady on a white palfrey was seen riding down the +river side to where they stood. Reaching the group, she saluted the +king and queen, and asked if Sir Lancelot were there. + +"I am here, fair lady," he answered. + +"Sad is it," she said, while tears flowed from her eyes, "that all your +great renown is changed since this day's dawn." + +"Damsel, why say you this?" + +"Until to-day you were the best knight in the world," she answered. "But +he who should say this now would speak falsely, for there has come a +better than you. And this is proved by the adventure of the sword to +which you dared not set your hand. Remember well what I have said." + +"As touches that," rejoined Lancelot, "I never had the pride of being +the best knight in the world, nor do I envy my son if any worship has +passed from me to him." + +"Yet you were the greatest; and still are among sinful men," she +persisted. "And, sir king," she said to Arthur, "this more I am bid to +say, from the holy lips of Nancien the hermit, that to you shall fall +to-day the greatest of honors; for this day the Sangreal shall appear in +your palace, and feed you and all your fellowship of the Round Table!" + +With these words she turned her palfrey and rode away as she had come, +leaving all who had heard her lost in wonder and admiration. + +When they had a little got over their wonder at what they had seen, the +king gave orders that the stone should be taken from the water, saying +that he would have it set up as a monument of those strange events. + +"And as it may be long before you all come together here again, I should +like to have you joust in the meadow of Camelot, by way of honor to this +day." + +Thus he spoke; but his real purpose was to see Galahad proved, for he +feared that if he once left the court it might be long before he should +see him again. Then the knights put on their armor and rode to the +meadow in a gallant cavalcade. Galahad also, at the earnest request of +the king, put on armor, but he would take no shield, though the king and +Lancelot prayed him to do so. The most he would consent to do was to +take a spear. + +But noble work he did that day, meeting all men who cared to break +spears with him, so that by the end of the joust he had thrown down many +good Knights of the Round Table. Only two of them, Lancelot and +Percivale, were able to keep their seats against the vigorous onset of +the strong young knight. + +When the jousting was at an end, the king and knights went back to +Camelot, where they attended even-song at the great minster. Thence they +proceeded to the palace hall, where all took their seats at the table +for supper. + +But as they sat eating, there came outside a terrible crash of thunder, +and a wind arose that seemed as if it would rend the great hall from its +foundations. In the midst of this blast the hall was lighted by a sudden +gleam seven times brighter than the midday light, in whose glare the +knights sat dumb, none daring to speak. But each looked at the others, +and it seemed to each that his fellows were fairer of visage than he +had ever seen them before. + +Then the storm and the glare passed away as suddenly as they had come, +and there entered the hall the holy grail. None there saw it, for it was +covered with white samite, but the hall was filled with the rarest +odors, and each knight saw on the table before him the meats and drinks +that he loved best in the world. + +When the holy vessel had passed through the hall, it suddenly vanished, +none knew how. And not till then dared any man speak. + +"Certes," said the king, "we ought to thank God devoutly for what he has +shown us this day." + +"We have enjoyed the richest of perfumes, and have before us the rarest +of food," said Gawaine; "and we have but one thing to regret, that the +sacred vessel was so preciously covered that no eye might behold it. But +this miracle has filled my soul with the warmest desire to see this holy +thing, and I therefore vow that to-morrow, without delay, I shall set +out in quest of the Sangreal, and shall not return hither till I have +seen it more openly, if it take me a twelvemonth or more. If I fail in +the end, I shall return as one who is not worthy to behold the holy +vessel." + +On hearing these words the other knights arose as one man, and repeated +the vow which Gawaine had made. + +Upon this, King Arthur sprang to his feet in deep displeasure, for there +came to his mind like a vision a host of evil consequences from this +inconsiderate vow. + +"You are over-hasty, Gawaine," he said, sharply, "and have done me a +lifelong evil with your vow. For you have bereft me of the fairest +fellowship that ever came together in this world. When my knights depart +hence on that difficult search, well I know that they will never all +meet again in this world, for many shall die in the quest. Therefore it +distresses me deeply, for I have loved them as I loved my life, and I +would rather have my soul depart from my body than to lose their noble +fellowship. Long have we dwelt together in sorrow and in joy, but I fear +our happy days are at an end, and that trouble and suffering await us in +the time to come. What God wills must be, but my heart is sore at the +thought of it." + +And men who looked upon the king could see tears of distress and grief +flowing from his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW GALAHAD GOT HIS SHIELD. + + +When morning came the knights made ready for their departure, amid the +tears and lamentations of ladies, and with the deep sorrow of the king +and queen. For there were a hundred and fifty of them in all, comprising +the whole fellowship of the Table Round, and King Arthur had deep reason +for his fear that he would never gather all these gallant knights round +his festal board again. And so they mounted and rode through the streets +of Camelot, where was weeping of rich and poor, and the king turned away +and could not speak for grief, while Queen Guenever hid herself in her +chamber, to be alone with her bitter sorrow at the going of Lancelot. + +Onward they rode in company until they came to a castle and town that +were named Vagon. There they stopped and were well entertained by the +lord of the castle, who was a man of great hospitality. But when morning +came it was decided between them that they should separate, each taking +his own course, so that the Sangreal might be sought in all quarters. +This they did with much sorrow and many fervent farewells, each knight +taking the way that he liked the best, and riding alone and afar on his +perilous quest. + +First must we follow the young knight Galahad, who still rode without a +shield, and who passed onward for four days without an adventure. Near +eventide of the fourth day he came to a white abbey, where he was +received with great respect, and led to a chamber that he might lay off +his armor. And here, to his surprise, he met with two of the goodly +company from which he had lately parted, Sir Uwaine and King Bagdemagus. + +"Sirs," said Galahad, "what adventure brought you hither?" + +"We are told," they replied, "that within this place is a shield of +perilous significance. For he who bears it about his neck runs deep risk +of being slain within three days, or maimed forever. Yet," said +Bagdemagus, "I shall bear it to-morrow and try my fortune." + +"In the name of God, try it," said Galahad. "Yet truly you take a great +risk." + +"If I fail therein, you shall take the adventure. I am sure you will not +fail." + +"I agree to that," said Galahad. "I have ridden far enough without a +shield." + +Then they went to supper, and afterwards to sleep. When morning came +Bagdemagus asked of the abbot where the magic shield was, and a monk led +him behind an altar where hung a shield as white as snow, but with a red +cross in its centre. + +"I hope you are well advised of what you do," said the monk. "No knight, +unless he be the worthiest in the world, can safely bear this shield." + +"I know well that I am not the best of knights," said Bagdemagus; "and +yet I shall wear it and dare the danger." + +Then he took it out of the monastery, and said to Galahad,-- + +"If it please you, await me here till you learn how I shall speed." + +"I shall await tidings," said Galahad. + +Bagdemagus now rode forward with a squire, that he might send back +tidings of his good or ill fortune, and passed onward for two miles, +when he found himself in a valley before a hermitage. Here he saw a +stalwart knight in white armor, horse and all, who, in seeing the +red-cross shield, rode upon him at the full speed of his charger. +Bagdemagus put his spear in rest and rode to meet him, but his spear +broke on the white knight, while he was wounded in the right shoulder +and borne from his horse, the treacherous shield refusing to cover him. +Then the victor knight alighted and took the white shield from him, +saying,-- + +"Sir knight, you have acted with more folly than wisdom, for you should +have known that only he who has no peer living can safely bear this +shield." + +Then he went to the squire who had come with King Bagdemagus, and +said,-- + +"Bear this shield to the good knight Sir Galahad, whom you left in the +abbey, and greet him from me." + +"What shall I tell him is your name?" + +"Take no heed of my name. That is not for you to know, nor for any +earthly man. Content yourself with telling Sir Galahad that this shield +is for him, and for no other man to wear. And may God aid him to bear it +worthily and worshipfully." + +But the squire went first to Bagdemagus and asked him if he were +seriously wounded. + +"Forsooth, I am," he said. "I shall scarce escape from death." + +The squire then conveyed him in great pain to the hermitage, and left +him in care of the hermit. And as the chronicle tells, he lay there +long, and barely escaped with life. + +[Illustration: Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron. + +OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD.] + +"Sir Galahad," said the squire, when he had returned to the abbey, "King +Bagdemagus has paid dearly for his venture. He lies at a hermitage +sorely wounded. As for you, the knight that overthrew him sends you +greeting, and bids you to bear this shield, through which marvellous +adventures shall come to you." + +"Then blessed be God and fortune," said Galahad. + +He now resumed his arms and mounted his horse, hanging the white shield +about his neck and commending himself to God. Uwaine offered to bear him +company, but this was not to be. + +"Sir knight," said Galahad, "I thank you for your offer, but I must go +alone, save that this squire shall bear me fellowship." + +With these words the youthful knight rode away, and soon came to where +the white knight abode by the hermitage. They saluted each other +courteously, and fell into a conversation in which the white knight told +Galahad the story of the magical shield. + +"In the far past time," he said, "soon after Joseph of Arimathea took +down the body of our Lord from the holy cross, and bore it from +Jerusalem to a city named Sarras, there was a king of Sarras named +Evelake, who was then at war with the Saracens. This king, through the +teachings of Joseph, was converted from the old law to the new, and for +him this shield was made, in the name of Him who died on the cross. +Afterwards, when Evelake was in battle, the shield was covered with a +cloth, which was only removed in times of deadly peril, and then his +enemies saw the figure of a man on the cross, before which they fell +back discomfited. At times the cross of the shield would vanish away, +and at times stand out clear and bright; and such was its virtue that a +soldier whose hand was stricken off was made whole again by touching +the cross. The time came at length when Joseph left Palestine and +journeyed westward, and King Evelake with him, till they came to Great +Britain, where all the people had been pagans, but were then converted +to the Christian faith. Soon afterwards Joseph sickened and came near to +death, and while he lay in his bed he bade Evelake bring him the shield, +and on it he traced a red cross with his own blood. Then he said to +Evelake, 'No man hereafter shall bear this shield but he shall repent +it, until Galahad, the last of my lineage, shall come to seek it, and +with it he shall do marvellous deeds.' 'Where shall the shield await his +coming?' asked Evelake. 'You shall leave it in the abbey where Nancien +the hermit shall lie after his death, and thither the knight Galahad +shall come for it soon after he receives the order of knighthood.' This +is the story of the shield, and this day has the prediction been +fulfilled. Wear the shield worthily and well, young knight, for much +glory and renown shall come to you through it. You are in God's hands; +to God commend yourself." + +With these words the white knight vanished away, and in the place where +he had stood was seen but empty air. + +Then the squire, who had heard these words, alighted and kneeled at +Galahad's feet, praying that he would make him a knight. + +"That I shall consider," said Galahad. "But now let us return to the +abbey." + +Here Galahad drove away a fiend that had long dwelt in a tomb near by, +where it made such noise that none could venture near it. But the +virtue of the shield protected him from all harm from this evil shape, +which was forced to depart. + +When morning came, he asked the young squire his name. + +"Sir," he answered, "men call me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of the +king of Denmark." + +"Then, fair sir, since you come of kings and queens, I shall make you a +knight; and look you that knighthood sit well on you, for you should be +a mirror of chivalry." + +"That shall I seek to be," said Melias. + +Then Galahad gave him the accolade as he kneeled before him, and bade +him rise a knight. + +"Now, dear sir," said Melias, "since you have done me this high honor, +it is but right that you grant me my first request, so that it be in +reason." + +"You speak justly," said Galahad. + +"I beg, then, that you let me ride with you in the quest of the Sangreal +till some adventure shall part us." + +"That I grant willingly." + +Armor was now brought to Melias, and when it had been girded upon him he +and Galahad rode away, and passed onward all that week without an +adventure. But on the Monday next, as they set out from an abbey, they +came to where a cross marked a parting of the road. On the cross was +written,-- + +"Ye knights-errant, that ride in quest of adventures, here lie two ways. +He that takes the right-hand road shall not leave it again, if he be a +good man and a worthy knight. He that takes the left-hand shall not +lightly win fortune, for his strength and endurance will be soon tried." + +"If you will suffer me to take the left-hand road I should like it +greatly," said Melias. "My strength and skill need trial." + +"It were better not. I fancy that I only should face the danger that +there confronts us." + +"Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have this adventure." + +"Take it, then, in God's name," said Galahad; "and do your duty +worthily." + +So Melias rode forward and soon found himself in a forest, through which +he passed for two days, seeing there neither man, woman, nor child. Then +he came from the forest into a broad meadow, where stood a lodge built +of green boughs. And in that lodge was a chair, on which lay a crown of +gold wrought with rich and subtle skill. Also there were cloths spread +upon the earth, upon which delicious meats were laid. + +Melias beheld all this and thought it marvellous. He felt no hunger, but +the crown of gold roused his covetousness, and he took it up and rode +away with it. But not far had he ridden when a knight came after him, +who said,-- + +"Sir knight, why have you taken that crown? It is not yours; therefore +defend yourself." + +Then Melias blessed himself, and said,-- + +"Fair Lord of Heaven, help and save thy new made knight." + +Then they rode together at full speed, but Melias's prayer availed him +naught, for the spear-head of the other went through his hauberk, and +wounded him so deeply in the left side that he fell to the earth like a +dead man. Then the victor knight took the crown and rode away. + +But with wise forethought Galahad had followed Melias, and now rode into +the valley, where he found him in peril of death. + +"Ah, Melias!" he cried, "better for you had you taken the other way. Who +has done you this harm?" + +"For God's love, let me not die in this place!" said Melias in reply. +"Bear me to some abbey near by, where I may be confessed and have the +rites of the church." + +"It shall be done," said Galahad. "But where is he who has wounded you?" + +The reply came from the edge of the forest, where Galahad heard a voice +cry in stirring tones,-- + +"Knight, defend yourself from me." + +"Beware, sir," warned Melias. "He it is that has left me thus." + +"Sir knight," said Galahad, "come on at your peril." + +Then they rode together as fast as their horses could run, and Galahad +drove his spear through the shoulder of his opponent, hurling him from +his horse. But in his fall the spear broke. Then, before the young +knight could turn, another knight rode from under the leaves and broke +his spear upon him. + +At this treacherous act Galahad drew his sword in wrath, and with a keen +blow smote off the left arm of his antagonist, whom he pursued into the +forest. + +He soon returned, however, and took up Melias gently, for the truncheon +of the spear was in his body, and bore him on his horse in his arms to +an abbey near at hand. Here the wounded knight was unarmed and laid upon +a bed, where the rites of the church were administered to him. + +"Sir Galahad," he then said, "let death come when it will, I am at peace +with God." And he drew the truncheon of the spear from his body, and +swooned away. + +But an old monk who stood there, and who was a skilful leech, examined +the wound, and said, "He need not die. By the grace of God I hope to +heal him of this wound within seven weeks." + +This gladdened Galahad, and he remained at the abbey three days to see +how Melias should fare. Then he asked him how it stood with him. + +"I feel now as if I may live," he answered. + +"God be thanked for that," said Galahad. "Now must I depart, for I have +much to do, and the quest of the Sangreal will not permit long leisure +and delay." + +"Sir," said the monk, "it is for his sin this knight is so bitterly +wounded. He took on him the high order of knighthood without clean +confession, which was a sinful thing to do. As for the two ways to which +you came, the way on the right betokens the highway of righteousness, +and the way on the left, which he chose, betokens that of sinners and +infidels. And when the devil saw his presumption in taking the quest of +the Sangreal without being worthy of it, he caused his overthrow. And +when he took the crown of gold he sinned in covetousness and theft. As +for you, Sir Galahad, the two knights with whom you fought signify the +two deadly sins which abide in Sir Melias. But they could not withstand +you, for you are without deadly sin." + +"God send I may keep so," said Galahad. "Now must I depart. I pray you +do your utmost for this knight." + +"My Lord Galahad," said Melias, "I shall get well, and shall seek you as +soon as I can ride." + +"God grant you speedy health," said Galahad, and he left the room and +sought his horse, and rode away alone. + +After he had ridden for days in various directions, it chanced that he +departed from a place called Abblasoure, where he had heard no mass, as +was his daily custom. But ere the day was old, he came to a mountain, on +which he found a ruined chapel, and here he kneeled before the altar, +and besought God's counsel. And as he prayed he heard a voice that said, +"Go now, thou adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and do away +with the wicked customs which there are kept." + +When Galahad heard this he took his horse and rode away, full of +gladness that he might thus serve God. And not long nor far had he +ridden before he saw in a valley before him a strong castle, with high +towers and battlements and deep ditches; and beside it ran a broad +river, named the Severn. + +Here he met an aged man, whom he saluted, and asked the castle's name. + +"It is the Castle of Maidens," said the old man. + +"Then it is a cursed castle, and an abode of sin," said Galahad. "All +pity is wanting within those walls, and evil and hardness of heart there +have their abode." + +"Then, sir knight, you would do well to turn and leave it." + +"That shall I not," said Galahad. "I have come here to punish the +evil-doers that there abide." + +Leaving the old man, he rode forward, and soon met with seven fair +maidens, who said to him,-- + +"Sir knight, you ride in folly, for you have the water to pass." + +"And why should I not pass the water?" asked Galahad. + +He continued his ride, and next met a squire, who said,-- + +"Sir knight, I bring you defiance from the knights in the castle, who +forbid you to go farther till they learn your purpose." + +"You may tell it to them, if you will. I come to destroy the wicked +customs of this castle." + +"Sir, if you abide by that, you will have enough to do." + +"Go now and bear them my answer." + +Then the squire returned to the castle, from which there soon after rode +seven knights, in full armor. When they saw Galahad they cried,-- + +"Knight, be on your guard, for you have come to your death." + +"What!" asked Galahad, "will you all assail me at once?" + +"That shall we; so defend yourself." + +Then Galahad rode against them and smote the foremost such a blow that +he nearly broke his neck. The others rode on him together, each +striking his shield with might. But their spears broke and he still held +his seat. + +He now drew his sword, and set upon them with such energy that, many as +they were, he put them all to flight, chasing them until they entered +the castle, and following them within its walls till they fled from the +castle by another gate. + +Galahad was now met by an old man, clad in religious costume, who said +to him,-- + +"Sir, here are the keys of the castle." + +Then the victor ordered that all the gates should be thrown open, and in +the streets of the neighboring town were crowds of people, crying +gladly,-- + +"Sir knight, you are heartily welcome. Long have we waited for the +deliverance which you bring us." + +And a gentlewoman came, who said to him,-- + +"These knights are fled, but they will come again. Therefore, sir, I +counsel you to send for all the knights that hold their lands of this +castle, and make them swear to restore the old customs, and do away with +the evil practices which these villanous knights have fostered." + +"That is good counsel," said Galahad. + +Then she brought him a horn of ivory, richly adorned with gold, and +said,-- + +"Blow this horn loudly. It will be heard two miles and more from the +castle, and all that hear it will come." + +[Illustration: Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron. + +SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS.] + +Galahad took the horn, and blew so loud a blast that the very trees +shook therewith. Then he seated himself and waited to see what would +come from the summons. As he sat there a priest came to him and said,-- + +"Sir knight, for seven years these brethren have held the castle, whose +lord, Duke Lianor, they killed, and held his daughter prisoner; and by +force they have kept all the knights of the castle under their power, +and have acted as tyrants, robbing the common people of all they had, +and taking tribute and demanding service from all the country round. +Seven years ago the duke's daughter said to them, 'You shall not hold +this castle for many years, for by one knight you shall be overcome.' +'Say you so,' they replied. 'Then shall never knight or lady pass this +castle, but all that come shall stay or lose their heads, till comes +that knight of whom you prophesy.' Therefore this is called the Maidens' +Castle, since its tyrants have so long made war upon maidens." + +"Is the duke's daughter still here?" + +"No; she died three days after the castle was taken. But her younger +sister and many other ladies are held prisoners." + +Soon afterwards the knights of the country began to flock in, in +response to the bugle-call, and glad were they to find what had +occurred. Galahad made them do homage and fealty to the duke's daughter, +which they did with great willingness of heart. + +And when the next day dawned great news was brought in, for a messenger +came to Galahad and told him that the seven felon brothers had been met +by Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, and all slain. + +"So ends their rule and power," said Galahad, fervently. "It is well +done, and well are all here delivered." + +Then he commended them to God, and took his armor and horse, and rode +away amid the prayers of those he had delivered. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE TEMPTATION OF SIR PERCIVALE. + + +Many adventures had the other knights that set out in search of the +Sangreal, and much reproof did many of them receive for the evil lives +they had led; but all this we cannot stop to tell, but must confine +ourselves to the deeds of a few only. As for Sir Gawaine, he parted from +Gareth and Uwaine after they had slain the seven wicked knights of the +Castle of Maidens, and rode from Whitsuntide to Michaelmas without an +adventure. Then came a day in which he met Sir Hector de Maris, and glad +were both at the meeting. + +"Truly," said Gawaine, "I am growing weary of this quest." + +"And I as well," said Hector. "And of the twenty knights I have met from +time to time, they all complain as we do." + +"Have you met with Lancelot?" + +"No, nor with Percivale, Bors, or Galahad. I can learn nothing of these +four." + +"They are well able to take care of themselves," said Gawaine. "And if +they fail to find the Sangreal, it is waste of time for the rest of us +to seek it, for outside of them there is little virtue in the Round +Table fellowship." + +Afterwards these two knights went far in company, and had strange dreams +and visions, the meaning of which was expounded to them by the hermit +Nancien. This holy man also reproved Gawaine severely for his evil life, +and bade both him and his companion to give up the search for the +Sangreal, as that high achievement was not for hands like theirs. + +Soon after they met an armed knight in the road, who proffered to joust +with them. Gawaine accepted the challenge, and rode against this unknown +opponent, dealing him so severe a blow that he was hurled from his horse +with a mortal wound. But when they had removed his helmet, what was +their horror to find that it was their friend and comrade, Uwaine. + +"Alas!" cried Gawaine, "that such a fatal misadventure should have +befallen me! I would sooner have died myself." + +"Thus ends my quest of the Sangreal," said Uwaine. "And thus will end +that of many a noble knight. Dear friends, commend me to King Arthur, +and to my fellows of the Round Table, and sometimes think of me for old +brotherhood's sake." + +And he died in their arms, leaving them plunged in the deepest grief, +from which they were long in recovering. + +Meanwhile Lancelot and Percivale rode far in company, and many things +happened to them. While journeying through a strange region they met an +unknown knight, whom they challenged to joust. But the event turned out +little to their satisfaction, for Lancelot was hurled to the ground, +horse and man, and Percivale received so fierce a sword-blow that he +would have been slain had not the sword swerved. + +Then the victor knight rode rapidly away, leaving them to recover as +they best could. But a recluse near whose hut this encounter had taken +place told them that the victor was Sir Galahad. On learning this they +pursued him at all speed, but in vain. + +Percivale now turned back to question the recluse further, but Lancelot +kept on, passing through waste and forest till he came to a stone cross +at the parting of two ways. + +Near by was a ruined chapel, with broken door, and other signs of waste +and decay, if it had been long deserted. But when he looked within he +saw to his great surprise a high altar richly dressed with cloth of +white silk, on which stood a lofty candelabra of silver which bore six +great candles, all lighted. + +Lancelot sought to enter the chapel, but try as he would he could not +pass the broken door, nor find entrance elsewhere. Some invisible power +seemed to stand between him and admission to that sacred place. + +Then, out of heart at this ill success, he took off his helm and sword, +relieved his horse of saddle and bridle, and lay down to sleep before +the cross. Night came upon him as he lay there, and with the night came +strange visions. + +For as he lay but half asleep he saw a sick knight brought thither in a +litter. This knight prayed earnestly for aid in his affliction, and as +he did so Lancelot saw the silver candlestick come from the chapel to +the cross, and after it a table of silver on which was the holy grail. +The sick knight crawled painfully to it on his hands and knees, and +raised himself so as to touch and kiss the sacred vessel. No sooner had +he done so than he grew whole and sound, with all his pain and sickness +gone, and rose to his feet with his former strength and vigor. + +"Lord, I thank thee deeply," he said; "for through thy infinite grace I +am healed of my affliction." + +Then the holy vessel returned to the chapel, and Lancelot strove hard to +rise and follow it. But his limbs were powerless, and he lay like one +chained to the ground. + +He now fell into deep slumber, and waked not till near morning. And as +he raised himself and sat on the ground he heard a voice in the air, +that seemed to come from no earthly lips. + +"Sir Lancelot," it said, "more hard than is the stone, more bitter than +the wood, more bare than the barren fig-tree, arise and go from hence, +and withdraw thyself from this holy place." + +Lancelot arose with a heavy heart, for the sense of these words sank +deeply within him. But when he sought his horse and helm and sword he +found they were gone, for they had been taken by the knight whose +healing he had seen. + +Deeply depressed and unhappy at this misfortune, he left the cross on +foot, and wandered onward till he came to a hermitage on a high hill. + +Here he told the hermit what had happened to him, and confessed all the +evil deeds of his life, saying that he had resolved to be a different +man from what he had been, and to live a higher life than that of doing +deeds of arms that men might applaud. + +Then the holy man gave him absolution, with injunctions of penance, and +prayed that he would abide with him all that day. This Lancelot did, +talking much with him upon his sins, and repenting sincerely the worldly +life he had led. + +Meanwhile Percivale had returned to the recluse, and questioned her as +to how he should find Galahad. + +"That I cannot surely tell," she said. "Ride hence to a castle which is +called Goothe, where he has a cousin-german. If he can give you no +tidings, then ride straight to the castle Carbonek, where the maimed +king lies, and there you shall hear sure tidings of him." + +Percivale, leaving her, rode onward till eventide, and as he looked +around him for shelter he heard a clock strike loud and clear. He now +perceived before him a mansion, with lofty walls and deep ditches. Here +he knocked loudly, and was let in without delay. + +After laying off his armor, he was led to the supper hall, where he was +well served, and afterwards spent the night in comfort. When morning +dawned he entered the chapel for the mass, and found there a priest +ready at the altar. On the right side was a pew closed with iron, and +behind the altar a rich bed, covered with cloth of silk and gold. On +this bed lay a person with covered visage, so that he could not tell if +it were man or woman. + +After the service was over the occupant of the bed sat up and threw back +the covering, and then Percivale saw that it was a man of very great +age, on whose head was a crown of gold. But his shoulders and body to +the middle were unclad, and were covered with wounds, as were also his +arms and face. + +To all seeming he might have been three hundred years of age, for so +venerable a face Percivale had never gazed upon, and as he sat up he +prayed fervently, with joined hands. When the mass was over the priest +bore the sacrament to the sick king. And when he had used it, he took +off his crown and commanded it to be set on the altar. Then he lay down +again. + +Percivale now asked one of the attendants who this venerable man was. + +"You have heard of Joseph of Arimathea," was the reply, "and how he came +into this land to convert the heathen. With him came a king named +Evelake, whom he had converted in the city of Sarras, in Palestine. This +king afterwards had an earnest desire to be where the Sangreal was, and +on one occasion he ventured so nigh it that God was displeased with him, +and struck him almost blind. Then King Evelake prayed for mercy and +pardon, and begged that he might not die until he who was to achieve the +Sangreal should come, that he might see him and kiss him. There +answered him a voice that said: 'Thy prayers are heard; thou shalt not +die till he has kissed thee. And when he comes thy eyes shall be opened +to see clearly, and thy wounds shall be healed; but not until then.' So +King Evelake has lived in this mansion for three hundred winters, +waiting for the coming of the knight who shall heal him. Now, sir, will +you tell me what knight you are, and if you are of the Round Table +fellowship?" + +"That am I, and my name is Percivale de Galis." + +On hearing this the good man welcomed Percivale warmly, and pressed him +to remain. But the knight replied that he could not, for his duty led +him onward. + +Percivale now left the chapel, and, arming himself, he took his horse +and rode onward. And that day more strange things happened to him than +we have space to tell. Not far had he ridden when he met twenty +men-at-arms, who bore on a bier a dead knight. On learning that he was +from King Arthur's court, they assailed him fiercely, killed his horse, +and would have slain him; but when he was at the worst strait a knight +in red armor came hastily to his rescue, and rode fiercely on the +assailants. + +He attacked these, indeed, with such fury that many of them were soon +stretched on the ground; while the others fled into a thick forest, +whither they were hotly pursued by their assailant. + +On seeing him thus ride away, Percivale was deeply grieved, for he well +knew his rescuer was Galahad, and he had no horse to follow him. + +He went forward as fast as he could on foot, and had not gone far when +he met a yeoman riding on a hackney, and leading a great war-horse, +blacker than any bear. + +Percivale begged that he would lend him this horse, that he might +overtake a knight before him. But this the yeoman refused, saying that +the owner of the horse would slay him if he should do so. + +Not long afterwards, as Percivale sat woebegone beneath a tree, an armed +knight came riding past on the black horse, pursued by the yeoman, who +called him robber, and moaned bitterly that his master would kill him +for the loss of his charge. + +"Lend me your hackney," said Percivale; "I may get you your horse +again." + +This the yeoman gladly did, and Percivale pursued the robber knight, +loudly bidding him to stand and deliver. + +The knight at this turned and rode fiercely upon him, but directed his +spear against the horse instead of the rider, striking it in the breast, +so that it fell to the earth. + +He now rode away, without heeding Percivale's angry demand that he +should stop and fight it out on foot. When the dismounted knight found +that his antagonist would not turn, he was so filled with chagrin that +he threw away his helm and sword, and raved like one out of his wits. +Thus he continued till night came on, when he lay down exhausted and +fell into a deep slumber. + +Near the midnight hour he suddenly awakened, and saw in the road before +him a woman, who said,-- + +"Sir Percivale, what do you here?" + +"I do neither good nor ill," he replied. + +"You need a horse," she said. "If you will promise to do my will when I +shall summon you, I will lend you mine. You will find him no common +one." + +"I promise that," cried Percivale. "I would do much for a horse just +now." + +"Wait, then; I shall fetch you the noblest animal you ever bestrode." + +She departed, but quickly came again, leading a horse of midnight +blackness, and richly apparelled for knightly service. + +Percivale looked at it with admiration. He had not hoped for so great +and noble a steed as this. Thanking her warmly, he sprang to his feet, +leaped to the saddle, and put spurs to the horse, from whose nostrils +fire seemed to glare. + +Away went the black horse under the moonlight, making such marvellous +strides that it seemed to leave the earth behind it in its magical +progress. With such wondrous speed did it go that in an hour it had made +a four days' journey. Then it came to the brink of a great body of +water, whose waves foamed and leaped boisterously against the shore. + +When Percivale saw the heaving waves, which stretched far away under the +moonlight, he drew with all his force upon the rein; but the fiendish +brute which he rode heeded not his hand, but bore him madly to the +brink. Fear and doubt now filled the knight's mind, and with a hasty +impulse he made the sign of the cross. At this the beast roared loudly +in rage, while flame a foot long poured from its nostrils, and with a +wild rear it shook off its rider, and plunged madly into the wild +billows. And the showering drops which fell upon Percivale from the +plunge burnt like sparks of fire. + +"God be thanked that I am here alive," cried the knight, fervently. "I +have ridden the foul fiend in the image of a horse, and barely have I +escaped perdition." + +Then he commended himself to God, and prayed earnestly to the Lord to +save him from all such perils and temptations. He continued in prayer +all the remainder of that night until the next day dawned upon the +earth. + +When sunrise came he looked needfully about him, anxious to learn +whither he had been borne by the unholy brute. To his surprise and alarm +he found himself in a wild waste, which was closed in on one side by the +sea, and on the other by a range of rough and high mountains, impassable +to human feet; a land that seemed without food or shelter, and the +lurking-place of wild beasts. + +He trembled with fear on seeing this, and went forward with doubtful +steps. Not far had he gone before he saw a strange thing, for a great +serpent passed near him, bearing a young lion by the neck. Fiercely +after it came a great lion, roaring with rage, and fell upon the +serpent, which turned in defence, so that a mighty battle was waged +before the knight. + +"By my faith," he cried, "the lion is the most natural beast of the two, +and it fights for its young. The lion it is my duty to help." + +He drew his sword with these words and struck the serpent so fierce a +stroke that it fell dead. Then he turned his shield against the lion, +but as the latter made no show of fighting him, but fawned upon him with +every mark of joy and gratitude, he cast down his shield and removed his +helm, and sat there stroking the neck and shoulders of the beast. + +Until noon he comforted himself with the fellowship of the lion. Then it +took up its whelp and bore it away, leaving Percivale alone. But he was +not unhappy, for he believed fervently in God, and prayed with all +earnestness that he might be saved from unholy things, and chosen as a +champion of right and truth. + +When night came, Percivale, to his joy, saw the lion coming towards him. +It crouched at his feet like a spaniel, and all that night the lion and +the knight slept in company, his head being pillowed on the shoulder of +the beast. + +But during the night a strange dream came to him. He seemed to see two +women, one of whom was young, and rode upon a lion, and the other was +old, and sat upon a gliding serpent. And the younger spoke to him as +follows,-- + +"Sir Percivale," she said, "my lord salutes you, and sends a warning to +you to make ready, for to-morrow you will have to fight with the +strongest champion in the world. And if overcome you will be shamed to +the world's end." + +"Who is your lord?" he asked. + +"The greatest lord in all the world," she said; and then suddenly +vanished. + +Then came the lady upon the serpent, and said,-- + +"Sir Percivale, I have done you no harm, and yet you have worked me +injury." + +"What have I done? I have been always heedful to offend no lady." + +"I have long nourished here a great serpent, and yesterday you killed it +for seeking its prey. Why did you this? The lion was not in your care." + +"I aided the lion because it was a nobler beast than the serpent. In +that I did nothing against you." + +"You did me a great wrong, and in return for this injury I demand that +you become my man." + +"That shall I never be," he answered. + +"Beware, then, proud knight, who pride yourself on your piety. You have +robbed me of that which I loved; take heed that I catch you not +unawares, or mine you shall be, body and soul." + +With these words she departed, and Percivale finished his sleep without +further vision. In the morning, when he awoke, he felt feeble. And as he +rose and blessed himself he saw not far off in the sea a ship that +sailed towards him. As it came near he perceived it to be covered within +and without with white samite, while on the deck stood an old man +dressed in a surplice like a priest. + +"Sir," said Percivale, "you are welcome." + +"God keep you," said the old man; "whence come you?" + +"I am of King Arthur's court, and a Knight of the Round Table, and am in +quest of the Sangreal. But here I find myself in a wilderness, with no +hope of escape." + +"Doubt not, if you be a true knight." + +"Who are you?" asked Percivale. + +"I have come hither from a strange country to comfort you," said the old +man. + +"Then, sir, can you tell me what my dream signifies?" and Percivale +related what had befallen him. + +"That can I," said the old man. "She that rode on the lion betokens the +new law of holy church, and she came through love, to warn you of the +great battle that is before you." + +"With whom shall I fight?" asked Percivale. + +"With the strongest champion of the world, and if you fail in the fight +you shall not escape with the loss of a limb, but shall be shamed to the +world's end. As for her that rode on the serpent, she betokens the old +law. Heed her not. The serpent you slew betokens the devil that you rode +hither, and whom you overcame by the sign of the cross. Yield not to her +or any of her kindred, or worse will befall you." + +Then the ship turned and sailed away, leaving Percivale again alone. But +when he went up the rocks he found there the lion, which he stroked and +made joyful fellowship with. + +And thus time went on till midday. Then Percivale saw a ship approaching +with such speed as if all the winds in the world had driven it. On it +kept till it reached land at the beach below him. He hurried hopefully +to meet it, and saw that it was covered with black silk, while on the +deck stood a lady of great beauty, who was dressed in the richest +apparel. + +"What brought you into this wilderness?" she cried to the knight. "Here +you are likely to die of hunger, for no man may cross yonder rocks and +escape." + +"I serve the best master in the world," said Percivale. "He will not +suffer harm to come to me." + +"Sir Percivale," said she, "know you who I am?" + +"Who taught you my name?" he answered. + +"I know you better than you deem," she replied, laughing. "This much I +may tell you, that not long since I was in the waste forest, where I saw +the red knight with the white shield." + +"Ah! is that so? Fain would I meet with him." + +"I shall bring you to him; but only on covenant that you will come to my +aid when I summon you." + +"If it be in reason and uprightness, you may trust me," he replied. + +"I saw him," she continued, "chase two knights into the stream that is +called Mortaise, and follow them into the water. But they passed over, +and his horse was drowned, and only by his great strength he got safe to +land again." + +"That I am very glad to hear. It would have been a sad day had that good +knight been drowned." + +"You look pale and thin," she remarked. "Have you eaten lately?" + +"Not these three days," he answered. "Yet I spoke of late with a good +man, whose words refreshed me as if I had partaken of rich viands." + +"Ah, sir knight," she said, "beware of that old man. I know him better +than you. He is a false enchanter, who seeks your harm. If you heed his +words shame will be your lot, and you will die on this rock and be +devoured by wild beasts. I am here to help you in your need, for I am +not content to see so good a knight come to harm and disgrace." + +"Who are you," asked Percivale, "that proffer me so great a kindness?" + +"Once I was the richest woman in the world," she answered. "Now I am +disinherited and in want." + +"Then I pity you greatly. Who is it that has disinherited you?" + +"I dwelt with the greatest man in the world," she answered, "and to him +I owe my beauty,--a beauty of which I was, alas! too proud. Then I said +that which offended him deeply, and he drove me away from him, and +robbed me of my heritage, and has never since had pity for me nor for my +friends. Since this has happened I have done my best to wean his men +from him, and many of them now cling to me, and I and they war against +him day and night. I know no good knight, nor good man, but that I +strive to win him to my side, and all such I repay well for their +services. For he against whom I wage war is strong, and I need all the +aid to be had. Therefore, since I know you for a valiant knight, I +beseech you to help me. A fellow of the Round Table cannot, under his +vow, fail any woman that is disinherited, and that seeks his aid." + +"That is true, indeed," said Percivale, "and I shall do all I can for +you." + +"You have my earnest thanks," she said. + +Then, as the weather was hot, she called some of her attendants, and +bade them bring a pavilion and set it up on the gravel near the +sea-line. + +"Sir knight," she said, "I pray you to rest here in the heat of the day, +while my attendants prepare food for you." + +He thanked her and laid aside his helm and shield, and fell asleep +within the pavilion, where he slumbered long. When he awoke he asked her +if the food was ready. + +"Yes," she answered; "I have worked while you slumbered." + +Then a table was set within the pavilion, and covered with a rich array +of meats and drinks, of which Percivale ate with great appetite, while +the lady sat opposite him with a very gracious aspect. The wine he drank +was the strongest that had ever passed his lips, and its strength soon +got into his veins and heated his brain. + +The lady now smiled graciously upon him, and it seemed to him that he +had never beheld so fair a creature. Her beauty so worked upon his +heated blood, indeed, that he proffered her his love, and prayed +earnestly for hers in return. + +When she saw his loving ardor, and that the wine worked like fire in his +blood, she said, with a smile of witchery,-- + +"Sir Percivale, if I become yours, you must become mine. I shall not +grant you my love unless you swear that henceforth you will be my true +servant, and do nothing but what I shall command. Will you thus bind +yourself, as you are a true knight?" + +"That will I, fair lady, by the faith of my body." + +"Then this I will say, that of all the knights in the world you are he +whom I most love. And you may seal upon my lips the compact we have +made." + +But when Percivale came towards her, to claim the proffered kiss, which +she offered with such bewitching grace, by chance or through God's aid +he saw his sword, which lay on the ground at his feet, and in its pommel +a red cross, with the sign of the crucifix therein. Then came to his +mind the promise he had made to the old man, and his knightly vows, and +with a pious impulse he raised his hand and made the sign of the cross +on his forehead, the while his eyes were fixed on the lovely face of the +tempter before him. + +As he did so her smile changed to a look of deadly hate, and the +loveliness of her face to a hideous aspect, while in the same moment the +pavilion fell as before a great wind, and then vanished in smoke and +cloud. + +Over the sea the wind rose and roared, and as he looked he saw the ship +battling with heaving waves, while the water seemed to burn behind it. +On the deck stood the lady, who cried,-- + +"Sir Percivale, you have betrayed me! Beware, proud knight, I shall have +my revenge." Then the ship drove out to sea, and vanished from his +sight. + +But in a passion of remorse Percivale snatched up the sword that lay +before him, and crying, "Since my flesh has been my master I will punish +it," he drove the naked blade through his thigh, till the blood spouted +out like a fountain. + +"Wretch that I am, how nearly was I lost!" he cried, in a torment of +conscience. "Fair sweet Father, Jesus Christ my Lord, let me not be +shamed, as I would now have been but for thy good grace. Take this wound +in recompense for what I have done against thee, and forgive me my deep +transgression, I humbly pray thee." + +But as he lay moaning and bleeding the wild winds went down and the sea +grew smooth, while he saw coming from the Orient the ship with the good +man, on board, on beholding whom he fell into a swoon. + +When he awoke he found that his wound had been dressed and the bleeding +stopped. Beside him sat the good man, who asked him,-- + +"How hast thou done since I departed?" + +"Weakly and wickedly enough," he answered. "A witch beguiled me, and I +nearly fell a victim to her wiles." + +"Knew you her not?" + +"Only that I deem the foul fiend sent her here to shame me." + +"Worse than that, good knight. Your victory is greater than you deem. +That seeming woman who deceived you was no less an adversary than the +master-fiend of hell, who has power over all the lesser devils, and, had +you yielded you had been lost forever. For this is the mighty champion +against whom you were forwarned; he who was once the brightest angel of +heaven, and was driven out by our Lord Christ for his sins, and thus +lost his heritage. But that the grace of God was on your side you would +have fallen before this champion of evil. Take this, Sir Percivale, as a +warning and an example." + +With these words the good man vanished away. Then the mariners carried +the wounded knight on board their ship, and set sail, bearing him +rapidly away from that scene of temptation and victory. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS. + + +When Sir Bors parted from his companions, on the quest of the Sangreal, +not far had he gone when he met a religious man riding on an ass, whom +he courteously saluted. + +"Who are you?" asked the good man. + +"I am one of those knights who have set out in quest of the Sangreal," +said Bors. "I would fain have your counsel in this high duty, for great +honor shall come to him who succeeds therein." + +"That is true," said the good man. "He that wins the Sangreal will be +counted the best knight and the purest soul among men. None can hope to +attain it except through cleanness of spirit." + +Then they rode together till they came to a hermitage. Here Bors went +into the chapel with his companion, and confessed to him, and ate bread +and drank water with him. + +"Now," said the good man, "I charge you that you take no other food than +bread and water till you sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be." + +"To that I agree. But how know you that I shall ever sit there?" + +"I know it, let that suffice; but few of your comrades shall have that +honor." + +"All that God sends me will be welcome," said Bors. + +"Also, instead of a shirt, and in token of chastisement, you shall wear +this garment," and the good man produced a scarlet coat, which Bors +promised to wear next his skin till the Sangreal should be won. + +Then, after further wholesome advice, he resumed his armor and departed. +He had gone but a little way from the hermitage when he passed a tree +that was little more than an old and leafless trunk, and on one of its +boughs he saw a great bird, surrounded by young that were nearly dead +with hunger. As, he continued to look at this strange sight, the bird +smote itself in the breast with its sharp beak, and bled till it died +among its young. Then the young birds fed on their mother's blood, and +were revived thereby. + +This to Bors seemed full of deep significance, and he pondered deeply +upon it as he rode onward. By even-song he found himself near a strong +and high tower, where he asked shelter for the night, and was hospitably +welcomed. + +When he had disarmed he was led to a richly furnished apartment, where +he found a young and fair lady, who welcomed him gladly to her tower, +and invited him to take supper with her. + +The table was set with rich meats and many dainties, but Bors forgot not +the hermit's charge, and bade an attendant to bring him water. In this +he sopped bread and ate it. + +"How is this?" asked the lady in surprise. "Like you not my meat?" + +"Truly I do, madam; yet I may eat no other food this day." + +Then the lady was silent, for she feared to displease him by +questioning. After supper, while they sat talking, a squire came, who +said,-- + +"Madam, you know well what is set for to-morrow. You must provide a +champion to fight in your quarrel against Pridam le Noire, or your +sister will have this castle and all your lands." + +"I know that," she said, with a deep sigh. "May God save me from being +robbed, for I see no earthly aid." + +Her sorrow touched Bors, who asked,-- + +"What means this, madam?" + +"Sir," she said, "I shall tell you. There was formerly a king named +Aniause, who owned all these lands. By chance he loved my sister, who is +much older than I,--and much wickeder also, I fear. He gave her this +land to govern; but she brought into it many evil customs, and caused +the death of many of his kinsmen. When the king saw how vilely she +governed, he drove her away, and put me over this district. But he is +now dead, and she is making war on me, and has destroyed many of my +men, and turned others from me, so that I have little left but this +tower, and the few men that guard it. Even this she now threatens to +take from me, unless I can find a knight to fight her champion, who will +appear before my gates to-morrow." + +"Is it so?" said Bors. "Who is this Pridam le Noire?" + +"He is the most stalwart knight in this country, and has no equal among +us." + +"Madam," said Bors, "you have given me shelter; in return I shall aid +you as far as I can in your trouble. You may send word that you have +found a knight who will fight with this Pridam the Black, in God's +quarrel and yours." + +"Then may God's blessing rest upon you," she cried, gladly. And word was +sent out that she had found a champion who would take on himself her +quarrel. + +That evening she did what lay in her power to make Bors welcome, and +sent him at bedtime to a chamber whose bed was soft as down, and spread +with silken coverings. + +But in no bed would he rest, but laid himself on the floor, as he had +vowed to do till he found the Sangreal. + +As he lay there asleep there came to him a vision. He seemed to see two +birds, one white as a swan, the other of smaller size, and shaped like a +raven, with plumage of inky blackness. The white bird came to him and +said, "If thou wilt give me meat and serve me, I shall give thee all the +riches of the world, and make thee as fair and white as I am." Then the +white bird departed, and the black bird came and said, "I beg that you +will serve me to-morrow, and hold me in no despite; for this I tell you, +that my blackness will avail you more than the other's whiteness." And +this bird, too, departed. + +But his dream continued, and he seemed to come to a great place, that +looked like a chapel. Here he saw on the left side a chair, which was +worm-eaten and feeble. And on the right hand were two flowers of the +shape of a lily, and one would have taken the whiteness from the other +but that a good man separated them, and would not let them touch. And +out of each came many flowers and plentiful fruit. Then the good man +said, "Would not he act with great folly that should let these two +flowers perish to succor the rotten tree, and keep it from falling?" +"Sir," said the dreamer, "it seems to me that the flower is of more +value than the wood." "Then take heed that you never choose the false +for the true." + +With this Bors awoke, and made the sign of the cross on his forehead, +and then rose and dressed. When he had come to the lady she saluted him, +and led him to a chapel, where they heard the morning service. Quickly +afterwards there came a company of knights that the lady had sent for, +to lead her champion to battle. After he had armed, she begged him to +take some strengthening food. + +"Nay, madam," he answered, "that I shall not do till I have fought this +battle, in which I ask but God's grace to aid me." + +This said, he sprang upon his horse, and set out with the knights and +men, closely followed by the lady and her train. They soon came to where +the other party were encamped, and with them the lady of their choice. + +"Madam," said the lady of the tower, "you have done me great wrong to +take from me the lands which King Aniause gave me. And I am sorry that +there should be any battle." + +"You shall not choose," said the other, "unless you withdraw your knight +and yield the tower." + +"That I shall not do. You have robbed me enough already." + +Then was the trumpet sounded, and proclamation was made that whichever +champion won the battle, the lady for whom he fought should enjoy all +the land. This done, the two champions drew aside, and faced each other +grimly in their armor of proof. + +But when the sound for the onset was blown they put spurs to their +steeds, which rushed together like two lions, and the knights struck +each other with such force that their spears flew to pieces and both +fell to the earth. + +They quickly rose and drew their swords, and hewed at each other like +two woodmen, so that soon each was sorely wounded and bleeding +profusely. Bors quickly found that he had a sturdier antagonist than he +expected, for Pridam was a strong and hardy fighter, who stood up +lustily to his work, and gave his opponent many a sturdy blow. + +Bors, perceiving this, took a new course, and played with his antagonist +till he saw that he was growing weary with his hard work. Then he +advanced upon him fiercely, and drove him step by step backward, till +in the end Pridam fell. Bors now leaped upon him and pulled so strongly +upon his helm as to rend it from his head. Then he struck him with the +flat of his sword upon the cheek, and bade him yield, or he would kill +him. + +"For God's love, slay me not!" cried the knight. "I yield me to thy +mercy. I shall swear never to war against thy lady, but be henceforth +her friend and protector." + +With this assurance, Bors let him live; while the covetous old lady fled +in fear, followed by all her knights. The victorious champion now called +to him all those who held lands in that estate, and threatened to +destroy them unless they would do the lady such service as belonged to +their holdings. This they swore to do, and there and then paid homage to +the lady, who thus came to her own again through the mighty prowess of +Sir Bors de Ganis. + +Not until the country was well in peace did he take his leave, refusing +the offers of wealth which the grateful lady pressed upon him, and +receiving her warm thanks with a humility that well became him. + +Hardly would she let him go; but at length he bade her farewell, and +rode away from her tears and thanks. On he journeyed for all that day, +and till midday of the next, when he found himself in a forest, where a +strange adventure befell him. + +For at the parting of two ways he met two knights who had taken prisoner +his brother Lionel, whom they had bound all naked upon a hackney, while +they beat him with thorns till the blood flowed from every part of his +body. Yet so great of heart was he that no word came from his lips, and +he made no sign of pain. + +Bors, seeing this, was on the point of rushing to his rescue, when he +beheld on the other side a knight who held as prisoner a fair lady, whom +he was taking into the thickest part of the forest to hide her from +those who sought her. And as they went she cried in a lamentable +voice,-- + +"Saint Mary, rescue me! Holy mother, succor your maid!" + +When she saw Bors she cried out to him grievously for aid and rescue. + +"By the faith you owe to the high order of knighthood, and for the noble +King Arthur's sake, who I suppose made you knight, help me, gracious +sir, and suffer me not to come to shame through this felon knight!" + +On hearing this appeal the distracted knight knew not what to do. On one +side his brother in danger of his life; on the other a maiden in peril +of her honor. + +"If I rescue not my brother he will be slain; and that I would not have +for the earth. Yet if I help not the maiden, I am recreant to my vows of +knighthood, and to my duty to the high order of chivalry." + +Tears ran from his eyes as he stood in cruel perplexity. Then, with a +knightly resolution, he cried,-- + +"Fair sweet Lord Jesus, whose liegeman I am, keep Lionel my brother +that these knights slay him not; since for your service, and for Mary's +sake, I must succor this maid." + +Then he turned to the knight who had the damsel, and loudly cried,-- + +"Sir knight, take your hands from that maiden and set her free, or you +are a dead man." + +On hearing this the knight released the maiden as bidden, but drew his +sword, as he had no spear, and rode fiercely at the rescuer. Bors met +him with couched spear, and struck him so hard a blow as to pierce his +shield and his hauberk on the left shoulder, beating him down to the +earth. On pulling out the spear the wounded knight swooned. + +"You are delivered from this felon. Can I help you further?" said Bors +to the maiden. + +"I beg you to take me to the place whence he carried me away." + +"That shall I do as my duty." + +Then he seated her on the knight's horse, and conducted her back towards +her home. + +"You have done nobly, sir knight," she said. "If you had not rescued me, +five hundred men might have died for this. The knight you wounded is my +cousin, who yesterday stole me away from my father's house, no one +mistrusting him. But if you had not overcome him, there would soon have +been others on his track." + +Even as she spoke there came a troop of twelve knights riding briskly +forward in search of her. When they found her delivered their joy was +great, and they thanked Bors profusely, begging him to accompany them +to her father, who was a great lord, and would welcome him with +gladness. + +"That I cannot do," said Bors, "much as I should like to; for I have +another matter of high importance before me. I can but say, then, +farewell, and God be with you and this fair maiden." + +So saying, he turned and rode briskly away, followed by their earnest +thanks. Reaching the point where he had seen Lionel in custody, he took +the trail of the horses, and followed them far by their hoof-marks in +the road. Then he overtook a religious man, who was mounted on a strong +horse, blacker than a berry. + +"Sir knight," he asked, "what seek you?" + +"I seek my brother," he replied, "who came this way beaten by two +knights." + +"Then seek no further, but be strong of heart, for I have sad tidings +for you. Your brother is dead." + +He then led Bors to a clump of bushes, in which lay a newly slain body, +which seemed to be that of Lionel. Seeing this, Bors broke into such +grief that he fell to the earth in a swoon, and long lay there. When he +recovered he said, sadly,-- + +"Dear brother, I would have rescued you had not a higher duty called me. +But since we are thus parted, joy shall never again enter my desolate +heart. I can now but say, be He whom I have taken for my master my help +and comfort." + +Thus grieving, he took up the body in his arms, and put it upon his +saddle-bow. Then he said to his companion,-- + +"Can you tell me of some chapel, where I may bury this body?" + +"Come with me. There is one near by." + +[Illustration: AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL.] + +They rode forward till they came in sight of a tower, beside which was +an old and half-ruined chapel. Here they alighted, and placed the corpse +in a tomb of marble. + +"We will leave him here," said the good man, "and seek shelter for the +night. To-morrow we will return and perform the services for the dead." + +"Are you a priest?" asked Bors. + +"Yes," he answered. + +"Then you may be able to interpret a dream that came to me last night." + +Thereupon he told his dream of the birds, and that of the flowers. + +"I can interpret the vision of the birds now," said the priest. "The +rest must wait till later. The white bird is the emblem of a rich and +fair lady, who loves you deeply, and will die for love if you pity her +not. I counsel you, therefore, not to refuse her, for this I shall tell +you, that if you return not her love, your cousin Lancelot, the best of +knights, shall die. Men will call you a man-slayer, both of your brother +Lionel and your cousin Lancelot, since you might have saved them both +easily if you would. You rescued a maiden who was naught to you, and let +your brother perish. Which, think you, was your greater duty?" + +"I did what I thought my duty," said Bors. + +"At any rate, bear this in mind, you will be in sad fault if you suffer +your cousin Lancelot to die for an idle scruple." + +"I should be sad, indeed," said Bors. "Rather would I die ten times over +than see my cousin Lancelot perish through fault of mine." + +"The choice lies in your hand," said the priest. "It is for you to +decide." + +As he spoke they came in front of a fair-showing tower and manor-house, +where were knights and ladies, who welcomed Bors warmly. When he was +disarmed there was brought him a mantle furred with ermine. Then he was +led to the company of knights and ladies, who received him so gladly, +and did so much to make his stay pleasant, that all thoughts of his +brother Lionel and of the danger of Lancelot were driven from his mind. + +As they stood in gay converse there came out of a chamber a lady whom +Bors had not before seen, and whose beauty was such that he felt he had +never beheld so lovely a face, while her dress was richer than Queen +Guenever had ever worn. + +"Here, Sir Bors," said those present, "is the lady to whom we all owe +service. Richer and fairer lady the world holds not, and she loves you +above all other knights, and will have no knight but you." + +On hearing this, Bors stood abashed. This, then, he thought, was the +white bird of his dream. Her love he must return or lose Lancelot,--so +fate had spoken. + +As he stood deeply thinking, the lady came up and saluted him, taking +his hand in hers, and bidding him sit beside her, while her deep eyes +rested upon him with looks that made his soul tremble. Never had he +gazed into such eyes before. + +Then she spoke of many things, luring him into pleasant conversation, in +which he forgot his fears, and began to take delight in her presence. At +the end she told him how deeply and how long she had loved him, and +begged him to return her love, saying that she could make him richer +than ever was man of his age. + +These words brought back all his trouble of soul. How to answer the lady +he knew not, for his vow of chastity was too deep to be lightly broken. + +"Alas!" she said, "must I plead for your love in vain?" + +"Madam," said Bors, "I cannot think of earthly ties and delights while +my brother lies dead, and awaits the rites of the Church." + +"I have loved you long," she repeated, "both for your beauty of body and +soul, and the high renown you have achieved. Now that chance has brought +you to my home, think not ill of me if I let you not go without telling +my love, and beseeching you to return it." + +"That I cannot do," said Bors. + +At these words she fell into the deepest sorrow, while tears flowed from +her beautiful eyes. + +"You will kill me by your coldness," she bewailed. Then she took him by +the hand and bade him look upon her. "Am I not fair and lovely, and +worthy the love of the best of knights? Alas! since you will not love +me, you shall see me die of despair before your eyes." + +"That I do not fear to see," he replied. + +"You shall see it within this hour," she said, sadly. + +Then she left him, and, taking with her twelve of her ladies, mounted to +the highest battlement of the tower, while Bors was led to the +court-yard below. + +"Ah, Sir Bors, gentle knight, have pity on us!" cried one of the ladies. +"We shall all die if you are cruel to our lady, for she vows that she +and all of us shall fall from this tower if you disdain her proffered +love." + +Bors looked up, and his heart melted with pity, to see so many fair +faces looking beseechingly down upon him, while tears seemed to rain +from their eyes. Yet he was steadfast of heart, for he felt that he +could not lose his soul to save their lives, and his vow of chastity in +the quest of the Sangreal was not to be broken for the delights of +earthly love. + +As he stood, some of the maidens flung themselves from the tower, and +lay dead and bleeding at his feet, while above he saw the fair face of +the lady looking down, as she stood balanced on the battlement, like a +fair leaf that the next wind would sweep to certain death. + +"God help me and guide me!" cried Bors in horror. "What shall I do? Here +earthly endurance is too weak; I must put my trust in heaven." And he +made the sign of the cross on his forehead and his breast. + +Then came a marvel indeed. A roar was heard as if thunder had rent the +sky, and a cry as if all the fiends of hell were about him. For the +moment he closed his eyes, stunned by the uproar. When he opened them +again all had gone,--the tower, the lady, the knights, and the chapel +where he had placed his brother's body,--and he stood in the road, armed +and mounted, while only a broad, empty plain spread before him. + +Then he held up his hands to heaven and cried fervently: "Father and +Creator, from what have I escaped! It is the foul fiend in the likeness +of a beautiful woman who has tempted me. Only the sign of the holy cross +has saved me from perdition." + +Putting spurs to his horse he rode furiously away, burning with anxiety +to get from that accursed place, and deeply glad at his escape. As he +proceeded a loud clock-bell sounded to the right, and turning thither he +came to a high wall, over which he saw the pinnacles of an abbey. + +Here he asked shelter for the night, and was received with a warm +welcome, for those within deemed he was one of the knights that sought +the Sangreal. When morning came he heard mass, and then the abbot came +and bade him good-morning. A conversation followed, in which he told the +abbot all that had happened to him, and begged his interpretation +thereof. + +"Truly you are strong in the service of the Lord," said the abbot, "and +are held for great deeds. Thus I interpret your adventures and visions. +The great fowl that fed its young with its own blood is an emblem of +Christ, who shed his blood for the good of mankind. And the bare tree on +which it sat signifies the world, which of itself is barren and without +fruit. Also King Aniause betokens Jesus Christ, and the lady for whom +you took the battle the new law of Holy Church; while the older lady is +the emblem of the old law and the fiend, which forever war against the +Church. + +"By the black bird also was emblemed the Holy Church, which saith, 'I +am black but he is fair.' The white bird represented the fiend, which, +like hypocrisy, is white without and foul within. As for the rotten +chair and the white lilies, the first was thy brother Lionel, who is a +murderer and an untrue knight; while the lilies were the knight and the +lady. The one drew near to the other to dishonor her, but you forced +them to part. And you would have been in great peril had you, for the +rescue of a rotten tree, suffered those two flowers to perish; for if +they had sinned together they had both been damned. + +"The seeming man of religion, who blamed you for leaving your brother to +rescue a lady, was the foul fiend himself. Your brother was not slain, +as he made it appear, but is still alive. For the corpse, and the +chapel, and the tower were all devices of the evil one, and the lady who +offered her love was the fiend himself in that showing. He knew you were +tender-hearted, and he did all. Much you may thank God that you +withstood his temptation, and that until now you have come through all +your adventures pure and unblemished." + +This gladdened the heart of the virtuous knight, and a warm hope of +winning the Sangreal arose in his soul. Much more passed between them, +and when Bors rode forth it was with the fervent blessing of the holy +abbot. + +On the morning of the second day Bors saw before him a castle that rose +in a green valley, and met with a yeoman, whom he stopped and asked what +was going on in that country. + +"Sir knight," he answered, "there is to be held a great tournament +before that castle." + +"By what people?" asked Bors. + +"The Earl of Plains," was the answer, "leads one party, and the nephew +of the Lady of Hervin the other." + +With this the yeoman rode on, and Bors kept on his course, thinking he +might meet Lionel or some other of his old comrades at the tournament. +At length he turned aside to a hermitage that stood at the entrance to +the forest. And to his surprise and joy he saw his brother Lionel +sitting armed at the chapel door, waiting there to take part in the +tournament the next morning. + +Springing from his horse, Bors ran up gladly, crying, "Dear brother, +happy is this meeting!" + +"Come not near me!" cried Lionel, leaping to his feet in a burst of +fury. "False recreant, you left me in peril of death to help a yelping +woman, and by my knightly vow you shall pay dearly for it. Keep from me, +traitor, and defend yourself. You or I shall die for this." + +On seeing his brother in such wrath Bors kneeled beseechingly before +him, holding up his hands, and praying for pardon and forgiveness. + +"Never!" said Lionel. "I vow to God to punish you for your treachery. +You have lived long enough for a dog and traitor." + +Then he strode wrathfully away, and came back soon, mounted and with +spear in hand. + +"Bors de Ganis," he cried, "defend yourself, for I hold you as a felon +and traitor, and the untruest knight that ever came from so worthy a +house as ours. Mount and fight. If you will not, I will run on you as +you stand there on foot. The shame shall be mine and the harm yours; but +of that shame I reck naught." + +When Bors saw that he must fight with his brother or die he knew not +what to do. Again he kneeled and begged forgiveness, in view of the love +that ought to be between brothers. + +But the fiend that sought his overthrow had put such fury into Lionel's +heart that nothing could turn him from his wrathful purpose. And when he +saw that Bors would not mount, he spurred his horse upon him and rode +over him, hurting him so with his horse's hoofs that he swooned with the +pain. Then Lionel sprang from his horse and rushed upon him sword in +hand to strike off his head. + +At this critical moment the hermit, who was a man of great age, came +running out, and threw himself protectingly on the fallen knight. + +"Gentle sir," he cried to Lionel, "have mercy on me and on thy brother, +who is one of the worthiest knights in the world. If you slay him, you +will lose your soul." + +"Sir priest," said Lionel, sternly, "if you leave not I shall slay you, +and him after you." + +"Slay me if you will, but spare your brother, for my death would not do +half so much harm as his." + +"Have it, then, meddler, if you will!" cried Lionel, and he struck the +hermit a blow with his sword that stretched him dead on the ground. + +Then, with unquenched anger, he tore loose the lacings of his brother's +helmet, and would have killed him on the spot but for a fortunate +chance. + +As it happened, Colgrevance, a fellow of the Round Table, rode up at +that moment, and wondered when he saw the hermit dead, and Lionel about +to slay his brother, whom he greatly loved. + +Leaping hastily to the ground, he caught the furious knight by the +shoulders and drew him strongly backward. + +"What would you do?" he cried. "Madman, would you kill your brother, the +worthiest knight of our brotherhood? And are you so lost to honor as to +slay any knight thus lying insensible?" + +"Will you hinder me?" asked Lionel, turning in rage. "Back, sirrah, or I +shall slay you first and him afterwards." + +"Why seek you to slay him?" + +"He has richly deserved it, and die he shall, whoever says the +contrary." + +Then he ran upon Bors and raised his sword to strike him on the head. +But Colgrevance pushed between them and thrust him fiercely backward. + +"Off, you murderer!" he cried. "If you are so hot for blood you must +have mine first." + +"Who are you?" demanded Lionel. + +"I am Colgrevance, one of your fellows. Round Table Knights should be +brothers, not foes, but I would challenge King Arthur himself in this +quarrel." + +"Defend yourself, meddler," cried Lionel, rushing upon him and striking +him fiercely on the helm with his sword. + +"That shall I," rejoined Colgrevance, attacking him in turn. + +Then a hot battle began, for Colgrevance was a good knight, and defended +himself manfully. + +While the fight went on Bors recovered his senses, and saw with a sad +heart Colgrevance defending him against his brother. He strove to rise +and part them, but his hurts were such that he could not stand on his +feet. And thus he sat watching the combat till he saw that Colgrevance +had the worst, for Lionel had wounded him sorely, and he had lost so +much blood that he could barely stand. + +At this juncture he saw Bors, who sat watching them in deep anguish. + +"Bors," he cried, "I am fighting to succor you. Will you sit there and +see me perish?" + +"You both shall die," cried Lionel, furiously. "You shall pay the +penalty of your meddling, and he of his treason." + +Hearing this, Bors rose with aching limbs, and painfully put on his +helm. Colgrevance again called to him in anguish,-- + +"Help me, Bors! I can stand no longer. Will you let me die without +lifting your hand?" + +At this moment Lionel smote the helm from his head, and then with +another fierce blow stretched him dead and bleeding upon the earth. + +This murderous deed done, he ran on Bors with the passion of a fiend, +and dealt him a blow that made him stoop. + +"For God's love leave me!" cried Bors. "If I slay you or you me, we will +both be dead of that sin." + +"May God never help me if I take mercy on you, if I have the better +hand," cried Lionel, in reply. + +Then Bors drew his sword, though his eyes were wet with tears. + +"Fair brother," he said, "God knows my heart. You have done evil enough +this day, in slaying a holy priest and one of our own brotherhood of +knights. I fear you not, but I dread the wrath of God, for this is an +unnatural battle which you force upon me. May God have mercy upon me, +since I must defend my life against my brother." + +Saying this, Bors raised his sword and advanced upon Lionel, who stood +before him with the wrath of a fury. + +Then would have been a most unholy battle, had not God come to the +rescue. For as they thus stood defiant a voice came to them from the +air, which said,-- + +"Flee, Bors, and touch him not, for if you do, you will surely slay +him." + +And between them descended a cloud that gleamed like fire, and from +which issued a marvellous flame that burned both their shields to a +cinder. They were both so affrighted that they fell to the earth, and +lay there long in a swoon. + +When they came to themselves Bors saw that his brother had received no +harm. For this he thanked God, for he feared that heaven's vengeance had +fallen upon him. Then came the voice again. + +"Bors," it said, "go hence, and bear thy brother company no longer. Take +thy way to the sea where Percivale awaiteth thee." + +"Forgive me, brother," said Bors, "for what I have done against you." + +"God has forgiven you, and I must," said Lionel. "It was the foul fiend +that filled my soul with fury, and much harm has come of it." + +Then Bors rode away, leaving Lionel in the company of those whom he had +slain, and took the most direct road towards the sea. + +At length he came to an abbey that was near the water-side. And at +midnight as he rested there he was roused from his sleep by a voice, +that bade him leave his bed and ride onward. + +He started up at this, and made the sign of the cross on his forehead; +then took his harness and horse, and rode out at a broken place in the +abbey wall. An hour or so brought him to the water-side, and on the +strand there lay awaiting him a ship all covered with white samite. Bors +alighted, and leaving his horse on the stand entered the ship, +commending himself to Christ's fostering care. + +Hardly had he done so before the sails spread, as of themselves, and the +vessel set out to sea so fast that it seemed to fly. But it was still +dark night, and he saw no one about him. So he lay down and slept till +day. + +When he awaked he saw a knight lying in the middle of the deck, all +armed but the helm. A glance told him that it was Percivale de Galis, +and he sprang towards him with joy. But Percivale drew back, asking him +who he was. + +"Know you me not?" asked Bors. + +"I do not. But I marvel how you came hither, unless brought by our Lord +himself." + +Then Bors took off his helm and smiled. Great was Percivale's joy when +he recognized him, and long did they converse in gladness, telling each +other their adventures and temptations. + +And so they went far over the sea, the ship taking them they knew not +whither, yet each comforted the other, and daily they prayed for God's +grace. + +"Now, that we two are together," said Percivale, "we lack nothing but +Galahad, the best of knights." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAGIC SHIP. + + +After Galahad had rescued Percivale from the twenty knights, he rode +into a vast forest, through which he journeyed for many days, meeting +there many strange adventures. Then fortune took him past a castle where +a tournament was in progress, and where the men of the castle had so +much the worse of it that they were driven back to their gates, and some +of them slain. Seeing this, Galahad rode to the aid of the weaker party, +and did marvellous deeds of arms, soon aiding them to drive back their +foes. + +As it happened, Gawaine and Hector de Maris were with the outer party, +and when they beheld the white shield with the red cross, they said to +one another,-- + +"That hewer of helms and shields is Galahad, none less. We should be +fools to meet him face to face." + +Yet Gawaine did not escape, for Galahad came at full career upon him, +and gave him such a blow that his helm was cleft, and so would his head +have been but that the sword slanted, and cut the shoulder of his horse +deeply. + +Seeing Gawaine thus dealt with, Hector drew back, not deeming it wise to +meet such a champion, nor the part of nature to fight with his nephew. +Galahad continued his onset till he had beaten down all the knights +opposed to him. Then, seeing that none would face him, he turned and +rode away as he had come, none knowing whither he, who had come upon +them with the suddenness of a thunder-clap, had gone. + +"Lancelot du Lake told no less than the truth," declared Gawaine, +bitterly, "when he said that, for seeking to draw the sword from the +stone, I would get a sore wound from that same blade. In faith, I would +not for the best castle in the world have had such a buffet." + +"Your quest is done, it seems," said Hector. + +"As for that, it was done before. You can still seek the Sangreal if you +will, but I shall seek my bed; and I fear I shall stay there much longer +than I care to." + +Then he was borne into the castle, where a leech was found for him, +while Hector remained with him, vowing he would not leave till his +comrade was well. + +Meanwhile Galahad rode on, leaving many a groan and more than one sore +head behind him, and at night reached a hermitage near the castle of +Carbonek. Here he was welcomed by the hermit; but late at night, when +they were asleep, a loud knock came on the door, which roused the host. +Going to see who knocked at that untimely hour, he found a lady at the +door, who said,-- + +"Ulfin, rouse the knight who is with you. I must speak with him." + +This he did, and Galahad went to the door, and asked her what she +wished. + +"Galahad," she replied, "I am sent here to seek you. You must arm and +mount your horse at once, and follow me. Within three days I shall bring +you to the greatest adventure that ever knight met." + +Without further question Galahad obeyed, and, having commended himself +to God, he bade his fair guide to lead, and he would follow wherever she +wished. + +Onward they rode during the remainder of the night and the next day, +till they came to a castle not far from the sea, where Galahad was +warmly welcomed, for the damsel who guided him had been sent by the lady +of that castle. + +"Madam," said the damsel, "shall he stay here all night?" + +"No," she replied; "only until he has dined, and has slept a little. He +must ride on until destiny is accomplished." + +So at early nightfall Galahad was called and helped to arm by +torchlight. Then he and the damsel again took horse, and rode on at +speed till they suddenly found themselves at the ocean's brink, with the +waves breaking at their feet. And here lay a ship covered with white +samite, from which manly voices cried,-- + +"Welcome, Sir Galahad. We have long awaited you. Come on board." + +"What means this?" asked Galahad of the damsel. "Who are they that +call?" + +"No others than your friends and comrades, Sir Bors and Sir Percivale. +Here you must leave your horse, and I mine, and both of us enter the +ship, for so God commands." + +This they did, taking their saddles and bridles with them, and making on +them the sign of the cross. When they had entered the ship the two +knights received them with great joy. And as they stood greeting each +other the wind suddenly rose and drove the ship from the land, forcing +it through the waves at a marvellous speed. + +"Whence comes this ship?" asked Galahad. + +Then Bors and Percivale told him of their adventures and temptations, +and by what miracles they had been brought on board that vessel. + +"Truly," said Galahad, "God has aided you marvellously. As for me, had +it not been for the lady who led me, I should never have found you." + +"If Lancelot, your father, were but here," said Bors, "then it would +seem to me that we had all that heart could wish." + +"That may not be," answered Galahad, "unless by the pleasure of our +Lord." + +As they conversed the ship suddenly ran between two rocks, where it held +fast, but where they could not land for the raging of the sea. But just +before them lay another ship, which they could reach without danger. + +[Illustration: Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE MAGIC SHIP.] + +"Thither we must go," said the lady, "and there we shall find strange +things, for such is the Lord's will." + +At this they approached the ship, and saw that it was richly provided, +but without man or woman on board. And on its bow there was written in +large letters,-- + +"You who shall enter this ship, take heed of your belief: for I am +Faith, and bid you beware. If you fail I shall not help you. He who +enters here must be of pure heart and earnest trust." + +They stood looking earnestly at one another after having read these +words. + +"Percivale," said the lady, "know you who I am?" + +"I do not," he replied. "Have I ever seen you before?" + +"Know, then, that I am your sister, the daughter of King Pellinore. I +love no man on earth as I do you. I warn you, therefore, not to enter +this ship unless you have perfect belief in our Lord Jesus Christ, for +if your faith fails you aught here you shall perish." + +"Fair sister," he replied, "happy am I, indeed, to know you. As for the +ship, I shall not fail to enter it. If I prove an untrue knight or a +misbeliever, then let me perish." + +As they spoke, Galahad blessed himself and entered the ship, and after +him came the lady, and then Bors and Percivale. On reaching the deck +they found it so marvellously fair and rich that they stood in wonder. +In the midst of the ship was a noble bed; and when Galahad went thither +he found on it a crown of silk. Below this lay a sword, half drawn from +its scabbard, the pommel being of stone of many colors. The scales of +the haft were of the ribs of two beasts. One beast was a serpent, known +in Calidone as the serpent of the fiend; and its bone had the magic +virtue that the hand which touched it should never be weary or hurt. The +other beast was a fish, that haunted the flood of Euphrates, its name +Ertanax; its bone had the virtue that he who handled it should not think +on the joys and sorrows of his past life, but only of that which he then +beheld. And no man could grasp this sword but the one who passed all +others in might and virtue. + +"In the name of God," said Percivale, "I shall seek to handle it." + +But in vain he tried, he could not grasp the magic hilt. No more could +Bors, who attempted it in his turn. Then Galahad approached, and as he +did so saw written on the sword in letters like blood, "He who draweth +me has peril to endure. His body shall meet with shame, for he shall be +wounded to the death." + +"By my faith, the risk is too great," said Galahad. "I shall not set my +hand to so fatal a blade." + +"That you must," said the lady. "The drawing of this sword is forbidden +to all men, save you. No one can draw back from that which destiny +commands." + +Then she told a marvellous story of that strange blade. + +"When this ship arrived in the realm of England," she said, "there was +deadly war between King Labor and King Hurlame, who was a christened +Saracen. Here they fought one day by the sea-side, and Hurlame was +defeated and his men slain. Then he fled into this ship, drew the sword +which he saw here, and with one stroke smote King Labor and his horse in +twain. But a fatal stroke it proved, for with it there came harm and +pestilence to all this realm. Neither corn nor grass would grow, fruit +failed to ripen, the waters held no fish, and men named this the waste +land of the two marches. Nor did King Hurlame escape. When he saw the +strange carving of the sword, a craving came into his mind to possess +the scabbard. Entering the ship for that purpose, he thrust the sword +into the sheath; but no sooner had he done so than he fell dead beside +the bed. And there his body lay till a maiden entered the ship and cast +it out, for no man could be found hardy enough to set foot on that fatal +deck." + +The three knights on hearing this looked earnestly at the scabbard, +which seemed to them made of serpent's skin, while on it was writing in +letters of gold and silver. But the girdle was poor and mean, and ill +suited to so rich a sword. The writing was to this effect: "He who shall +wield me must be hardy of nature. Nor shall he ever be shamed while he +is girt with this girdle; which must never be put away except by the +hands of a maiden and a king's daughter. And she, if she shall ever +cease to be a maid, shall die the most villanous death that woman ever +endured." + +"Turn the sword," said Percivale, "that we may see what is on the other +side." + +On doing so they found it red as blood, with coal-black letters, which +said: "He that shall praise me most shall find me most to fail him in +time of great need; and to whom I should be most fair shall I prove most +foul. Thus is it ordained." + +Then Percivale's sister told them the history of the sword, which was a +very strange and admirable thing to hear. More than once had it been +drawn in modern times; once by Nancien, who afterwards became a hermit, +and in whose hands the sword fell in half, and sorely wounded him in the +foot. Afterwards it was drawn by King Pellam, and it was for this +boldness that he was destined to be deeply wounded by the spear with +which Balin afterwards struck him. + +The knights now observed the bed more closely, and saw that above its +head there hung two swords. With them were three strange spindles, one +of which was white as snow, one red as blood, and one as green as +emerald. As they gazed at them with curious wonder, the damsel told a +strange story of the surprising things they had gazed upon. And thus her +story ran. + +When mother Eve gathered the fruit for which Adam and she were put out +of Paradise, she took with her the bough on which the apple grew. As it +kept fair and green, and she had no coffer in which to keep it, she +thrust it in the earth, where, by God's will, it took root, and soon +grew to a great tree, whose branches and leaves were as white as milk. +But afterwards, at the time of Abel's birth, it became grass-green. It +was under this tree that Cain slew Abel, and then it quickly lost its +green color, and grew red as blood. So it lived and thrived, and was in +full life when Solomon, the wise king, came to the throne. + +It came to pass that, as Solomon studied over many things, and, above +all, despised women in his heart and in his writings, a voice came which +told him that of his line would be born the Virgin Mary, the purest and +noblest of human kind, and that afterwards would come a man, the last of +his blood, as pure in mind as a young maiden, and as good a knight as +Joshua of Israel. This revelation he told to his wife, who had +questioned him as to the reason of his deep study. + +"Sir," she said, "since this knight is to come, it is our duty to +prepare for him. Therefore, I shall first have made a ship of the best +and most durable wood that man may find." + +This was done by Solomon's command. When the ship was built and ready to +sail, she made a covering for it of cloth of silk, of such quality that +no weather could rot it. And in the midst she placed a great bed, of +marvellously rich workmanship, and covered with silk of the finest +texture. + +"Now, my dear lord," she said to Solomon, "since this last knight of +your lineage is to pass in valor and renown all other knights that have +been before or shall come after him, therefore I counsel you to go into +the Temple of the Lord, where is the sword of the great King David, your +father, which is of magic temper and virtue. Take off the pommel of this +sword and make one of precious stones, skilfully wrought. And make a +hilt and sheath of great richness and beauty. As for the girdle, leave +that to me to provide." + +Solomon did as she advised, and she took the sword and laid it in the +bed; but when he looked at it he grew angry, for the girdle was meanly +made of hemp. + +"I have nothing," she said, "fit to make a girdle worthy of such a +sword. But when the time comes a maiden will change this for a girdle +worthy of him that is to wear it." + +This done, she went with a carpenter to the tree under which Abel was +slain. + +"Carve me from this tree as much wood as will make me a spindle," she +said. + +"Ah, madam," said he, "I dare not cut the tree which our first mother +planted." + +"Do as you are bidden," she ordered. "Dare not disobey me." + +But as he began to cut the tree drops of blood flowed out. Then he would +have fled, but she made him cut sufficient to form a spindle. Next she +went to the green and the white trees, which had grown from the roots of +the other, and bade him cut as much from each of these. From this wood +were three spindles wrought, which she hung up at the head of the bed. + +"You have done marvellously well," said Solomon, on seeing this. +"Wonderful things, I deem, shall come of all this, more than you +yourself dream of." + +"Some of these things you shall soon know," she answered. + +That night Solomon lay near the ship, and as he slept he dreamed. There +came from heaven, as it seemed to him, a great company of angels, who +alighted in the ship, and took water that was brought by an angel in a +vessel of silver, and sprinkled it everywhere. Then the angel came to +the sword and drew letters on the hilt, and on the ship's bow he wrote, +"You who shall enter this ship take heed of your belief," and further as +the knights had read. When Solomon had read these words he drew back, +and dared not enter, and there soon arose a wind which drove the ship +far to sea, so that it was quickly lost to sight. Then a low voice said, +"Solomon, the last knight of thy lineage shall rest in this bed." With +this Solomon waked, and lo! the ship was gone. + +This was the story that the fair damsel, Percivale's sister, told to the +knights, as they stood curiously surveying the bed and the spindles. +Then one of them lifted a cloth that lay on the deck, and under it found +a purse, in which was a written paper, telling the same strange story +they had just heard. + +"The sword is here," said Galahad; "but where shall be found the maiden +who is to make the new girdle?" + +"You need not seek far," said Percivale's sister. "By God's leave, I +have been chosen to make that girdle, and have it here." + +Then she opened a box which she had brought with her, and took from it a +girdle that was richly wrought with golden threads and studded with +precious stones, while its buckle was of polished gold. + +"Lo, lords and knights," she said, "here is the destined girdle. The +greater part of it was made of my hair, which I loved dearly when I was +a woman of the world. When I knew that I was set aside for this high +purpose, I cut off my hair and wrought this girdle in God's name." + +"Well have you done!" cried Bors. "Without you we would have learned +nothing of this high emprise." + +Then the noble maiden removed the mean girdle from the sword, and put +upon it the rich one she had brought, which became it wonderfully. + +"By what name shall we call this sword?" they now asked her. + +"Its name is," she answered, "the sword with the strange girdle; and +that of the sheath is, mover of blood. But no man with blood in him +shall ever see the part of the sheath that was made of the tree of +life." + +Then she took the sword and girded it about Galahad, fastening the +golden buckle about his waist. + +"Now reck I not though I die," she said, "for I hold that I am one of +the world's blessed maidens, since it has been given to me to arm the +worthiest knight in the world." + +After this they left the magic ship at her bidding, and entered the one +in which they had come. And immediately there rose a great wind which +blew their vessel from between the rocks, and carried it afar over the +sea. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HOW LANCELOT SAW THE SANGREAL. + + +The ship that bore the three knights and the maiden came ashore at +length near a castle in Scotland, where they landed. From here they +journeyed far, while many were their adventures, all of which tried +their virtue and belonged to the quest of the Sangreal. In them all the +sword with the strange girdle proved of such marvellous worth that no +men, were they a hundred in number, could stand before it. + +Finally they came to a castle which had the strange custom that every +maiden who passed that way should yield a dish full of blood. When they +asked the reason of this dreadful custom, they were told,-- + +"There is in this castle a lady to whom the domain belongs, and who has +lain for years sick of a malady which no leech can cure. And a wise man +has said that she can only be cured if she have a dish full of blood +from a pure virgin and a king's daughter, with which to anoint her." + +"Fair knights," said Percivale's sister, "I alone can aid the sick lady, +who must die otherwise." + +"If you bleed as they demand, you may die," said Galahad. "Is not your +life worth more than hers?" + +"This I answer," said she. "If I yield not my blood there will be mortal +war between you and the knights of the castle to-morrow, and many men +must die that one woman may not bleed. If I die to heal the sick lady I +shall gain renown and do God's will, and surely one harm is better than +many. That you will fight for me to the death, I know, but wherefore +should you?" + +Say what they would, she held to her will, and the next morning bade the +people of the castle bring forth the sick lady. She lay in great pain +and suffering, and bent her eyes pleadingly on the devoted maiden. + +Then Percivale's sister bared her arm, and bade them bleed her. This +they did till a silver dish was filled with her life blood. Then she +blessed the lady, and said,-- + +"Madam, I have given my life for yours; for God's love, pray for me!" +and she fell in a swoon. + +Galahad and his fellows hastened to stanch the blood, but it was too +late, her life was ebbing fast. + +"Fair brother Percivale," she said, "death is upon me. But before I die +I have this to tell you. It is written that I shall not be buried in +this country. When I am dead, seek you the sea-shore near by, and put my +body in a boat, and let it go where fortune bears it. But when you three +arrive at the city of Sarras, in Palestine, which you will in God's good +time, you shall find me arrived there before you. There bury me in +consecrated soil. This further I may say, that there the holy Grail +shall be achieved, and there shall Galahad die and be buried in the same +place." + +And as they stood there weeping beside her a voice came to them, +saying,-- + +"Lords and comrades, to-morrow at sunrise you three must depart, each +taking his own way, and you shall not meet again till adventure bring +you to the maimed king." + +After that all was done as had been foreseen and desired. The maiden +died, and the same day the sick lady was healed, through the virtue of +her blood. Then Percivale wrote a letter telling who she was and what +things she had done. This he put in her right hand, and laid her body in +a vessel that was covered with black silk. The wind now arose and drove +it far from the land, while all stood watching it till it was out of +sight. + +Then they returned towards the castle. But suddenly a tempest of wind, +thunder, and rain broke from the sky, so furious that the very earth +seemed to be torn up. And as they looked they saw the turrets of the +castle and part of its walls totter and fall, and in a moment come +crashing in ruin to the earth. + +That night they slept in a chapel, and in the morning rode to the +castle, to see how it had fared in the storm. But when they reached it +they found it in ruins, while of all that had dwelt there not one was +left alive. All of them, man and woman alike, had fallen victims to the +vengeance of God. And they heard a voice that said,-- + +"This vengeance is for the shedding of maidens' blood." + +But at the end of the chapel was a church-yard in which were threescore +tombs, over which it seemed no tempest had passed. And in these lay all +the maidens who had shed their blood and died martyrs for the sick +lady's sake. On these were their names and lineage, and all were of +royal blood, and twelve of them kings' daughters. + +The knights turned away, marvelling much at what they had seen and +heard. + +"Here we must part," said Galahad. "Let us pray that we may soon meet +again." + +Then they kissed each other, and wept at the parting, and each rode his +own way into the forest before them. + +But we must now leave them and return to Lancelot, whom we left sorely +repentant of his sins. After he departed from the hermitage he rode +through many lands and had divers adventures, and in the end came to the +sea-shore, beside which he lay down and slept. + +In his slumber, words came to his ear, saying, "Lancelot, rise and take +thine armor, and enter into the first ship that thou shalt find." On +hearing these words he started up, and saw that all about him was +strangely clear, the skies giving out a light like that of midday. Then +he blessed himself, and took his arms, and advanced to the strand, where +he saw a ship without sails or oars. This he entered, as he had been +bidden, and when he was within it his heart was filled with such joy as +he had never before known. + +Naught had he ever thought of or desired but what seemed come to him +now, and in his gladness he returned thanks fervently to the Lord. + +"I know not what has happened to me," he said, "but such joy as I feel I +never dreamed the human heart could hold." + +Then he lay down and slept on the ship's deck, and when he woke the +night had passed and it was broad day. + +And in the ship he found a bed, whereon lay a dead lady, with a letter +in her right hand which Lancelot read. From this he learned that the +fair corpse was that of Percivale's sister, together with many of the +strange things that had happened to her and the chosen knights. + +For a month or more Lancelot abode in this ship, driven about the seas, +and sustained by no food, but by the grace of the Holy Ghost, for he +prayed fervently for God's aid night and morning. + +At length came a night when the ship touched the shore. Here he landed, +being somewhat weary of the deck. And as he stood on the strand he heard +a horse approach, and soon one rode by that seemed a knight. + +When he came to the ship he checked his horse and alighted. Then, taking +the saddle and bridle from the horse, he turned it free and entered the +ship. Lancelot, in surprise, drew near. + +"Fair knight," he said, "I know not who you are or why you come. But +since you seek passage on my ship you are welcome." + +The other saluted him in turn, and asked,-- + +"What is your name? I pray you, tell me, for my heart warms strangely +towards you." + +"My name is Lancelot du Lake." + +"Then are we well met indeed. You are my father." + +"Ah! then you are Galahad?" + +"Yes, truly," and as he spoke he took off his helm, and kneeled, and +asked his blessing. + +Joyful indeed was that meeting, and gladly there father and son +communed, telling each other all that had happened to them since they +left the court. When Galahad saw the dead maiden he knew her well, and +told his father the story of the sword, at which he marvelled greatly. + +"Truly, Galahad," he said, "I never heard of aught so strange, and can +well believe you were born for wondrous deeds." + +Afterwards for nearly half a year the father and son dwelt together +within that ship, serving God day and night with prayer and praise. Now +they touched on peopled shores, and now on desert islands where only +wild beasts abode, and perilous and strange adventures they met. But +these we shall not tell, since they had naught to do with the Sangreal. + +But at length came a Monday morning when the ship touched shore at the +edge of a forest, before a cross, where they saw a knight armed all in +white, and leading a white horse. He saluted them courteously, and +said,-- + +"Galahad, you have been long enough with your father. You must now leave +the ship, and take this horse, and ride whither destiny shall lead you +in the quest of the Sangreal." + +Hearing this command, Galahad kissed his father, and bade him farewell, +saying,-- + +"Dear father, I know not if we shall ever meet again." + +"Then I bid you," said Lancelot, "to pray to the great Father that He +hold me in His service." + +There came in answer a mysterious voice that spoke these words,-- + +"Think each to do well; for you shall never see each other till the +dreadful day of doom." + +This voice of destiny affected them greatly, and they bade each other a +tearful farewell, Lancelot begging again the prayers of his son in his +behalf. Then Galahad mounted the white horse and rode into the forest, +while a wind arose which blew the ship from shore, and for a month drove +it up and down the seas. + +But at length came a night when it touched shore on the rear side of a +fair and stately castle. Brightly shone the moon, and Lancelot saw an +open postern in which stood on guard two great lions. As he looked he +heard a voice. + +"Lancelot," it said, "leave this ship and enter the castle. There shalt +thou see a part of that which thou desirest." + +Lancelot at this armed himself and went to the gate, where the lions +rose rampant against him. With an instinct of fear he drew his sword, +but at that instant appeared a dwarf, who struck him on the arm so +sharply that the sword fell from his hand. + +"Oh, man of evil hope and weak belief," came the mysterious voice, +"trust you more in your armor than in your Maker? Does He who brought +you here need a sword for your protection?" + +"Truly am I reproved," said Lancelot. "Happy am I to be held the Lord's +ward and servant." + +He took up his sword and put it in the sheath, then made a cross on his +forehead, and advanced to the lions, which raged and showed their teeth +as if ready to rend him in pieces. Yet with a bold step and tranquil +mien he passed between them unhurt, and entered the castle. + +Through it he went, room by room, passage by passage, for every door +stood wide and no living being met him as he advanced. Finally he came +to a chamber whose door was closed, and which yielded not to his hand +when he sought to open it. He tried again with all his force, but the +door resisted his strength. + +Then he listened, and heard a voice that sang more sweetly than he had +ever heard. And the words seemed to him to be, "Joy and honor be to the +Father of Heaven!" + +Lancelot no longer sought to open the door, but kneeled before it, +feeling in his heart that the Sangreal was within that chamber. + +"Sweet Father Jesus," he prayed, "if ever I did aught in thy service, in +pity forgive me my sins, and show me something of that which I seek." + +As he prayed the door opened without hands, and from the room came a +light brighter than if all the torches of the world had been there. He +rose in joy to enter, but the voice spoke sternly in his ear,-- + +"Forbear, Lancelot, and seek not to enter here. If you enter, you shall +repent it dearly." + +Then he drew back hastily, and looked into the chamber, where he saw a +table of silver, on which was the holy vessel covered with red samite, +with angels about it, one of which held a burning candle of wax, and one +a cross. And before the holy vessel stood a priest, who seemed to be +serving the mass. In front of the priest appeared to be three men, two +of whom put the youngest between the priest's hands, who held him up +high as if to show him. Yet so heavy seemed the figure that the priest +appeared ready to fall with weakness, and with a sudden impulse Lancelot +rushed into the room, crying, "Fair Lord Jesus, hold it no sin that I +help the good man, who seems in utmost need." + +But as he rashly entered and came towards the table of silver, a breath +that seemed half fire smote him so hotly in the face that he fell +heavily to the earth, and lay like one bereft of all his senses. Then +many hands seemed to take him up, and bear him without the door, where +he lay to all seeming dead. + +When morning dawned he was found there by the people of the castle, who +marvelled how he got there, and could not be sure if he were dead or +alive. But they laid him in a bed, and watched him closely, for days +passed without signs of life or death. At length, on the twenty-fifth +day, he gave a deep sigh, and opened his eyes, and gazed in wonder on +the people about him. + +"Why have you wakened me?" he cried. "Why left you me not to my blessed +visions?" + +"What have you seen?" they asked, eagerly. + +"Such marvels as no tongue can tell nor ear understand," he said. "And +more had I seen but that my son was here before me. For God's love, +gentlemen, tell me where I am." + +"Sir, you are in the castle of Carbonek." + +"I thank God of His great mercy for what I have seen," he said. "Now +may I leave the quest of the Sangreal, for more of it shall I never see, +and few men living shall see so much." + +These words said, he arose and dressed in new clothing that they brought +him, and stood in his old strength and beauty before the people. + +"Sir Lancelot!" they cried, "is it you?" + +"Truly so," he answered. + +Then word was brought to King Pellam, the maimed king, who now dwelt in +that castle, that the knight who had lain so long between death and life +was Lancelot. Glad was the king to hear this, and he bade them bring +Lancelot to him. + +"Long has my daughter Elaine been dead," he said. "But happy she lived +in having been loved by you, and in the grace of her noble son Galahad." + +"I was but cold to her," answered Lancelot, "for she was a lovable lady. +But in truth I have been held from love and life's delights, for my fate +has not been my own to control." + +For four days he abode at the castle, and then took his armor and horse, +saying that now his quest of the Sangreal was done, and duty bade him +return to Camelot. + +Back through many realms he rode, and in time came to the abbey where +Galahad had won the white shield. Here he spent the night, and the next +day rode into Camelot, where he was received with untold joy by Arthur +and the queen. + +For of the Knights of the Round Table who had set out on that perilous +quest more than half had perished, and small was the tale of that +gallant fellowship that could now be mustered. So the coming of +Lancelot filled all hearts with joy. + +Great was the marvel of the king when Lancelot told him of what he had +seen and done, and of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors. + +"God send that they were all here again," said the king. + +"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "One of them shall come again, but +two you shall never see." + +[Illustration: From the painting by George Frederick Watts. + +SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DEEDS OF THE THREE CHOSEN KNIGHTS. + + +After Galahad left the ship and his father Lancelot, he rode far and had +many adventures, righting many wrongs and achieving many marvels. Among +these he came to the abbey where was the ancient King Evelake, who had +laid blind three hundred years, as we have elsewhere told. + +The old king knew well that his deliverance had come, and begged to be +embraced by the pious youth. No sooner had he been clasped in his arms +than his sight returned, and his flesh grew whole and young. + +"Now, sweet Saviour, my destiny is fulfilled; receive thou my soul," he +prayed. + +As he said these words the soul left his body, and the miracle of his +fate was achieved. + +Many days after this Galahad met Percivale, and soon the two came upon +Bors, as he rode out of a great forest, that extended many days' journey +through the land. + +And so they rode in glad companionship, with many a tale of marvel to +tell, till in time they came to the castle of Carbonek, where they were +gladly received, for those in the castle knew that the quest of the +Sangreal was now wellnigh achieved. + +When evening approached, and the table for supper was set, the +mysterious voice that so often had guided these knights spoke again. + +"They that are not worthy to sit at the table of Jesus Christ arise," it +said; "for now shall the worthiest be fed." + +Then all arose save Eliazar, the son of King Pellam, and a maid who was +his niece, and the three knights. But as they sat at supper nine other +knights, in full armor, entered at the hall door, and took off their +helmets and armor, and said to Galahad,-- + +"Sir, we have come far and in haste to be with you at this table, where +the holy meat shall be served." + +"If you are worthy, you are welcome," said Galahad. "Whence come you?" + +Three of them answered that they were from Gaul, three from Ireland, and +three from Denmark, and that they had come thither at the bidding of the +strange voice. + +So they all sat at table. But ere they began to eat, four gentlewomen +bore into the hall a bed, whereon lay a man sick, with a crown of gold +on his head. Setting him down, they went away. + +"Galahad, holy knight, you are welcome," said he who lay in the bed, +raising his head feebly. "Long have I waited your coming, in pain and +anguish, since Balin, the good knight, struck me the dolorous stroke. To +you I look for aid and release from my long suffering." + +Then spoke the voice again: "There be those here who are not in the +quest of the Sangreal; let them depart." And the son and niece of the +king rose and left the room. + +Then there came suddenly four angels, and a man who bore a cross and +wore the dress of a bishop, whom the angels placed in a chair before the +silver table of the Sangreal. In his forehead were letters which said, +"This is Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom." + +Next opened the chamber door, and angels entered, two bearing wax +candles, the third a towel, and the fourth a spear that bled, the blood +drops falling into a silver vessel which he held in his other hand. The +candles were set on the table, the towel spread upon the vessel, and the +spear set upright on this. + +The bishop then said mass, at which other strange signs were seen; for a +figure like a child, with a face that shone like flame, entered into the +bread of the sacrament. Then the bishop kissed Galahad, and bade him +kiss his fellows. This done, he said,-- + +"Servants of Jesus Christ, ye shall here be fed on such meats as never +knights tasted;" and with these words he vanished. + +But as they knelt in prayer before the table, they saw come out of the +holy vessel a man who bore all the signs of the passion of Jesus Christ. +And he took up the vessel and bore it to Galahad and to the other +knights, who kneeled to receive the sacrament; and so sweet was it that +their hearts marvelled and were filled with joy. + +"Now have you tasted of Christ's own food," he said, "and seen what you +highly and holily desired. But more openly shall you see it in the city +of Sarras, in the spiritual place. Therefore you must go hence, for this +night the holy vessel will leave this realm, and will never more be seen +here. To-morrow you three shall go to the sea, where a ship awaits you; +and you must take with you the sword with the strange girdle." + +"Shall not these good knights go also?" asked Galahad. + +"Not so. They have seen all that is fitting to them. As for you, two of +you shall die in my service, and the third shall return and tell what he +has seen." + +Then he gave them his blessing, and vanished from out their midst. + +When they had somewhat recovered from the weight of these marvels, +Galahad went to the spear that lay on the table, and touched the blood +with his fingers, and with it anointed the wounds of the maimed king. +And at this touch he started up whole and strong, thanking God fervently +for his healing. + +But he went not into the world again, but to a monastery of white monks, +where he became a man of holy renown. + +At midnight came a voice to the nine knights, which said,-- + +"My sons, and not my chieftains; my friends, and not my warriors; go ye +hence, and do well what comes to you, in my service." + +"Lord," they replied, "wilt thou vouchsafe also to call us thy sinners? +Thy servants we shall be henceforth." + +And they arose, armed, and departed, bidding a solemn adieu to the three +knights. When morning dawned these three rose also, and rode till they +came to the sea. Here awaited them the ship wherein they had found the +sword and the three magic spindles, and to their wonder and delight they +beheld in its midst the table of silver and the Sangreal, which was +covered with red samite. + +It was a joyous company that sailed over the sea in that magical ship, +and at the wish of his comrades Galahad slept in the bed where the sword +had lain, and Bors and Percivale on the deck beside him. + +And so they went by day and by night, and at length came to the city of +Sarras. Here, as they would have landed, they saw beside them, just come +to shore, the ship that bore the corpse of Percivale's sister, and this +as fair and as fresh as when first placed within it. + +Then they took up the silver table and bore it to the city, at whose +gate sat an old and crooked cripple. + +"Come hither, and help us carry this heavy thing," said Galahad. + +"How shall I do that? I have not gone for ten years without crutches." + +"No matter for that. Show your good will by trying." + +Then the cripple rose and took hold, and in that instant he was whole +and strong, and helped them bear the table to the palace. This done, +they returned, and bore to the palace the corpse of Percivale's sister, +which they placed in a rich tomb, suited to a king's daughter. + +Meanwhile the report had spread through the city that a cripple had been +made whole by three strange knights, and people flocked to see them. + +When the king of the city saw and heard all this, he came to the knights +and asked them who they were, and what it was they had brought into his +realm. + +Galahad answered him, telling of the marvel of the Sangreal, and of +God's power and grace therein. + +But the king, Estorause, a tyrant in will and a pagan in faith, heard +this with wrath and unbelief, and ordered the knights to be put in +prison as spies and felons. + +For a whole year they lay thus in prison, yet were always kept whole and +in good spirits; for the holy Sangreal came to them in their dungeons, +and filled their souls with joy. When the year ended, Estorause grew +sick unto death, and in remorse sent for the imprisoned knights, whose +pardon and forgiveness he fervently begged. This they gave him, and he +straightway died. + +His death threw the city into dismay, for he had left no successor to +the throne. But as the lords sat in council there came a voice that +bade them choose the youngest of the three knights for their king. This +mysterious behest was told to the citizens, and with one acclaim they +hailed it as God's will, and demanded Galahad as their king. + +Thereupon he became king of Sarras, though it was not his wish; but he +felt it to be God's command. And when he came to the throne he had +constructed a chest of gold and precious stones, in which was placed the +table of silver with the holy vessel, and before this the three knights +kneeled and prayed daily with fervent zeal. + +And so time rolled on till came the day that was the anniversary of that +in which Galahad had taken the crown. On this morning he rose betimes, +and before the holy vessel he saw a man dressed like a bishop, while +round about him was a great fellowship of angels. + +"Come forth, thou servant of Jesus Christ, and thou shalt see what thou +hast so much desired," said the bishop. + +Then Galahad began to tremble, his flesh quaking in the presence of +things spiritual. And he held his hands up towards heaven, saying,-- + +"Lord, I thank thee, for now my desire is fulfilled. And if it be thy +will that I should come to thee, I wish no longer to live." + +"I am Joseph of Arimathea," said the strange presence, "and am sent by +the Lord to bear thee fellowship. Thou resemblest me in two things; for +thou hast seen the highest marvel of the Sangreal, and are pure of heart +and of body. Now say farewell to thy comrades, for thy time is come to +depart." + +Galahad thereupon went to Percivale and Bors, and kissed them, and +commended them to God, saying to Bors,-- + +"Fair friend, who art destined to return to our native realm, salute for +me my lord and father Lancelot, and bid him remember the evils of this +unstable world, and bear in mind the duty he has been taught." + +Then he kneeled before the table and prayed fervently, and suddenly his +soul departed from his body, a multitude of angels bearing it visibly +upward toward heaven, in full view of his late comrades. Also they saw +come from heaven a hand, with no body visible, and take up the holy +vessel and the spear, and bear them to heaven. And from that moment no +man ever saw on earth again the blessed Sangreal. + +Afterwards Galahad's body was buried with great honor, and with many +tears from his two fellows and from the people whom he had governed. +Then Percivale betook him to a hermitage, and entered upon a religious +life; while Bors stayed with him, but in secular clothing, for it was +his purpose to return to England. + +For a year and two months Percivale lived thus the holy life of a +hermit, and then he passed out of this world, and was buried by +Bors--who mourned him as deeply as ever man was mourned--beside his +sister and Galahad. This pious office performed, Sir Bors, the last of +the three chosen knights, felt that his duty in that land was at an end, +and thereupon took ship at the city of Sarras and sailed for the realm +of England, where he in good season arrived. Here he took horse and +rode in all haste to Camelot, where King Arthur and the court then were, +and where he was received with the greatest joy and wonder, for so long +had it been since any man there had set eyes on him, that all believed +him to be dead. + +But greater than their wonder was their admiration when the returned +knight told the story of miracle and adventure which had befallen him +and his two comrades, and the pious maid, Percivale's sister, and of the +holy life and death of Galahad and Percivale. This marvellous narrative +the king had told again to skilled clerks, that they might put upon +record the wonderful deeds of these good knights. And it was all written +down in great books, which were put in safe keeping at Salisbury. + +Bors then gave to Lancelot the message which his son had sent him, and +Lancelot took him in his arms, saying, "Gentle cousin, gladly do I +welcome you again. Never while we live shall we part, but shall ever be +true friends and brothers while life may last to us." + +And thus came to an end the marvellous and unparalleled adventure of the +Holy Grail. + +[Illustration: SALISBURY CATHEDRAL.] + + + + + BOOK X. + + THE LOVE OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE POISONING OF SIR PATRISE. + + +After the quest of the Sangreal was ended, and all the knights who were +left alive had come again to Camelot, there was great joy in the court, +with feasts and merrymakings, that this fortunate remnant might find a +glad welcome. Above all, King Arthur and Queen Guenever were full of joy +in the return of Lancelot and Bors, both from the love they bore them +and the special honor they had gained in the quest. + +But, as is man's way, holy thoughts vanished with the holy task that +gave them rise, the knights went back to their old fashions and +frailties, and in Lancelot's heart his earthly love for the queen soon +rose again, and his love of heaven and holy thoughts grew dim as the +days went by. Alas that it should have been so! for such an unholy +passion could but lead to harm. To fatal ills, indeed, it led, and to +the end of Arthur's reign and of the worshipful fellowship of the Table +Round, as it is our sorrowful duty now to tell. + +All this began in the scandal that was raised in the court by the close +companionship between Lancelot and the queen. Whisper of this secret +talk at length came to that good knight's ears, and he withdrew from +Queen Guenever as much as he could, giving himself to the society of +other ladies of the court, with design to overcome the evil activity of +slanderous tongues. + +This withdrawal filled the queen with jealous anger, and she accused him +bitterly of coldness in his love. + +"Madam," said Lancelot, "only that love for you clung desperately to my +heart, and drove out heavenly thoughts, I should have gained as great +honor in the quest of the Sangreal as even my son Galahad. My love is +still yours, but I fear to show it, for there are those of the court who +love me not, such as Agravaine and Mordred, and these evil-thinking +knights are spreading vile reports wherever they may. It is for this I +make show of delight in other ladies' society, to cheat the bitter +tongue of slander." + +To this the queen listened with heaving breast and burning cheek. But at +the end she burst into bitter tears and sobs, and wept so long that +Lancelot stood in dismay. When she could speak, she called him recreant +and false, declared she should never love him more, and bade him leave +the court, and on pain of his head never come near her again. + +This filled the faithful lover with the deepest grief and pain; yet +there was anger, too, for he felt that the queen had shut her ears to +reason, and had let causeless jealousy blind her. So, without further +words, he turned and sought his room, prepared to leave the court. He +sent for Hector, Bors, and Lionel, and told them what had happened, and +that he intended to leave England and return to his native land. + +"If you take my advice you will do nothing so rash," said Bors. "Know +you not that women are hasty to act, and quick to repent? This is not +the first time the queen has been angry with you; nor will her +repentance be a new experience." + +"You speak truly," said Lancelot. "I will ride, therefore, to the +hermitage of Brasias, near Windsor, and wait there till I hear from you +if my lady Guenever changes her mood. I pray you do your best to get me +her love again." + +"That needs no prayer. Well you know I will do my utmost in your +behalf." + +Then Lancelot departed in haste, none but Bors knowing whither he had +gone. But the queen showed no sign of sorrow at his going, however +deeply she may have felt it in her heart. In countenance she remained +serene and proud, as though the world went well with her, and her heart +was free from care. + +Her desire, indeed, to show that she took as much joy in the society of +other knights as in that of Lancelot led to a woful and perilous event, +which we have next to describe. For she gave a private dinner, to which +she invited Gawaine and his brethren and other knights, to the number of +twenty-four in all. A rich feast it was, with all manner of dainties and +rare devices. Much was the joy and merriment of the feasting knights. + +As it happened, Gawaine had a great love for fruits, especially apples +and pears, which he ate daily at dinner and supper; and all who invited +him to dine took care to provide his favorite fruits. This the queen +failed not to do. But there was at the feast an enemy of Gawaine's, +named Pinel le Savage, who was a cousin of Lamorak de Galis, and had +long hated Gawaine for the murder of that noble knight. + +To obtain revenge on him, Pinel poisoned some of the apples, feeling +sure that only Gawaine would eat them. But by unlucky chance a knight +named Patrise, cousin to Mador de la Porte, eat one of the poisoned +apples. So deadly was the venom that in a moment he was in agony, and +very soon it so filled his veins that he fell dead from his seat. + +Then was terror and wrath, as the knights sprang in haste and turmoil +from their seats. For they saw that Patrise had been poisoned, and +suspicion naturally fell upon the queen, the giver of the feast. + +"My lady, the queen," cried Gawaine in anger, "what thing is this we +see? This fate, I deem, was meant for me, since the fruit was provided +for my taste. Madam, what shall I think? Has this good knight taken on +himself the death that was intended to be mine?" + +The queen made no answer, being so confused and terrified that she knew +not what to say. + +"This affair shall not end here," cried Mador de la Porte in great +wrath. "Here lies a noble knight of my near kindred, slain by poison and +treason. For this I shall have revenge to the utterance. Queen Guenever, +I hold you guilty of the murder of my cousin, Sir Patrise. I demand from +the laws of the realm and the justice of our lord the king redress for +this deed. A knight like this shall not fall unrevenged, while I can +wield spear or hold sword." + +The queen, at this hot accusation, looked appealingly from face to face; +but all stood grave and silent, for greatly they suspected her of the +crime. Then, seeing that she had not a friend in the room, she burst +into a passion of tears, and at length fell to the floor in a swoon. + +The story of this sad business soon spread through the court, and +quickly came to the ears of the king, who hastened to the banqueting +hall full of trouble at what he had heard. When Mador saw him, he again +bitterly accused the queen of treason,--as murder of all kinds was then +called. + +"This is a serious affair," said the king, gravely. "I, as a rightful +judge, cannot take the matter into my own hands, or I would do battle in +this cause myself, for I know well that my wife is wrongly accused. To +burn a queen on a hasty accusation of crime is no light matter, though +you may deem it so, Sir Mador; and if you demand the combat, fear not +but a knight will be found to meet you in the lists." + +"My gracious lord," said Mador, "you must hold me excused, for though +you are our king, you are a knight also, and held by knightly rules. +Therefore, be not displeased with me, for all the knights here suspect +the queen of this crime. What say you, my lords?" + +"The dinner was made by the queen," they answered. "She or her servants +must be held guilty of the crime." + +"I gave this dinner with a good will, and with no thought of evil," said +the queen, sadly. "May God help me as an innocent woman, and visit this +murder on the base head of him who committed it. My king and husband, to +God I appeal for right and justice." + +"And justice I demand," said Mador, "and require the king to name a day +in which this wrong can be righted." + +"Be it so, then," said the king. "Fifteen days hence be thou ready armed +on horseback in the meadow beside Winchester. If there be a knight there +to meet you, then God speed the right. If none meet you, then my queen +must suffer the penalty of the law." + +When Arthur and the queen had departed, he asked her how this case +befell. + +"God help me if I know," she answered. + +"Where is Lancelot?" asked the king. "If he were here, he would do +battle for you." + +"I know not," she replied. "His kinsmen say he has left the land." + +"How cometh it," said the king, "that you cannot keep Lancelot by your +side? If he were here your case would be won. Sir Bors will do battle in +his place, I am sure. Go seek him and demand his aid." + +This the queen did, begging Bors to act as her champion; but he, as one +of the knights who had been at the dinner, demurred, and accused her of +having driven Lancelot from the country by her scorn and jealousy. + +Then she knelt and begged his aid, and the king, coming in, also +requested his assistance, for he was now sure the queen had been +unjustly defamed. + +"My lord," answered Bors, "it is a great thing you require of me, for if +I grant your request I will affront many of my Round Table comrades. Yet +for your and Lancelot's sake I will be the queen's champion on the day +appointed, unless it may happen that a better knight than I come to do +battle for her." + +"Will you promise me this, on your faith?" asked the king. + +"I shall not fail you," said Bors. "If a better knight than I come, the +battle shall be his. If not, I will do what I can." + +This promise gladdened the king and queen, who thanked Bors heartily, +and were filled with hope, for they trusted greatly in this good +knight's prowess and skill. + +Bors, however, had other thoughts than they dreamed of, and left the +court secretly, riding to the hermitage of Brasias, where he found +Lancelot and told him of what had occurred. + +"This happens well," said Lancelot. "The queen shall not suffer. Do you +make ready for the battle, but tarry and delay, if I am not there, as +much as you may, till I arrive. Mador is a hot knight, and will be hasty +to battle. Bid him cool his haste." + +"Leave that to me," said Bors. "Doubt not that it will go as you wish." + +Meanwhile the news spread throughout the court that Bors had taken on +himself the queen's championship. This displeased the most of the +knights, for suspicion of the queen was general. On his return many of +his fellows accused him hotly of taking on himself a wrongful quarrel. + +"Shall we see the queen of our great lord King Arthur brought to shame?" +he demanded. "To whom in the world do we owe more?" + +"We love and honor our king as much as you do," they answered. "But we +cannot love a destroyer of knights, as Queen Guenever has proved +herself." + +"Fair sirs," said Bors, "you speak hastily, methinks. At all times, so +far as I know, she has been a maintainer, not a destroyer, of knights, +and has been free with gifts and open-handed in bounty to all of +knightly fame. This you cannot gainsay, nor will I suffer the wife of +our noble king to be shamefully slain. She is not guilty of Sir +Patrise's death, for she never bore him ill will, nor any other at that +dinner. It was for good will she invited us there, and I doubt not her +innocence will be proved; for howsoever the game goeth, take my word for +it, some other than she is guilty of that murder." + +This some began to believe, convinced by his words, but others still +held their displeasure, believing the queen guilty. + +When at length the day that had been fixed for the battle came, there +was a great gathering of knights and people in the meadow beside +Winchester, where the combat was to take place. But many shuddered when +they saw another thing, for an iron stake was erected, and fagots heaped +round it, for the burning of the queen should Mador win the fight. + +Such, indeed, was the custom of those days. Neither for favor, for love, +nor for kindred could any but righteous judgment be given, as well upon +a king as upon a knight, upon a queen as upon a poor lady, and death at +the stake was the penalty for those convicted of murder. + +Now there rode into the lists Sir Mador de la Porte, and took oath +before the king that he held the queen to be guilty of the death of Sir +Patrise, and would prove it with his body against any one who should say +to the contrary. + +Sir Bors followed, and made oath as the queen's champion that he held +her guiltless, and would prove it with his body, unless a better knight +came to take the battle on him. + +"Make ready then," said Mador, "and we shall prove which is in the +right, you or I." + +"You are a good knight, Sir Mador," said Bors, "but I trust that God +will give this battle to justice, not to prowess." + +He continued to talk and to make delay till Mador called out +impatiently,-- + +"It seems to me that we waste time and weather. Either come and do +battle at once, or else say nay." + +"I am not much given to say nay," answered Bors. "Take your horse and +make ready. I shall not tarry long, I promise you." + +Then each departed to his tent, and in a little while Mador came into +the field with his shield on his shoulder and his spear in his hand. But +he waited in vain for Bors. + +"Where is your champion?" cried Mador to the king. "Bid him come forth +if he dare!" + +When this was told to Bors he was ashamed to delay longer, and mounted +his horse and rode to his appointed place. But as he did so he saw a +knight, mounted on a white horse, and bearing a shield of strange +device, emerge from a neighboring wood, and come up at all speed. He +continued his course till he came to Sir Bors. + +"Be not displeased, fair knight," he said, "if I claim this battle. I +have ridden far this day to have it, as I promised you when we spoke +last. And for what you have done I thank you." + +Then Bors rode to the king and told him that a knight had come who would +do battle for the queen and relieve him from the championship. + +"What knight is this?" asked the king. + +"All I may say is that he covenanted to be here to-day. He has kept his +word, and I am discharged." + +"How is this?" demanded Arthur. "Sir knight, do you truly desire to do +battle for the queen?" + +"For that, and that alone, came I hither," answered the knight. "And I +beg that there be no delay, for when this battle is ended I must depart +in haste on other duties. I hold it a dishonor to all those knights of +the Round Table that they can stand and see so noble a lady and +courteous a queen as Queen Guenever rebuked and shamed among them all. +Therefore I stand as her champion." + +Then all marvelled what knight this could be, for none suspected him. +But Mador cried impatiently to the king,-- + +"We lose time here. If this knight, whoever he be, will have ado with +me, it is time to end words and begin deeds." + +"You are hot, Sir Mador. Take care that your valor be not cooled," said +the other. + +They now moved to their appointed stations, and there couched their +spears and rode together with all the speed of their chargers. Mador's +spear broke, but the spear of his opponent held, and bore him and his +horse backward to the earth. + +But he sprang lightly from the saddle, and drew his sword, challenging +the victor to do battle with him on foot. This the other knight did, +springing quickly to the ground, and drawing his sword. Then they came +eagerly to the combat, and for the space of near an hour fought with the +fury of wild beasts, for Mador was a strong knight, proved in many +battles. + +But at last the strange champion struck his opponent a blow that brought +him to the earth. He stepped near him to hurl him flat, but at that +instant Mador suddenly rose. As he did so he struck upward with his +sword, and ran the other through the thick of the thigh, so that the +blood flowed freely. + +When he felt himself wounded he stepped back in a rage, and grasping his +sword struck Mador a two-handed blow that hurled him flat to the earth. +Then he sprang upon him to pull off his helm. + +"I yield me!" cried Mador. "Spare my life, and I release the queen." + +"I shall not grant your life," said the other, "only on condition that +you freely withdraw this accusation from the queen, and that no charge +against her be made on Sir Patrise's tomb." + +"All this shall be done. I have lost, and adjudge her innocent." + +The knights-parters of the lists now took up Sir Mador and bore him to +his tent. The other knight went to the foot of King Arthur's seat. By +that time the queen had come thither also, and was heartily kissed by +her overjoyed lord. Then king and queen alike thanked the victor knight, +and prayed him to take off his helmet, and drink some wine for +refreshment. This he did, and on the instant a loud shout went up from +all present, for they recognized the noble face of Lancelot du Lake. + +"Sir Lancelot!" cried the king. "Never were you more heartily welcome. +Deep thanks I and Queen Guenever owe you for your noble labor this day +in our behalf." + +"My lord Arthur," said Lancelot, "I would shame myself should I ever +fail to do battle for you both. It was you who gave me the high honor of +knighthood. And on the day you made me knight I lost my sword through +haste, and the lady your queen found it and gave it me when I had need +of it, and so saved me from disgrace among the knights. On that day I +promised her to be ever her knight in right or wrong." + +"Your goodness merits reward," said the king, "and therein I shall not +fail you." + +But as the queen gazed on Lancelot, tears came to her eyes, and she wept +so tenderly that she almost sank to the ground from sorrow and remorse +at her unkindness to him who had done her such noble service. + +Now the knights of his blood came around Lancelot in the greatest joy, +and all the Knights of the Round Table after them, glad to welcome him. + +And in the days that followed Lancelot was cured of his wound, and Mador +put under the care of skilful leeches, while great joy and gladness +reigned in the court for the happy issue of that combat which had +promised so fatal an ending. + +About this time it befell that Nimue, the damsel of the lake, came to +the court, she who knew so many things by her power of enchantment, and +had such great love for Arthur and his knights. When the story of the +death of Sir Patrise and the peril of the queen was told her, she +answered openly that the queen had been falsely accused, and that the +real murderer was Sir Pinel, who had poisoned the apples to destroy +Gawaine, in revenge for the murder of Lamorak. This story was confirmed +when Pinel fled hastily from the court, for then all saw clearly that +Guenever was innocent of the crime. + +The slain knight was buried in the church of Westminster, and on his +tomb was written,-- + +"Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir Pinel le Savage, +through poisoned apples intended for Sir Gawaine." And to this was added +the story of how Guenever the queen had been charged with that crime, +and had been cleared in the combat by Sir Lancelot du Lake, her +champion. + +All this was written on the tomb, to clear the queen's good fame. And +daily and long Sir Mador sued the queen to have her good grace again. +At length, by means of Lancelot, he was forgiven, and entered again into +the grace of king and queen. Thus once more peace and good-will were +restored to Camelot. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT. + + +It came to pass that, within fifteen days of the Feast of the +Assumption, King Arthur announced that a great tournament would be held +on that day at Camelot, where he and the king of Scots would hold the +lists against all who should come. This tidings went far, and there came +to Camelot many noble knights, among them the king of North Wales, King +Anguish of Ireland, the king with the hundred knights, Sir Galahalt the +high prince, and other kings, dukes, and earls. + +But when Arthur was ready to ride from London, where he then was, to +Camelot, the queen begged to be excused from going with him, saying that +she was not well. Lancelot, too, would not go, on the plea that he was +not well of the wound which Sir Mador had given him. So the king set out +in grief and anger, for the absence of his wife and Lancelot tried him +sorely. On his way to Camelot he lodged in a town named Astolat, which +is now known as Gilford, and here he remained for several days. + +But hardly had he departed before the queen sought Lancelot, and blamed +him severely for not going with the king, saying that he thus exposed +her to slander. + +"Madam, your wisdom comes somewhat late. Why gave you not this advice +sooner?" said Lancelot. "I will go, since you command it; but I warn you +that at the jousts I will fight against the king and his party." + +"Fight as you will, but go," said Guenever. "If you take my counsel, +however, you will keep with your king and your kindred." + +"Be not displeased with me, madam," said Lancelot. "I will do as God +wills, and that, I fear, will be to fight against the king's party." + +So the knight took horse and rode to Astolat, and here in the evening he +obtained quarters in the mansion of an old baron, named Sir Bernard of +Astolat. It happened that this mansion was near the quarters of the +king, who, as in the dusk he walked in the castle garden, saw Lancelot +draw near to Sir Bernard's door, and recognized him. + +"Aha!" said the king, "is that the game? That gives me comfort. I shall +have one knight in the lists who will do his duty nobly." + +"Who is that?" asked those with him. + +"Ask me not now," said the king, smiling. "You may learn later." + +Meanwhile Lancelot was hospitably received by the old baron, though the +latter knew not his guest. + +"Dear sir," said Lancelot to his host, "I thank you for your kindness, +and I shall owe you deeper thanks if you will lend me a shield. Mine is +too well known, and I wish to fight in disguise." + +"That shall I willingly," answered his host. "I have two sons who were +lately knighted, and the elder, Sir Tirre, has been hurt. His shield you +shall have, for it is yet unknown in list or field. As for my younger +son, Sir Lavaine, he is a strong and likely youth, whom I beg you will +take with you. I feel that you must be a champion of renown, and hope +you will tell me your name." + +"Not at present, if you will excuse me," said Lancelot. "If I speed well +at the tournament I will return and tell you. But I shall be glad to +have Sir Lavaine with me, and to use his brother's shield." + +"You are welcome to both," said Sir Bernard. + +This old baron had a daughter of great beauty, and in the freshness of +youth, who was known in that region as the Fair Maid of Astolat, by name +Elaine le Blank. And when she saw Lancelot her whole heart went out to +him in love,--a love of that ardent nature that never dies while she who +wears it lives. + +Lancelot, too, was strongly attracted by her fresh young face, of +lily-like charm; but he had no love to give. Yet he spoke in tender +kindness to the maiden, and so emboldened her that she begged him to +wear her token at the tournament. + +"You ask more than I have ever yet granted to lady or damsel," said +Lancelot. "If I yield to your wish I shall do more for your love than +any woman born can claim." + +[Illustration: "YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH!" SAID SIR BERNARD.] + +She besought him now with still more earnestness, and it came to his +mind that if he wished to go to the lists disguised he could take no +better method, for no one would recognise Lancelot under a damsel's +token. + +"Show me what you would have me wear, fair maiden," he said. + +"It is a red sleeve of mine," she answered, "a sleeve of scarlet, +embroidered with great pearls," and she brought it to him. + +"I have never done this for damsel before," said Lancelot. "In return I +will leave my shield in your keeping. Pray keep it safe till we meet +again." + +Then the evening was spent in merry cheer; but that night Elaine slept +but lightly, for her slumber was full of dreams of Lancelot, and her +heart burned with fears that he might come to harm in the lists. + +On the next day King Arthur and his knights set out for Camelot. Soon +afterwards Lancelot and Lavaine took leave of Sir Bernard and his fair +daughter, while the eyes of Elaine followed the noble form of Lancelot +fondly and far, as he rode. Both the knights had white shields, and +Lancelot bore with him Elaine's red embroidered sleeve. When they +reached Camelot they took lodging privately with a rich burgess of the +town, that none might know them. + +When came Assumption Day, the lists were set, the trumpets blew to the +field, the two parties of knights gathered promptly to the fray, and +fierce was the encounter between them. In the end, after hard fighting, +the party of Arthur bore back their opponents, who were headed by the +kings of Northumberland and North Wales. + +All this was seen by Lancelot and Lavaine, who sat their horses at a +distance looking on. + +"Come," said Lancelot, "let us help these good fellows, who seem to be +overpowered." + +"Lead on," said Lavaine. "I shall follow and do my best." + +Then Lancelot, with the red sleeve fastened upon his helmet, rode into +the thickest of the press, and smote down such numbers of knights with +spear and sword that the party of the Round Table were forced to give +back, and their opponents came on with fresh heart. And close upon +Lancelot's track Lavaine smote down several good knights. + +"Who can this wonderful fighter be?" asked Gawaine of the king. + +"I know him well," said Arthur, "but will not name him since he is in +disguise." + +"I could believe it was Lancelot," said Gawaine, "but for that red +sleeve. No man ever saw Lancelot wear a woman's token." + +"Let him be," said Arthur. "He will be better known before he is done." + +Then nine knights of Lancelot's kindred, angry at seeing this one +champion beat down all before him, joined together and pressed hotly +into the din, smiting down all that opposed them. Three of them--Bors, +Hector, and Lionel--spurred together on Lancelot, all striking him at +once with their spears. So great was their force that Lancelot's horse +was hurled to the ground, and his shield pierced by Bors, whose spear +wounded him in the side, breaking and leaving its head deep in the +flesh. + +Seeing this misfortune, Lavaine spurred fiercely on the king of the +Scots, thrust him from his horse, and, in despite of them all, brought +that horse to Lancelot, and helped him to mount. Then, though so sorely +hurt, Lancelot drew his sword, and, aided by Lavaine, did such deeds of +arms as he had never surpassed in his hours of greatest strength. As the +chronicles say, that day he unhorsed more than thirty knights; and +Lavaine followed his example well, for he smote down ten Knights of the +Round Table in this his first tournament. So does a noble example stir +young hearts. + +"I would give much to know who this valiant knight can be," said +Gawaine. + +"He will be known before he departs," answered Arthur. "Trust me for +that." + +Then the king blew to lodging, and the prize was given by the heralds to +the knight with the white shield who bore the red sleeve. Around +Lancelot gathered the leaders on his side, and thanked him warmly for +gaining them the victory. + +"If I have deserved thanks I have sorely paid for them," said Lancelot, +"for I doubt if I escape with my life. Dear sirs, permit me to depart, +for just now I would rather have repose than be lord of all the world." + +Then he broke from them and galloped away, though his wound forced +piteous groans from his steadfast heart. When out of sight of them all +he checked his horse, and begged Lavaine to help him dismount and to +draw the spear-head from his side. + +"My lord," said Lavaine, "I would fain help you; yet I fear that to draw +the spear will be your death." + +"It will be my death if it remains," said Lancelot. "I charge you to +draw it." + +This Lavaine did, the pain being so deadly that Lancelot shrieked and +fell into a death-like swoon, while a full pint of blood gushed from the +wound. Lavaine stopped the bleeding as well as he could, and with great +trouble got the wounded knight to a neighboring hermitage, that stood in +front of a great cliff, with a clear stream running by its foot. + +Here Lavaine beat on the door with the butt of his spear, and cried +loudly,-- + +"Open, for Jesus' sake! Open, for a noble knight lies bleeding to death +at your gate!" + +This loud appeal quickly brought out the hermit, who was named Baldwin +of Brittany, and had once been a Round Table knight. He gazed with pity +and alarm on the pale face and bleeding form before him. + +"I should know this knight," he said. "Who is he?" + +"Fair sir," said Lancelot, feebly, "I am a stranger and a knight-errant, +who have sought renown through many realms, and have come here to my +deadly peril." + +As he spoke the hermit recognized him, by a wound on his pallid cheek. + +"Ah, my lord Lancelot," he said, "you cannot deceive me thus." + +"Then, if you know me, help me for heaven's sake. Relieve me from this +pain, whether it be by life or death." + +"I shall do my best," said the hermit. "Fear not that you will die." + +Then he had him borne into the hermitage, and laid in bed, his armor +being removed. This done, the hermit stanched the bleeding, anointed the +wound with healing ointments, and gave Lancelot a refreshing and healing +draught. + +Meanwhile King Arthur invited the knights of both parties to a great +evening feast, and there asked the king of North Wales to bring forward +the knight of the red sleeve, that he might receive the prize he had +won. + +"That I cannot do," was the answer. "He was badly, if not fatally, +wounded, and left us so hastily that we know not whither he went." + +"That is the worst news I have heard these seven years," said Arthur. "I +would rather lose my throne than have that noble knight slain." + +"Do you know him?" they all asked. + +"I have a shrewd suspicion who he is; and I pray God for good tidings of +him." + +"By my head," said Gawaine, "I should be sorry enough to see harm come +to one that can handle spear and sword like him. He cannot be far away, +and if he is to be found I shall find him." + +"Fortune aid you in the quest," said the king. + +Then Gawaine took a squire, and they rode in all directions for six or +seven miles around Camelot, but could learn nothing of the missing +knight. Two days afterwards Arthur and his fellowship set out on their +return to London. On their way they passed through Astolat, and here it +happened that Gawaine lodged with Sir Bernard, Lancelot's former host. + +He was well received, and the old baron and his fair daughter begged him +earnestly for tidings of the tournament, being specially eager to know +who had done best there. + +"Two knights bore all before them," said Gawaine. "Both carried white +shields, and one wore on his helmet a red sleeve, as some fair lady's +token. Never saw I a man before do such mighty deeds, and his fellow +seconded him nobly." + +"Blessed be God that that knight did so well," broke out Elaine, "for he +is the first man I ever loved, and shall be the last." + +"You know him then?" said Gawaine. "Pray tell me his name." + +"That I know not, nor whence he came; but this I truly know, that I love +him, and that the token he wore was mine. This, and this only, I can +justly affirm." + +"This is a strange story," said Gawaine. "What knowledge have you of +him? and how came you to know him?" + +In response, she told him how the knight had left his shield with her, +and taken that of her brother, with what else she knew. + +"I would thank you much for a sight of that shield," said Gawaine. + +"I have it in my chamber, covered with a case, and will send for it," +said Elaine. + +When the shield was brought Gawaine removed the case, and at sight he +knew it to be Lancelot's shield. + +"Ah, mercy!" said Gawaine, "the sight of this makes my heart heavy." + +"Why so?" she demanded. + +"For good cause," he answered. "Is the owner of this shield your love?" + +"Truly so," she replied. "I love him dearly; would to God he loved me as +dearly." + +"Then must I say that you have given your love to the noblest and most +renowned knight in the world." + +"So it seemed to me; for he carries a noble soul in his face." + +"This I may say," said Gawaine. "I have known this knight for more than +twenty years, and never knew him before to wear a woman's token at joust +or tournament. You owe him thanks, indeed, that he wore yours. Yet I +dread greatly that you will never see him again, and it is for this that +my heart is heavy." + +"Why say you so?" she cried, starting up with pallid face. "Is he hurt? +Is he slain?" + +"Not slain; but sadly hurt. This more it is my duty to tell you: he is +the noble knight, Sir Lancelot du Lake. I know him by his shield." + +"Lancelot! Can this be so? And his hurt--who gave it? Is it really +perilous?" + +"Had the knight who wounded him known him, he would have been grieved +almost to death. As for Sir Lancelot, I can tell you nothing more. On +receiving his hurt he left the lists with his comrade, and cannot be +found. He is somewhere concealed." + +"Then shall I go seek him!" cried Elaine. "Give me leave to do so, dear +father, if you would not have me lose my mind. I shall never rest till +I find him and my brother, and nurse him back to health." + +"Go, daughter, if you will," said her father, "for I am sick at heart to +hear such tidings of that noble knight." + +In the morning Gawaine rejoined King Arthur, and told him of what he had +learned. + +"I knew already it was Lancelot," said the king; "but never before knew +I him to wear woman's token." + +"By my faith, this lily maiden of Astolat loves him deeply," said +Gawaine. "What it means I cannot say, but she has set out to seek him, +and will break her heart if she fail to find him." + +And so they rode on to London, where Gawaine made known to the court +that it was Lancelot who wore the red sleeve and won the prize at the +tournament. + +This tidings made no small trouble in the court. Bors and his kinsmen +were heavy at heart when they learned that it was Lancelot whom they had +so hotly assailed. And Queen Guenever was beside herself with anger on +learning that it was Lancelot who had worn the red sleeve at the +tournament. + +Meanwhile Elaine journeyed to Camelot in search of the wounded knight, +and as she sought far and near about the town, sick at heart, it chanced +that she espied her brother Lavaine, as he rode out to give his horse +air. She called loudly to him, and when he came up asked him,-- + +"How does my lord, Sir Lancelot?" + +"Who told you, sister, that my lord's name was Lancelot?" + +She told him how she had learned this, and they rode together to the +hermitage, where Lavaine brought her in to see the wounded knight. + +But when she saw him lying there so sick and pale, and with a death-like +hue upon his face, she stood gazing upon him with dilated eyes and +whitening face, and then suddenly fell to the floor in a deep swoon. + +"I pray you, Lavaine, take her up and bring her to me," said Lancelot. + +When she was brought near him he kissed her pale face, and at the touch +of his lips her cheeks flamed out with red, and life came back to her. + +"Fair maiden," said Lancelot, "it pains me to see you so deeply +afflicted. Comfort yourself, I pray you. If you come here to my aid you +are truly welcome; but let not this little hurt trouble you; I shall +soon be well of it." + +Then they fell into discourse, and Elaine told Lancelot how Gawaine had +seen and known his shield. This gave him no small trouble, for he knew +well that the story of the red scarf would get to Queen Guenever's ears, +and he feared its effect on her hasty and jealous temper. But Elaine +never left Lancelot, but watched him day and night, nursing him back to +health. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW ELAINE DIED FOR LOVE. + + +When Sir Bors learned that his unlucky blow had brought Lancelot nearly +to death's door, he became sore indeed at heart, and hastened to Camelot +in search of his noble kinsman. Here he met Lavaine, who knew him and +conducted him to the bedside of the wounded knight. + +When he saw the pale and haggard countenance of Lancelot, he fell into a +passion of tears, and accused himself bitterly. But Lancelot consoled +him as well as he could, declaring that the fault was his own, and that +he would bear the blame. Then Bors told him of the anger of the queen, +and of his earnest but vain endeavor to overcome it. + +"I deserve it not," said Lancelot. "I wore the sleeve only by way of +disguise. As for Gawaine, he would have shown more wisdom and friendship +had he been less free of speech." + +"I told her all this," said Bors, "but she was past listening to reason. +Is this maiden, who is so busy about you, she whom they call the lily of +Astolat?" + +"She it is," said Lancelot. "I cannot by any means put her from me." + +"Why should you?" asked Bors. "She is a beautiful and tender-hearted +damsel. Would to God, fair cousin, you could love her, for I see well, +by her gentle and close care of you, that she loves you devoutedly." + +"That I am sorry for," said Lancelot. + +"She will not be the first that has loved you in vain," said Bors; "the +more the pity." + +Many other things they talked of, and Lancelot found such comfort in the +presence of Sir Bors that in a few days he showed great signs of +improvement. Then Bors told him of another tournament that King Arthur +had ordered, to be held at Camelot on All-hallowmas day, between his +party and that of the king of North Wales. + +This filled Lancelot with an earnest desire to grow strong, and during +the following month, under the kind care of his cousin, and the gentle +ministrations of Elaine, he improved greatly in health. For Elaine +waited upon him with loving diligence night and day, and never was child +or wife more gentle and heedful to father or husband than this fair maid +of Astolat to the wounded knight. + +At length came a day when Lancelot felt so much stronger, through the +healing influence of a bath of herbs which the hermit had gathered in +the woods, that he determined to try if he could wear his armor and sit +in his saddle. He thereupon armed and had his horse brought out. +Mounting the mettled charger, in the high spirit of new health he +spurred it to full speed. + +But the courser's long rest in the stable had made it fresh and fierce, +and on feeling the spurs it leaped forward so violently that Lancelot's +wound burst open in the strain, and the blood gushed out again. + +"Bors! Lavaine! help!" he feebly cried. "I am come to my end." + +As he spoke he fell from his horse to the earth, and lay there like a +corpse. + +The two knights hurried up, full of fearful concern, and when Elaine, +who had heard the pitiful call, came flying to the spot, she threw +herself on the prostrate form, weeping like one beside herself with +grief, and kissing the insensible knight as if she hoped thus to recall +him to life. + +"Traitors you are!" she cried wildly to her brother and Sir Bors. "Why +did you let him leave his bed? I hold you guilty of his death." + +At this moment the hermit Baldwin appeared. When he saw Lancelot in that +plight he grew angry at heart, though he checked the reproachful words +that rose to his lips. + +"Let us have him in," he said, briefly. + +Lancelot was thereupon carried to the hermitage, his armor removed, and +the bleeding stanched, but it was long before he could be brought out of +his death-like swoon. + +"Why did you put your life thus in jeopardy?" asked the hermit, +reproachfully, when the knight was again in his senses. + +"I was too eager to attend the tournament, now near at hand," he said. + +"Ah, Sir Lancelot, you have more courage than wisdom, I fear. As for the +tournament, let Sir Bors attend it and do what he may. By the time it is +over and he returned, I hope that you may be well once more, if you will +but be governed by my advice." + +This advice was taken and Bors went to the tournament, where he bore +himself so valorously that the prize was divided between him and +Gawaine. Gareth and Palamides also did noble deeds, but they departed +suddenly before the prize was declared, as if called away by some +adventure. + +All this Lancelot heard with great pleasure from Bors on his return, his +only regret being that he had not been able to take part in that +knightly sport. But the remedies of the hermit and the care of Elaine +had meanwhile done him wonderful service, and he was soon able again to +mount his horse and wear his armor in safety. + +A day, therefore, quickly came when the knight felt himself in condition +for a journey, and when he and his companions took the road to Astolat, +escorting the fair Elaine back to her father's home. Here they were +gladly received by the old baron Bernard, and his son Tirre, who had now +recovered. + +But when the time approached which Lancelot had set for his departure, +Elaine grew pale and drooping. At length, with the boldness of speech of +that period, she came to him and said,-- + +"My lord Sir Lancelot, clear and courteous sir, will you then depart, +and leave me alone with my love and sorrow? Have mercy on me, I pray +you, and suffer me not to die of grief." + +"What would you have me do?" asked Lancelot. + +"I brought you back to life; give me your love in return; make me your +wedded wife, and I will love you as never woman loved." + +"That can I never do," said Lancelot, gravely. "I shall never wed." + +"Then shall I die for your love." + +"Think not of death, Elaine. If I could marry woman it would be you, +for I could love you dearly were my heart free. For your gentleness and +kindness thus only can I repay you. If you can set your heart upon some +worthy knight who is free to wed you, I shall give to you and your heirs +a thousand pounds yearly, as some small payment of the debt I owe you." + +"You speak idly and coldly, Sir Lancelot. Your money I will have none +of; and as for wedding, I have but the choice to wed you or wed my +death." + +"You rend my heart, fair Elaine. Would that it could be as you wish. +Alas! that can never be." + +At this, with a cry of heart-pain, the distressed maiden fell swooning +at his feet. Thence she was borne by women to her chamber, where she +lay, lamenting like one whose heart is broken. + +Sir Bernard now came to Lancelot, who was preparing to depart, and +said,-- + +"Dear sir, it grieves me to find my daughter Elaine in such a +distressful state. I fear she may die for your sake." + +"It grieves me as deeply," said Lancelot. "But what can I do? That she +loves me so deeply I am sorry to learn, for I have done nothing to +encourage it, as your son can testify. I know that she is a true and +noble maiden, and will do all that I can for her as an honest knight; +but love her as she loves me I cannot, and to wed I am forbidden. Yet +her distress wounds me sorely." + +"Father," said Lavaine, "I dare avow that she is as pure and good as my +lord Sir Lancelot has said. In loving him she does but what I do, for +since I first saw him I could never depart from him; nor shall I leave +him so long as he will bear my company." + +Then Lancelot took his leave, and he and Lavaine rode together to +Camelot, where Arthur and the whole court received the errant knight +with the utmost joy and warmest welcome. Queen Guenever alone failed to +greet him kindly, her jealous anger continuing so bitter that she would +not give him a word or a look, seek as he would. + +But the joy and brightness at Camelot were replaced by darkness at +Astolat, for the fair Elaine was in such sorrow day and night that she +neither ate, drank, nor slept; and ever she sadly moaned and bewailed +the cruelty of Sir Lancelot. + +Ten days of this brought her so near her end, that her old father, with +sad heart, sent for the priest to give her the last sacraments. But even +then she made her plaints of Lancelot's coldness so mournfully, that the +ghostly father bade her cease such thoughts. + +"Why should I?" she cried. "Am I not a woman, with a woman's heart and +feelings? While the breath is in my body I must lament my fate; for I +hold it no offence to love, and take God to witness that I never have +and never can love other than Lancelot du Lake. Since it is God's will +that I must die from unrequited love of so noble a knight, I pray for +his mercy and forgiveness of all my sins. Never did I offend deeply +against God's laws; but it was not in my nature to withstand the fervent +love that is bringing me to my death." + +Then she sent for her father and brother, and prayed them to write a +letter as she might dictate. This they did, writing down the mournful +words which she spoke. + +"Now," she said, "this more I command you to do. When I am dead, put +this letter in my right hand before my body grows cold. Then see that I +be richly dressed and laid in a fair bed, and take me in a chariot to +the river Thames. There lay my body in a barge, covered with black +samite, and with but one man to steer the barge down the river to +Camelot." + +All this they, weeping sadly, agreed to do, and soon afterwards the +maiden died, slain by her love. Her sad old father then had all done as +she had requested. + +Meanwhile, in Camelot the world moved merrily. But one morning, by +fortune, as King Arthur and Queen Guenever stood talking at a window, +they espied a black barge drifting slowly down the river. Wondering much +what it meant, the king called Sir Kay and two other knights, and sent +them to the river, bidding them to bring him speedy word of what the +barge contained. + +This they did. On reaching the river-side they found that the barge had +been turned inward, and lay beside the bank, and to their surprise they +saw in it a rich bed, on which lay the corpse of as fair a woman as they +had ever beheld. In the stern of the barge sat, with oar in hand, a poor +man who seemed dumb, for no word would he speak. + +"That corpse must I see," said the king, when word of this event was +brought him. "Surely this betokens something strange." + +He took the queen by the hand and went to the river-side with her. Here +the barge had been made fast, and they stepped from the shore to its +deck. There they saw the corpse of a beautiful maiden, dressed in costly +attire, and lying in a bed which was richly covered with cloth of gold. +And as she lay she seemed to smile. + +The queen now espied a letter clasped closely in her right hand, and +showed it to the king. + +"That will surely tell us who she is, and why she has come hither," he +said. + +He thereupon took the letter and returned with the queen to the palace. +Here, surrounded by many knights, he broke the seal, and gave the +epistle to a clerk to read. This was its purport,-- + +"Most noble knight, Sir Lancelot, now hath death made us two at debate +for your love. I was your lover, she whom men called the Fair Maid of +Astolat; therefore unto all ladies I make my moan, and I beg you to pray +for my soul, and at the least to bury me, and offer my mass-penny. This +is my last request. God is my witness that I die a pure maiden. Pray for +my soul, Sir Lancelot, as thou art peerless." + +When this pitiful letter had been read, all who heard it shed tears, for +never had they heard aught so moving. Then Lancelot was sent for and the +letter read to him. + +"A sorrowful thing is this," he said, in grievous tones. "Then she is +dead, the fair Elaine, and thus, with silent lips, makes her last +prayer. Truly it wounds me to the heart. Yet, my lord Arthur, God knows +I had no just share in the death of this maiden, as her brother here, +Sir Lavaine, can testify. She was fair and good, and I owed her much, +but she loved me beyond measure, and her love I could not return." + +"You might have shown her," said the queen, reprovingly, "some bounty +and gentleness, and thus have preserved her life." + +"Madam," said Lancelot, "naught would she have but my love, and my hand +in marriage. I offered to endow her with a thousand pounds yearly, if +she should love and wed any other, but to this she would not listen. As +for me, I had no other comfort to give her, for love cannot be +constrained, but must rise of itself from the heart." + +"Truly must it," said the king. "Love is free in itself, and will not be +bound, for if bonds be placed upon it, it looseth itself perforce. As +for this unhappy maiden, nothing is left for you but to obey her last +pitiful request." + +"That shall I to the utmost of my power," said Lancelot. + +Then many knights and ladies went to behold the fair maiden, who had +come thither in such moving wise. And in the morning she was richly +interred, and with all due honor, at Lancelot's command; and he offered +her mass-penny, as did all the knights who were there present. + +Then the poor dumb servitor returned again with the barge, rowing it +slowly and sadly back to Astolat. + +Afterwards the queen sent for Lancelot, and begged his pardon humbly for +her causeless anger. + +[Illustration: ELAINE.] + +"This is not the first time," said Lancelot, "that you have been +displeased with me without cause. What you will, I must bear, and keep +my sorrow within my heart; yet I would that your love were less tainted +by hasty jealousy. As for forgiving you, what else can I do, my queen? +Love cannot live without forgiveness." + +After these events the winter and spring passed on, with hunting and +hawking, and jousts and tournaments, and the fate of the fair Elaine was +wellnigh forgotten in the joy of the court. But her brother Lavaine +gained great honor, and at a tournament that was given on Candlemas day +did so nobly that the king promised he should be made a Knight of the +Round Table at the next feast of Pentecost. + +And at this tournament Lancelot again fought in disguise, wearing a +sleeve of gold of the queen's, and did such deeds that the prize was +adjudged to him. Thus a second time did he wear a woman's token in the +lists. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CHEVALIER OF THE CART. + + +The year passed on from Candlemas till after Easter, and then came the +month of May, when every lusty heart begins to blossom and to bear +fruit; for as herbs and trees flourish in May, so does the heart of a +lover, since in this lusty month all lovers gain courage, calling to +their minds old vows and deeds of gentleness, and much that was +forgotten in the winter's chill. + +As winter always defaces and erases green summer, so fares it with +unstable love in man and woman. But as May flowers and flourishes in +many gardens, so flowers the lover's heart in the joy of her to whom he +has promised his faith. Yet nowadays men cannot love seven days without +their love cooling; for where love warms in haste it cools as hastily; +thus fareth it in our days,--soon hot, soon cold. The old love was not +so. Men and women could love together seven years in truth and +faithfulness. Such was the way of love in King Arthur's days; but love +nowadays I liken unto summer and winter; now hot, now cold, like the +changing seasons. Therefore all ye who are lovers call to your +remembrance the month of May, like as did Queen Guenever, who while she +lived was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end. + +So it befell in the month of May that Queen Guenever called unto her +certain knights of the Round Table, inviting them to ride with her in +the early morn a-maying in the woods and fields beside Camelot. + +"And see that you all be well horsed," she said, "and clad in green, +either in silk or cloth. I shall bring with me ten ladies, and every +knight shall have a lady behind him, and bring with him a squire and two +yeomen." + +And so, when morning came, the ten knights invited put on their gayest +robes of green, and rode with the queen and her ladies, a-maying in the +woods and fields, to their great joy and delight. + +Yet this pleasure party led to sad results, as we have now to tell. For +there was a knight named Meliagrance, son of King Bagdemagus, who had a +castle, the gift of King Arthur, within seven miles of Camelot. This +knight loved the queen, and had done so for many years, and it had long +been in his heart to steal her away; but he had never been able to find +her without many knights about her, and, chief of all, Sir Lancelot. + +When he heard of this Maying party, and that the queen would be attended +by only ten knights, and these in green robes, he resolved to carry out +his base design, and therefore placed in ambush twenty men-at-arms and a +hundred archers. + +So it happened that while the queen and her knights were merrily +arraying one another in flowers and mosses, and with wreaths made of +sprays of fresh green, this false knight rode suddenly from a wood near +by, followed by a throng of armed men, and bade them stand, and yield up +the queen on peril of their lives. + +"Traitor knight," cried Guenever, "what seek you to do? Wouldst thou, a +king's son, and a knight of the Round Table, seek to dishonor the noble +king who made you what you are? You shame yourself and all knighthood; +but me you shall never shame, for I had rather cut my throat than be +dishonored by you." + +"Madam, this language will avail you nothing," said Meliagrance. "I have +loved you many a year, and now that I have you at advantage will take +you as I find you." + +"You must kill us first, unarmed as we are," cried the queen's knights. +"You have taken us at a foul disadvantage; but you shall not have the +queen so lightly as you deem." + +"Fight, will you? Then fight it, if you will have it so," said +Meliagrance. + +Then the ten knights drew their swords, and the others spurred upon them +with couched spears. But so skilfully did the queen's defenders use +their blades that the spears did them no harm. + +The battle then went on with swords, and the ten knights did noble +deeds, slaying many of their assailants; yet they were so overmatched +that they soon were all stretched upon the earth with bleeding wounds. + +"Sir Meliagrance," cried the queen, in deep distress, "kill not my noble +knights, I pray you. If you do them no more harm I will go with you, if +you will take them with me. Otherwise I will slay myself before you +shall take me." + +"Madam, since you wish it, they shall be taken to my castle, whither you +must come with me." + +Then at the queen's command the battle ceased, and the knights had their +wounds dressed. But Meliagrance watched keenly that none of the company +should escape, for greatly he feared that news of this outrage might be +borne to Lancelot du Lake. + +But there was with the queen a little page who rode a swift horse, and +to him she privily spoke. + +"Slip away, when you see the chance," she said, "and bear this ring to +Lancelot du Lake. Tell him what has happened, and pray him as he loves +me to come in haste to my rescue. Spare not your horse, and stay not for +land or water." + +The page took the ring, and rode carelessly to the edge of the circle. +Then, seeing his opportunity, he put spurs to his horse and rode away at +full speed. When Meliagrance saw this he ordered instant pursuit, and +the boy was hotly chased and fired at with arrows and javelins; yet the +speed of his horse soon carried him beyond danger. + +"Madam," cried Meliagrance, fiercely, to the queen, "you are plotting to +betray me. But if you have sent for Lancelot du Lake, he shall find the +road to you a perilous one, I warrant him." + +And as they rode to the castle he placed an ambush of thirty archers by +the road-side, charging them if they saw a knight come that way on a +white horse to slay the horse. But he warned them not to assail him in +person, as they would find him hard to overcome. + +This done, the party proceeded to the castle; but here the queen would +not let her ladies and knights out of her presence, and Meliagrance +stood in such dread of Lancelot that he dared not use force. + +In the mean time the page found Lancelot, and gave him the queen's ring +and message, telling him the whole story of the treacherous assault. + +"I would give all France to have been there well armed," cried Lancelot. +"The queen shall be saved, or I will die in the effort. Haste you to Sir +Lavaine and tell him where I have gone, and bid him follow me to +Meliagrance's castle. Tell him to come quickly, if he wishes to have a +hand in the rescue of the queen and her knights." + +Lancelot was hastily arming as he spoke, and mounting, he rode with all +speed, forcing his horse to swim the Thames in his haste. In no great +time he reached the spot where the fight had taken place, and where he +found the garlands the knights had worn, rent with sword-strokes and +reddened with their blood. Then he followed the tracks of the party till +he entered a narrow passage, bordered by a wood. Here were the archers +stationed, and when Lancelot came by they bade him return, for that way +was closed. + +"Why should I turn?" he demanded. "Whence get you the right to close the +way?" + +"If you go forward it will be on foot, for we shall kill your horse." + +"Go forward I shall, if there were five hundred more of you," said +Lancelot. + +Then a cloud of arrows whistled through the air, and the noble horse, +struck by a dozen shafts, fell to the earth. Lancelot leaped lightly +from the falling animal, and rushed in a rage into the wood; but there +were so many hedges and ditches that he found it impossible to reach his +light-armed assailants. + +"Shame on this Meliagrance for a dastard!" he cried in anger. "It is a +true old saw that a good man is never in danger but from a coward." + +The angry knight, finding that his assailants were beyond his reach, set +out on foot for Meliagrance's castle, but found himself so encumbered +with his armor, shield, and spear, that his progress was but slow. Yet +he dared not leave any of his arms, for fear of giving his foe an +advantage. + +At length, by good fortune, there appeared on the road a cart, that was +used for hauling wood. + +"Tell me, friend carter," said Lancelot, when the vehicle came near, +"what shall I give you for a ride in your cart to a castle that lies a +few miles away?" + +"You can give me nothing," said the carter. "I am sent to bring wood for +my lord, Sir Meliagrance, and it is not my fashion to work for two at +once." + +"It is Sir Meliagrance I seek." + +"Then go on foot," said the carter, surlily. "My cart is for other +work." + +Incensed at this, Lancelot dealt the fellow a blow with his mailed fist +that stretched him senseless on the ground. Then he turned to the +carter's comrade. + +"Strike me not, fair sir," pleaded this fellow. "I will bring you where +you wish." + +"Then drive me and this cart to the gate of Meliagrance's castle." + +"Leap into the cart, and you shall be there before the day grows old." + +This Lancelot did, and the carter lashed his horse forward with all +speed, for he was in mortal fear of the knight's hard fist. + +An hour and a half afterwards, as Guenever and her ladies stood in a +window of the castle, they saw a cart approaching, in which stood +upright an armed knight, resting on his spear. Even at that distance +they knew him by his shield to be Lancelot du Lake. + +"A noble and trusty friend he is, indeed, to come in such a fashion," +said the queen. "Hard bested he must have been, to be forced to ride +hither in a woodman's cart." + +As they looked, the cart came to the castle gates, and Lancelot sprang +from it to the ground, his heart full of rage and passion. + +"Where art thou, traitor?" he cried, in a voice that rang throughout the +castle. "Come forth, thou disgrace to the Round Table fellowship! Come, +with all your men; for here am I, Lancelot du Lake, who will fight you +all single-handed on this question." + +As he spoke he thrust the gates open with such force that the porter, +who sought to hold them shut, was hurled like a dead man to the earth. + +When Meliagrance in the castle heard this loud defiance his cowardly +soul sank within him, for well he knew from whom it came, and he ran in +haste to the queen and fell on his knees before her, begging her to +forgive him and to cool the wrath of Lancelot. So pitifully did he +implore, that in the end Guenever was moved to compassion, and went with +her ladies to the castle court, where Lancelot stood furiously bidding +the traitor knight to come down and do battle. + +"Why are you so moved, Lancelot?" asked the queen. + +"Why should I not be?" he cried, in a rage. "The hound has killed my +horse and stolen my queen. Is this the thing to bear like a lamb?" + +"He sorely repents his fault, and has moved me to forgive him," said the +queen. "Come in, then, peaceably, I beg you, for I have passed my word." + +"You accord easily with this dog of a kidnapper," said Lancelot, +sourly. "Had I looked for this I might have spared my haste and saved my +horse." + +"It is not through love or favor I have forgiven him," said the queen, +"but to check the voice of scandal." + +"I am no fonder of scandal than yourself," said Lancelot. "Yet if I had +my will I would make this fellow's heart full cold before I left this +castle." + +"I know that well, but beg that you will be ruled by me in this affair." + +"Let it be so, if you have passed your word. But you are too soft of +heart Queen Guenever." + +Then she took his hand, for he had taken off his gauntlet, and led him +into the castle, and to the chamber in which lay the ten wounded +knights, whose hearts warmed at his coming. From them he learned in full +what had occurred, a story which stirred his blood again into such a +flame, that only the soft hand of the queen hindered him from seeking +Meliagrance through the castle to slay him. + +As they stood talking, Sir Lavaine rode furiously in at the gate, +crying,-- + +"Where is my lord, Sir Lancelot du Lake?" + +"Here I am," cried Lancelot from a window. "All is well, Lavaine." + +"I found your horse slain with arrows, and judged you were hard pushed." + +"As for that, Lavaine, soft words have turned hard blows. Come in. We +shall right this matter at another time, when we best may." + +For many a day thereafter, as the French book says, Lancelot was called +the Chevalier of the Cart, and many an adventure he had under that +homely name. + +All went peacefully that night at the castle, but the next morning there +was new trouble. For one of the castle maidens brought word to +Meliagrance that she had found what seemed to be the print of a bloody +hand on the coverings of the queen's bed. Thither he hurried, full of +jealous anger, and found what appeared, indeed, to be the crimson print +of a man's hand. On seeing this he made a loud outcry, declaring that it +was the blood of one of the wounded knights, and fiercely accused +Guenever of having been false to her lord King Arthur. + +When word of this accusation came to the wounded knights they were +filled with indignation, and cried that they would meet Meliagrance or +any man in the lists in defence of the queen's honor. + +"Ye speak proudly," said Meliagrance. "Yet look here, and see if I have +not warrant for what I say." + +When he showed them the red witness of his words they were abashed, and +knew not what to answer. + +All this was told to Lancelot, and he came in haste and anger to the +queen's chamber. + +"What is this?" he demanded. + +"It is that the queen has proved false to her lord and husband, and this +I stand ready to prove with my body," said Meliagrance. + +"Beware what you say, sir knight," cried Lancelot, "or you will find +your challenge taken." + +"My lord Lancelot," answered Meliagrance, "good knight as you are, take +heed how you do battle in a wrong quarrel, for God will have a hand in +such a cause." + +"This I say," answered Lancelot, hotly, "that you accuse the queen +wrongly, and these noble knights as falsely. This is the work of treason +or magic." + +"Hold," said Meliagrance; "here is my glove, in proof that she is +traitress to the king, and that one of these wounded knights is her +leman." + +"I accept your challenge," said Lancelot, "and will fight you to the +death in this cause. When shall we do battle?" + +"Let it be in eight days from this," said Meliagrance, "in the field +beside Camelot." + +"I am agreed," said Lancelot. + +"Then let us go to dinner," said Meliagrance, "and afterwards you and +the queen and her knights may ride to Camelot." + +Yet fairly as he spoke his heart was full of treachery, and before going +to the table he asked Lancelot if he would care to see the rooms and +passages of the castle. + +"If you wish to show them," said Lancelot. + +Then they went from chamber to chamber, Lancelot having no fear of peril +or thought of treason. But as they traversed a long and dark passage the +false-hearted host trod on a spring, and down fell a trap-door, giving +Lancelot a fall of more than ten fathoms into a dark cell, whose floor +was covered deeply with straw. This done, Meliagrance hastened away, +after replacing the trap, and ordered one of his men to remove Lavaine's +horse from the stable. + +When the knights came to dinner all were surprised that Lancelot was not +present. + +"Is this one of his old tricks?" asked the queen. "He has a fashion of +thus departing suddenly, without warning." + +"But not on foot," said Lavaine, and left the room. + +When he returned, it was to say that his horse had vanished from the +stable, and that doubtless Lancelot had taken it and ridden off. So they +sat quietly at dinner, and afterwards set out for the court, the wounded +knights being carried under care of Lavaine, in easily litters. + +When the court was reached, and Arthur was told of what had occurred, he +was full of wrath. + +"So this traitor Meliagrance chooses first to kidnap my queen, and then +to accuse her of treason?" he cried. "By my crown, I would deal with him +in another fashion only that Lancelot has taken the challenge. I fancy +the fellow will have his hands full, without my care. But where is +Lancelot?" + +"That we know not," said the knights. "It is like him to go off in this +hasty way. He took Sir Lavaine's horse, and left us without a word of +parting." + +"Let him he," said the king. "He will come in good time,--unless he be +trapped by some treachery." + +Little dreamed they of Lancelot's true situation at that moment. He had +been sorely bruised by his fall, and lay in great pain in the cave, +visited only by a lady, who came to him daily with food. Yet it +happened, as had occurred so often to Lancelot, that the lady fell in +love with his handsome face. Meliagrance had made a foolish choice in +sending a woman with a soft heart to his prisoner, and was likely to pay +dearly for his folly. Yet days passed on, and Lancelot continued deaf to +her sighs and blind to her languishing looks. + +"Sir Lancelot," she at length said, "do you not know that your lady, +Queen Guenever, will be burnt at the stake unless you be there at the +day of battle?" + +"God forbid that such a disaster should come to pass!" cried Lancelot. +"Yet if I should not be there, all men of worship will know that I am +dead, sick, or in prison, for men know me well enough to know that +nothing less would keep me away. Therefore, some knight of my blood or +of my fellowship will take up this battle, and fight bravely in the +queen's cause." + +"I shall set you free, Sir Lancelot, to fight your own battle, if you +will but give me your love; for truly I love you with my whole heart." + +"I am sorry that I cannot return it," said Lancelot. "But I cannot lie +to you in such a cause, even for life or honor." + +"Take heed what you say, Sir Lancelot. Shame will be your lot if any but +you fight this battle." + +"As for the world's shame, may Christ defend me. As for my distress of +heart, it is welcome, if God sends it." + +The lady went away full of sorrowful thoughts. But on the morning of the +day fixed for the battle she came to him again, and said, gently,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, I deem you hard-hearted and cruel; yet I love you too +truly to see you disgraced. If you will solace my heart-pain with but +one kiss, I will set you free, and deliver to you your armor, and the +best horse in the castle stables." + +"Surely there is no dishonor in a kiss; and well will you earn it by +such service," said Lancelot. "You offer me new life, fair lady." + +Then he kissed her; and with a face half glad, half gloomy, she led him +from the prison by a secret passage to the chamber where his armor had +been left. And when he was armed she conducted him privily to a stable +where stood twelve good horses, and bade him make his choice. + +Lancelot chose a white courser, whose size and spirit pleased him most, +and this he deftly saddled and bridled. Then, with spear in hand and +sword by side, he commended the lady to God, saying,-- + +"Lady, for this good deed I shall do you ample service if ever it be in +my power. If not, may God reward you." + +This said, he rode with proud mien from the castle, and galloped at +headlong speed away, while she, with sad eyes and sighing lips, stood +looking with loving regard on his departing form. + +Sadly was his coming needed, for imminent was the peril of the queen. At +the place fixed for the combat knights and lords had early gathered, and +Meliagrance, feeling sure that Lancelot could not appear to do battle, +put on a haughty mien, and loudly demanded justice, or the combat. Yet +the hour appointed came and passed, and the queen's champion had not +appeared; while the king and all the court grew full of pain and dread +as the fatal moments went by. The laws were strict, and could not be set +aside for queen or commoner. Guenever must perish at the stake, or be +saved by a champion's sword and spear. Therefore, as the minutes slowly +grew into hours, and nothing of Lancelot was seen, while Meliagrance +more loudly demanded justice or a champion, all hearts sank deep in +despair. + +"My lord the king," cried Lavaine, at length, "some sad misfortune has +happened to Sir Lancelot. Never did he fail to appear to do battle +unless he were sick or in prison. I beseech you, therefore, give me +leave this day to do battle for him, and to strike a knightly blow for +my lady the queen." + +"Thanks, gentle knight," said the king. "I dare avow that the charge +which Meliagrance lays upon the queen is a false one, for of these ten +wounded knights who were present, there is not one but would gladly do +battle to prove its falsity were he able to wear armor." + +"That shall I do in the service of my lord Lancelot," said Lavaine, "if +you will give me leave." + +"Full leave you have," answered the king. "I pray you do your best; for +it seems sure that some treachery has been done to the noble Lancelot." + +Lavaine now armed in all haste, and, mounting his war-courser, rode into +the lists, where he faced Meliagrance, challenging him to do battle to +the death. + +"Lesses les aller!" cried the heralds. + +The two champions couched their spears, clutched their bridles, and were +about to plunge the spurs into their horses' flanks, when the sound of +hoofs was heard without, and an armed knight came galloping at furious +speed into the lists. + +"Ho! and abide!" cried King Arthur. + +"Raise your spears, sir knights, this quarrel is mine," said the +new-comer. "You have my thanks, Lavaine, but only I must fight in this +cause." + +Then he rode to the king, lifted his visor, and showed the noble face of +Lancelot, now hot with indignation. + +"I am here to fight this villain and traitor," he called, loudly. "My +lord the king, I have lain these eight days in a prison cell, into which +the base hound entrapped me. By fortune I escaped, and here I am, ready +to pay him in fitting coin for his foul treachery." + +"The dog! has he done this thing?" cried the king, in anger. "Then, by +my crown, whether he win or not Guenever shall not suffer from the +charge which he has dared bring. But God's justice will not let him +win." + +That Meliagrance quaked at heart on seeing this seeming apparition from +the grave need not be said. But he had dared the hazard of the die, and +sat his horse in grim silence while his foul treachery was thus made +known to the court. Lancelot now rode to his place in the lists, and +faced his adversary. + +"Lesses les aller!" cried the heralds again. + +Then, spear in rest, the warriors spurred their horses, and met with a +shock like thunder in the centre of the field. Lancelot kept his saddle, +but Meliagrance was hurled over his horse's croup. Seeing this, Lancelot +lightly sprang from his saddle, drew his sword, and advanced upon his +foe, who was on his feet ready to meet him. + +Hot and fierce was the combat that succeeded, many great strokes being +given and returned; but at length Lancelot struck so fierce a blow that +Meliagrance was felled to the ground. Then the dastard cried aloud in an +agony of fear,-- + +"Noble knight, noble Sir Lancelot, spare my life, I humbly pray you! I +yield me as overcome and recreant and beseech you, as a Knight and +Fellow of the Round Table, not to slay me helpless. Alive or dead, I put +myself in your hands and the king's." + +Lancelot stood looking grimly down upon him, at a loss what to do. To +slay him was the wish of his heart; yet it looked like murder to kill a +praying wretch. In his doubt he turned towards the queen, and she nodded +her head as if to bid him kill the villain. + +"Rise, sir hound," cried Lancelot. "You shall fight this battle to the +utterance." + +"I will never rise," said Meliagrance, "till you grant me mercy as a +yielding and recreant knight." + +"Coward!" cried Lancelot. "If you fear to fight me as I am, I will give +you odds in the combat. I will take off my armor from my head and the +left side of my body, and let them bind my left hand behind me, and +fight you with my right hand alone." + +At this perilous offer Meliagrance started hastily to his feet, and +loudly cried,-- + +"My lord Arthur, you have heard this offer! I accept it. Let him be +disarmed and bound as he says." + +"You do not mean to keep this foolish promise, Lancelot?" demanded the +king. + +"That do I," said Lancelot. "I shall not go back on my word, be it wise +or foolish." + +"Then so let it be; but you invite death by such a reckless compact." + +The attendant knights thereupon removed Lancelot's helmet, and took from +him his shield and the armor from his left side. They then bound his +left arm behind him, and thus arrayed he was placed before his +antagonist, whose heart burned with hope and with murderous designs. + +All those who looked on were full of fear for Lancelot, deeming it the +height of folly that he should take such a frightful risk, while many +ladies closed their eyes, in dread to see him slain. + +With the inspiration of hope, Meliagrance came up, bearing his sword +uplifted, while Lancelot stood with his head and side fully open to his +stroke. Down came the blade with a deadly sweep that caused many men to +close their eyes, sure that the knights head would be cleft in twain. + +But Lancelot had no such thought. With a light swing to the right he +avoided the stroke, which cut idly through the air; then, stepping +forward to give effect to the blow, he swung his own blade upward with +giant strength, and brought it down on Meliagrance's helmet with such +mighty force that the hard steel and the head it covered were shorn in +twain, and the traitor knight fell dead upon the field. + +Wild were the shouts of joy and triumph at this unlooked-for end to the +combat. The king sprang from his seat and rushed into the lists, where +he warmly clasped Lancelot in his arms; while Guenever, in joy at her +deliverance, kissed him on both cheeks; and all the knights crowded +around them with glad cries and warm congratulations. + +As for Meliagrance, he was given the burial of a recreant and traitor, +the cause of his death being inscribed on his tomb, that all might read +his dishonor. + +But for Sir Lancelot, the king and queen made more of him, and felt more +love for him in their hearts, than ever before. + +After this time many events of interest took place of which we have +little space to speak. Among them, Lancelot healed the wounds of a +knight of Hungary, named Sir Urre, who had been held in pain, through +sorcery, for seven years, till his wounds should be touched by the best +knight in the world. This knight had a lovely sister, named Felelolie, +whom Lavaine married, whereupon King Arthur made him a Knight of the +Round Table, and gave him a barony of land. + +As for Lancelot, he gained great fame as the Chevalier of the Cart. For +as many lords and ladies made sport of him as the knight who had ridden +in a cart, like one sentenced to the gallows, for a whole twelvemonth he +never mounted horse, but rode only in a cart, during which time he had +many adventures and fought forty battles, in all of which he came off +victor. + +And so the days grew into years, and all went happily at Arthur's court, +though each passing day brought the coming time of woe and disaster +nearer to hand. + + + + + BOOK XI. + + THE HAND OF DESTINY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TRAPPING OF THE LION. + + +In May, when every lusty heart flourisheth and bourgeoneth,--for as +winter, with its rough winds and blasts, causes man and woman to cover +and sit fast by the fire, this fresh and joyous season brings them forth +to gladden in the coming of the flowery summer,--in this rare month of +May, when only merry thoughts and gentle deeds should be known, there +began a great and unhappy season of wrath, which ended not till the +flower of chivalry of all the world was destroyed. And this all came +about through the hate and jealousy of two unhappy knights, Sir +Agravaine and Sir Mordred, brothers unto Sir Gawaine. + +For much in their secret souls they hated the queen and Lancelot, and +they fell to watching this good knight daily and nightly, with the hope +of bringing him in some way to shame. + +Failing in this base endeavor, they no longer concealed their enmity, +but began to talk openly of the love of Lancelot for the queen, and to +hint that shameful relations existed between them. The report of this +slanderous talk coming to Gawaine's ears, he reproved them sharply for +indulging in such base and unworthy scandal, in which he was joined by +his brothers Gareth and Gaheris. + +"You forget what Lancelot has done for you," said Gawaine. "Who but he +rescued you both when held in prison by Sir Turquine? And many other +things he has done in your favor. Methinks such kind deeds merit better +return than this." + +"Think as you will," said Agravaine, "I have my opinions and shall hide +them no longer." + +As they thus debated King Arthur approached. + +"Now, brothers, stint your noise," said Gawaine. + +"That will we not," they replied. + +"Then the devil speed the pair of you, if you are bent on mischief! I +will listen to no more of your slanderous talk." + +"Nor will we," said Gareth and Gaheris. "We owe too much to Lancelot to +listen to the false tales of evil tongues." + +With this they turned and walked away in anger and grief, as Arthur came +up. + +"What is this?" asked the king. "Is there bad blood between you +brethren?" + +"They do not care to hear the truth," said Agravaine, "but to my fancy +it has been kept too long from your knowledge. We are your sister's +sons, King Arthur, and it is our duty to be honest and open with you." + +"What would you say?" asked the king. + +"Simply what we and all your court know well, that there are such doings +between Lancelot and your queen as are a disgrace to this realm of +England. He is a traitor to your person and your honor, and this we +stand ready to prove." + +"This is a perilous charge you make," said Arthur, deeply moved. "Nor am +I ready to believe such a tale on your mere word. You have gone far, +gentlemen; too far, I deem, without abundant proof." + +"My lord," said Mordred, "we speak not without due warrant, and proof +you shall have. What we advise is, that you ride out to the hunt +to-morrow. Lancelot, you will find, will have some excuse to hold back. +Then, when night draws near, send word to the queen that you will lie +out all that night. Let this be done, and we promise you we shall take +him with the queen. If we do it will go hard with Lancelot; for we shall +not lightly see our king brought to shame." + +"Be it so," said the king, after deep thought, for he was little +inclined to believe ill of Lancelot. "I will do as you say. Understand, +sir knights, I have heard all this before; yet I believe it not, and I +consent to your scheme only to put an end to the vile voice of scandal." + +On the next morning, as agreed upon, Arthur rode to the hunt; but +Lancelot excused himself, as his enemies had predicted, on the plea that +he was in no mood for the chase. When night came near a messenger from +the king brought word to Guenever that the hunting party had been drawn +far away, and would not return that night. + +Meanwhile Mordred and Agravaine selected twelve knights, all of them +enemies of Lancelot, to whom they told their purpose, and set them on +guard in the castle of Carlisle, where the court then was. Of Lancelot's +friends few were in the court, for nearly all had gone with the king to +the hunt. + +When night came, Lancelot told Bors, who dwelt with him, that he had a +fancy to go and speak with the queen. + +"Do not go to-night, I pray you," said Bors. + +"Why not to-night?" + +"I fear some plot of that rogue, Agravaine, who has it in his heart to +work you ill. I have heard a whisper, and fear that the king's absence +to-night is part of a plot, and that an ambush is laid to do you harm." + +"Have no dread of that," said Lancelot. "I wish only some minutes' +conversation with the queen, and will quickly return again." + +"I should rather you would not go. I am in doubt that some evil may come +of it." + +"Why say you this nephew? Do you deem that I am a coward, or that the +queen is my mistress, as the evil-tongued say? I go because she has sent +for me, desiring to see me. Am I the man to deny her request because +there are foul-mouthed slanderers abroad?" + +"Go, then, since I see you will. God speed you, and send you back safe +and sound." + +Lancelot thereupon wrapped himself in his mantle, and taking his sword +under his arm made his way to the castle, which was some distance from +his residence. Here he sought and entered the queen's chamber, where she +awaited him with her ladies. + +But no sooner had he done so, and scarcely had he spoken a word to his +royal lady, than Mordred, Agravaine, and their followers burst in tumult +from the chamber in which they had been concealed, and loudly +exclaimed,-- + +"Traitor knight! Lancelot du Lake, false and caitiff wretch, now art +thou taken in thy treason!" + +So loud they cried that their voices rang throughout the court, and they +crowded round the door of the queen's chamber, bent on taking Lancelot +unarmed, and slaying him at the feet of Guenever. Fortunately the door +was of solid oak, and a damsel of the queen had hastily shot the bolts. + +"Alas!" cried the queen, "what vile plot is this? Mischief is around us, +Lancelot!" + +"Is there any armor in your chamber?" asked Lancelot. "If so, give it to +me, and I will face this malicious crew." + +"There is none," said the queen. "I see no hope, and fear our love has +come to a fatal end. There seems to be a host of armed knights without. +They will kill you, Lancelot, and death will come to me through their +vile charge of unchastity." + +"Why did I not even wear as much of my armor as I fought Meliagrance +with!" cried Lancelot, in distress. "If I had but listened to Sir Bors! +Never was I caught in such a trap before." + +As they spoke the tumult without increased, and Mordred and Agravaine +cried together,-- + +"Come out, thou traitor knight! Think not to escape, for we have you +like a rat in a trap. Come out and meet your just deserts." + +"Shall I bear this?" cried Lancelot, flaming into anger. "The dogs! a +dozen of them in armor against one man in his mantle! I would rather +meet death at once than stand and hear their reviling tongues." + +Then he took the queen in his arms and kissed her, saying,-- + +"Most noble Christian queen, I beseech you, as you have ever been my +special good lady, and I your poor knight, and as I never failed you in +right or wrong since the day that King Arthur made me knight, that you +will pray for my soul if I be here slain. For you may be sure that Sir +Bors and my other kindred, with Lavaine and others of my friends, will +rescue you from harm, and I beg you to go with them and live like a +queen on my lands." + +"That will I not, Lancelot," said the queen. "If you are slain for me, +then death may come when it will, for I shall not live long to mourn +you." + +"Then, since my last hour seems to have come, and our love and life must +cease together, so let it be; but some of those barking curs shall go +with me to the shades. I am heavier at heart for you than for myself. +Ah, that I had but a knight's armor!" + +"I would that God would be content with my death, and suffer you to +escape," said the queen. + +"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "God defend me from such a shame. +And now may the Lord Jesus be my shield and my armor." + +This said, he wrapped his mantle around his arm, and approached the +door. As he did so the strong oaken portal trembled under their blows, +for they had got a great form out of the hall, and were using it as a +battering-ram. + +"Save your trouble, you crew of mischief," said Lancelot. "Think you +that Lancelot du Lake needs to be come at like a rabbit in its hutch? I +fear you not, and dread not to face an army of such hounds." + +"Come out, then, or let us into that chamber. It avails you nothing to +strive against us all; but we will promise to spare your life till we +have brought you to King Arthur." + +"Will you?" said Lancelot, "or do you think to slay me where I stand? I +trust you not, liars." + +Then he unbarred the door and with his left hand held it open a little, +so that but one man could enter at a time. As he did so, Colgrevance of +Gore, who stood nearest, pressed forcibly through the opening, and +struck a spiteful blow at Lancelot with his sword. This Lancelot +parried, and returned so fierce a stroke with his own good blade, that +he cut through the helmet and skull of the knight, and stretched him +dead upon the floor. + +Then, with all his great strength, he dragged the bleeding corpse within +the chamber, closed the door against the pressure of all who bore upon +it, and replaced the bars. "So much for this daring fool," he cried. +"Thank heaven, I have an armor now! I shall not be quite a sheep at the +shambles." + +As he spoke he was hastily stripping the armor from the body of the dead +knight. This done, he quickly arrayed himself in it, with the aid of the +queen and her ladies. + +Meanwhile the assault on the door continued, and Mordred and Agravaine +kept up their cry,-- + +"Traitor knight! come out of the queen's chamber!" + +"Hold your peace," cried Lancelot. "You shall not prison me here, I +promise you that, and if you take my counsel, you will depart. I am +ready to agree on my knighthood to appear to-morrow before the king, and +answer there that I came not to the queen with any evil purpose; and +this I stand ready to prove by word or deed." + +"Out on you, traitor!" cried Mordred. "Have you, we will, and slay you +if we wish, for the king has given us the choice to save you or slay +you." + +"Is that your last word, sirrahs? Then keep yourselves, for I am not of +the breed that die easily." + +As he spoke, he flung down the bars and threw the door wide open. Then +he strode proudly and mightily among them, sword in hand and clad in +full armor, and at the first blow from his mighty hand stretched +Agravaine dead upon the floor. Like a maddened lion that charges upon a +herd of sheep, he now rushed upon them, striking fiercely to right and +left, and felling men with every blow, till in a little while twelve +more of his assailants lay cold in death, for there was not a man of +them all could stand one blow from his powerful arm. + +Of the whole party only Mordred remained alive, and he fled wounded with +craven haste. Then Lancelot, leaning on his blood-dripping sword, turned +to the queen, who stood looking at his deeds of might, with white lips +and starting eyes. + +[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. + +SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER.] + +"All is at an end now," he said. "Henceforth King Arthur is my foe, and +I am like a wolf at bay. Yet I fear your enemies will work you fatal +harm, and would have you go with me, and let me be your +knight-protector." + +"That I dread to do," said the queen, "for vile slander would follow my +footsteps. I had better face my foes. If they devise to put me to death, +then you may come to my rescue, and no one then can blame me for going +with you." + +"That shall I do," said Lancelot. "And I promise to make such havoc +among all men who mean you harm as I have done among those who lie +here." + +Then he kissed her, and each gave the other a ring; and so he left the +queen and went to his lodgings. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE RESCUE OF THE QUEEN. + + +Little sleep came that night to Lancelot and his friends. For when he +came again to Bors, he had found him, with others of his kindred, armed +and ready to come to his rescue. They listened with concern and +indignation to Lancelot's story of how he had been entrapped, and heard +with knightly joy the story of his bold discomfiture of his foes. + +But it was evident to them all that the event was one of the greatest +moment; that enmity would exist between Lancelot and the king, and that +Guenever might be adjudged to the stake on the charge of infidelity to +her lord. + +Therefore Bors took it upon himself to gather in Lancelot's defence all +his kindred and friends; and by seven o'clock of the next morning he had +gained the word of twenty-two Knights of the Round Table. To these were +added knights of North Wales and Cornwall, who joined Lancelot for +Lamorak's and Tristram's sake, to the number of fourscore. + +To these Lancelot told all that had occurred, and expressed his fear of +Arthur's hostility. + +"I am sure of mortal war," he said, "for these knights claimed to have +been sent and ordained by King Arthur to betray me, and I fear the king +may, in his heat and malice, condemn the queen to the fire. Trust me, +that I will not suffer her to be burnt for my sake. She is and has been +ever a true lady to her lord, and while I live she shall not become a +victim to the malice of her enemies." + +The assembled knights agreed with him in this decision, and promised +their utmost aid in his purpose of rescue. + +"Rescue her I shall, whoever may be hurt; and I trust to heaven that no +friend of mine will aid the king to her injury. But if I rescue her, +where shall I keep her?" + +"Did not the noble Sir Tristram, with your good will, keep La Belle +Isolde three years in Joyous Gard, against the malice of King Mark?" +said Bors. "That place is your own; and there, if the king adjudge the +queen to the stake, you may keep her till his heat shall cool. Then you +may bring her home with worship, and gain Arthur's thanks." + +"That may not work so well as you fancy," said Lancelot. "You remember +what a return Tristram got from King Mark." + +"That is another story," replied Bors. "You know well that Arthur and +Mark are men of different mould. Mark could smile and play the traitor; +but no man living can say that King Arthur was ever untrue to his word." + +Their conference over, by the advice of Lancelot the knights put +themselves in ambush in a wood as near Carlisle as they could secretly +approach. And there they remained on guard, waiting to learn what the +king might do. + +Meantime Mordred, though wounded by Lancelot's sword, had managed to +mount his horse, and rode in all haste to tell the king of the bloody +end of the ambush. On hearing the story, Arthur's mind was divided +between anger and pain. + +"It grieves me sorely that Lancelot should be against me," he said; "and +much I fear that the glorious fellowship of the Round Table is broken, +for many of our noblest knights will hold with him. But dishonor must +not rest upon England's crown. The queen has played me false, and shall +suffer death for her treason to her wifely duty." + +For the law was such in those days, that all, of whatever estate or +degree, found guilty of treason, should suffer death. And so it was +ordained in Queen Guenever's case--since thirteen knights had been +slain, and one escaped sore wounded, in defending the king's honor--that +she should be taken to the stake, and there be burnt to death as a +traitress. + +"My lord Arthur," said Gawaine, "let me counsel you not to be over +hasty in this severe judgment, for as I take it the guilt of the queen +is not proved. That Lancelot was found in the queen's chamber I admit; +but he might have come there with no evil purpose. You know how he has +been for years her chosen knight, and how much he has done for her. She +may have sent for him privily, to avoid scandal, for conference on some +innocent subject. What we do for the best often turns to the worst, and +I dare affirm that my lady the queen is, and has always been, faithful +and true to her lord. As for Lancelot, I doubt me not he will make good +what I have said with word and body, against any and all that question +or oppose." + +"That I believe," said the king. "I know Lancelot's way. But his +boldness does not prove the queen's innocence. For her he shall never +fight again, for she shall suffer the penalty of the law. And if I can +lay my hands on him, he shall die the shameful death he richly merits." + +"Then may Christ save me from ever seeing it," said Gawaine. + +"Why say you this?" demanded the king, angrily. "You have no cause to +love him. Last night he killed your brother Agravaine, and here is +Mordred sorely wounded. He also slew two of your sons, Sir Florence and +Sir Lovel." + +"I know all that. But I gave them warning beforehand of what would +happen if they meddled in this affair. They brought this fate on +themselves. As for Agravaine, he stirred up this scandalous business, +and has got his deserts." + +"Say no more," cried the king, in hot indignation. "I am resolved. The +honor of Arthur's wife must be above suspicion. She has fallen from +chastity and shall die the death. As for you, Gawaine, I bid you arm in +your best armor, with your brethren Gareth and Gaheris, and bring her to +the fire, that she may there hear her judgment, and receive the death +she merits." + +"No, my most noble lord, that shall I never do," said Gawaine. "No man +shall say that I had aught to do with the death of this worthy lady, or +gave my word in favor of her death." + +"Then bid your brothers, Gareth and Gaheris, attend." + +"They are young, and may not withstand your will; but they shall not be +there by my counsel," said Gawaine, stoutly. + +"We must attend, if you command us," said Gareth and Gaheris to the +king. "But it will be sorely against our wills. If come we must, it +shall be in peaceful guise, and without warlike array." + +"Come as you will," said the king. "This I say, she shall have judgment +this day." + +"Alas! that I have ever lived to see this woful day!" said Gawaine, +sadly, and as he turned away the tears ran hotly from his eyes. + +But the king was bitterly set in his deadly purpose, and no sooner had +he reached Carlisle than he gave command that the queen should at once +be led to the place of execution, there to be burned as a traitress. + +When this fatal decision was known in the castle there was weeping and +wailing and wringing of hands from many lords and ladies, while of the +knights there present, few would consent to wear armor to compass the +queen's death. + +But Arthur's commands none dared question, and the unhappy lady was +shriven by her ghostly father, and bound to the fatal stake. In a circle +around her stood a guard of armed knights, while others were present +without armor. But the king was not there; nor would Gawaine show +himself at that shameful scene. + +Then fire was set to the fagots that surrounded the stake. But as the +flames began to curl upwards there came a shrill bugle-blast from a +neighboring wood, and of a sudden Lancelot and his knights broke from +their ambush, and rode upon those about the fire, striking right and +left at all who bore arms and withstood them. + +Down went the guard of knights before this fierce onset, till full +twenty of them lay dead on the field. But by sad fortune, as Lancelot, +in his warlike fury pressed hither and thither, cutting and slashing +with the hot rage of the berserker, he by mishap struck the two unarmed +knights, Gareth and Gaheris, and stretched them dead upon the field. + +This was in the thick of the fray, and he knew not what he had done, for +rather would he have slain himself than harmed these, his faithful +friends. A few minutes sufficed to kill or disperse all the guard. Then +Lancelot sprang from his horse, scattered the blazing fagots with his +foot, and with a blow of his sword severed the bonds that fastened +Guenever to the stake. + +The unhappy lady fell, weeping, into his arms, thanking him in broken +accents. With all due haste he mounted her on a horse that had been +provided, and rode off with her and his following of gallant knights to +Joyous Gard, strong of heart and stout of frame, and resolved to fight +for her to the death, for more than ever he felt himself her chosen +knight. + +And when word went through the country round that Arthur and Lancelot +were at odds, many a good knight rode in all haste to his castle, bent +on taking his side in the coming war. + +But when the news was brought to Arthur of how Lancelot had rescued the +queen, and slain many of his knights, and in particular Gareth and +Gaheris, his anger turned to such bitter sorrow and regret that he +swooned from pure grief. And when he came to his senses again he deeply +moaned, and reproached himself for the evil that had befallen. + +"Alas! that I ever wore the crown!" he bewailed. "Within these two days +I have lost forty knights, and, above all, the noble fellowship of +Lancelot and his kindred, and all because I listened to the tongue of +foul detraction. Alas! that ever this fatal thing began! Fair friends, +see that none of you tell Gawaine of what has happened, for he loves +Gareth so deeply that I fear, when he hears of his death, he will go out +of his mind. How came Lancelot to slay these knights, who both loved him +devotedly?" + +"He would never have harmed them had he known them," said a knight. "It +was in the midst of the hurtling and fierce struggling, when swords +strike they know not where. Sad he will be when he learns what he has +done." + +"I am heavier for the loss of my knights than of my queen," said +Arthur, sadly. "Other queens may be had, but such a fellowship of +knights can never be brought together again. And this I know, that when +Gawaine learns of Gareth's death, he will never rest, nor suffer me to +rest, till I have destroyed Lancelot and his kindred, or they have +destroyed me. Ah, Agravaine, Agravaine, Jesus forgive thy soul for thy +evil will, for thou and thy brother Mordred have caused all this bitter +sorrow." + +While the king thus complained, a tale-bearer, unheeding his +injunctions, came to Gawaine big with his story, and told him of the +rescue of the queen, and the death of a knightly host. + +"What else could Lancelot do?" said Gawaine. "I should have done as much +myself had I stood in his place. But where are my brothers? Why hear I +not of them?" + +"Truly," said the man; "they are both killed." + +"Now, Jesus forbid! What! both? Is Gareth slain? Dare you tell me so?" + +"Alas! the pity of it!" + +"Killed! Who killed him?" + +"Sir Lancelot slew them both." + +"That is false. Gareth loved him better than he did me or the king. He +would have joined him against us all, had Lancelot desired. And he was +unarmed. Dare you repeat this story?" and he caught the man fiercely by +the shoulders and glared wildly in his face. + +"Sir, it is so noised abroad," said the man. + +"Then is all joy gone from my life," moaned Gawaine, and he fell to the +floor in a deep swoon, in which he lay long like one dead. + +But when Gawaine recovered, and had sought the king, and learned that +his two brothers had been killed, unarmed and defenceless, his sorrow +changed to bitter and revengeful anger. + +"My king, my lord, and my uncle," he sternly said, "I vow by my +knighthood that I shall never forgive Lancelot for this murderous deed, +but from this day forth shall remain his deadly foe, till one of us has +slain the other. War to the death it shall be, and if you aid me not I +shall seek Sir Lancelot alone, if it be through seven kings' realms, +till I hold him to answer for this deed of blood." + +"You shall not need to seek him so far," said the king. "They say that +Lancelot awaits us in Joyous Gard, and that many knights have joined +him." + +"Well is it so," said Gawaine fiercely. "Then my lord Arthur, gather +your friends, and I will gather mine. Say not that deeds like this shall +go unpunished in England's realm. Your justice defied! My unarmed +brothers murdered! Shall this be done, and we basely submit?" + +"You speak to the point," said the king. "We must strike for honor and +revenge. Strong as Lancelot's castle is, and bold as are his friends, I +fancy I can gain strength enough to draw him out of the strongest tower +in it." + +Then King Arthur sent orders far and wide through the land, and in brief +time there came to Carlisle many knights, dukes, and earls, so that he +had a great host. These the king informed of what had happened, and of +his purpose to force Lancelot to yield up his queen, and to punish him +for his trespass. + +Lancelot meanwhile, was not idle, but drew to himself, many more +knights, and provisioned his castle fully, for he well knew that he must +abide behind walls, as he was far too weak to meet the king's host in +the field. + +Not many days had elapsed when King Arthur and Gawaine with a great host +of men, laid siege about Joyous Gard, both the town and the castle, and +war replaced the peace that had reigned so long in the land. + +But Lancelot lay secure in his castle, and for a long time would not go +out himself, nor suffer any of his knights to pass the gates of town or +castle. And so fifteen weeks of the siege passed away. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RETURN OF GUENEVER. + + +It befell upon a day in harvest-time that Lancelot looked over the walls +of Joyous Gard, and seeing below him the king and Gawaine, thus spoke to +them,-- + +"My lords both, you besiege this castle in vain. You will gain more +dishonor than worship here. If I chose to come out, with my knights, I +should soon bring this war to an end." + +"Come forth, if thou darest!" cried the king, in anger. "I promise to +meet thee in the midst of the field." + +"God defend that I should face on the field of battle the noble king who +made me knight." + +"A truce to your fair language," answered the king. "Trust me, that I am +your mortal foe, and will be so till the day of my death. You have slain +my knights and dishonored my queen, and hold her from me by force, like +a traitor. Think you I shall lightly forgive this?" + +"You may say what you will, my lord and king," answered Lancelot. "With +you I will not fight; but as for your lady Guenever, I am ready to stand +for her innocence against any knight under heaven. Those who have +slandered me and her lie in their teeth, and I hold myself ready to +prove to the death that she is as true and chaste a lady as ever lived. +More than once, my lord, you have consented that she should be burnt, +from the voice of slander, and more than once have I rescued her, and +forced the lie down the throats of her slanderers. Then you thanked me +for saving her from the fire. Now, for doing you the same high service +again, you bring war upon me. Your queen is honest and true, and if you +will receive her to your good grace again I stand ready to deliver her." + +"Recreant knight!" cried Gawaine, in wrath, "I warrant you my lord the +king shall have his queen and you too, despite your fair words and proud +defiance, and shall slay you both if it please him." + +"That may be, Gawaine," said Lancelot. "Yet if I chose to come out of +the castle you would not find it quite child's play to win me and the +queen." + +"Save your boastful words," said Gawaine. "As for my lady, the queen, I +shall say naught to her dishonor. But, recreant knight, what cause had +you to slay my brother Gareth, who loved you with his whole soul?" + +"I shall not seek an excuse for that deed," said Lancelot. "I would with +as good will have slain my nephew Sir Bors. All I may say is that it was +done in the heat of battle, and I knew not they were slain till word was +brought me here." + +"You lie in your teeth!" cried Gawaine. "You killed them in despite of +me; and for this foul deed I shall make war on you while I live." + +"If you are so hotly set, there is no use for me to seek accord; yet I +am truly sorry for their deaths and your enmity. Only for this I would +soon have the good grace of my lord Arthur." + +"That may be, traitor, but you will wait long for peace. You have lorded +it over me, and the whole of us, too long, and slain knights at your +will. Now our turn has come." + +"No one dare say that I ever killed a knight through treachery, as you, +Gawaine, have done." + +"You mean Sir Lamorak. Him I slew, man to man." + +"Who lies now? You know well that you and the crew that set upon him +dared not meet him face to face. You struck him treacherously from +behind." + +"A truce to Lamorak. This you may know, that I will never leave you till +I deal with you as I did with him." + +"Murder me, you mean! I fancy you might if you caught me in such a +strait, which you will not easily do." + +Then others took the cue from Gawaine, and the cry went up from many +voices: "False and recreant knight! how long will you hide behind your +castle walls, like a rat in his hole?" + +"How long is this to last?" said Bors and others to Lancelot. "We pray +you to keep us no longer within these walls, but let us out to do battle +with them. Men will say next that you are afraid. As for fair speech, it +is thrown away. Gawaine will never forgive you, nor suffer you to make +accord with the king. Therefore fight for your right, for to that it +must come." + +"I am loath to do so," said Lancelot. + +Then he called from the wall to the king,-- + +"My knights demand that I let them sally from the castle. I therefore +pray that neither you nor Sir Gawaine come into the field, for to you +two I wish no harm." + +"What then? Shall we cower in our tents while others fight our battles?" +cried Gawaine. "This quarrel is mine and the king's. Shall we not fight +in it?" + +"If you will, you will; but I seek not battle with either of you." + +Then they drew back, and both sides made ready for battle. And Gawaine, +with deadly intent, set aside a strong body of knights, bidding them to +attack Lancelot in force, and slay him if they could. + +When the next morning came, King Arthur drew up his host against the +castle in three great bands. And Lancelot's fellowship issued from the +castle at three gates, the three bands being led by Lancelot, Bors, and +Lionel. But Lancelot had given strict charge to his knights to avoid +harming King Arthur and Sir Gawaine. + +Fierce was the battle that followed, and many good knights were slain. +It began with a challenge from Gawaine, who came out before the king's +host and dared any knight of Lancelot's to joust with him. This +challenge Lionel accepted, but Gawaine thrust him through the body, and +dashed him to the earth like a dead man. Then his friends rushed to his +rescue and drove back his foes, bearing him from the field into the +castle. This affray brought on a hot and fiery battle, and soon the air +was filled with shouts, and the earth strewn with dead and wounded men. + +In the midst of this fray the king hotly attacked Lancelot; but that +faithful knight patiently endured his assault, and lifted not a hand in +defence. But Bors, seeing his danger, rushed in, and, with a spear +thrust, hurled King Arthur to the ground. Quickly leaping from his +horse, he drew his sword, and said,-- + +"Shall I make an end of this war?" + +"On pain of your head, no! Harm not the king! I shall not stand by and +see him slain." + +Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and helped the king to his horse +again, saying,-- + +"My lord Arthur, for God's sake, end this strife! I will not fight you, +though you kill me, nor have I the heart to fight your men. My lord, +remember what I have done for you. Is not this an evil reward?" + +When Arthur heard these words tears flowed from his eyes, for Lancelot's +courtesy had overcome his anger. He turned and rode away, saying +sadly,-- + +"Alas! that this war ever began." + +Then both sides drew off, and parties of each began the sad duty of +burying the dead, while the wounded were borne away, and healing salves +applied to their wounds. + +The next day the battle was renewed, and fought with the same deadly +energy as before. On this day Bors led the foremost party, and met +Gawaine as Lionel had done the day before. Fiercely together they rode, +and both were hurled to the ground with deep and dangerous wounds. +Around them the battle raged with double fierceness, but Lancelot broke +in and rescued Bors, and had him borne to the castle, while the other +party bore off Gawaine. + +Then, as the battle continued, Lavaine and others begged Lancelot to put +forth his strength and fight with his full might, for he imperilled them +all by his forbearance. + +"Why should you spare your foes?" they said. "You do but harm thereby. +Your enemies spare not you." + +"I have no heart to fight against the king," said Lancelot. + +"If you spare them all this day they will never thank you," said +Palamides. "And if they get the better of you they will slay you without +mercy." + +Lancelot saw that this was but the truth, and stirred by this and the +wound of Sir Bors, he rushed into the fray with his old might and fury, +forcing back all before him. Glad to see the old Lancelot, his +followers pressed forward, driving back the foe, so that by eventide +they had the best of the fray, and their horses went fetlock deep in the +blood of the slain. + +Then, in pity for Arthur, Lancelot blew the recall, and suffered the +king's party to withdraw without further slaughter. + +After this there was peace between the parties for many days, for +Gawaine had been so sorely hurt that he could not stir the king to +active war, and Arthur after awhile returned to Carlisle, leaving the +castle closely besieged. + +But the story of this war had now passed through Christendom, and had +reached the pope, who, feeling that war between King Arthur and Lancelot +was like battle between brothers, sent a letter to the king, commanding +him, under pain of an interdict upon all England, to take his Queen +Guenever into favor again, and to make peace and accord with Sir +Lancelot. + +This Papal bull was brought to Arthur by the bishop of Rochester, who +was then at Rome. When the king had heard it read he knew not what to +do. He agreed to take back the queen, and in his heart desired to make +friends with Lancelot; but to this Gawaine, who had then the greatest +influence over him, would not consent. + +In the end it was agreed that if Lancelot would bring back the queen he +should come and go in safety, and that no word should be spoken to +Guenever, by the king or other person, of aught that had happened in the +past. + +Then the bishop had from the king his assurance, under the great seal +of the realm, as he was a true anointed knight, that Sir Lancelot should +come and return in safety, and that the queen should not be spoken to by +the king, or any other, concerning what had passed. With this +safe-conduct, written at length and signed by King Arthur, the holy +prelate rode in state to Joyous Gard, where he made Lancelot acquainted +with all that had happened, telling him of the pope's action, and of the +peril he would encounter if he withheld the queen from the king. + +"It was never in my thought," said Lancelot, "to withhold Queen Guenever +from my lord Arthur. All men know why I have her in charge. She would +have suffered a shameful death through the king's unjust anger had I not +been on hand to save her life; and I hold her only from peril of that +vile sentence, which has never until now been remitted. I thank the pope +heartily that he has made peace between Guenever and the king, and God +knows that I will be a thousand-fold gladder to take her back than I +ever was to bring her away. All I demand is, that I shall come and go in +safety, and that the queen shall have her liberty as before, and stand +in no peril from this or any former charge against her. For else I dare +venture to keep her from a harder shower than ever yet has fallen upon +her or me." + +"You need dread nothing either for yourself or the queen," replied the +bishop. "You know full well that the pope must be obeyed, by the king as +well as by you. It were not to the pope's worship nor my poor honor that +you should be distressed, or the queen put to shame or peril. And as +for King Arthur, here is his promise, under his own writing and seal." + +Then he showed Lancelot all the written documents he had brought, both +from the pope and the king. + +"That suffices," said Lancelot. "I would trust King Arthur's bare word +as I would the oath of half Christendom. No man can say that he ever +broke his plighted faith. Therefore, I beg you to ride before me to the +king, and recommend me to his good grace, letting him know that in eight +days from to-day, by the grace of God, I shall bring to him his lady +Queen Guenever. And say this further to him, that I stand ready to meet +any one in the lists for the queen's fair fame except himself and Sir +Gawaine, and the latter more from the king's love for him than from +aught of his own deserts." + +With this agreement the bishop departed to Carlisle, and when he had +told the king how nobly Lancelot had spoken, the tears started from +Arthur's eyes, and much he deplored in his heart the cruel chance that +had aroused war between him and his dearest friend. + +Lancelot now made ready a hundred knights, who were all dressed in green +velvet, with their horses trapped to their heels, while each knight held +in his hand an olive branch, in token of peace. For the queen there were +provided four and twenty gentlewomen, who followed her in the same +guise; while Lancelot was followed by twelve coursers, on each of which +sat a young gentleman, and these were arrayed in green velvet with +golden girdles, and the horses trapped to the heels with rich cloths, +set with pearls and stones in gold, to the number of a thousand. As for +Lancelot and Guenever, they were clothed in white cloth-of-gold tissue. +And in this array they rode from Joyous Gard to Carlisle, and through +Carlisle to the castle, while many an eye shed tears on seeing them. + +Then Lancelot alighted and took the queen, and led her to where Arthur +sat, with Gawaine and many great lords before him. Then he kneeled, and +the queen with him. + +Many of the assembled knights wept bitterly on seeing this, but the king +sat in haughty silence, looking steadily upon the pair who knelt before +him. Seeing his countenance, Lancelot rose and forced the queen to rise +also. Then thus he spoke in knightly pride,-- + +"My lord the king, by the pope's command and yours I have brought you my +lady, the queen, as right requireth. If there be any knight, whatever +his degree, except your sacred self, who shall dare say she has been +untrue to you, I, Lancelot du Lake, stand ready to make her honor good +with my body. To liars you have listened, and that has caused all the +trouble between you and me. Time has been, my lord Arthur, when you have +been greatly pleased with me in that I did battle for my lady your +queen. Full well you know, my most royal sir, that she has been put to +great wrong before this time; and since it pleased you then that I +should fight for her, it seems to me that I had still more cause this +last time to rescue her from the fire, since she was to have been burnt +for my sake. Had not the might of God been with me, think you that I +could, unarmed, have prevailed over fourteen armed knights? I was sent +for by the queen, who wished to confer with me, but had barely stepped +within her chamber, when out burst Mordred and Agravaine, calling me +traitor and recreant knight." + +"They called you truly," said Gawaine. + +"Did they so, Gawaine? By heaven, in their quarrel they failed to prove +themselves in the right." + +"I have given you no cause to do evil to me, Lancelot," said the king. +"For I have loved you and yours more than all my other knights." + +"My good lord and liege," answered Lancelot, "I beg it may not displease +you if I answer that you have better cause to love me and mine than most +knights, for none have done you such service as we have at many times +and in many places. Often have I myself rescued you from deadly peril, +when you were hard pressed by your foes; and it has ever been my joy to +please you, and my lord Gawaine as well, in jousts and tournaments, and +in set battles, both on horse and on foot. I wish not to boast of my +deeds, yet you all know well that I never met a knight but that I was +able to stand against him, and have always done my duty like a man. I +have been matched with good knights, such as Sir Tristram and Sir +Lamorak, whom I loved for their valor and honesty. And I take God to +witness, that I was never angry with or jealous of any good knight whom +I saw active to win honor, and was ever glad at heart when I found a +knight who was able to endure me on horseback or on foot. Sir Carados of +the dolorous tower was a noble knight and a man of mighty strength, and +this you know full well, Sir Gawaine, since he pulled you from your +horse, and bound you before him on his saddle. Yet I rescued you from +him, and slew him before your eyes. In like manner I found his brother, +Sir Turquine, leading your brother, Sir Gaheris, bound on his saddle, +and slew him, and rescued your brother, as also three-score and four of +King Arthur's knights whom he held in prison. Never met I with as strong +and hard-fighting knights as Sir Carados and Sir Turquine, and I fought +with them to the uttermost for the sake of you and your brother. It +seems to me, Sir Gawaine, that you ought to bear in mind this good +service I did for you in the past. If I might but have your good will in +return, I would trust to God to have my lord Arthur's kindly grace." + +"The king may do as he will," said Gawaine; "but while I live I shall +never be in accord with you. I cannot forget that you have killed three +of my brothers, two of them treacherously and pitilessly, for they wore +no armor against you, and refused to bear any." + +"Would to heaven they had been armed, for then they would now be alive," +said Lancelot. "I tell you this, Sir Gawaine, that I love none of my own +kinsmen as I did your brother, Sir Gareth, and would far rather have +slain myself than him. Never while I live shall I cease to mourn his +death, not alone for your bitter sorrow and anger, but for other causes +which concern myself. One is, that it was I who made him a knight; +another is, that he loved me above all other knights; a third is, that +he was ever noble, true, courteous, and gentle. I never would have +slain, or even hurt, either Gareth or Gaheris by my will; and sad at +heart am I that this fatal chance has robbed me of your love and made +undying war between us, and has caused my noble lord and king to be my +mortal foe. May Jesus forgive me for this cruel chance, which the fates +have laid upon me. In reparation for this sad misfortune, I shall freely +offer, if it will please the king's good grace, and yours, my lord +Gawaine, to do penance in this wise. I shall start from Sandwich, and go +in my shirt, barefoot, and at every ten miles' end I shall found a +religious house, of what order you wish, where shall be sung and read +day and night psalms and masses for the repose of Sir Gareth and Sir +Gaheris. This I shall perform from Sandwich to Carlisle. This, Sir +Gawaine, seems to me fairer, holier, and better for their souls than +that you and the king should make war upon me; for little good to any is +likely to come from it." + +Then the knights and ladies there wept as though they were distracted, +and the tears fell hot on King Arthur's cheeks. But no shadow of +softness came to Gawaine's stern face. + +"The king, as I have said, may do as it pleases him," he answered, "but +I shall never forgive you for the murder of my brothers. If my uncle, +King Arthur, accords with you, he shall lose my service, for I hold you +false both to the king and me." + +"The man lives not that can make that good," cried Lancelot. "If you +charge me thus, I am ready to answer you with spear and sword since +words you disdain." + +"That cannot be at this time," said Gawaine. "You are here under the +king's safe-conduct, and so must depart. If it were not for the pope's +command and the king's given word, I should do battle with you, body to +body, and prove upon you that you have been false both to the king and +to me. In this land you shall not abide more than fifteen days, for I +give you open warning that your safe-conduct lasts only for that time. +In this the king and we all were agreed before you came hither. Only for +this you would now find that my words are ready to be backed up with +deeds. And this you shall find wheresoever I shall meet you hereafter." + +Then Lancelot sighed, and tears fell upon his cheeks. + +"Alas, most Christian realm," he said, "that I have loved above all +other realms, and most Christian king, whom I have worshipped next to my +God. From both I am banished, without cause or warrant. Truly I am sorry +that I ever came into this land, to be thus causelessly and shamefully +treated, after my long service here. So is it ever with fortune, whose +wheel is so changeable that there is no constant abiding; and this may +be proved by the old chronicles of noble Hector of Troy, and Troilus, +and Alexander the mighty conqueror, and many more. When they were +highest they quickly became lowest; and thus has it fared with me. No +living men have brought more honor and glory to the Round Table than I +and my kindred, and yet we stand banished from the land which owes us +such worthy service. As for you, Gawaine, I can live upon my native +lands as well as any knight here. And if you, redoubted king, shall seek +me there in hostile array, I must endure you as well as I may. If you +come thither, Gawaine, see that you charge me not with treason or +felony, for if you do, it will scarcely end with words." + +"Do your worst," cried Gawaine, hotly. "And get you gone from here as +fast as you can. We shall soon come after, and tumble your strongest +castle upon your head." + +"That shall not need," said Lancelot. "You may find me ready to meet you +in open field." + +"There have been words enough," said Gawaine. "Deliver the queen and +take yourself away." + +"If I had looked for so short a reception I would have thought twice +before coming," answered Lancelot, proudly. "If the queen had been as +dear to me as you would make her, I durst have kept her from the best +fellowship of knights under heaven." + +Then he turned to Guenever and said, in full hearing of the king and all +there,-- + +"Madam, now I must depart from you and this noble fellowship forever. +Since it is so, I beseech you to pray for me. And if you be slandered by +any false tongues, send me word, my lady, and if one knight's hands may +deliver you by battle, I shall deliver you." + +Then Lancelot kissed the queen, and said openly to all present,-- + +"Now let me see who there is in this place that dare say Queen Guenever +is not true unto my lord King Arthur! Let him speak who dare speak." + +He looked proudly around the hall, from right to left, but no voice came +in answer. Then he took the queen by the hand and led her to the king, +and delivered her to his royal hand. This done, Lancelot turned and +walked from the hall with haughty stride; and there was neither duke, +earl, nor king, baron nor knight, lady or maiden, that wept not at the +sorrowful parting, except Sir Gawaine. And when Lancelot took his horse +to ride out of Carlisle there was sobbing and weeping from all the +people who had gathered in the streets to see him depart. And so he took +his way to Joyous Gard, which ever after he called Dolorous Gard. And +thus departed Sir Lancelot du Lake from the court of King Arthur +forever. + +He now called his fellowship about him, and asked them what they would +do. + +"Whatever you will," they answered with one voice. + +"Then, my brave and faithful friends, we must leave this realm. It is +sore to me to be banished, and had I not dreaded shame, the lady +Guenever should never have left me." + +"If you stay in this land we shall not fail you," said his knights. "If +you depart hence we shall go with you." + +"My fair lords, I thank you heartily," answered Lancelot, with much +feeling. "If you come with me to my realm beyond the sea, I shall divide +my lands among you, till I have as little as any of you. I care for +only enough to live upon, and trust to maintain you in knightly honor." + +"So let it be," they rejoined. "Here, now that the fellowship of the +Round Table is broken, there will be no more peace, but only strife and +turmoil. You were the stay of Arthur's court, Sir Lancelot. With you +gone, all quiet and harmony will depart." + +"You praise me too highly, gentlemen. I did my duty; but not I alone. +Yet I fear, when we are gone, we will soon hear of wars and rebellions, +from those who dared not raise their heads when we were all together. +Mordred I fear above all. He is envious and ambitious, and if King +Arthur shall trust him I dread me greatly he will find him a stinging +serpent." + +Then, soon after, they left Joyous Gard, and shipped at Cardiff to pass +beyond the seas to Lancelot's realm of Benwick. Some men, indeed, call +it Bayonne, and some call it Beume, the land whence comes the wine of +Beume. Yet to say sooth, Lancelot and his nephews were lords of all +France, and had there a host of towns and castles, and many people at +their command. + +There went with him a hundred proven knights, whom he rewarded as he had +promised. For he shortly called a parliament, where he crowned Lionel +king of France. Bors he made king of the realm of King Claudas; and +Hector de Maris, King of Benwick and Guienne; while his other knights +were made dukes and earls, till all were nobly provided for. + +Thus Lancelot rewarded his faithful friends. And he furnished and +provisioned his towns and castles, and gathered the men of war of the +realm, for he felt well assured that Gawaine would not rest till he had +brought King Arthur against him in martial array. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE WAR BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LANCELOT. + + +What Lancelot had feared came quickly to pass. For so unrelenting was +Gawaine's enmity, and so strong his influence over the king, that +Arthur, at his persistent instigation, got together a great army, to the +number of sixty thousand, and had shipping made ready to carry them over +the sea. + +Then he made Sir Mordred chief ruler of all England during his absence, +and put Queen Guenever under his care, little dreaming of what fatal +results would follow this unwise choice. + +These preparations made, Arthur passed the sea with his host, and landed +in Lancelot's realm, where, through the revengeful spirit of Gawaine, +they burnt and wasted all that they overran. + +When word of this was brought to Lancelot and his knights, Sir Bors thus +broke out in anger,-- + +"My lord Sir Lancelot, it is a shame to let them thus destroy this fair +realm of France. You may well be assured that, however long you forbear +your foes, they will do you no favor if you fall into their hands." + +Then said Sir Lionel, who was wary and wise, "My lord Sir Lancelot, this +is my counsel. Let us keep to our strong-walled towns till the invaders +suffer from hunger and cold, and blow upon their nails for warmth. Then +we may freshly set upon them, and shred them down like sheep in a +field." + +"Such a course would disgrace us all," said King Bagdemagus to Lancelot. +"Your over-courtesy has caused all the trouble we now have. If we let +Gawaine work his will, he will bring our power to naught, while we hide +like rabbits in our holes." + +"So say I," broke in Sir Galihud. "There are knights here who come of +kings' blood, and that will not long be content to droop behind walls. +Give us leave to meet them in the field, and we shall deal with them in +such fashion that they will curse the time they came into this country." + +Then spoke seven brethren of North Wales, men of such prowess that one +might seek through seven lands before he could find seven such +knights,-- + +"Sir Lancelot," they said together, "let us ride out with Sir Galihud, +for it has never been our wont to cower in towns and castles." + +"My fair lords," replied Lancelot to them all, "I am loath to ride out +with my knights and shed Christian blood. And my lands, after all the +wars they have endured, are too bare long to sustain this invading host. +It is the part of wisdom, therefore, for the time to keep to our walls, +and meanwhile I will send a messenger to King Arthur and offer him a +treaty of peace." + +Then he sent a damsel to the king, and a dwarf with her, with a message, +bidding Arthur to quit making war upon his lands, and offering him fair +terms of accommodation. The damsel rode to the hostile camp on a palfry, +while the dwarf ran by her side. When she came near to King Arthur's +pavilion she alighted, and there was met by a gentle knight, Sir Lucan +the butler, who said,-- + +"Fair damsel, come you from Sir Lancelot du Lake?" + +"Yes, sir," she replied, "I am come hither with a message from him to my +lord the king." + +"Alas, that it should be needed!" said Sir Lucan. "My lord Arthur would +soon be in accord with Lancelot but for Gawaine, who has more influence +over him than all his knights besides, and will not suffer him to think +of peace and friendship. I pray to God, damsel, that you speed well in +your errand, for all that are about the king, except Sir Gawaine, wish +well to Lancelot above all knights living." + +With these words he led the damsel to the king's pavilion. There Arthur, +who had been advised of her coming, sat with Gawaine to hear her +message. When she had told her errand the king was so moved that tears +ran from his eyes, and all the lords were ready to advise him to make +peace with Lancelot. But Gawaine, who sat with lowering brow, now broke +out in hot speech,-- + +"My lord, my uncle, what will you do? Will you turn again after having +come so far? All the world will speak villany of you." + +"I do not deem it wise to refuse his fair proffers," said the king. +"Yet since I am come so far on this journey, I leave it to you to give +the damsel her answer." + +"Then tell Sir Lancelot," said Gawaine to the damsel, "that he wastes +his labor now to sue to my uncle. If he wished peace he should have +sought it sooner. Now it is too late. Tell him, also, that I, Sir +Gawaine, promise him, by the faith I owe to God and to knighthood, never +to leave him in peace till he have slain me or I him." + +This word the damsel brought back to Lancelot, where he stood among his +knights, and sad of heart he was to hear it. + +"Why do you grieve?" said the knights. "If war they want, let them have +it to their fill. Let us meet them in the field." + +"Never before was I so loath to do battle," said Lancelot. "I would +rather flee from King Arthur than fight him. Be ruled by me, noble sirs. +When I must defend myself, then I will; but haste will make fresh +sorrow." + +Then the knights held their peace, and that night took their rest. But +in the morning, when they looked abroad, they saw a hostile host around +the city of Benwick, pressing it so closely that ladders were already +set up against the walls. The defenders of the town flocked in haste to +the walls and threw down the ladders, and hot strife began. + +Forth now rode Sir Gawaine on a strong steed, and with a great spear in +his hand, and when he came before the chief gate he called out loudly,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, where art thou? Or what proud knight is here that dare +break a spear with me?" + +Hearing this challenge, Sir Bors hastily made ready, and rode from the +city to the encounter. But Gawaine smote him from his horse, and would +have slain him had he not been rescued. Then Lionel, his brother, rode +out to revenge him; but he, too, was sorely wounded, and so borne into +the town. + +And thus, day after day, came Gawaine with his challenge, and not a day +passed but some knight fell before his spear. And for half a year the +siege continued, and there was much slaughter on both sides. + +At length came a day when Gawaine again appeared before the gates, armed +at all points, and loudly cried,-- + +"Where art thou now, thou false traitor, Sir Lancelot? Why hidest thou +within walls and holes like a coward? Come forth, traitor, that I may +revenge on thy body the death of my three brothers?" + +Then said Lancelot's knights to their leader,-- + +"Now, Sir Lancelot, you must fight, or you are shamed forever. It is +time for you to stir, for you have slept over long and we suffered over +much." + +"Defend myself I must, since he charges me with treason," said Lancelot. +"His words cut deeply, and I must fight or be held recreant," and with +stern countenance he bade the attendants to saddle his strongest horse +and bring his arms to the gate tower. Then from this tower he called to +the king, who stood below,-- + +"My lord Arthur," he said, "sad am I, for your sake, that thus you press +upon me. Had I been revengeful I might have met you in open field, and +there made your boldest knights full tame; but I have forborne you half +a year, and given you and Gawaine free way. It is much against my will +to fight with any of your blood, but since he accuses me of treason I am +driven to it like a beast brought to bay." + +"If you dare do battle," cried Gawaine, "leave your babbling and come +out. Nothing will give deeper joy to my heart, for I have waited long +for this hour." + +At this Lancelot mounted and rode out, and a host of knights followed +him from the city, while from the king's army a throng of knights +pressed to the front. But covenant was made that none should come near +the two warriors till one was dead or had yielded, and the knights drew +back, leaving a broad open space for the combatants. + +Gawaine and Lancelot now rode far apart, and wheeled their horses till +they faced each other. Thus they stood in grim silence and energy till +the signal for the onset was given, when, like iron statues come to +life, they plunged their spurs in the flanks of their chargers and +dashed at furious speed across the plain. A minute passed, and they met +in the middle with a shock like thunder, but the knights were so strong +and their spears so great, that the horses could not endure the buffets, +and fell to the earth. + +In a moment both knights had leaped clear of their saddles, drawn their +swords, and brought their shields before them. And now began a fierce +and terrible affray, for they stood and hewed at each other with might +and main, till blood burst in many places through the joints of their +armor. + +But Gawaine had a gift that a holy man had given him, that every day in +the year, from nine o'clock till noon, his strength should increase till +it became threefold. And he took good care to fight all his battles +during these hours, whereby he gained great honor. + +None knew of this gift but King Arthur, and as Lancelot felt the +strength of his antagonist constantly increasing, he wondered greatly, +and began to fear that he would be overcome. It seemed to him that he +had a fiend, and no earthly man, before him, and for three hours he +traced and traversed, and covered himself with his shield, scarcely able +to stand against the brunt of Gawaine's mighty blows. At this all men +marvelled, for never before had they beheld Lancelot so sorely driven to +defence. + +But when the hour of noon had passed, the magic might of Gawaine +suddenly left him, and he had now only his own strength. This Lancelot +felt, and he drew himself up and pressed on his foe, saying,-- + +"You have had your day, Gawaine; now it is my turn. Defend yourself, for +I have many a grievous buffet to repay." + +Then he redoubled his strokes, and at length gave Gawaine such a blow on +the helmet that he fell to the earth. Lancelot now withdrew a step. + +"Why do you withdraw?" cried Gawaine, bitterly. "Turn, thou traitor, and +slay me; for if I recover you shall fight with me again." + +"It is not my way, Sir Gawaine, to strike a fallen knight. When you +want to fight again you shall not find me lacking." + +Then he turned and went with his knights into the city, while Gawaine +was borne from the field to one of the king's pavilions, where leeches +were brought to attend him. + +"Alas!" said the king, "that ever this unhappy war began, for Sir +Lancelot ever forbeareth me, and my kin also, and that is well seen in +his sparing my nephew Gawaine this day." + +Then Arthur fell sick from sorrow for the hurt of his nephew and regret +for the war. The siege was kept up, but with little energy, and both +sides rested from their toils. + +Three weeks passed before Gawaine regained his strength; but as soon as +he was able to ride he armed again, mounted his horse, and rode to the +gate of Benwick, where he loudly repeated his challenge to Lancelot as a +traitor and recreant knight. + +"You got the best of me by mischance at our last battle," he said, "but +if you dare come into the field this day I will make amends, and lay you +as low as you laid me." + +"Defend me from such a fate," said Lancelot, "for if you should get me +into such a strait my days were done. But since you in this unknightly +fashion charge me with treason, I warrant you shall have both hands full +before you gain your end." + +Then Lancelot armed and rode out, and the battle began as before, with a +circle of armed knights surrounding. But in this onset Gawaine's spear +broke into a hundred pieces in his hand, while Lancelot struck him with +such might that his horse's feet were raised, and horse and rider +toppled to the earth. + +"Alight, traitor knight!" cried Gawaine, drawing his sword. "If a horse +has failed me, think not that a king and queen's son shall fail thee." + +Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and the battle went on as before, +Gawaine's strength increasing hour by hour. But Lancelot, feeling this, +warily kept his strength and his wind, keeping under cover of his +shield, and tracing and traversing back and forth, to break the strength +and courage of his foe. + +As for Gawaine, he put forth all his might and power to destroy +Lancelot, and for three hours pressed him so fiercely that he could +barely defend himself. But when noon passed, and Lancelot felt Gawaine's +strength again decline, he said,-- + +"I have proved you twice, Sir Gawaine. By this magic trick of your +strength increasing you have deceived many a valiant knight. You have +done your worst; now you shall see of what metal I am made." + +Then he attacked him fiercely, and Gawaine defended himself with all his +power; but at length there fell such a heavy blow on his helmet and on +the old wound, that he sank to the earth in a swoon. When he came to +himself again, he struck feebly at Lancelot as he lay, and cried +spitefully,-- + +"Thou false traitor, I am not yet slain. Come near me, and do this +battle to the uttermost." + +"I shall do no more than I have done," said Lancelot. "When I see you on +your feet again I shall stand ready to fight you to the bitter end. But +to smite a wounded and prostrate man!--God defend me from such a shame." + +And he turned and went towards the city, while Gawaine with spiteful +malice called him traitor, and vowed he would never cease to fight with +him till one of them was dead. + +A month now passed away, during which Gawaine lay sick of his wound. As +he slowly recovered, the old battle-hunger for Lancelot's blood returned +to his heart, and he impatiently awaited the day when he could again +take the field. But before this day arrived, news came from England that +put a sudden end to the war; tidings of such threatening aspect that +King Arthur was forced to return in all haste to his own realm. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE STING OF THE VIPER. + + +Disastrous, indeed, were the news from England. King Arthur had made the +fatal mistake of placing a villain and dastard in charge of his realm, +for Mordred had taken advantage of his absence to turn traitor, and seek +to seize the crown and sceptre of England as his own. + +News moved but slowly from over seas in those days, and Mordred, with +treasonable craft, had letters written as though they came from abroad, +which said that King Arthur had been slain in battle with Sir Lancelot. + +Having spread this lie far and wide, he called the lords together to +London in parliament, and so managed that they voted him king. Then he +was crowned at Canterbury, and held a feast for fifteen days, after +which he went to Winchester, where Guenever was, and publicly declared +that he would wed his uncle's widow. + +When word of this came to Guenever she grew heavy at heart, for she +hated the traitor to her soul's depth. But she was in his power, and was +forced to hide her secret hate. She therefore seemed to consent to his +will, and desired permission to go to London, where she might buy all +things that were necessary for the wedding. She spoke so fairly that he +trusted her, and gave her leave to make the journey. + +But no sooner had she reached London than she took possession of the +Tower, and with all haste supplied it with provisions and garrisoned it +with men, and so held it as a fortress, many knights holding with her +against the usurper. + +Mordred soon learned that he had been beguiled by the queen, and, moved +to fury, he hastened to London, where he besieged the Tower, assailing +it vigorously with great engines of war. But Guenever held out stoutly +against him, and neither by fair speech nor foul could he induce her to +trust herself into his hands again. + +[Illustration: THE TOWER OF LONDON.] + +There now came to Mordred the bishop of Canterbury, who said,-- + +"Sir, what would you do? Would you displease God and shame knighthood +by wedding the wife of your uncle, who has been to you as a father? +Cease this vile purpose, I command you, or I shall curse you with book, +and bell, and candle, and bring upon your head the vengeance of the +church." + +"Do your worst, sir priest," said Mordred, angrily. "I defy you." + +"I shall do what I ought; be sure of that. You noise about that the lord +Arthur is slain, no word of which I believe. You seek with a lie to make +mischief in this land. Beware, lest your vile work recoil upon +yourself." + +"Peace, thou false priest," cried Mordred. "Chafe me no more, or I shall +order that thy head be stricken off." + +Finding that words were useless, the bishop departed, and, as he had +threatened, laid the curse of the church on Mordred. Roused to rage by +this, the usurper sought him to slay him, and he fled in all haste to +Glastonbury, where he took refuge as a hermit in a chapel. But well he +knew that war was at hand, and that the rightful king would soon strike +for the throne. + +Despite the anathema of the church, Mordred continued his efforts to get +Guenever into his power; but she held firmly to the Tower, repelling all +his assaults, and declaring openly that she would rather kill herself +than marry such a wretch. Soon afterwards he was forced to raise the +siege, for word came to him by secret messengers that Arthur had heard +of his treason, and was coming home with his whole host to revenge +himself on the usurper of his crown. + +When Mordred heard this he made strenuous efforts to gather a large +army, and many lords joined him with their people, saying that with +Arthur there had been nothing but war and strife, but that with Mordred +they hoped for peace and a quiet life. Thus was evil said of the good +King Arthur when he was away from the land, and that by many who owed to +him their honors and estates. Mordred was thus quickly able to draw with +a great host to Dover, where he had heard that Arthur would land, for he +hoped to defeat and slay him before he could get firm footing on +England's soil. + +Not long had he been there when a great fleet of ships, galleys, and +carracks appeared upon the sea, bearing the king's army back to their +native realm. On the beach stood Mordred's host, drawn up to prevent the +landing of the king's army. As the boats came to the shore, laden with +noble men-of-arms, a fierce struggle ensued, in which many a knight was +slain, while full many a bold baron was laid low on both sides. But so +courageous was the king, and so fierce the onset of his knights, that +the opposing host could not hinder the landing of his army. And when +they had gained a footing on the land, they set on Mordred with such +fury that he and all his host were driven back and forced to fly, +leaving Arthur master of the field. + +After the battle, the king ordered that the dead should be buried and +the wounded cared for. Among the latter Sir Gawaine was found lying in a +great boat, where he had been felled with a deadly wound in the bitter +strife. On hearing this direful news, Arthur hastened to him and took +him in his arms, with great show of grief and pain. + +"In you and in Lancelot I had my highest joy," moaned the king. "Now I +have lost you both, and all my earthly happiness is gone." + +"My death is at hand," said Gawaine, "and I owe it all to my own hate +and bitterness for I am smitten on the old wound that Lancelot gave me, +and feel that I must die. Had he but been with you this unhappy war +would never have begun. Of all this I am the cause, and have but +received my deserts. Therefore I pray you, dear uncle, let me have +paper, pen, and ink, that I may write to Sir Lancelot with my own hand." + +These were brought him, and Gawaine wrote a moving and tender letter to +Lancelot, blaming himself severely for his hardness of heart. + +In this wise it ran,-- + +"Unto Sir Lancelot, flower of all noble knights, I, Sir Gawaine, son of +King Lot of Orkney, and sister's son unto the noble King Arthur, send +greeting; and also these sad tidings, that on the tenth day of May I was +smitten on the old wound which you gave me at Benwick, and thus through +this wound have I come to my death. And I would have all the world know +that I, Sir Gawaine, Knight of the Round Table, have met with death not +through your ill-will, but from my own seeking; therefore I beseech you +to come in all haste to this realm, to which you have heretofore done +such honor. I earnestly pray you, Sir Lancelot, for all the love that +ever was betwixt us, make no tarrying, but come over the sea in all +haste, that thou mayest with thy noble knights rescue that royal king +who made thee knight, for he is hard bested with a false traitor, my own +half-brother, Sir Mordred, who has had himself crowned king, and would +have wedded Queen Guenever had she not taken refuge in the Tower of +London. We put him to flight on our landing, on the tenth day of May, +but he still holds against us with a great host. Therefore, I pray you +to come, for I am within two hours of my death; and I beg that you will +visit my tomb, and pray some prayer, more or less, for my soul." + +When Sir Gawaine had finished this letter he wept bitter tears of sorrow +and remorse, and Arthur wept beside him till they both swooned, the one +from grief, the other from pain. When they recovered, the king had the +rites of the church administered to the dying knight, who then prayed +him to send in haste for Lancelot, and to cherish him above all other +knights, as his best friend and ally. + +Afterwards, at the hour of noon, Gawaine yielded up his spirit. And the +king had him interred in Dover castle, where men to this day may see his +skull, with the wound thereon that Lancelot gave him in battle. + +Word was now brought to King Arthur that Mordred had pitched a new camp +on Barham Down. Thither in all haste he led his army, and there a second +great battle was fought, with much loss on both sides. But at the end +Arthur's party stood best, and Mordred fled, with all his host, to +Canterbury. + +This second victory changed the feeling of the country, and many people +who had held aloof joined the king's army, saying that Mordred was a +traitor and usurper. When the dead had been buried and the wounded cared +for, Arthur marched with his host to the sea-shore, westward towards +Salisbury. Here a challenge passed between him and Mordred, in which +they agreed to meet on a down beside Salisbury, on the day after Trinity +Sunday, and there fight out their quarrel. + +Mordred now made haste to recruit his army, raising many men about +London, for the people of that section of the country held largely with +him, and particularly those who were friendly to Lancelot. When the time +fixed came near, the two armies drew together and camped on Salisbury +Down. + +And so the days passed till came the night of Trinity Sunday, when the +king dreamed a strange dream, for it seemed to him that he sat in a +chair that was fastened to a wheel, and was covered with the richest +cloth of gold that could be made. But far beneath him he beheld a +hideous black pool, in which were all manner of serpents, and vile +worms, foul and horrible. Suddenly the wheel seemed to turn, and he fell +among the serpents, which seized upon his limbs. + +Awakening in fright, he loudly cried, "Help!" and knights and squires +came crowding in alarm into his chamber; but he was so amazed that he +knew not where he was nor what he said. + +Then he fell again into a half slumber, in which Gawaine seemed to come +to him attended by a number of fair ladies. + +"Fair nephew," asked the king, "who are these ladies?" + +"They are those for whom I did battle during my life," answered Gawaine. +"God has sent them and me to warn you of your coming death, for if you +fight with Mordred to-morrow as you have agreed, you will both be slain, +and most of your people. Therefore I am here to warn you not to fight +to-morrow, but to treat with the traitor, and make him large and fair +promises, so as to gain a month's delay. Within that time Lancelot and +his knights will come, and Mordred the usurper cannot hold against you +both." + +This said, Gawaine and the ladies vanished. Then Arthur waked, and sent +messengers in haste to bring his lords and bishops to council. When they +had come he told them his dream, and they counselled him by all means to +be guided by it. Lucan the butler, and his brother Sir Bevidere, with +two bishops, were therefore sent to treat with Mordred, and make him +large promises for a month's truce. + +The commissioners sought Mordred's camp and held a long conference with +him. At the end he agreed to meet King Arthur on the plain between the +hosts, each to bring but fourteen persons with him, and there consult on +the treaty. + +"I am glad that this is accomplished," said the king, when word of the +compact was brought him. + +But when he was ready to start for the place of conference, with the +fourteen chosen men, he said to his knights,-- + +"Be wary and watchful, for I trust not Mordred. If you see any sword +drawn, come fiercely forward, and slay the villain and his guard." + +Mordred gave the same warning to his lords, for he had equal mistrust of +Arthur, whom he feared and doubted. + +The two leaders, with their chosen followers, now advanced and met +between the hosts. But by a fatal chance, as the king and his opponent +were in consultation, an adder came from a heath bush and stung a knight +on the foot. Feeling the wound he drew his sword in thoughtless haste to +kill the venomous serpent. But the instant the hosts on both sides saw +that sword flash in the air all was uproar and tumult. On both sides +trumpets and horns were blown, harness rattled and clanked, and the +flash of spear-heads and sword-blades gleamed in the sunlight, while +like two mighty waves of war the great hosts broke from their stations +and rushed together across the plain. + +Then Arthur sprang to his horse, exclaiming, "Alas! this unhappy day!" +and rode to his party; and Mordred did likewise. + +No hand nor voice could stay the advancing hosts, and in a moment there +began the most doleful battle ever seen in Christian land. For there was +rushing and riding, foining and striking, and deadly clamor, and fearful +strife. Many a grim word was there spoken, and many a deadly stroke +dealt. Many times King Arthur rode through Mordred's host, and knightly +were the deeds of his hands. And Mordred fought with knightly valor and +zeal. + +Thus went on the deadly fray all day long, without pause or stint, till +noble knights lay like fallen leaves upon the bloody ground. And when +nightfall was at hand they still fought with desperate valor, though by +that time full a hundred thousand men lay dead upon the down. + +Then the heart of Arthur grew full of warlike fury, to see so many of +his people slain. And when the sun was near its setting, he leaned upon +his crimson sword, and looked about him with eyes that seemed to weep +blood. For of all his mighty host of knights but two remained alive, Sir +Lucan the butler, and his brother Sir Bevidere; and both of these were +sorely wounded. + +"God's mercy!" cried the king, "where are all my noble knights? Alas! +that I have lived to see this doleful day! Now, indeed, am I come to my +end. But would to God I knew where to find that traitor, Mordred, who +has caused all this mischief." + +As he spoke, his eyes fell on Mordred, who stood leaning upon his sword +amid a great heap of slain, for his host had been slaughtered to a man. + +"Give me my spear," cried Arthur, wrathfully, to Sir Lucan. "Yonder +stands the traitor who has wrought this dire woe." + +"Let him be," said Lucan. "He is unhappy enough. Remember, my good lord, +your last night's dream, and what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told you. +For God's sake make an end of this fray. Blessed be God, we have won the +field; for here are three of us alive, while Mordred stands alone among +his dead. If you leave off now, the wicked day of destiny will pass and +life remain to you. Your time for revenge will come hereafter." + +"Betide me life, betide me death," cried the king, "this fray must end +here. Now that I see him yonder alone, he shall never escape my hands. +One or both of us shall die." + +"Then God speed the just cause," said Bevidere. + +With no word more Arthur took his spear in both hands, and ran furiously +at Mordred, crying,-- + +"Traitor, now has thy day of death come!" + +When Mordred heard him, he raised his dripping sword and ran to meet the +king. Thus they met in mid-field, and King Arthur smote Mordred under +the shield, the spear piercing his body more than a fathom. + +Mordred felt that he had his death-wound, but with a last impulse of +fury in his felon soul he thrust himself, with all his strength, up to +the bur of King Arthur's spear. Then wielding his sword with both hands, +he struck the king so dread a blow on the side of the head that the +trenchant blade cut through the helmet and deep into the skull. + +With this last and fatal stroke Mordred fell stark dead to the ground. +And Arthur sank in a swoon to the earth, where he lay like one dead. + +Thus sadly and direfully ended that dreadful war, with which came to a +close the flower of the days of chivalry, and the glorious and +never-to-be equalled fellowship of the Round Table, with all the mighty +deeds of prowess and marvels of adventure that to it belonged. For of +those noble knights, except Sir Lancelot and his kindred, only two +lived, Sir Lucan the butler, and Sir Bevidere his brother, and of these +two Sir Lucan was wounded unto death; and with them the illustrious King +Arthur, whose chivalrous soul had so long sustained this noble order of +knighthood, lay bleeding piteously upon that direful field of blood. + +Sir Lucan and Bevidere, with bitter tears of sorrow, lifted their +helpless king between them, and with great labor led him from that place +of slaughter till they reached a small chapel near the sea-shore. Here, +as the night drew on, the sound of many voices came to them, as if the +dead had risen and were astir on the blood-stained field. + +"What noise is this, Sir Lucan?" said the king. "Go, gentle friend, and +tell me what it means." + +Lucan went, and by the moonlight saw a throng of pillagers, who robbed +the dead bodies of money and jewels, killing for their riches those +knights who were not quite dead. When he brought this news back to +Arthur, the king's sad heart came near to breaking. + +"Alas! Lancelot," he said, "how have I missed you this day. Alas! that I +ever turned against you, for had you been here this fatal end could +never have been, nor those noble warriors left to be the prey of the +wolves and jackals of the battle-field. Sorely have I erred and sadly +have I been repaid for my error. But now, alas, it is too late for +regret or amendment, for the fellowship of the Round Table is at an end, +and Arthur the king shall reign no more." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE PASSING OF ARTHUR. + + +When morning dawned, after that day of fate, Lucan and Bevidere took up +the king between them, and sought to bear him to the sea-shore, as he +bade them do. But in the lifting the king swooned, and Lucan fell +prostrate, the blood gushing anew from his wound. + +Arthur lay long like one dead, and when he came to himself again he saw +Lucan lifeless at his feet, with foam upon his lips, and the ground +around him deeply stained with his blood. + +"Alas! this is a heavy sight to see," he said. "He sought to help me +when he stood most in need of help. He would not complain though his +heart broke, and has given his life for mine. May Jesus have mercy on +his soul." + +Bevidere stood beside him, weeping bitterly for the death of his +brother. + +"Weep and mourn no more," said the king. "It will not now avail. Could I +live, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore. But my time goeth +fast, and there is that to do for which but few moments remain." + +Then he closed his eyes for a time, like one who sees visions; and when +he looked again there was that in his face which Bevidere could not +fathom and his eyes were deep with meaning unrevealed. + +"Now, my lord Bevidere," said the king, "the end is at hand. Take thou +my good sword Excalibur, and go with it to yonder water-side. When thou +comest there, I charge thee throw it as far as thou canst into the +water; then come again and tell me what thing thou seest." + +"Trust me, my lord and king, your command shall be obeyed," said +Bevidere. + +So he took the sword and departed to the water-side. But as his eyes +fell upon the noble weapon, whose pommel and haft were all of precious +stones, a feeling of greed came upon him and he said to himself,-- + +"If I throw this rich sword into the water, no good can come of it, but +only harm and loss. Had I not better keep it for myself?" + +Moved by this thought, he hid Excalibur under a tree, and returned to +the king, whom he told that he had thrown the sword into the water. + +"What saw you there?" asked the king. + +"Sir, I saw nothing but the rippling waves." + +"Then you speak untruly," said the king. "You have not thrown the sword +as I bade you. Go again, and obey my command, as you are to me dear and +true. Spare not, but throw it in afar." + +Bevidere thereupon went again, and took the sword in his hand. But the +rich jewels so glittered in the sun that his greed came back more +strongly than before, and he deemed it a sin to throw into the sea that +noble blade. So he hid the sword again, and returned to the king with +his former tale. + +"What sawest thou there?" asked the king. + +"Sir, I saw nothing but the waves that broke on the beach, and heard +only the roar of the surf." + +"Ah, traitor! false and untrue art thou!" cried the king. "Thou hast +betrayed me twice. Who would have thought that thou, whom I held dear, +and who art named a noble knight, would betray his king for the jewels +of a sword? Go again, for thy long delay puts me in a great jeopardy of +my life. If now you do not as I have bidden, beware of me hereafter, for +dead or alive I will have revenge upon you. Would you, Sir Bevidere, for +a shining blade, bring death and ruin to your king?" + +Then Bevidere, heart-full of shame, hastened away, and took the sword, +turning his eyes manfully away from its jewelled hilt. Binding the +girdle around it, with all the might of his arm he hurled the blade far +out over the waves. + +Then came a marvel. For as he followed the sword with his eyes, he saw a +hand and arm rise above the waves to meet the blade. The hand caught it +by the hilt, and brandished it thrice in the air, and then vanished with +it into the water. + +Bevidere, much wondering, hurried back to the king, and told him what he +had seen. + +"Now, Sir Bevidere, you have done as I bade you," said Arthur. "But much +precious time have you lost. Help me hence, in God's name, for I fear +that I have tarried over-long." + +Then Bevidere took the king on his back and bore him to the water-side, +and lo! there he saw another strange thing. + +For close by the shore lay a little barge, which he had not seen before, +and in it sat many fair ladies, among whom were three queens, who wore +black hoods, and wept with bitter sorrow when they saw King Arthur. + +"Now help me into the barge," said the king. + +This Sir Bevidere did as gently as he could. And the three queens +received the dying monarch with deep mourning, and had him laid between +them, with his head on the lap of her who sat in the centre. + +"Alas! dear brother, why have you tarried so long from me?" said this +queen. "Much harm I fear from this sad wound." + +And so they rowed from the land, while Bevidere stood on the shore sadly +watching the barge go from him. + +"Ah, my lord Arthur," he cried, "what shall become of me, now that you +go from me and leave me here alone among my enemies?" + +"Comfort thyself," said the king, "and do what thou mayest, for in me +can no man henceforth put his trust. I go into the vale of Avilion, to a +happy summer island far over the sea, where I shall be healed of my +grievous wound. But when I shall come again no voice may tell. Mayhap I +shall never come, but dwell forever in that sunny vale. If you never +hear more of me, pray for my soul." + +Then again the queens and the ladies wept and moaned, and the barge +moved swiftly over the long waves and afar to sea, while Bevidere stood +and watched it till it became a black speck on the waters. Then it +vanished and was seen no more, and the lonely watcher cast himself upon +the beach, weeping like one who has lost all life's happiness. + +But when night came near he turned and went wearily away, heavy with the +weight of death that lay upon his soul, for he alone remained of +yesterday's mighty hosts. All that night he journeyed through a great +forest, and in the morning he found himself between two hoary cliffs, +with a chapel and a hermitage in the glen that lay between. + +In this hermitage he found the holy man who had been archbishop of +Canterbury, and who had come hither to escape Mordred's rage. With him +Bevidere stayed till he was cured of his wounds, and afterwards he put +on poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and +prayers. + +But as for the three queens who went with Arthur to the island of +Avilion, the chronicles say that they were Morgan le Fay his sister, the +queen of Northgalis, and the queen of the Waste Lands. And with them was +Nimue, the lady of the lake. All were skilled in magic, but whither they +bore King Arthur, or where lies the magical isle of Avilion, or if he +shall come again, all this no man can say. These are of the secrets that +time alone can tell, and we only know that his coming is not yet. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE DEATH OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER. + + +When word was brought to Lancelot du Lake that Mordred had usurped the +throne of England, had besieged Guenever in the Tower of London, and had +sought to prevent Arthur from landing at Dover, his soul was moved to +wrath and sorrow. And still more was he moved by the letter of Sir +Gawaine, with its pitiful self-reproach and earnest wistfulness. + +"Is it a time for mourning?" said Sir Bors to Lancelot. "My counsel is +that you cross at once to England, visit Gawaine's tomb, as he requests, +and then revenge my lord Arthur and my lady Guenever on this base +traitor, Mordred." + +"It is well advised," said Lancelot. "To England we must go in all +haste." + +Then ships and galleys were made ready with the greatest despatch, for +Lancelot and his host to pass over to England. And in good time he +landed at Dover, having with him seven kings and a mighty host of men. + +But when he asked the people of Dover the news of the country, his heart +was filled with dismay to hear of the great battle on Salisbury Downs, +where a hundred thousand men had died in a day, and of the death of +Arthur the king. + +"Alas!" said Lancelot, "this is the heaviest tidings that ever mortal +ears heard. Would that I had been advised in good time. Nothing now +remains to do. I have come too late. Fair sirs, I pray you to show me +the tomb of Sir Gawaine." + +Then they brought him into the castle of Dover, and showed him the tomb. +Lancelot fell on his knees before it, and wept, and prayed heartily for +the soul of him that lay within. And that night he made a funeral feast, +to which all who came had flesh, fish, wine, and ale, and every man and +woman was given twelve pence. With his own hand he dealt them money in +a mourning gown; and ever he wept, and prayed for the soul of Sir +Gawaine. + +In the morning, all the priests and clerks of the country round +gathered, at his request, and sang a requiem mass before the tomb. And +Lancelot offered a hundred pounds, and each of the seven kings forty +pounds, and a thousand knights offered one pound each, this going on +from morning till night. And Lancelot lay two nights on the tomb in +prayer and weeping. + +On the third day he called about him the kings, dukes, earls, barons, +and knights of his train, and said to them,-- + +"My fair lords, I thank you all for coming into this country with me; +but we have come too late, and that I shall mourn while I live. But +since it is so, I shall myself ride and seek my lady Queen Guenever, for +men say that she has fled from London, and become a nun, and that she +lives in deep penance, and in fasting, prayers, and almsgiving, and is +sick almost unto death. Therefore, I pray you, await me here, and if I +come not again within fifteen days, then take ship and return to your +own country." + +"Is it wise for you to ride in this realm?" said Sir Bors. "Few friends +will you find here now." + +"Be that as it may," said Lancelot, "I shall go on my journey. Keep you +still here, for no man nor child shall go with me." + +No boot was it to strive with him, and he departed and rode westerly, on +a seven or eight days' journey, asking of all people as he went. At last +he came to the nunnery where was Queen Guenever, who saw him as she +walked in the cloister, and swooned away, so that her ladies had work +enough to keep her from falling. When she could speak, she said,-- + +"Ye marvel why I am so held. Truly, it is for the sight of yonder +knight. Bid him come hither, I pray you." + +And when Sir Lancelot had come, she said to him with sweet and sad +visage,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, through our love has all this happened, and through it my +noble lord has come to his death. As for me, I am in a way to get my +soul's health. Therefore, I pray you heartily, for all the love that +ever was between us, that you see me no more in the visage; but turn to +thy kingdom again, and keep well thy realm from war and wrack. So well +have I loved you that my heart will not serve me to see you, for through +you and me is the flower of kings and knights destroyed. Therefore, Sir +Lancelot, go to thy realm, and take there a wife, and live with her in +joy and bliss; and I beseech you heartily to pray to God for me, that I +may amend my mis-living." + +"Nay, madam, I shall never take a wife," said Lancelot. "Never shall I +be false to you; but the same lot you have chosen that shall I choose." + +"If you will do so, I pray that you may," said the queen. "Yet I cannot +believe but that you will turn to the world again." + +"Madam," he earnestly replied, "in the quest of the Sangreal I would +have forsaken the world but for the service of your lord. If I had done +so then with all my heart, I had passed all the knights on the quest +except Galahad, my son. And had I now found you disposed to earthly +joys, I would have begged you to come into my realm. But since I find +you turned to heavenly hopes, I, too, shall take to penance, and pray +while my life lasts, if I can find any hermit, either gray or white, who +will receive me. Wherefore, madam, I pray you kiss me, and never more +shall my lips touch woman's." + +"Nay," said the queen, "that shall I never do. But take you my blessing, +and leave me." + +Then they parted. But hard of heart would he have been who had not wept +to see their grief; for there was lamentation as deep as though they had +been wounded with spears. The ladies bore the queen to her chamber, and +Lancelot took his horse and rode all that day and all that night in a +forest, weeping. + +At last he became aware of a hermitage and a chapel that stood between +two cliffs, and then he heard a little bell ring to mass, so he rode +thither and alighted, and heard mass. + +He that sang mass was the archbishop of Canterbury, and with him was Sir +Bevidere. After the mass they conversed together, and when Bevidere had +told all his lamentable tale, Lancelot's heart almost broke with sorrow. +He flung his arms abroad, crying,-- + +"Alas! who may trust this world?" + +Then he kneeled, and prayed the bishop to shrive and absolve him, +beseeching that he might accept him as his brother in the faith. To this +the bishop gladly consented, and he put a religious habit on Lancelot, +who served God there night and day with prayers and fastings. + +Meanwhile the army remained at Dover. But Lionel with fifteen lords rode +to London to seek Lancelot. There he was assailed by Mordred's friends, +and slain with many of his lords. Then Sir Bors bade the kings, with +their followers, to return to France. But he, with others of Lancelot's +kindred, set out to ride over all England in search of their lost +leader. + +At length Bors came by chance to the chapel where Lancelot was. As he +rode by he heard the sound of a little bell that rang to mass, and +thereupon alighted and entered the chapel. But when he saw Lancelot and +Bevidere in hermits' clothing his surprise was great, and he prayed for +the privilege to put on the same suit. Afterwards other knights joined +them, so that there were seven in all. + +There they remained in penance for six years, and afterwards Sir +Lancelot took the habit of a priest, and for a twelvemonth he sang mass. +But at length came a night when he had a vision that bade him to seek +Almesbury, where he would find Guenever dead. Thrice that night was the +vision repeated, and Lancelot rose before day and told the hermit of +what he had dreamed. + +"It is from God," said the hermit. "See that you make ready, and disobey +not the warning." + +So, in the early morn, Lancelot and his fellows set out on foot from +Glastonbury to Almesbury, which is little more than thirty miles. But +they were two days on the road, for they were weak and feeble with long +penance. And when they reached the nunnery they found that Guenever had +died but half an hour before. + +The ladies told Lancelot that the queen had said,-- + +"Hither cometh Lancelot as fast as he may to fetch my corpse. But I +beseech Almighty God that I may never behold him again with my mortal +eyes." + +This, said the ladies, was her prayer for two days, till she died. When +Lancelot looked upon her dead face he wept not greatly, but sighed. And +he said all the service for the dead himself, and in the morning he sang +mass. + +Then was the corpse placed in a horse-bier, and so taken to Glastonbury +with a hundred torches ever burning about it, and Lancelot and his +fellows on foot beside it, singing and reading many a holy orison, and +burning frankincense about the corpse. + +When the chapel had been reached, and services said by the hermit +archbishop, the queen's corpse was wrapped in cered cloth of Raines, +thirty-fold, and afterwards was put in a web of lead, and then in a +coffin of marble. + +But when the corpse of her whom he had so long loved was put in the +earth, Lancelot swooned with grief, and lay long like one dead, till the +hermit came and aroused him, and said,-- + +"You are to blame for such unmeasured grief. You displease God thereby." + +[Illustration: Copyright by F. Frith and Co. Ltd., London, England. + +THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY.] + +"I trust not," Lancelot replied, "for my sorrow is too deep ever to +cease. When I remember how greatly I am to blame for the death of this +noble King Arthur and Queen Guenever, my heart sinks within me, and I +feel that I shall never know a moment's joy again." + +Thereafter he sickened and pined away, for the bishop nor any of his +fellows could make him eat nor drink but very little, but day and night +he prayed, and wasted away, and ever lay grovelling on the tomb of the +queen. + +So, within six weeks afterwards, Lancelot fell sick and lay in his bed. +Then he sent for the bishop and all his fellows, and said with sad +voice: "Sir Bishop, I pray you give me all the rites that belong to a +Christian man, for my end is at hand." + +"This is but heaviness of your blood," replied the bishop. "You shall be +well amended, I hope, through God's grace, by to-morrow morning." + +"In heaven, mayhap, but not on earth," said Lancelot. "So give me the +rites of the church, and after my death, I beg you to take my body to +Joyous Gard, for there I have vowed that I would be buried." + +When they had heard this, and saw that he was indeed near his end, there +was such weeping and wringing of hands among his fellows that they could +hardly help the bishop in the holy offices of the church. But that +night, after the midnight hour, as the bishop lay asleep, he fell into +such a hearty laugh of joy that they all came to him in haste, and asked +him what ailed him. + +"Why did you wake me?" he cried. "I was never in my life so happy and +merry." + +"Wherefore?" asked Sir Bors. + +"Truly, here was Sir Lancelot with me, with more angels than I ever saw +men together; and I saw the angels bear him to heaven, and the gates of +heaven opened to him." + +"This is but the vexation of a dream," said Sir Bors. "Lancelot may yet +mend." + +"Go to his bed," said the hermit, "and you shall find if my dream has +meaning." + +This they hastened to do, and there lay Lancelot dead, but with a smile +on his lips, and the sweetest savor about him they ever had known. + +Great was the grief that followed, for never earthly man was mourned as +was Lancelot. In the morning, after the bishop had made a requiem mass, +he and his fellows put the corpse of the noble knight into the same +horse-bier that had borne Guenever, and the queen's corpse with it, and +they were taken together to Joyous Gard, with such state and ceremony as +befitted those of royal blood. + +And there all the services of the church were sung and read, while the +face of Lancelot lay open for people to see; for such was then the +custom of the land. When the services were over they were buried in one +tomb, for so great had been their love during life that all men said +they should not be divided in death. + +During these events, Sir Constantine, the noble son of Sir Cador of +Cornwall, had been chosen king of England in Arthur's place, and a +worthy monarch he proved, ruling the realm worshipfully and long. + +After Lancelot's death the new king sent for the bishop of Canterbury, +and restored him to his archbishopric; but Sir Bevidere remained a +hermit at Glastonbury to his life's end. + +King Constantine also desired the kindred of Lancelot to remain in his +realm; but this they would not do, but returned to their own country. +Four of them, Sir Bors, Sir Hector, Sir Blamor, and Sir Bleoberis, went +to the Holy Land, where they fought long and stoutly against the +Saracens. And there they died upon a Good Friday, for God's sake. + +And so ends the book of the life and death of King Arthur and his noble +Knights of the Round Table, who were an hundred and fifty when they were +all together. Let us pray that God was merciful to them all. + +THE END. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected as follows; + + Pg. 12 - Added missing punctuation "?" (might champion?) + + Pg. 188 - Added missing punctuation "." (and he did all.) + + Pg. 270 - Added missing endquote ("This I say,") + + Pg. 316 - Removed extra enquote (what will you do?) + + +2. Spelling corrections based upon correct spelling of the word + elsewhere in the text: + + Pg. 39 - "grevious" to "grievous" (4) (grievous cry that) + + Pg. 50 - "you" to "your" ("Knight, hold your hand.") + + Pg. 83 - "Dinaden" to "Dinadan" (92) (Gareth and Dinadan also) + + Pg. 94 - "seaside" to "sea-side" (8) (castle by the sea-side,) + + Pg. 127 - "law" to "lay" (as he lay there asleep) + + Pg. 143 - "Badgemagus" to "Bagdemagus" (11) (said Bagdemagus) + + Pg. 159 - "Percival" to "Percivale" (94) (Percivale had returned) + + Pg. 166 - "dressel" to "dressed" (old man dressed in a) + + Pg. 189 - "this" to "his" (to his surprise and joy) + + Pg. 202 - "Nacien" to "Nancien" (3) (once by Nancien) + + Pg. 220 - "seem" to "seen" (and seen what you highly) + + Pg. 238 - "befel" to "befell" (5) (it befell that Nimue) + + Pg. 281 - "Turquin" to "Turquine" (2) (by Sir Turquine?) + + Pg. 289 - "Tristam's" to "Tristram's" (313) (and Tristram's sake) + + Pg. 298 - "wil" to "will" (361) (if you will receive) + + Pg. 299 - "dishoner" to "dishonor" (12) (naught to her dishonor.) + + +3. Words where both versions appear in this text and have been retained. + + "threescore" (2) and "three-score" + + "King Astlabor" (p. 87) and "King Astlobar" (p. 90) + + +4. Known English Archaic words used in this text: + + "emprise" (prowess/daring) + + "guerdon" (reward) + + "halidom" (a thing considered holy) + + "leman" (sweetheart) + + "lief" (dear) + + "woful" (3) (now woeful) + + "villanous" (6) and villany (3) (now var. of villian* (10)) + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL 14 (OF 15) *** + +***** This file should be named 32292-8.txt or 32292-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/9/32292/ + +Produced by Christine Aldridge and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/32292-8.zip b/32292-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..12cd5ec --- /dev/null +++ b/32292-8.zip diff --git a/32292-h.zip b/32292-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcf9e22 --- /dev/null +++ b/32292-h.zip diff --git a/32292-h/32292-h.htm b/32292-h/32292-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4753b53 --- /dev/null +++ b/32292-h/32292-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14508 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Historical Tales, The Romance of Reality + Volume XIV, by Charles Morris. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +p.indent {margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 2em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tr { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 5%; + margin-bottom: 5%; + padding: 2em; + background-color: #f6f2f2; + color: black; + border: dotted black 1px; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.caption2 {font-weight: bold; + font-size: smaller; +} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + padding-top: 1em; + text-align: center; +} + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15) + The Romance of Reality + +Author: Charles Morris + +Release Date: May 8, 2010 [EBook #32292] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL 14 (OF 15) *** + + + + +Produced by Christine Aldridge and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"> +<p>Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p>1. Minor punctuation errors in original text have been corrected.</p> + +<p>2. 16 spelling errors have been corrected a complete list with other notations +is shown at the end of this text.</p> + +<p>3. Page numbers appear as placed in the original text, however where a new +chapter begins in the center of a page the page number has been moved to the +chapter head.</p> +</div> + + +<div class="bbox"><h4><i>Édition d'Élite</i></h4></div> + +<div class="bbox"><h1>Historical Tales</h1> + +<h3>The Romance of Reality</h3> + +<h4>By</h4> + +<h2>CHARLES MORRIS</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," "Tales from the +Dramatists," etc.</i></p> + +<h4>IN FIFTEEN VOLUMES</h4> + +<h3>Volume XIV</h3> + +<h2>King Arthur<br /> +2</h2></div> + +<div class="bbox"><h2>J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</h2> + +<h4>PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON</h4></div> + + +<h5>Copyright, 1891, by <span class="smcap">J. B. Lippincott Company</span>.</h5> + +<h5>Copyright, 1904, by <span class="smcap">J. B. Lippincott Company</span>.</h5> + +<h5>Copyright, 1908, by <span class="smcap">J. B. Lippincott Company</span>.</h5> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 331px;"> +<a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"></a><img src="images/front.jpg" width="331" height="500" alt="CONWAY CASTLE." title="CONWAY CASTLE." /> +<span class="caption">CONWAY CASTLE.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS TO VOLUME II.</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents to Volume II"> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><a href="#BOOK_VIII">BOOK VIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3">TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE AT JOYOUS GARD.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2">CHAPTER.</td><td align="right">PAGE.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Treachery of King Mark</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">How Tristram befooled Dinadan</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">On the Road To Lonazep</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">How Palamides fared at the Red City</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Tournament at Lonazep</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Second Day of the Tournament</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Woes of Two Lovers</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Rivalry of Tristram and Palamides</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><br /><a href="#BOOK_IX">BOOK IX.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3">THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Enchanted Castle of King Pellam</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Marvel of the Floating Sword</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">How Galahad got his Shield</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Temptation of Sir Percivale</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Strange Adventures of Sir Bors</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Adventure of the Magic Ship</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">How Lancelot saw the Sangreal</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Deeds of the Three Chosen Knights</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><br /><a href="#BOOK_X">BOOK X.</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3">THE LOVE OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Poisoning of Sir Patrise</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Lily Maid of Astolat</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">How Elaine died for Love</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Chevalier of the Cart</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_260">260</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><br /><a href="#BOOK_XI">BOOK XI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3">THE HAND OF DESTINY.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Trapping of the Lion</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Rescue of the Queen</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_288">288</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Return of Guenever</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_297">297</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The War Between Arthur and Lancelot</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Sting of the Viper</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_323">323</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Passing of Arthur</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Death of Lancelot and Guenever</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><h3>KING ARTHUR. VOL. II.</h3></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Conway Castle</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i>.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Michaels_Pg_10">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Round Table of King Arthur</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Table_Pg_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Marriage of Sir Tristram</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Marriage_Pg_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Assault of Sir Tristram</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Assault_Pg_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sir Tristram at Joyous Gard</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Tristram_Pg_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Departure</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Departure_Pg_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">On the Quest of the Holy Grail</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Quest_Pg_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Joseph of Arimathea</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Joseph_Pg_134">134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Oath of Knighthood</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Oath_Pg_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sir Galahad Fighting the Seven Sins</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Galahad_Pg_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">An Old and Half-ruined Chapel</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Chapel_Pg_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Magic Ship</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Magic_Ship_Pg_198">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sir Galahad's Quest of the Holy Grail</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Galahad_Pg_217">217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Salisbury Cathedral</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Cathedral_Pg_225">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">"You are Welcome, Both," said Sir Bernard</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Welcome_Pg_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elaine</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Elaine_Pg_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sir Lancelot in the Queen's Chamber</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Lancelot_Pg_287">287</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Tower of London</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Tower_Pg_324">324</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Old Kitchen of Glastonbury Abbey</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Abbey_Pg_345">345</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h1>KING ARTHUR</h1> + +<h5>AND THE</h5> + +<h2>KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BOOK_VIII" id="BOOK_VIII">BOOK VIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE AT JOYOUS GARD</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h4>THE TREACHERY OF KING MARK.</h4> + + +<p>The story of Tristram's valorous deeds, and of +the high honor in which he was held at Camelot, +in good time came to Cornwall, where it filled King +Mark's soul with revengeful fury, and stirred the +heart of La Belle Isolde to the warmest love. The +coward king, indeed, in his jealous hatred of his +nephew, set out in disguise for England, with murderous +designs against Tristram should an opportunity +occur.</p> + +<p>Many things happened to him there, and he was +brought into deep disgrace, but the story of his +adventures may be passed over in brief review, lest +the reader should find it wearisome.</p> + +<p>Not far had he ridden on English soil before he +met with Dinadan, who, in his jesting humor, soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +played him a merry trick. For he arrayed Dagonet, +the king's fool, in a suit of armor, which he made +Mark believe was Lancelot's. Thus prepared, Dagonet +rode to meet him and challenged him to a +joust. But King Mark, on seeing what he fancied +was Lancelot's shield, turned and fled at headlong +speed, followed by the fool and his comrades with +hunting cries and laughter till the forest rang with +the noise.</p> + +<p>Escaping at length from this merry chase, the +trembling dastard made his way to Camelot, where +he hoped some chance would arise to aid him in his +murderous designs on Tristram. But a knight of +his own train, named Sir Amant, had arrived there +before him, and accused him of treason to the king, +without telling who he was.</p> + +<p>"This is a charge that must be settled by wager +of battle," said King Arthur. "The quarrel is +between you; you must decide it with sword and +spear."</p> + +<p>In the battle that followed, Sir Amant, by +unlucky fortune, was run through, and fell from his +horse with a mortal wound.</p> + +<p>"Heaven has decided in my favor," cried King +Mark. "But here I shall no longer stay, for it +does not seem a safe harbor for honest knights."</p> + +<p>He thereupon rode away, fearing that Dinadan +would reveal his name. Yet not far had he gone +before Lancelot came in furious haste after him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Michaels_Pg_10" id="Michaels_Pg_10"></a><img src="images/p10.jpg" width="500" height="295" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL." title="ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL." /> +<span class="caption">ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Turn again, thou recreant king and knight," +he loudly called. "To Arthur's court you must +return, whether it is your will or not. We know +you, villain. Sir Amant has told your name and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +purpose; and, by my faith, I am strongly moved +to kill you on the spot."</p> + +<p>"Fair sir," asked King Mark, "what is your +name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Lancelot du Lake. Defend yourself, +dog and dastard."</p> + +<p>On hearing this dreaded name, and seeing Lancelot +riding upon him with spear in rest, King +Mark tumbled like a sack of grain from his saddle +to the earth, crying in terror, "I yield me, Sir +Lancelot! I yield me!" and begging piteously +for mercy.</p> + +<p>"Thou villain!" thundered Lancelot, "I would +give much to deal thee one buffet for the love of +Tristram and Isolde. Mount, dog, and follow me."</p> + +<p>Mark hastened to obey, and was thus brought like +a slave back to Arthur's court, where he made such +prayers and promises that in the end the king +forgave him, but only on condition that he would +enter into accord with Tristram, and remove from +him the sentence of banishment. All this King +Mark volubly promised and swore to abide by, +though a false heart underlay his fair words. But +Tristram gladly accepted the proffered truce with +his old enemy, for his heart burned with desire to +see his lady love again.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards Dinadan, with Dagonet and his +companions, came to court, and great was the +laughter and jesting at King Mark when they told +the story of his flight from Arthur's fool.</p> + +<p>"This is all very well for you stay-at-homes," +cried Mark; "but even a fool in Lancelot's armor +is not to be played with. As it was, Dagonet paid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +for his masquerade, for he met a knight who +brought him like a log to the ground, and all these +laughing fellows with him."</p> + +<p>"Who was that?" asked King Arthur.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you," said Dinadan. "It was Sir +Palamides. I followed him through the forest, and +a lively time we had in company."</p> + +<p>"Aha! then you have had adventures."</p> + +<p>"Rare ones. We met a knight before Morgan +le Fay's castle. You know the custom there, to +let no knight pass without a hard fight for it. +This stranger made havoc with the custom, for +he overthrew ten of your sister's knights, and killed +some of them. He afterwards tilted with Palamides +for offering to help him, and gave that +doughty fellow a sore wound."</p> + +<p>"Who was this mighty champion? Not Lancelot +or Tristram?" asked the king, looking around.</p> + +<p>"On our faith we had no hand in it," they both +answered.</p> + +<p>"It was the knight next to them in renown," +answered Dinadan.</p> + +<p>"Lamorak of Wales?"</p> + +<p>"No less. And, my faith, a sturdy fellow he is. +I left him and Palamides the best of friends."</p> + +<p>"I hope, then, to see the pair of them at next +week's tournament," said the king.</p> + +<p>Alas for Lamorak! Better for him far had he +kept away from that tournament. His gallant +career was near its end, for treachery and hatred +were soon to seal his fate. This sorrowful story +it is now our sad duty to tell.</p> + +<p>Lamorak had long loved Margause, the queen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +of Orkney, Arthur's sister and the mother of Gawaine +and his brethren. For this they hated him, +and with treacherous intent invited their mother +to a castle near Camelot, as a lure to her lover. +Soon after the tournament, at which Lamorak won +the prize of valor, and redoubled the hatred of +Gawaine and his brothers by overcoming them in +the fray, word was brought to the victorious knight +that Margause was near at hand and wished to +see him.</p> + +<p>With a lover's ardor, he hastened to the castle +where she was, but, as they sat in the queen's apartment +in conversation, the door was suddenly flung +open, and Gaheris, one of the murderous brethren, +burst in, full armed and with a naked sword in his +hand. Rushing in fury on the unsuspecting lovers, +with one dreadful blow he struck off his mother's +head, crimsoning Lamorak with her blood. He +next assailed Lamorak, who, being unarmed, was +forced to fly for his life, and barely escaped.</p> + +<p>The tidings of this dread affair filled the land +with dismay, and many of the good knights of +Arthur's court threatened reprisal. Arthur himself +was full of wrath at the death of his sister. Yet +those were days when law ruled not, but force was +master, and retribution only came from the strong +hand and the ready sword. This was Lamorak's +quarrel, and the king, though he vowed to protect +him from his foes, declared that the good knight +of Wales must seek retribution with his own hand.</p> + +<p>He gained death, alas! instead of revenge, for +his foes proved too vigilant for him, and overcame +him by vile treachery. Watching his movements,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +they lay in ambush for him at a difficult place, +and as he was passing, unsuspicious of danger, they +set suddenly upon him, slew his horse, and assailed +him on foot.</p> + +<p>Gawaine, Mordred, and Gaheris formed this ambush, +for the noble-minded Gareth had refused to +take part in their murderous plot; and with desperate +fury they assaulted the noble Welsh knight, +who, for three hours, defended himself against their +utmost strength. But at the last Mordred dealt +him a death-blow from behind, and when he fell +in death the three murders hewed him with their +swords till scarce a trace of the human form was +left.</p> + +<p>Thus perished one of the noblest of Arthur's +knights, and thus was done one of the most villanous +deeds of blood ever known in those days of +chivalrous war.</p> + +<p>Before the death of Lamorak another event happened +at Arthur's court which must here be told, +for it was marvellous in itself, and had in it the +promise of wondrous future deeds.</p> + +<p>One day there came to the court at Camelot a +knight attended by a young squire. When he had +disarmed he went to the king and asked him to +give the honor of knighthood to his squire.</p> + +<p>"What claim has he to it?" asked the king. +"Of what lineage is he?"</p> + +<p>"He is the youngest son of King Pellinore, and +brother to Sir Lamorak. He is my brother also; +for my name is Aglavale, and I am of the same +descent."</p> + +<p>"What is his name?"</p> + +<p>"Percivale."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then for my love of Lamorak, and the love I +bore your father, he shall be made a knight to-morrow."</p> + +<p>So when the morrow dawned, the king ordered +that the youth should be brought into the great +hall, and there he knighted him, dealing him the +accolade with his good sword Excalibur.</p> + +<p>And so the day passed on till the dinner-hour, +when the king seated himself at the head of the +table, while down its sides were many knights of +prowess and renown. Percivale, the new-made +knight, was given a seat among the squires and +the untried knights, who sat at the lower end of +the great dining-table.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of their dinner an event of +great strangeness occurred. For there came into +the hall one of the queen's maidens, who was of +high birth, but who had been born dumb, and in +all her life had spoken no word. Straight across +the hall she walked, while all gazed at her in mute +surprise, till she came to where Percivale sat. +Then she took him by the hand, and spoke in a +voice that rang through the hall with the clearness +of a trumpet,—</p> + +<p>"Arise, Sir Percivale, thou noble knight and +warrior of God's own choosing. Arise and come +with me."</p> + +<p>He rose in deep surprise, while all the others +sat in dumb wonder at this miracle. To the Round +Table she led him, and to the right side of the seat +perilous, in which no knight had hitherto dared +to sit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>"Fair knight, take here your seat;" she said. +"This seat belongs to you, and to none other, and +shall be yours until a greater than you shall come."</p> + +<p>This said, she departed and asked for a priest. +Then was she confessed and given the sacrament, +and forthwith died. But the king and all his court +gazed with wonder on Sir Percivale, and asked +themselves what all this meant, and for what great +career God had picked out this youthful knight, +for such a miracle no man there had ever seen +before.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, King Mark had gone back to Cornwall, +and with him went Sir Tristram, at King +Arthur's request, though not till Arthur had made +the Cornish king swear on Holy Scripture to do +his guest no harm, but hold him in honor and +esteem.</p> + +<p>Lancelot, however, was full of dread and anger +when he heard what had occurred, and he told +King Mark plainly that if he did mischief to Sir +Tristram he would slay him with his own hands.</p> + +<p>"Bear this well in mind, sir king," he said, +"for I have a way of keeping my word."</p> + +<p>"I have sworn before King Arthur to treat him +honorably," answered Mark. "I, too, have a way +of keeping my word."</p> + +<p>"A way, I doubt not," said Lancelot, scornfully; +"but not my way. Your reputation for truth needs +mending. And all men know for what you came +into this country. Therefore, take heed what you +do."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Table_Pg_16" id="Table_Pg_16"></a><img src="images/p16.jpg" width="500" height="280" alt="Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1897 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR." title="THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1897 by Curtis and Cameron.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR.</span> +</div> + +<p>Then Mark and Tristram departed, and soon +after they reached Cornwall a damsel was sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +to Camelot with news of their safe arrival, and +bearing letters from Tristram to Arthur and Lancelot. +These they answered and sent the damsel +back, the burden of Lancelot's letter being, "Beware +of King Fox, for his ways are ways of wiles."</p> + +<p>They also sent letters to King Mark, threatening +him if he should do aught to Tristram's injury. +These letters worked harm only, for they roused +the evil spirit in the Cornish king's soul, stirring +him up to anger and thirst for revenge. He +thereupon wrote to Arthur, bidding him to meddle +with his own concerns, and to take heed to his wife +and his knights, which would give him work enough +to do. As for Sir Tristram, he said that he held +him to be his mortal enemy.</p> + +<p>He wrote also to Queen Guenever, his letter being +full of shameful charges of illicit relations with +Sir Lancelot, and dishonor to her lord, the king. +Full of wrath at these vile charges, Guenever took +the letter to Lancelot, who was half beside himself +with anger on reading it.</p> + +<p>"You cannot get at him to make him eat his +words," said Dinadan, whom Lancelot took into +his confidence. "And if you seek to bring him to +terms with pen and ink, you will find that his villany +will get the better of your honesty. Yet there +are other ways of dealing with cowardly curs. +Leave him to me; I will make him wince. I will +write a mocking lay of King Mark and his doings, +and will send a harper to sing it before him at his +court. When this noble king has heard my song I +fancy he will admit that there are other ways of +gaining revenge besides writing scurrilous letters."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>A stinging lay, indeed, was that which Dinadan +composed. When done he taught it to a harper +named Eliot, who in his turn taught it to other +harpers, and these, by the orders of Arthur and +Lancelot, went into Wales and Cornwall to sing +it everywhere.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile King Mark's crown had been in great +danger. For his country had been invaded by an +army from Session, led by a noted warrior named +Elias, who drove the forces of Cornwall from the +field and besieged the king in his castle of Tintagil. +And now Tristram came nobly to the rescue. At +the head of the Cornish forces he drove back the +besiegers with heavy loss, and challenged Elias to +a single combat to end the war. The challenge was +accepted, and a long and furious combat followed, +but in the end Elias was slain, and the remnant +of his army forced to surrender.</p> + +<p>This great service added to the seeming accord +between Tristram and the king, but in his heart +Mark nursed all his old bitterness, and hated him +the more that he had helped him. His secret fury +soon found occasion to flame to the surface. For at +the feast which was given in honor of the victory, +Eliot, the harper, appeared, and sang before the +king and his lords the lay that Dinadan had made.</p> + +<p>This was so full of ridicule and scorn of King +Mark that he leaped from his seat in a fury of +wrath before the harper had half finished.</p> + +<p>"Thou villanous twanger of strings!" he cried. +"What hound sent you into this land to insult me +with your scurrilous songs?"</p> + +<p>"I am a minstrel," said Eliot, "and must obey<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +the orders of my lord. Sir Dinadan made this +song, if you would know, and bade me sing it here."</p> + +<p>"That jesting fool!" cried Mark, in wrath. +"As for you, fellow, you shall go free through +minstrels' license. But if you lose any time in +getting out of this country you may find that Cornish +air is not good for you."</p> + +<p>The harper took this advice and hastened away, +bearing letters from Tristram to Lancelot and +Dinadan. But King Mark turned the weight of +his anger against Tristram, whom he believed had +instigated this insult, with the design to set all the +nobles of his own court laughing at him. And +well he knew that the villanous lay would be sung +throughout the land, and that he would be made +the jest of all the kingdom.</p> + +<p>"They have their sport now," he said. "Mine +will come. Tristram of Lyonesse shall pay dearly +for this insult. And all that hold with him shall +learn that King Mark of Cornwall is no child's +bauble to be played with."</p> + +<p>The evil-minded king was not long in putting +his project in execution. At a tournament which +was held soon afterwards Tristram was badly +wounded, and King Mark, with great show of +sorrow, had him borne to a castle near by, where +he took him under his own care as nurse and leech.</p> + +<p>Here he gave him a sleeping draught, and had +him borne while slumbering to another castle, where +he was placed in a strong prison cell, under the +charge of stern keepers.</p> + +<p>The disappearance of Tristram made a great stir +in the kingdom. La Belle Isolde, fearing treachery,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +went to a faithful knight named Sir Sadok, and +begged him to try and discover what had become +of the missing knight. Sadok set himself diligently +to work; and soon learned that Tristram was held +captive in the castle of Lyonesse. Then he went +to Dinas, the seneschal, and others, and told them +what had been done, at which they broke into open +rebellion against King Mark, and took possession +of all the towns and castles in the country of Lyonesse, +filling them with their followers.</p> + +<p>But while the rebellious army was preparing to +march on Tintagil, and force King Mark to set +free his prisoner, Tristram was delivered by the +young knight Sir Percivale, who had come thither +in search of adventures, and had heard of King +Mark's base deed. Great was the joy between these +noble knights, and Tristram said,—</p> + +<p>"Will you abide in these marches, Sir Percivale? +If so, I will keep you company."</p> + +<p>"Nay, dear friend, I cannot tarry here. Duty +calls me into Wales."</p> + +<p>But before leaving Cornwall he went to King +Mark, told him what he had done, and threatened +him with the revenge of all honorable knights if +he sought again to injure his noble nephew.</p> + +<p>"What would you have me do?" asked the king. +"Shall I harbor a man who openly makes love to +my wife and queen?"</p> + +<p>"Is there any shame in a nephew showing an +open affection for his uncle's wife?" asked Percivale. +"No man will dare say that so noble a warrior +as Sir Tristram would go beyond the borders +of sinless love, or will dare accuse the virtuous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +lady La Belle Isolde of lack of chastity. You have +let jealousy run away with your wisdom, King +Mark."</p> + +<p>So saying, he departed; but his words had little +effect on King Mark's mind. No sooner had Percivale +gone than he began new devices to gratify his +hatred of his nephew. He sent word to Dinas, the +seneschal, under oath, that he intended to go to the +Pope and join the war against the infidel Saracens, +which he looked upon as a nobler service than that +of raising the people against their lawful king.</p> + +<p>So earnest were his professions that Dinas believed +him and dismissed his forces, but no sooner +was this done than King Mark set aside his oath +and had Tristram again privately seized and +imprisoned.</p> + +<p>This new outrage filled the whole realm with +tumult and rebellious feeling. La Belle Isolde was +at first thrown into the deepest grief, and then her +heart swelled high with resolution to live no longer +with the dastard who called her wife. Tristram +at the same time privately sent her a letter, advising +her to leave the court of her villanous lord, and +offering to go with her to Arthur's realm, if she +would have a vessel privately made ready.</p> + +<p>The queen thereupon had an interview with Dinas +and Sadok, and begged them to seize and imprison +the king, since she was resolved to escape from his +power.</p> + +<p>Furious at the fox-like treachery of the king, +these knights did as requested, for they formed a +plot by which Mark was privately seized, and they +imprisoned him secretly in a strong dungeon. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +the same time Tristram was delivered, and soon +sailed openly away from Cornwall with La Belle +Isolde, gladly shaking the dust of that realm of +treachery from his feet.</p> + +<p>In due time the vessel touched shore in King +Arthur's dominions, and gladly throbbed the heart +of the long-unhappy queen as her feet touched +that free and friendly soil. As for Tristram, never +was lover fuller of joy, and life seemed to him to +have just begun.</p> + +<p>Not long had they landed when a knightly chance +brought Lancelot into their company. Warm indeed +was the greeting of those two noble companions, +and glad the welcome which Lancelot gave +Isolde to English soil.</p> + +<p>"You have done well," he said, "to fly from that +wolf's den. There is no noble knight in the world +but hates King Mark and will honor you for leaving +his palace of vile devices. Come with me, you shall +be housed at my expense."</p> + +<p>Then he rode with them to his own castle of +Joyous Gard, a noble stronghold which he had won +with his own hands. A royal castle it was, garnished +and provided with a richness which no king +or queen could surpass. Here Lancelot bade them +use everything as their own, and charged all his +people to love and honor them as they would himself.</p> + +<p>"Joyous Gard is yours as long as you will honor +it by making it your home," he said. "As for me, +I can have no greater joy than to know that my +castle is so nobly tenanted, and that Tristram of +Lyonesse and Queen Isolde are my honored guests."</p> + +<p>Leaving them, Lancelot rode to Camelot, where +he told Arthur and Guenever of what had happened, +much to their joy and delight.</p> + +<p>"By my crown," cried Arthur, joyfully, "the +coming of Tristram and Isolde to my realm is no +everyday event, and is worthy of the highest honor. +We must signalize it with a noble tournament."</p> + +<p>Then he gave orders that a stately passage-at-arms +should be held on May-day at the castle of +Lonazep, which was near Joyous Gard. And word +was sent far and near that the knights of his own +realm of Logris, with those of Cornwall and North +Wales, would be pitted against those of the rest of +England, of Ireland and Scotland, and of lands +beyond the seas.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h4>HOW TRISTRAM BEFOOLED DINADAN.</h4> + + +<p>Never were two happier lovers than Tristram +and Isolde at Joyous Gard. Their days were spent +in feasting and merriment, Isolde's heart overflowing +with joy to be free from the jealousy of her ill-tempered +spouse, and Tristram's to have his lady +love to himself, far from treacherous plots and +murderous devices.</p> + +<p>Every day Tristram went hunting, for at that +time men say he was the best courser at the chase +in the world, and the rarest blower of the horn +among all lovers of sport. From him, it is said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +came all the terms of hunting and hawking, the +distinction between beasts of the chase and vermin, +all methods of dealing with hounds and with +game, and all the blasts of the chase and the recall, +so that they who delight in huntsmen's sport will +have cause to the world's end to love Sir Tristram +and pray for his soul's repose.</p> + +<p>Yet Isolde at length grew anxious for his welfare, +and said,—</p> + +<p>"I marvel that you ride so much to the chase +unarmed. This is a country not well known to +you, and one that contains many false knights, +while King Mark may lay some plot for your +destruction. I pray you, my dear love, to take more +heed to your safety."</p> + +<p>This advice seemed timely, and thereafter Tristram +rode in armor to the chase, and followed by +men who bore his shield and spear. One day, a +little before the month of May, he followed a hart +eagerly, but as the animal led him by a cool woodland +spring, he alighted to quench his thirst in the +gurgling waters.</p> + +<p>Here, by chance, he met with Dinadan, who had +come into that country in search of him. Some +words of greeting passed between them, after which +Dinadan asked him his name, telling his own. This +confidence Tristram declined to return, whereupon +Dinadan burst out in anger.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Marriage_Pg_24" id="Marriage_Pg_24"></a><img src="images/p24.jpg" width="500" height="295" alt="MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM." title="MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM." /> +<span class="caption">MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM.</span> +</div> + +<p>"You value your name highly, sir knight," he +said. "Do you design to ride everywhere under +a mask? Such a foolish knight as you I saw but +lately lying by a well. He seemed like one asleep, +and no word could be got from him, yet all the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +he grinned like a fool. The fellow was either an +idiot or a lover, I know not which."</p> + +<p>"And are not you a lover?" asked Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Marry, my wit has saved me from that craft."</p> + +<p>"That is not well said," answered Tristram. +"A knight who disdains love is but half a man, +and not half a warrior."</p> + +<p>"I am ready to stand by my creed," retorted +Dinadan. "As for you, sirrah, you shall tell me +your name, or do battle with me."</p> + +<p>"You will not get my name by a threat, I +promise you that," said Tristram. "I shall not +fight till I am in the mood; and when I do, you +may get more than you bargain for."</p> + +<p>"I fear you not, coward," said Dinadan.</p> + +<p>"If you are so full of valor, here is your man," +said Tristram, pointing to a knight who rode along +the forest aisle towards them. "He looks ready +for a joust."</p> + +<p>"On my life, it is the same dull-plate knave I +saw lying by the well, neither sleeping nor waking," +said Dinadan.</p> + +<p>"This is not the first time I have seen that covered +shield of azure," said Tristram. "This knight +is Sir Epinegris, the son of the king of Northumberland, +than whom the land holds no more +ardent lover, for his heart is gone utterly out to the +fair daughter of the king of Wales. Now, if you +care to find whether a lover or a non-lover is the +better knight, here is your opportunity."</p> + +<p>"I shall teach him to grin to more purpose," +said Dinadan. "Stand by and you shall see."</p> + +<p>Then, as the lover approached, he cried,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>"Halt, sir knight, and make ready to joust, as +is the custom with errant knights."</p> + +<p>"Let it be so, if you will," answered Epinegris. +"Since it is the custom of you knight-errant to +make a man joust whether he will or no, I am your +man."</p> + +<p>"Make ready, then, for here is for you."</p> + +<p>Then they spurred their horses and rode together +at full speed, Dinadan breaking his spear, +while Epinegris struck him so shrewd a blow that +he rolled upon the earth.</p> + +<p>"How now?" cried Tristram. "It seems to +me that the lover has best sped."</p> + +<p>"Will you play the coward?" queried Dinadan. +"Or will you, like a good knight, revenge me?"</p> + +<p>"I am not in the mood," answered Tristram. +"Take your horse, Sir Dinadan, and let us get +away from here, where hard blows are more plentiful +than soft beds."</p> + +<p>"Defend me from such fellowship as yours!" +roared Dinadan. "Take your way and I will take +mine. We fit not well together."</p> + +<p>"I might give you news of Sir Tristram."</p> + +<p>"Sir Tristram, if he be wise, will seek better +company. I can do without your news, as I have +had to do without your help," and he rode on in +high dudgeon.</p> + +<p>"Farewell, then," cried Tristram, laughing. "It +may happen we shall soon meet again."</p> + +<p>Tristram rode back in much amusement to Joyous +Gard, but on coming near he heard in the neighboring +town a great outcry.</p> + +<p>"What means this noise?" he asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>"Sir," he was told, "a knight of the castle has +just been slain by two strangers, and for no other +cause than saying that Sir Lancelot was a better +knight than Sir Gawaine."</p> + +<p>"Who would dispute that?" said Tristram. "It +is a small cause for the death of a good man, that +he stands for his lord's fame."</p> + +<p>"But what remedy have we?" said the towns-men. +"If Lancelot had been here, these fellows +would soon have been called to a reckoning. But, +alas, he is away."</p> + +<p>"I may do something in his service," answered +Tristram. "If I take his place, I must defend his +followers."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he sent for his shield and spear, and +rode in pursuit of the two knights, whom he overtook +before they had gone far.</p> + +<p>"Turn, sir dastards," he cried, "and amend your +misdeeds."</p> + +<p>"What amends wish you?" asked one of the +knights. "We are ready with spear and sword to +make good whatever we have done."</p> + +<p>He rode against Tristram, but was met so sturdily +in mid career that he was thrust over his horse's +tail. Then the other rode against him, and was +served in the same rough manner.</p> + +<p>They rose as quickly as they could, drew their +swords, and challenged him to battle on foot.</p> + +<p>"You shall tell me your names," he said, sternly. +"I warn you that if it comes to sword-play you +will find more than your match. Yet you may +have that in your lineage which will keep you from +my hands, however much you deserve punishment +for your evil deeds."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>"As for our names, we dread not to tell them. +We are Agravaine and Gaheris, brothers to the good +knight Gawaine, and nephews of King Arthur."</p> + +<p>"For Arthur's sake, then, I must let you pass +unscathed. Yet it is a crying shame that men of +such good blood as you should play the part of +murderers. You slew among you a better knight +than the best of your kin, Lamorak de Galis, and +I would to God I had been by at that time."</p> + +<p>"You would have gone the same road," said +Gaheris.</p> + +<p>"Not without more knights to do it than you +had in your murderous crew."</p> + +<p>With these words he turned from them and rode +back towards Joyous Gard. When he had gone they +regained their horses, and feeling themselves safe +in the saddle their courage returned.</p> + +<p>"Let us pursue this boaster," they said, "and +see if he fares so much better than Lamorak."</p> + +<p>They did so, and when they came near Tristram, +who was jogging slowly along, Agravaine cried,—</p> + +<p>"Turn, traitor knight!"</p> + +<p>"Traitor in your teeth!" cried Tristram, in a +rage. "I let you off too cheaply, it seems." And +drawing his sword, he turned upon Agravaine and +smote him so fiercely on the helm that he fell +swooning from his horse, with a dangerous wound.</p> + +<p>Then he turned to Gaheris and dealt him a blow +that in like manner tumbled him from his saddle +to the earth. This done, Tristram turned and rode +into the castle, leaving them like dead men in the +road.</p> + +<p>Here he told La Belle Isolde of his several adventures.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +When he spoke of Dinadan, she asked,—</p> + +<p>"Was it not he that made the song about King +Mark?"</p> + +<p>"The same," answered Tristram. "He is the +greatest jester at Arthur's court, but a good knight +withal, and I know no man whom I like better as +a comrade."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not bring him with you?"</p> + +<p>"No need of that. He is seeking me through +this country, and there is no fear that he will give +up the search lightly."</p> + +<p>As they spoke, a servant came and told Tristram +that a knight-errant had entered the town, and +described the device on his shield.</p> + +<p>"That is our man now," said Tristram. "That +is Dinadan. Send for him, Isolde, and you shall +hear the merriest knight and the maddest talker +that you ever spoke with. I pray you to make +him heartily welcome, for he is a cherished friend +of mine."</p> + +<p>Then Isolde sent into the town with a message +to Dinadan, begging that he would come to the +castle and rest a while there, at a lady's wish.</p> + +<p>"That will I, with a good will," answered Dinadan. +"I were but a churl else."</p> + +<p>He hastened to mount and ride to the castle, +and here he was shown to a chamber where he laid +aside his armor. Then he was brought into the +presence of La Belle Isolde, who courteously bade +him welcome.</p> + +<p>"Whence, come you, and what name do you +bear?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Madam," he answered, "I am from King<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +Arthur's court, and am one of the small fry of +Round Table Knights. My name is Dinadan."</p> + +<p>"And why came you hither?"</p> + +<p>"I am seeking my old friend and comrade, Sir +Tristram, who I am told has made his way to this +country."</p> + +<p>"That I cannot answer for," said Isolde. "He +may and he may not be here. Sir Tristram will +be found where love leads him."</p> + +<p>"I warrant me that. Your true lover has no +will of his own, but is led like an ox, with a ring +in his nose. I marvel what juice of folly gets +into the pates of these lovers to make them so mad +about the women."</p> + +<p>"Why, sir," said Isolde, "can it be that you are +a knight and no lover? I fancy that there can +be no true man-of-arms who seeks not by his deeds +to win the smiles of the fair."</p> + +<p>"They who care to be fed on smiles are welcome +to them, but I am not made of that fashion," answered +Dinadan. "The joy of love is too short, +and the sorrow thereof too long, to please my +fancy."</p> + +<p>"Say you so? Yet near here but to-day was the +good knight Sir Bleoberis, he who fought with three +knights at once for a maiden's sake, and won her +before the king of Northumberland."</p> + +<p>"I know him for a worthy fellow," said Dinadan, +"as are all of Lancelot's kindred. Yet he has +crotchets in his head, like all that crew."</p> + +<p>"Now, I pray you," said Isolde, "will you not +do me the grace to fight for my love with three +knights that have done me great wrong? As you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +are a knight of King Arthur's, you can never say +me nay in such a duty."</p> + +<p>"Can I not?" cried Dinadan. "This much I +will say, madam, that you are as fair a sample of +womankind as ever I saw, and much more beautiful +than is my lady Queen Guenever. And yet, heaven +defend me, I will not fight for you against three +knights; and would not, were you Helen of Troy +herself."</p> + +<p>At these words, and the odd grimace which he +made, La Belle Isolde burst into a merry peal of +laughter, and broke out with,—</p> + +<p>"I know you better than you fancy, Sir Dinadan. +And well you keep up your credit of being a +merry fellow. You are very welcome to my castle, +good sir."</p> + +<p>They had much more of gameful conversation +together, and Dinadan was treated with all honor, +and slept serenely at the castle that night. But +Tristram took good care to keep out of his sight.</p> + +<p>Early the next day Tristram armed himself and +prepared to ride away, saying to the Lady Isolde +that he would contrive to meet with Dinadan, and +would ride with him to Lonazep, where the tournament +was to be held. He promised also to make +arrangements to provide her with a good place from +which to see the passage-at-arms. Then he departed, +accompanied by two squires, who bore his +shield and a brace of great and long spears.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards Dinadan left the castle, bidding +a merry adieu to the lady, and rode so briskly +forward that he soon overtook Tristram. He knew +him at sight for his yesterday's comrade, and made +a sour grimace at beholding him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>"So," he said, "here again is my easy-going +friend, who wears his armor for a holiday parade. +You shall not get off so lightly to-day, fellow. +You shall joust with me, despite your head."</p> + +<p>"Faith, I am not eager," said Tristram, "but a +wilful man will have his way; so let us have it +over, if fight we must."</p> + +<p>Then they rode at each other, and Dinadan broke +a spear on Tristram's shield, but Tristram purposely +missed him.</p> + +<p>Dinadan now bade him draw his sword.</p> + +<p>"Not I," he answered. "What makes you so +warlike? I am not in the humor to fight."</p> + +<p>"You shame all knights by your cowardice."</p> + +<p>"So far as that goes, it troubles me little," said +Tristram. "Suppose, my good sir, you take me +under your protection. Though I bear arms I shall +gladly accept the patronage of so worthy a knight +as you."</p> + +<p>"The devil deliver me of you!" cried Dinadan. +"You are a fellow of goodly build, and sit your +horse like a warrior; but heaven knows if you have +blood or water in your veins. What do you propose +to do with those great spears that your squire +carries?"</p> + +<p>"I shall give them to some good knight at the +tournament. If you prove the best there, you are +welcome to them."</p> + +<p>As they thus conversed they saw a knight-errant +in the road before them, who sat with spear in rest +as if eager to joust.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Tristram, "since you are so +anxious for a fight, yonder is your man."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>"Shame betide you for a dastard," cried Dinadan. +"Fight him yourself. You can't get more +than a fall."</p> + +<p>"Not so. That knight seems a shrewish fellow. +It will need a stronger hand than mine to manage +him."</p> + +<p>"Good faith, then, here's to teach you a lesson," +said Dinadan, and he rode fiercely against the other +knight, with the unlucky result that he was thrust +from his horse, and fell headlong to the earth.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" said Tristram. "You +had better have taken a lesson from my prudence, +and let that good fellow alone."</p> + +<p>"The fiends take you, coward!" cried Dinadan, +as he started to his feet and drew his sword. +"Come, sir knight, you are my better on horseback, +let us have it out on foot."</p> + +<p>"Shall it be in love or in anger?" said the other.</p> + +<p>"Let it be in love. I am saving all my anger +for this do-nothing who came with me."</p> + +<p>"Then I pray you to tell me your name."</p> + +<p>"Folks call me Dinadan."</p> + +<p>"Ah, and I am your comrade Gareth. I will +not fight with an old friend like Dinadan."</p> + +<p>"Nor I with you, by my faith!" cried Dinadan, +seizing Gareth's hand and giving it a warm pressure. +"Beaumains is safe from my spear. Here +is a chap now, if you want to try your skill; but +if you can get him to fight you must first learn the +art of converting a coward into a man of valor."</p> + +<p>Tristram laughed quietly at this, and bided his +time. Nor was there long to wait, for just then a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +well-armed knight rode up, on a sturdy horse, and +put his spear in rest as he approached.</p> + +<p>"Now, my good sirs," said Tristram, "choose +between yourselves which will joust with yonder +knight; for I warn you that I will keep clear of +him."</p> + +<p>"Faith, you had better," said Gareth. "Leave +him to me."</p> + +<p>And he rode against the knight but with such +ill-fortune that he was thrust over his horse's croup.</p> + +<p>"It is your turn now," said Tristram to Dinadan. +"Honor requires that you should avenge your comrade +Gareth."</p> + +<p>"Honor does, eh? Then reason does not, and +I always weigh reason against honor. He has overturned +a much bigger fellow than I, and with your +kind permission I will not stir up that hornet."</p> + +<p>"Aha, friend Dinadan, your heart fails you after +all your boasting. Very well, you shall see what +the coward can do. Make ready, sir knight."</p> + +<p>Then Tristram rode against the victorious knight, +and dealt him so shrewd a buffet that he was thrust +from his horse.</p> + +<p>Dinadan looked at this in amazement. Was this +the fellow that professed cowardice and begged protection? +"The cunning rogue," he said to himself, +"has been making game of me. The rascal! where +has he learned the art of turning my weapons on +myself?"</p> + +<p>The dismounted knight rose to his feet in anger, +and drawing his sword, challenged Tristram to a +fight on foot.</p> + +<p>"First, tell me your name?" asked Tristram.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>"My name is Palamides."</p> + +<p>"And what knight hate you most?"</p> + +<p>"I hate Sir Tristram to the death. If we meet, +one of us must die."</p> + +<p>"You need not go far to seek him. I am Tristram +de Lyonesse. Now do your worst."</p> + +<p>At this Dinadan started, and struck his hand +sturdily on his knee, like one who has had a shock +of surprise. Nor was Palamides less astonished, +and he stood before Tristram like one in a sudden +revulsion of feeling.</p> + +<p>"I pray you, Sir Tristram," he said, "to forgive +my ill-will and my unkind words. You are a noble +knight and worthy of the love of all honorable +warriors. I repent my truculent temper towards +you, and, if I live, will rather do you service than +assail you."</p> + +<p>"I know your valor well," answered Tristram, +"and that it is anything but fear makes you speak +so. Therefore I thank you much for your kind +words. But if you have any shreds of ill-will +towards me I am ready to give you satisfaction."</p> + +<p>"My wits have been astray," answered Palamides. +"There is no just reason why we should be at odds, +and I am ready to do you knightly service in all +things you may command."</p> + +<p>"I take you at your word," cried Tristram, as he +grasped Palamides by the hand. "I have never +been your enemy, and know none whom I would +rather have as a friend."</p> + +<p>"Would you?" cried Dinadan. "And would +have me as your fool, mayhap? By my knightly +faith, you have made a sweet butt of me! I came +into this country for your sake, and by the advice +of Sir Lancelot, though he would not tell me where +to find you. By Jove's ears, I never thought to +find you masquerading as a milk-brained coward."</p> + +<p>"He could have told you," said Tristram, "for +I abode within his own castle. As for my little +sport, friend Dinadan, I cry you mercy."</p> + +<p>"Faith, it is but one of my own jests, turned +against me," said Dinadan, with a merry laugh. +"I am pinked with my own dart. I forgive you, +old comrade; but I vow I did not know you had +such a jolly humor."</p> + +<p>"It comes to one in your company," said Tristram, +laughing. "The disease is catching."</p> + +<p>And so the four knights rode gayly onward, conversing +much as they went, and laying their plans +for the tournament.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h4>ON THE ROAD TO LONAZEP.</h4> + + +<p>The four knights rode onward in company until +they came in sight of the castle of Lonazep, where +they saw striking preparations for the tournament. +For not less than four hundred tents and pavilions +covered the plain outside the great circle of the lists, +and war-horses and knights in armor were there in +hundreds.</p> + +<p>"Truly," said Tristram, "this is the royalest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +show that I ever saw."</p> + +<p>"You forget," answered Palamides. "It had its +equal at the Castle of Maidens, where you won the +prize."</p> + +<p>"And in that tournament which Galahalt of the +Long Isles held in Surluse there was as great a +gathering," said Dinadan.</p> + +<p>"I was not there; who won the prize?" asked +Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Lancelot du Lake, and the next after him was +the noble knight Lamorak de Galis."</p> + +<p>"A noble fellow, indeed, I never met his better, +save Sir Lancelot. His murder was shameful, and +were they not the nephews of my lord Arthur that +slew him, by my faith they should die the death. +And this without prejudice to you, Sir Gareth."</p> + +<p>"Say what you will on that point; I am with +you," answered Gareth. "Though my own brothers +did that bloody work, I hold not with them. +None of them love me, as you well know, and I have +left their company as murderers. Had I been by +when Lamorak was killed there might have been +another tale to tell."</p> + +<p>"Truly that is well said of you," rejoined Tristram. +"I would rather have been there than to +have all the gold between here and Rome."</p> + +<p>"And I also," said Palamides. "It is a burning +disgrace to the Round Table fellowship that such +a knight should have been ambushed and slain on +his way from a passage-at-arms where he had won +the prize of valor."</p> + +<p>"Out on such treason!" cried Tristram. "The +tale of it makes my blood run cold."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>"And mine as well," said Gareth. "I can never +love or respect my brothers again for that ruthless +deed."</p> + +<p>"Yet to speak of it is useless," said Palamides. +"His life is gone; we cannot bring it back again."</p> + +<p>"There lies the pity," said Dinadan. "No matter +how good and noble a man may be, when he +stops breathing all else stops with him. By good +luck, though, the same rule holds with villains and +cowards. As for Gawaine and his brothers, except +you, Sir Gareth, they hate the best knights of the +Round Table, and Lancelot and his kindred above +all. Only that Lancelot is well aware of this, they +might draw him into as deadly a trap as they drew +poor Lamorak."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, remember that Gareth is their +brother," said Palamides. "Let us change the subject. +Here is this tournament,—what part shall +we play here? My advice is that we four hold +together against all that may assail us."</p> + +<p>"That is not my counsel," said Tristram. "By +their pavilions we may count on some four hundred +knights, and doubtless many of them worthy ones. +If we play the game of four against all comers +we are likely to find ourselves borne down by numbers. +Many good knights have lost the game by +taking too great odds. Manhood is of little avail +if it be not tempered by wisdom. If you think it +best we may try it, and see what we can do in +company, but, as a rule, I prefer to fight for my own +hand."</p> + +<p>As they thus talked they rode away from Lonazep, +and in due time came to the banks of the Humber,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +where they were surprised by a loud and grievous +cry that seemed full of doleful meaning. Looking +over the waters they saw approaching before the +wind a vessel richly draped with red silk. Not long +had they waited when it came to the shore, at a +point close by where they stood.</p> + +<p>Seeing this strange thing and hearing the doleful +cries which came from the vessel, the knights gave +their horses in care of their squires, and approached +on foot, Tristram boarding the vessel. When he +reached the deck he saw there a bed with rich silken +coverings, on which lay a dead knight, armed save +the head, which was crimsoned with blood. And +through great gaps in his armor deadly wounds +could be seen.</p> + +<p>"What means this?" said Tristram. "How +came this knight by his death?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he saw that a letter lay in the dead +knight's hand.</p> + +<p>"Master mariners," he asked of those on board +the vessel, "what does this strange thing signify?"</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," they answered, "by the letter +which the dead knight bears you may learn how +and for what cause he was slain, and what name +he bore. Yet first heed well this warning: No +man must take and read that letter unless he be a +knight of proved valor, and faithfully promises +to revenge the murder of this good warrior."</p> + +<p>"There be those among us able to revenge him," +answered Tristram. "And if he shall prove to have +been foully treated his death shall not go unredressed."</p> + +<p>Therewith he took the letter from the knight's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +hand and opened it. Thus it read,—</p> + +<p>"I, Hermance, king and lord of the Red City, +request of all knights-errant and all noble knights +of Arthur's court, that they find one knight who +will fight for my sake with two false brethren, whom +I brought up from nothingness and who have +feloniously and treacherously slain me. And it is +my will and desire that the valiant knight who +avenges my death shall become lord of my Red +City and all my castles."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the mariners, "the king and knight +that lies here dead was a man of great virtue and +noble prowess, and one who loved all knights-errant, +and, above all, those of King Arthur's court."</p> + +<p>"It is a piteous case, truly," said Tristram. "I +would fain take the enterprise in hand myself, but +that I have made a solemn promise to take part +in this great tournament. It was for my sake in +especial that my lord Arthur made it, and I cannot +in honor and courtesy fail to attend it. Therefore +I am not free to undertake any adventure which +may keep me from the lists."</p> + +<p>"I pray you, dear sir," said Palamides, who had +followed Tristram into the vessel, "to put this +enterprise into my hands. I promise to achieve +it worthily or to die in the effort."</p> + +<p>"Be it so," said Tristram. "You may go if you +will. But first I wish your promise to return so +as to be with me at the tournament this day week, +if possible."</p> + +<p>"That promise I freely give. If I be alive and +unhurt, and my task be not too arduous and long, +I shall be with you by that day."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>This said, Tristram left the vessel, leaving Palamides +in it, and he, with Gareth and Dinadan, stood +watching it as the mariners hoisted its sails and it +glided swiftly away over long Humber. Not till +it was out of sight did they return to their horses, +and look about them.</p> + +<p>As they did so they beheld near them a knight, +who came up unarmed save a sword, and saluted +them with all courtesy.</p> + +<p>"Fair sirs," he said, "I pray you, as knights-errant, +to come and see my castle, and take such +fare as you may find there. This I heartily +request."</p> + +<p>"That shall we willingly do, and thank you for +your courtesy," they answered, and rode with him +to his castle, which was near by.</p> + +<p>Here they entered a richly-furnished hall, and, +having laid off their armor, took their seats at a +well-laden table. But when the host saw Tristram's +face, he knew him, and first grew pale and then +angry of countenance.</p> + +<p>"Sir, mine host," said Tristram, on seeing this +threatening aspect, "what is wrong with you, I +pray?"</p> + +<p>"I know you, Tristram de Lyonesse," answered +the knight, hotly. "You slew my brother. Honor +demands that I shall not seek revenge here, but I +give you warning that I will kill you when I meet +you outside my castle."</p> + +<p>"I have no knowledge of you or your brother," +answered Tristram. "But no man can say that I +ever killed any one except in fair and open fight. +If I have done as you say I stand ready to make +what amends are in my power."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>"I desire no amends," rejoined the knight. +"But I warn you to keep from me."</p> + +<p>Tristram at this rose from the table and asked +for his arms, his companions following him. Seeking +their horses they rode away, but they had not +gone far from the castle when Dinadan saw a knight +following them, who was well armed, but bore no +shield.</p> + +<p>"Take care of yourself, Sir Tristram," he said. +"Yonder comes our host to call you to account."</p> + +<p>"Then I must abide him as I may," answered +Tristram.</p> + +<p>Soon the knight came up, and, loudly bidding +Tristram to be on his guard, he rode furiously upon +him with couched spear. But his valor went beyond +his strength, for he was hurled over his horse's +croup.</p> + +<p>Not content with this, he rose, mounted again, +and driving his horse at full speed upon Tristram, +struck him two hard blows on the helm.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," said Tristram, "I pray you leave +off this sport. I do not care to harm you after +having just eaten at your table, but beg you not +to try my patience too far."</p> + +<p>The furious assailant would not cease, however, +and continued his assaults until Tristram was +provoked to anger. In the end he returned the +knight a blow with the full strength of his mighty +arm, so fierce a buffet, indeed, that the blood burst +out from the breathing holes of his helm, and he +fell to the earth and lay there like one dead.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 381px;"> +<a name="Assault_Pg_42" id="Assault_Pg_42"></a><img src="images/p42.jpg" width="381" height="500" alt="THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM." title="THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM." /> +<span class="caption">THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I hope I have not killed him," said Tristram. +"I did not think to strike the man so hard a blow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +but I am not a log to stand at rest and let him +whet his sword on."</p> + +<p>Leaving the fallen knight to the care of his squire, +they rode on; but not far had they gone when +they saw coming towards them two well-armed and +well-horsed knights, each with a good following of +servants. One of these was Berrant le Apres, he +who was called the king with the hundred knights, +and the other Sir Segwarides, both men of might +and renown.</p> + +<p>When they came up the king looked at Dinadan, +who, through sport, had put on Tristram's helmet. +This he recognized as one he had seen before with +the queen of Northgalis, whom he loved. She had +given it to La Belle Isolde, and she to Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," asked Berrant, "whence had you +that helm?"</p> + +<p>"Not from you, I fancy. What have you to say +to it?"</p> + +<p>"That I will have a tilt with you, for the love +of her who once owned it. Therefore, defend +yourself."</p> + +<p>So they drew asunder, and rode at each other +with all the speed of their horses. But Dinadan, +good knight as he was, was no match for the tough +and hardy warrior before him, and was sent, horse +and all, to the ground.</p> + +<p>"I fancy I have something to say about the helmet +now," said Berrant, grimly. "Go take it off +him, and keep it," he ordered his servant.</p> + +<p>"What will you do?" cried Tristram. "Hands +off, fellow. Touch not that helm."</p> + +<p>"To what intent do you meddle, sir knight?" +demanded Berrant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>"To this intent, that the helm is mine. Nor +will you get it from me till you buy it at a dearer +price."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that as a challenge?" asked Berrant. +"Be it so, then; make ready."</p> + +<p>Together they rode with all speed, but with a +change of fortune, for Berrant found himself thrust +over the tail of his horse. In a moment he was +on his feet, sprang briskly to his saddle, and, riding +in anger upon Tristram, struck at him fiercely with +his sword.</p> + +<p>Tristram was not taken unawares, but in an +instant had his sword in hand. A fierce combat +followed, for the king with the hundred knights +was a warrior of tough sinews and tried valor, +but at the last he received such a buffet on the helm +that he fell forward on his horse's neck, stunned +and helpless.</p> + +<p>"By my faith, that helmet has proved unlucky +for two of us," said Dinadan. "It brought me +a tumble, and now, sir king, you owe it a buzzing +head-piece."</p> + +<p>"Who will joust with me?" asked Segwarides.</p> + +<p>"It is your right," said Gareth to Dinadan, "but +I pray you let me have it."</p> + +<p>"You are heartily welcome to it. One tumble +a day is enough for my weak appetite," answered +Dinadan. "I make you a free present of the +opportunity."</p> + +<p>"That is no fair exchange," said Tristram. +"The joust is yours by right."</p> + +<p>"But not by choice," rejoined Dinadan. "Good +faith, sir bruiser, I have lived long enough to know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +when I have had my share, and that is a lesson +it would pay many of you battle-hungry knights +to learn."</p> + +<p>Then Gareth and Segwarides rode together, the +result being that Gareth and his horse went in a +heap to the earth.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Tristram, "the joust is yours."</p> + +<p>"But the appetite is lacking," said Dinadan. +"I have even less stomach for it than before."</p> + +<p>"Then will I try him."</p> + +<p>With these words Tristram challenged Segwarides, +who received a sore fall in the joust that +followed. Then the three knights rode on, leaving +their late antagonists the worse in heart and limb +for the encounter.</p> + +<p>They continued their ride till they reached Joyous +Gard. Here Gareth courteously declined to +enter the castle, but Tristram would not hear of +his departure, and made him alight and enter as +his guest. So they disarmed and had good cheer, +with La Belle Isolde as their hostess.</p> + +<p>But Dinadan, when he came into the presence of +Isolde, roundly cursed the hour that he had been +persuaded to wear Tristram's helm, and told her of +how he had been mocked by his comrade knight.</p> + +<p>Much laughing and jesting at Dinadan followed, +but this was a game in which he was quite able +to hold his own, however he might lack with sword +and spear. For Arthur's court held no other so +witty of tongue and merry of heart. And thus +in jest and feast they passed the hours happily +away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h4>HOW PALAMIDES FARED AT THE RED CITY.</h4> + + +<p>Leaving Tristram and his companions to their +merry talk in Joyous Gard, we must now return +to Palamides. The ship into which he had entered +sailed far along the Humber, until in time it reached +the open sea. It continued its course through the +sea-waves till it came to a part of the coast where +stood a stately castle.</p> + +<p>All day and night they had sailed, and it was +now early in the morning, before day-dawn. Palamides +was sound asleep in the vessel's cabin when +the mariners came to call him.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," they said, "you must arise. We +have reached a castle, which you must enter."</p> + +<p>"I am at your command," he replied.</p> + +<p>Rising, he armed himself quickly, and then blew +a loud call upon a horn which the mariners gave +him.</p> + +<p>At the ringing music of that bugle-blast the +sleeping castle seemed to stir into life. Soon many +eyes could be seen looking from the windows, and +ere long the walls were crowded with knights, who +called to Palamides as with one voice, "Welcome, +fair sir, to this castle."</p> + +<p>The day had now fully dawned, and Palamides +entered the castle, where a crowd of knights came +to greet him, and led him to a stately dining-hall, +where an abundant breakfast awaited him. But +as he ate he heard much lamentation, and saw many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +whose eyes were wet with tears.</p> + +<p>"What means this?" he asked. "I love not +such sorrow, and would fain know what gives rise +to it."</p> + +<p>"We mourn here daily," answered a knight +named Sir Ebel, "and for this cause. We had a +king named Hermance, who was lord of the Red +City, and in every way a noble and generous monarch. +And he loved nothing in the world so much +as the knights-errant of King Arthur's court, together +with the sports of jousting, hunting, and all +knightly diversions. A king so kind of heart as he +was never before known in this country, and we shall +ever be filled with sorrow for his loss. Yet he acted +unwisely, and is himself at fault for his death."</p> + +<p>"Tell me how he was slain and by whom," +asked Palamides.</p> + +<p>"In this wise it came to pass," answered Ebel. +"He brought up, in pure charity, two children, +who are now strong knights. And to them he gave +all his trust and confidence, in default of those +of his own blood. These two men governed him +completely, and, through him, his lands and people, +for they took the best of care that none of his kindred +should come into power. He was so free and +trustful, and they so politic and deceitful, that they +ruled him as though they were the kings and he the +subject. When the lords of our king's blood saw +that he had fallen into this dotage they left the court +in disgust, and sought their livelihood elsewhere. +This it proved not wise to do, for when these villains +found that all the king's kindred had left the +realm they schemed to have more power still; for,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +as the old saw says, 'Give a churl rule in part, and +he will not be content till he has it all.' It is the +instinct of the base-born to destroy gentlemen-born, +if the power be put in their hands, and all rulers +should take warning by the fate of King Hermance. +In the end our king, by the advice of these traitors, +rode into the forest here by, to chase the red deer. +When he had become warm from the hunt he +alighted to drink at a woodland spring, and, while +he was bent over the water, one of these villains +thrust him through the body with a spear. They +then fled from the spot, thinking he was dead. +Shortly after they had gone, fortune brought me +to the spot, where I found my lord still alive, but +mortally hurt, and learned from him his story. +Knowing that we had no knights able to revenge +him on his murderers, I had him brought to the +water, and put into the ship alive, and the letter +which he bore in his hand I wrote from his own +words. Then he died, and, as he had ordered, +the ship set sail up the Humber, bound for the realm +of Logris, where it was hoped that some valiant +Knight of the Round Table would take this adventure +on himself."</p> + +<p>"Truly your doleful tale grieves me sorely," +said Palamides. "I saw the letter you speak of. +It was read to me by one of the best knights upon +the earth, and it is by his command I am here. I +came to revenge your king, and I shall never be +at ease till I meet with and punish his murderers."</p> + +<p>"You have my hearty thanks and best wishes," +said Ebel. "Since you accept this adventure, you +must enter the ship again, and sail forward till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +you reach the Delectable Isle, which is near by the +Red City. We shall await here your return. If +you speed well this castle is yours. King Hermance +built it for the two traitors, but we hold it against +them, and they threaten us sorely unless we yield +it."</p> + +<p>"Look that you keep it, whatsoever may come +to me," said Palamides. "For if fortune decides +that I am to be slain in this quest, I trust that one +of the best knights in the world will come to +revenge me; either Tristram de Lyonesse or Lancelot +du Lake."</p> + +<p>Then Palamides entered the ship and sailed away +towards the Red City. But as he came near it, +and landed on the coast, another ship touched shore +near by, from which came a goodly knight, with his +shield on his shoulder and his hand on his sword.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, what seek you here?" he asked +Palamides. "If you have come to revenge King +Hermance you must yield this quest to me, for +it was mine before it was yours, and I shall yield +it to no man."</p> + +<p>"You speak like a true knight," said Palamides. +"But when the letter was taken from the dead +king's hand there was nothing known of any champion +for him, and so I promised to revenge him. +And this I must and shall do, lest I win shame +instead of honor."</p> + +<p>"You have right on your side," said the knight. +"What I propose is this. I will fight with you; +and he who proves the better knight shall have +the quest."</p> + +<p>"That fits with my fancy," said Palamides; "for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +from what I hear no second-rate champion can +watch this pair of villains."</p> + +<p>With this they advanced their shields and drew +their swords, and began a stern and well-contested +combat. For more than an hour the fight between +them continued, but at the end of this time Palamides +seemed stronger and better-winded than at +the beginning, and he finally dealt his opponent a +blow that brought him to his knees. Then the +discomfited combatant cried out,—</p> + +<p>"Knight, hold your hand."</p> + +<p>Palamides let fall his sword at this request.</p> + +<p>"You are the better of us two, and more worthy +of this battle," said the knight. "But fain would +I know your name."</p> + +<p>"My name is Palamides. I am a Knight of the +Round Table, and one well known in Arthur's +realm."</p> + +<p>"In good faith it is, and much beyond that +realm," answered the knight. "I know only three +living men besides yourself who are fitted for this +task, and they are Lancelot, Tristram, and my +cousin Lamorak. As for me, my name is Hermind, +and I am brother to the murdered King Hermance."</p> + +<p>"I shall do my best to revenge your brother," +said Palamides. "If I am slain, I commend you +to Lancelot or Tristram. As for Lamorak, he will +never strike blow again."</p> + +<p>"Alas, what mean you?"</p> + +<p>"That he has been murdered—waylaid and slain +treacherously by Gawaine and his brothers, except +Sir Gareth, the best of them all." And he told the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +story of the death of Lamorak, much to the grief +and indignation of his hearer.</p> + +<p>Then Palamides took ship again, and sailed on +till he came to the Delectable Isle. Meanwhile +Hermind made all haste to the Red City, where +he told of the arrival of the famous knight Palamides +and of his combat with him. The people +were filled with joy at these tidings, and quickly +sent a messenger to the two brethren, bidding them +to make ready, as a knight had come who would +fight them both. The messenger found them at a +castle near by, and delivered his message.</p> + +<p>"Who is this champion?" they asked. "Is it +Lancelot or any of his blood?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"If it were, we would not fight. But we care +for no one else."</p> + +<p>"It is a good knight though, Sir Palamides, a +Saracen by birth, and still unchristened."</p> + +<p>"He had best have been christened before he +came here, for it will be too late when we have +done with him. Let him know that we will be +at the Red City in two days, and will give him +all the fighting he is likely to want for the rest +of his life."</p> + +<p>When Palamides came to the city he was received +with the greatest joy, and the more so when +the people saw what a handsome and well-built +man he was, neither too young nor too old, with +clean and powerful limbs, and no defect of body.</p> + +<p>At the time appointed there came to the city the +two brethren, Helius and Helake by name, both of +them strong and valiant men, of great prowess in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +war, false as they were at heart. And with them +they brought forty knights, to guard them against +any treachery from the Red City, for they knew +well that it was filled with their enemies.</p> + +<p>The lists had already been prepared, and at the +appointed hour Palamides entered full armed, and +confronted his antagonists boldly.</p> + +<p>"Are you the two brethren Helius and Helake, +who slew your king by treason?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We are the men who slew King Hermance," +they replied. "And bear in mind, Sir Saracen, +we are able to stand by our deeds, and will handle +you so before you depart that you will wish you +had been christened before you came so far."</p> + +<p>"I trust to God I shall die a better Christian +than either of you," Palamides replied. "And +you had best kill me if you get the chance, for I +vow not to spare you."</p> + +<p>As he spoke the trumpet sounded, and, reining +back their horses, they rode against each other with +terrific speed. Palamides directed his spear against +Helake, and struck him so mighty a blow that the +spear pierced through his shield and hauberk, and +for a fathom's length through his breast, hurling +him dead to the earth. As for Helius, he held up +his spear in pride and presumption, and rode by +Palamides without touching him.</p> + +<p>But when he saw his brother stretched in death +on the earth his assurance changed to doubt, and +rage drove the pride from his heart. "Help thyself, +villain!" he cried, and rushed upon Palamides +before he could prepare to encounter him, striking +him a blow with his spear that bore him from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +saddle to the earth. Then he forced his horse over +him backward and forward before the dismounted +champion could regain his feet.</p> + +<p>As he came again, the fallen knight reached up +and caught the horse by the bridle, dragging himself +by its aid to his feet. Then, as the animal +reared, he pressed so strongly upon it that it toppled +backward to the ground, the rider barely saving +himself from being crushed beneath his fallen horse. +But he was on his feet in an instant, and, sword in +hand, struck Palamides a blow on the helm that +brought him down to one knee.</p> + +<p>Before he could repeat the blow the gallant Saracen +was on his feet and had drawn his trenchant +blade, with which he attacked his antagonist in +turn. A fierce and deadly combat succeeded, the +two knights hurtling together like two wild boars, +now both hurled grovelling to the earth, now on +foot again and hewing at each other with the +strength of giants.</p> + +<p>Thus for two hours they fought, without time +for rest or a moment's space to recover breath. +At the end of that time Palamides grew faint and +weary from the violence of his efforts, but Helius +seemed as strong as ever, and redoubling his strokes +he drove back the Saracen knight step by step, +over all the field. At this the people of the city +were filled with fear, while the party of Helius +shouted with triumph.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" cried the citizens, "that this noble +knight should be slain for our king's sake."</p> + +<p>While they thus bewailed his threatened fate and +the seeming victory of their tyrant, Helius showered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +so many vigorous blows on his weakened foe that +it was a wonder he kept his feet. But when he +saw how the common people wept for him his heart +was filled with a sense of shame, while a glow of +fury burned like fire in his veins.</p> + +<p>"Fie on you for a dastard, Palamides!" he said +to himself. "Why hang you your head so like a +whipped hound?"</p> + +<p>Then, with a new spirit burning hotly within +him, and fresh strength animating his limbs, he +lifted his drooping shield and turned on Helius +with lion-like fury, smiting him a vigorous blow +on the helm, which he followed quickly by others. +This violent onset was too much for the strained +strength of the false knight, and he retreated in +dismay, while the sword of Palamides fell with ever +more and more might. At length came so mighty +a blow that he was hurled like a log to the earth. +The victorious Saracen gave him no time to recover, +but sprang upon him like a fury, tore the +helm from his head, and with a final stroke smote +the head from his body.</p> + +<p>Then he rose and stood leaning upon his sword, +hardly able to bear himself on his feet, while from +all the people of the city went up loud shouts of +joy and congratulation.</p> + +<p>"Palamides, the conqueror! Palamides, our deliverer! +Palamides, our king!" they shouted, +while one adorned his brows with a wreath of laurel, +and others tore off his armor and applied ointments +to his bleeding limbs.</p> + +<p>"Fair friends, your crown is not for me," he +said. "I have delivered you from your tyrants, +but you must choose some other king, as I am +under promise to return with all speed to my lord +King Arthur at the castle of Lonazep."</p> + +<p>This decision filled them with grief, but they +brought him to the city and treated him with all +the honor which they could bestow upon him. And +as he persisted in his refusal of the crown, they +proffered him a third part of their goods if he +would remain with them. All this he declined, +and in a short time departed, bearing with him a +thousand good wishes and prayers for success and +fortune.</p> + +<p>He was received with like joy and congratulation +at the castle, Sir Ebel warmly pressing him +to change his decision and remain as their king. +To this Palamides would by no means consent, +and after a day's stay he took ship again, and +sailed up the Humber to the castle of Lonazep.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> +<a name="Tristram_Pg_55" id="Tristram_Pg_55"></a><img src="images/p55.jpg" width="382" height="500" alt="SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD." title="SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD." /> +<span class="caption">SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h4>THE TOURNAMENT AT LONAZEP.</h4> + + +<p>When Palamides learned that Tristram was not +at Lonazep, he tarried not there, but crossed the +Humber, and sought him at Joyous Gard. Here +he found lodgings in the town, and word was +quickly brought to Tristram that a knight-errant +had come.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>"What manner of man is he? and what sign does +he bear?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The messenger described his armor and appearance.</p> + +<p>"That is Palamides," said Dinadan. "The +brave fellow is already back, and victorious, I +doubt not."</p> + +<p>"It looks that way, indeed. Go and bid him +welcome to Joyous Gard," said Tristram.</p> + +<p>So Dinadan went to Palamides, and joyfully +greeted him, listening eagerly to the story of his +exploits, and congratulating him on his signal success. +He remained with him that night, and in +the morning they were visited by Tristram and +Gareth before they had arisen.</p> + +<p>Many were the warm congratulations which Tristram +gave Palamides on his noble achievement, +and after they had breakfasted he invited him to +ride into the fields and woods, that they might +repose under the cool shelter of the forest. Here +they alighted by a refreshing spring, and as they +sat conversing an armed knight came riding towards +them.</p> + +<p>"Who are those knights that are lodged in Joyous +Gard?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That I cannot say," answered Tristram.</p> + +<p>"At any rate you can tell me who you are. You +are not knights-errant, I fancy, since you ride +unarmed."</p> + +<p>"Whether we be or no, we prefer not to tell our +names."</p> + +<p>"You are not courteous, sir knight, and this is +the way I pay discourtesy," said the stranger.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +"Guard yourself, or you shall die by my hands."</p> + +<p>Then, spear in hand, he rode on Sir Tristram, +with brutal intent to run him through. But Palamides +sprang up hastily, and smote the knight's +horse so fierce a blow with his clinched fist that +horse and man fell together to the earth. He then +drew his sword to slay him.</p> + +<p>"Let the dog go," said Tristram. "He is but +a fool, and it were a shame to slay him for his +folly. Take the fellow's spear from him, though. +It is a weapon he has not learned the use of."</p> + +<p>The knight rose groaning, and when he had +regained his saddle he again requested their names.</p> + +<p>"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse, and this +knight's name is Palamides. Would you know +more?"</p> + +<p>"No, by my faith!" cried the other, and, hastily +putting spurs to his horse, he rode away as +fast as the animal would carry him.</p> + +<p>Hardly had he gone when a knight, who bore +a bended shield of azure, came riding up at a +furious gallop.</p> + +<p>"My fair sirs," he asked, "has a knight passed +here bearing a shield with a case of red over it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. We but now had some trouble with such +a fellow. Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"And you let him escape? That was ill-advised, +fair sirs. He is the falsest rogue and the greatest +foe to knights-errant living. His name is Breuse +Sans Pité."</p> + +<p>"And I had him under my sword!" cried Palamides. +"Fool I was to let him go."</p> + +<p>"If I overtake him there will be another story<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +to tell," answered the knight, as he spurred onward +on the track of the fugitive.</p> + +<p>Then the four friends mounted and rode leisurely +back towards Joyous Gard, much conversing as they +went. When they reached the castle Palamides +wished not to enter, but Tristram insisted on it, +and, taking him by the hand, led him in.</p> + +<p>When Palamides saw La Belle Isolde, whom he +had not met for years, but for whom his love burned +as warmly as ever, he was so ravished with joy +that he could scarcely speak. And when they were +at dinner he could not eat a morsel, but sat like a +dumb man, scarcely venturing to raise his eyes to +Isolde's lovely countenance.</p> + +<p>Poorly he slept that night, and with many +dreams of her he loved. When morning broke they +all prepared to ride to Lonazep. Tristram took +with him three squires, and Queen Isolde had three +gentlewomen, all attired with great richness. +These, with the other knights and their squires, +and valets to bear their shields and spears, formed +their train.</p> + +<p>Not far had they gone before they saw on the +road before them a group of knights. Chief of +these was the knight Galihodin, who was attended +by twenty companions.</p> + +<p>"Fair fellows," said Galihodin, "yonder come +four knights escorting a richly-attired lady. What +say you? shall we take her from them?"</p> + +<p>"That is not the best counsel," said one.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, it is my counsel," answered Galihodin. +"We shall show them that we have the +right of the road." And he sent a squire to them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +asking them if they would joust, or else lose their +lady.</p> + +<p>"We are but four," said Tristram. "Tell your +lord to come with three of his comrades, and win +her if he can."</p> + +<p>"Let me have this joust," said Palamides. "I +will undertake them all four."</p> + +<p>"As you will," said Tristram. "Go tell your +lord that this one knight will encounter him and +any three of his fellows."</p> + +<p>The squire departed with his challenge, and in +a trice Galihodin came riding forward spear in +rest. Palamides encountered him in mid career, +and smote him so hard a blow that he had a terrible +fall to the earth, and his horse with him. +His three comrades were served in the same summary +manner, while Palamides still bore an unbroken +spear. At this unlooked-for result six +knights rode out from the opposite party with +purpose of revenge on the victor.</p> + +<p>"Hold your hands," cried Galihodin. "Let not +one of you touch this noble knight, who has proved +himself a man of worth. And I doubt if the whole +of you could handle him."</p> + +<p>When Palamides saw that the field was yielded +to him he rode back to Sir Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Well and worshipfully have you done," said +Tristram. "No man could have surpassed you."</p> + +<p>Onward they rode again, and in a little while +after met four knights in the highway, with spears +in rest. These were Gawaine and three companions. +This joust also Tristram gave to Palamides, and +he served these four as he had served the others,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +leaving them all unhorsed in the road. For the +presence of La Belle Isolde gave the strength of +ten men to the arm of her lover, the Saracen.</p> + +<p>They now continued their route without molestation, +and in good time reached the spot where +Tristram had ordered his pavilions to be set up. +Here were now many more pavilions than they +had seen on their previous visit, and a great array +of knights, who had been gathering for many +days, for far and wide had spread the news of the +great tournament.</p> + +<p>Leaving Palamides and Gareth at the pavilions +with Queen Isolde, Tristram and Dinadan rode to +Lonazep to learn what was afoot, Tristram riding +on the Saracen knight's white horse. As they +came into the castle the sound of a great bugle-blast +met their ears, and many knights crowded +forward.</p> + +<p>"What means the blast?" asked Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Sir," answered a knight, "it comes from the +party who hold against King Arthur at this tournament. +These are the kings of Ireland, of Surluse, +of Listinoise, of Northumberland, of North Wales, +and of other countries. They are calling a council +to decide how they shall be governed in the lists."</p> + +<p>Tristram thereupon followed them to their council, +and listened to the debate. He then sought +his horse again, and rode by where King Arthur +stood surrounded by a press of knights. Among +those were Galihodin and Gawaine, who said to the +king: "That knight in the green harness, with +the white horse, is a man of might, whoever he +be. To-day he overthrew us both, with six of our +fellows."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>"Who can he be?" said the king, and he called +Tristram to him, and requested to know his name.</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon, my liege lord," answered Tristram, +"and pray that you will hold me excused +from revealing my name at this time," and he +turned his horse and rode away.</p> + +<p>"Go after him, Sir Griflet," said the king. +"Tell him that I wish to speak with him apart."</p> + +<p>Griflet rode to Tristram and told him the king's +wish, and the two returned in company.</p> + +<p>"Fair sir," said the king, "what is the cause +that you withhold your name?"</p> + +<p>"I have an excellent reason, but beg that you +will not press me for it."</p> + +<p>"With which party do you hold?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, my lord, that I cannot say. Where my +heart draws or my fancy bids I will go. To-morrow +you shall see which side I take. To-day +I know not myself."</p> + +<p>Leaving the king, he rode back to where his +pavilions were set. When the morning dawned he +and his three companions armed themselves all in +green and rode to the lists. Here young knights +had begun to joust, and, seeing this, Gareth asked +leave of Tristram to break a spear.</p> + +<p>"Go in and do your best if you care to play with +beginners," said Tristram, laughing.</p> + +<p>But Gareth found himself encountered by a +nephew of the king with the hundred knights, +who had some of his uncle's tough fibre, and both +got ugly falls, and lay on the ground till they +were helped up by their friends. Then Tristram +and Palamides rode with Gareth back to the pavilions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +where they removed their helmets. When +Isolde saw Gareth all bruised in the face, she +asked him what ailed him.</p> + +<p>"Madam, I had a hard buffet, and gave another, +but none of my fellows would rescue me."</p> + +<p>"Only unproved knights are yet in the field," +said Palamides. "The man that met you, though, +was a strong and well-trained knight, Sir Selises +by name, so you have no dishonor. Rest here and +get yourself in condition for to-morrow's work."</p> + +<p>"I shall not fail you if I can bestride my horse," +said Gareth.</p> + +<p>"What party is it best for us to join to-morrow?" +asked Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Against King Arthur, is my advice," said Palamides. +"Lancelot and many other good men will +be on his side, and the more men of prowess we +meet the more honor we will win."</p> + +<p>"Well and knightly spoken," said Tristram. +"Hard blows is what we court. Your counsel is +well given."</p> + +<p>"So think we all," said the others.</p> + +<p>On the morrow, when day had broken, they +arrayed themselves in green trappings, with shields +and spears of green, while Isolde and her three +damsels wore dresses of the same color. For the +ladies Tristram found seats in a bay window of a +priory which overlooked the field, and from which +they could see all that took place. This done, they +rode straight to the party of the king of Scots.</p> + +<p>When Arthur saw this he asked Lancelot who +were these knights and the queenly lady who came +with them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>"That I cannot say for certain. Yet if Tristram +and Palamides be in this country then it is +they and La Belle Isolde."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur turned to Kay and said,—</p> + +<p>"Go to the hall and see how many Knights of +the Round Table are missing, and bring me word."</p> + +<p>Kay did so, and found by the roll of knights +that ten were wanting,—Tristram, Dinadan, and +eight others.</p> + +<p>"Then I dare say," remarked Arthur, "that +some of these are here to-day against us."</p> + +<p>The tournament began with a combat in which +two knights, cousins to Gawaine, named Sir Edward +and Sir Sadok, rode against the king of Scots +and the king of North Wales and overthrew them +both. This Palamides saw, and in return he +spurred upon these victorious knights and hurled +both of them from their saddles.</p> + +<p>"What knight is that in green?" asked Arthur. +"He is a mighty jouster."</p> + +<p>"You will see him do better yet," said Gawaine. +"It was he that unhorsed me and seven others +two days ago."</p> + +<p>As they stood talking Tristram rode into the +lists on a black horse, and within a few minutes +he smote down four knights of Orkney, while +Gareth and Dinadan each unhorsed a good knight.</p> + +<p>"Yonder is another fellow of marvellous arm," +said Arthur; "that green knight on the black +horse."</p> + +<p>"He has not begun his work yet," said Gawaine. +"It is plain that he is no common man."</p> + +<p>And so it proved, for Sir Tristram pushed fiercely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +into the press, rescued the two kings who had been +unhorsed, and did such mighty work among the +opposing party that all who saw him marvelled to +behold one man do so many valiant deeds. Nor +was the career of Palamides less marvellous to the +spectators.</p> + +<p>King Arthur, who watched them both with admiring +eyes, likened Tristram to a furious lion, +and Palamides to a maddened leopard, and Gareth +and Dinadan, who seconded them strongly, to eager +wolves. So fiercely did Tristram rage, indeed, +among the knights of Orkney that at length they +withdrew from the field, as no longer able to face +him.</p> + +<p>Then loud went up the cry of the heralds and +the common people,—</p> + +<p>"The green knight has beaten all Orkney!" +And the heralds took account that not less than fifty +knights had been smitten down by the four champions +in green.</p> + +<p>"This will not do," said Arthur. "Our party +will be overmatched if these fellows rage on at +such a rate. Come, Lancelot, you and Hector and +Bleoberis must try your hands, and I will make a +fourth."</p> + +<p>"Let it be so," answered Lancelot. "Let me +take him on the black horse, and Bleoberis him on +the white. Hector shall match him on the gray +horse" (Sir Gareth).</p> + +<p>"And I," said Arthur, "will face the knight on +the grizzled steed" (Sir Dinadan).</p> + +<p>With this conversation they armed and rode to +the lists. Here Lancelot rode against Tristram and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +smote him so hard a blow that horse and man +went to the earth, while his three companions met +with the same ill fortune from their new antagonists.</p> + +<p>This disaster raised a cry throughout the lists: +"The green knights are down! Rescue the green +knights! Let them not be held prisoners!" For +the understanding was that any unhorsed knight +not rescued by his own strength or by his fellows +should be held as prisoner.</p> + +<p>Then the king of North Wales rode straight to +Tristram, and sprang from his horse, crying,—</p> + +<p>"Noble knight, I know not of what country +you are, but beg you to take my horse, for you +have proved yourself worthier to bestride it than +I am."</p> + +<p>"Many thanks," said Tristram. "I shall try +and do you as welcome a turn. Keep near us, and +I may soon win you another horse."</p> + +<p>Then he sprang to the saddle, and meeting with +King Arthur struck him so fierce a sword-blow +on the helm that he had no power to keep his +saddle.</p> + +<p>"Here is the horse promised you," cried Tristram +to the king of North Wales, who was quickly +remounted on King Arthur's horse.</p> + +<p>Then came a hot contest around the king, one +party seeking to mount him again and the other +to hold him prisoner. Palamides thrust himself, +on foot, into the press, striking such mighty blows +to the right and left that the whole throng were +borne back before him. At the same time Tristram +rode into the thickest of the throng of knights<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +and cut a way through them, hurling many of them +to the earth.</p> + +<p>This done, he left the lists and rode to his pavilion, +where he changed his horse and armor; he +who had gone forth as a green knight coming back +to the fray as a red one.</p> + +<p>When Queen Isolde saw that Tristram was unhorsed, +and lost sight of him in the press, she wept +greatly, fearing that some harm had come to him. +But when he rode back she knew him in an instant, +despite his red disguise, and her heart swelled +anew with joy as she saw him with one spear smite +down five knights. Lancelot, too, now knew him, +and withdrew from the lists lest he should encounter +him again.</p> + +<p>All this time Tristram's three friends had not +been able to regain their saddles, but now he drove +back the press and helped them again to horse, +and, though they knew him not in his new array, +they aided him with all their knightly prowess.</p> + +<p>When Isolde, at her window, saw what havoc her +chosen knight was making, she leaned eagerly forth +and laughed and smiled in delight. This Palamides +saw, and the vision of her lovely and smiling +countenance filled his soul so deeply with love's +rejoicing that there seemed to flow into him the +strength and spirit of ten men, and, with a shout +of knightly challenge, he pressed forward, smiting +down with spear and sword every man he encountered. +For his heart was so enamoured by the +vision of that charming face that Tristram or +Lancelot would then have had much ado to stand +before him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>"Truly Palamides is a noble warrior," said +Tristram, when he beheld this. "I never saw him +do such deeds as he has done this day, nor heard +of his showing such prowess."</p> + +<p>"It is his day," said Dinadan, simply. But to +himself he said, "If you knew for whose love he +does these valorous deeds, you would soon be in +the field against him."</p> + +<p>"It is a crying pity that so brave a knight should +be a pagan," said Tristram.</p> + +<p>"It is my fancy," said Dinadan to himself, +"that you may thank Queen Isolde for what you +have seen; if she had not been here to-day that +shouting throng would not be giving Palamides +the palm of the tourney."</p> + +<p>At this juncture Lancelot came again into the +field, and hearing the outcry in favor of Palamides +he set his spear in rest and spurred upon him. +Palamides, seeing this, and having no spear, coolly +awaited Lancelot, and as he came up smote his +spear in two with a sword-stroke. Then he rushed +upon him and struck his horse so hard a blow in +the neck that the animal fell, bearing his rider to +the ground.</p> + +<p>Loud and fierce was the outcry then: "Palamides +the Saracen has smitten Sir Lancelot's horse! +It is an unknightly deed!"</p> + +<p>And Hector de Maris, seeing his brother Lancelot +thus unfairly dismounted, rushed upon Palamides +in a rage, and bore him from his horse with +a mighty spear-thrust.</p> + +<p>"Take heed to yourself, sirrah," cried Lancelot, +springing towards him sword in hand. "You have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +done me a sorry deed, and by my knightly honor +I will repay you for it."</p> + +<p>"I humbly beg your pardon, noble sir," answered +Palamides. "I have done so much this +day that I have no power or strength left to withstand +you. Forgive me my hasty and uncourteous +deed, and I promise to be your knight while I +live."</p> + +<p>"You have done marvellously well indeed," said +Lancelot. "I understand well what power moves +you. Love is a mighty mistress, and if she I love +were here to-day you should not bear away the honor +of the field, though you have nobly won it. Beware +that Tristram discovers not your love, or you may +repent it. But I have no quarrel with you, and +will not seek to take from you the honor of the +day."</p> + +<p>So Lancelot suffered Palamides to depart, and +mounted his own horse again, despite twenty +knights who sought to hinder him. Lancelot, Tristram, +and Palamides did many more noble deeds +before that day's end, and so great became the +medley at length that the field seemed a dense mass +of rearing and plunging horses and struggling +knights.</p> + +<p>At length Arthur bade the heralds to blow to +lodging and the fray ended. And since Palamides +had been in the field from first to last, without once +withdrawing, and had done so many, noble and +valiant deeds, the honor and the prize for the +day were unanimously voted him, a judgment which +Arthur and the kings of his counsel unanimously +confirmed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>But when Palamides came to understand that +the red knight who had rescued him was Sir Tristram +his heart was glad, for all but Dinadan fancied +he had been taken prisoner. Much was the talk +upon the events of the day, and great the wonder of +king and knights at the remarkable valor of the +Saracen knight.</p> + +<p>"And yet I well know," said Lancelot, "that +there was a better knight there than he. And +take my word for it, this will be proved before the +tournament ends."</p> + +<p>This also thought Dinadan, and he rallied his +friend Tristram with satirical tongue.</p> + +<p>"What the fiend has ailed you to-day?" he +asked. "Palamides grew in strength from first +to last, but you have been like a man asleep, or a +coward knight."</p> + +<p>"I was never called coward before," said Tristram, +hotly. "The only fall I got was from Lancelot, +and him I hold as my better, and for that +matter the better of any man alive."</p> + +<p>But Dinadan kept up his railing accusations till +the growing anger of Tristram warned him to desist. +Yet this was all from friendship, not from +spite, for he wished to stir up his friend to do his +best in the lists the coming day, and not permit +the Saracen again to carry off the prize.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h4>THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT.</h4> + + +<p>When the next morning dawned, Tristram, Palamides, +and Gareth, with La Belle Isolde and her +ladies, all arrayed as before in green, took horse +at an early hour, and rode into the fresh forest. +But Dinadan was left still asleep in bed. As they +passed the castle at a little distance, it chanced +that King Arthur and Lancelot saw them from an +upper window.</p> + +<p>"Yonder rideth the fairest lady of the world," +said Lancelot, "always excepting your queen, Guenever."</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>"It is La Belle Isolde, Cornwall's queen and +Tristram's lady-love."</p> + +<p>"By my troth, I should like to see her closer," +said the king. "Let us arm and mount, and ride +after them."</p> + +<p>This they did, and in a short time were on the +track of the gay cavalcade they had seen.</p> + +<p>"Let us not be too hasty," warned Lancelot. +"There are some knights who resent being intruded +on abruptly; particularly if in the company of +ladies."</p> + +<p>"As for that, we must take our chances," said +Arthur. "If they feel aggrieved I cannot help +it, for I am bent on seeing Queen Isolde."</p> + +<p>Seeing Tristram and his companions just in advance, +Arthur rode briskly up and saluted Isolde<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +courteously, saying, "God save you, fair lady."</p> + +<p>"Thanks for your courtesy, sir knight," she +replied.</p> + +<p>Then Arthur looked upon her charming countenance, +freshened by the morning air, and thought +in his mind that Lancelot had spoken but the truth, +and that no more beautiful lady lived. But at this +moment Palamides rode up.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, what seek you here?" he asked. +"It is uncourteous to come on a lady so suddenly. +Your intrusion is not to our liking, and I bid you +to withdraw."</p> + +<p>Arthur paid no heed to these words, but continued +to gaze upon Isolde, as one stricken with +admiration. Seeing this, Palamides flamed into +anger, and spurred fiercely upon the king, with +spear in rest, smiting him from his horse.</p> + +<p>"Here is an awkward business," said Lancelot +to himself. "If I ride down Palamides I shall +have Tristram on me; and the pair of them would +be too much for me. This comes from too head-strong +a will. But whether I live or die I must +stand by my lord and king." Then riding forward, +he called to Palamides, "Keep thee from me!"</p> + +<p>Fierce was the onset with which they met, but it +ended in Lancelot's favor, for Palamides was flung +from his saddle and had a hard fall.</p> + +<p>When Tristram saw this he called to Lancelot, +"Be on your guard, sir knight. You have unhorsed +my comrade, and must joust with me."</p> + +<p>"I have no dread of that," said Lancelot; "and +yet I did but avenge my lord, who was unhorsed +unwarily and unknightly. You have no cause for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +displeasure; for no honorable knight could stand +by and see his friend ill-treated."</p> + +<p>Tristram now felt sure that it was Lancelot who +spoke, and that it was King Arthur whom Palamides +had unhorsed. He therefore laid aside his +spear and helped Palamides again to his saddle, +while Lancelot did the same for the king.</p> + +<p>"That deed of thine was not knightly nor courteous," +said Tristram, sternly to Palamides, after +the others had departed. "I cannot see any harm +in a knight accosting a lady gently and courteously; +nor am I pleased to have you play such masteries +before my lady. If I deem her insulted, I am quite +able myself to protect her. And if I am not mistaken, +it was King Arthur you assailed so rudely, +and the other was Lancelot du Lake. You may yet +have to pay for your violence."</p> + +<p>"I cannot think," said Palamides, "that the +great Arthur would ride thus secretly arrayed as +a poor knight-errant."</p> + +<p>"Then you know him not," said Tristram. "No +knight living is fonder of adventure. King Arthur +is always ready to take his part as an errant knight, +nor does he bear malice against those who may +overthrow him when in disguise. I tell you, Palamides, +that our king is the true model of knightly +honor, and that the best of us might learn from +him."</p> + +<p>"If it were he I am sorry," said Palamides. "I +may have been over-hasty. But a thing that is +done cannot be undone, and I must abide the consequences."</p> + +<p>Then Tristram sent Isolde to her lodging in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +priory, from which she might behold the tournament, +and made ready to enter the lists.</p> + +<p>Fierce was the shock of the first encounter of the +knights, and the three champions in green began +the day with many deeds of might.</p> + +<p>"How feel you?" asked Tristram of Palamides. +"Are you able to repeat yesterday's work?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly," was the reply. "I am weary and +sore yet from my hard labors."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for that, as I shall miss your aid."</p> + +<p>"Trust not to me," answered Palamides. "I +have not much work left in me."</p> + +<p>"Then I must depend on you," said Tristram +to Gareth. "We two should be able to make our +mark. Keep near me and rescue me if I get in +trouble, and I will do the same for you."</p> + +<p>"I shall not fail you," was the reply.</p> + +<p>Leaving them, Palamides rode off by himself, +and, pushing into the thickest press of the men +of Orkney, did such deeds of arms that Tristram +looked on in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Is that his soreness and weariness?" he asked. +"I fancy he is weary of my company, and wishes +to win all the honor to his own hand."</p> + +<p>"That is what Dinadan meant yesterday when +he called you coward," said Gareth. "He but +wished to stir you to anger so that Palamides should +not rob you of credit."</p> + +<p>"By my faith, if Palamides bears me ill will and +envy I shall show him what a knight of Cornwall +can do. He has gained the acclamations of the +crowd already. He has left our company and we +owe him no courtesy. You shall see me rob him +of his honors."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>Then Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, +and laid about him with such might that all eyes +were turned upon him, and men began to say, +"There is a greater than Palamides come into the +field."</p> + +<p>"Is it not as I told you?" said Lancelot to +Arthur. "I said you would this day see the Saracen +distanced."</p> + +<p>"It is true enough," answered Arthur. "Palamides +has not such strength of arm."</p> + +<p>"It is Tristram himself you look upon."</p> + +<p>"That I can well believe," said Arthur. "Such +knights as he do not grow like mushrooms in every +field."</p> + +<p>The noise from the other part of the lists now +drew the attention of Palamides, and when he saw +what puissant deeds his late comrade was doing +he wept for spite, for he saw that the honor of that +day was not for him.</p> + +<p>Seeing to what straits their party was put, +Arthur and Lancelot and many other knights now +armed and rode into the field, and by their aid so +changed the tide of victory that the other side was +driven quite back, until Tristram and Gareth stood +alone, bravely abiding all who came upon them. +But Lancelot and his kinsmen kept purposely away +from them.</p> + +<p>"See," said Lancelot to Arthur, "how Palamides +hovers yonder like one in a dream, sick, I +fancy, from envy of Tristram."</p> + +<p>"Then he is but a fool," said the king. "He +is not and never was the match of Tristram. I +am glad to see the fellow repaid for the way he +served me this morning."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>As they stood thus conversing, Tristram withdrew +quietly from the lists, his going noted only +by Isolde and Palamides, who kept their eyes upon +him. He rode back to his pavilions, where he +found Dinadan still asleep, his slumbers not broken +by all the uproar of the tournament.</p> + +<p>"As I am a living man, here is a lusty sleeper," +cried Tristram. "Wake, Dinadan. The day is +half spent and the field half won, and here you are +still a-bed."</p> + +<p>At this Dinadan sprang hastily up and rubbed +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I dreamt of wars and jousts," he said. "And, +i' faith, I like that way the best, for one gets all +the good of the fight and is safe from sore limbs +and aching bones. But what's to do?"</p> + +<p>"Get on your harness and ride with me to the +field. You will find something there to waken +you up."</p> + +<p>Dinadan, as he armed, noted Tristram's battered +shield, and remarked,—</p> + +<p>"I slept both well and wisely, it seems. If I +had been there I must have followed you, from +shame if not from courage. And by the looks of +your shield I would have been worse battered than +I was yesterday. Why did you not let me sleep +out the balance of it, friend Tristram?"</p> + +<p>"A truce with your jests. Come, we must to +the field again."</p> + +<p>"How now, is there a new deal in the game? +Yesterday you did but dream; to-day you seem +awake."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Tristram had changed his armor, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +now was attired all in black.</p> + +<p>"You have more fight in you than you had +yesterday, that is sure," said Dinadan. "Did I stir +up your sleeping spirit?"</p> + +<p>"It may be so," said Tristram, smiling. "Keep +well up to me, and I shall make you a highway +through the press. If you see me overmatched, +do what you can to aid me."</p> + +<p>When ready they took their horses and rode back +to the lists, where Isolde and Palamides noted their +entrance. When the Saracen saw that Tristram +was disguised, a new fancy came into his scheming +brain. Leaving the lists, he rode to where a knight +sat sorely wounded under a tree outside. Him +he prayed for an exchange of armor, saying that +his own was too well known in the field, and that +he wished for a disguise.</p> + +<p>"That is very true," said the knight, as he recognized +the green armor. "You have made your +array somewhat too well known. You are welcome +to my arms, if they will be of use to you. They +will gain more credit in your hands than they +have won in mine."</p> + +<p>Palamides thereupon exchanged armor with +him, and, taking his shield, which shone like silver, +rode into the field. He now joined the party of +King Arthur, and rode spitefully against Tristram, +who had just struck down three knights. They +met with such force that both spears splintered to +their hands, though neither lost his seat. Then +they dashed eagerly together with drawn swords +and fought with the courage and fury of two lions. +But Tristram wondered much what knight this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +was that faced him so valiantly, and grew angry +as he felt that he was wasting in this single combat +the strength he wished to treasure up for the day's +work.</p> + +<p>La Belle Isolde, who had watched Palamides +from her window, had seen him change his armor +with the wounded knight. And when his treacherous +purpose came to her mind she wept so heartily +and was so deeply disturbed that she swooned away.</p> + +<p>At this juncture in the fray Lancelot rode again +into the field, and when the knights of Arthur's +party saw him the cry went up. "Return, return, +here comes Sir Lancelot du Lake!"</p> + +<p>And some said to him, "Sir Lancelot, yonder +knight in the black harness is your man. He is +the best of our opponents, and has nearly overcome +the good knight with the silver shield."</p> + +<p>At this Lancelot rode between the combatants, +and cried to Palamides,—</p> + +<p>"Let me have this battle; you need repose."</p> + +<p>Palamides knew Lancelot, and readily gave way, +hoping through his mighty aid to gain revenge +upon his rival. Then Lancelot fell upon Tristram, +and, unknowing who he was, dealt him blows that +would have stunned a less hardy fighter. Tristram +returned them but feebly, for he knew well +with whom he fought. And Isolde, who saw it +all, was half out of her mind with grief.</p> + +<p>Dinadan now told Gareth who the knight in +black armor was, and said, "Lancelot will get the +better of him, for one is weary and the other fresh, +and Tristram is not fighting with his old vim. +Let us to his aid."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>"I am with you," said Gareth. "Yonder fellow +with the silver shield is waiting to fall on Tristram, +if he can to advantage. It is our business to give +our friend what help we can."</p> + +<p>Then they rode in, and Gareth struck Lancelot +a sword-blow that made his head swim, while Dinadan +followed with a spear-thrust that bore horse +and man together to the earth.</p> + +<p>"Why do you this?" cried Tristram, angrily. +"It is not a knightly act, and does not that good +knight any dishonor. I was quite his match without +you."</p> + +<p>Then Palamides came to Lancelot's aid, and a +close medley of fighting began, in which Dinadan +was unhorsed and Tristram pulled Palamides from +his saddle, and fell with him. Dinadan now sprang +up and caught Tristram's horse by the bridle, calling +out, with purpose to end the fight,—</p> + +<p>"My lord Sir Tristram, take your horse."</p> + +<p>"What is this?" cried Lancelot. "What have +I done? Sir Tristram, why came you here disguised? +Surely I would not have drawn sword +on you, had I known you."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Tristram, "this is not the first honor +you have done me."</p> + +<p>Then they mounted their horses again, while +the people on one side gave Lancelot the honor +of the fray, and those on the other side gave it to +Tristram.</p> + +<p>"The honor is not mine," said Lancelot. "He +has been longer in the field, and has smitten down +many more knights; so I give my voice for Sir +Tristram, and pray to all my lords and fellows to +do the same."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>This was the verdict of the judges, and the prize +of that day's tourney was by all voted to the noble +Sir Tristram.</p> + +<p>Then the trumpets blew to lodging, and the +knights left the field, while Queen Isolde was conducted +to her pavilion. But her heart burned hot +with wrath against Palamides, all whose treachery +she had seen. As Tristram rode forward with +Gareth and Dinadan, Palamides joined them, still +disguised.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," said Tristram, "you are not of +our party, and your company is not welcome. So +begone."</p> + +<p>"Not I," he answered. "One of the best knights +in the world bade me keep fellowship with you, +and till he relieve me from that service I must obey +him."</p> + +<p>"Ha, Palamides, I know you now!" said Tristram. +"But, by my faith, I did not know you before, +for I deemed you a worthy knight and not a +traitor. I could have handled you well enough, +but you brought Lancelot to your aid against me."</p> + +<p>"Are you my lord, Sir Tristram?" said Palamides, +in a tone of surprise.</p> + +<p>"That you know, well enough."</p> + +<p>"How should I know it any more than you knew +me? I deemed you the king of Ireland, for you +bear his arms."</p> + +<p>"I won them in battle, from his champion Sir +Marhaus," said Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Sir," answered Palamides, "I fancied you had +joined Lancelot's party, and that caused me to turn +to the same side."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>"If that be so, I forgive you," said Tristram.</p> + +<p>But when they reached the pavilion and had disarmed +and washed, and were come to table, Isolde +grew red with wrath on seeing Palamides.</p> + +<p>"You traitor and felon!" she cried, "how dare +you thrust yourself into this goodly company? You +know not how falsely he has treated you, my lord +Tristram. I saw it all. He watched you when you +rode to your tent and donned the black armor. +Then he changed armor with a wounded knight and +rode back and wilfully changed sides, and drew +sword upon you. I saw it all, my lord, and I +impeach him of treason."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Palamides, calmly, "you may +say what you will. I cannot in courtesy deny you. +Yet by my knighthood I declare I knew not Sir +Tristram."</p> + +<p>"I will take your excuse," said Tristram, +"though it seems a lame one. You spared me little +in the field, but all that I have pardoned."</p> + +<p>At this, Isolde held down her head in despite +and said no more.</p> + +<p>While they were still at table two knights rode +to the pavilions, and entered in full armor.</p> + +<p>"Fair sirs," said Tristram, "is this courtesy, to +come upon us thus armed at our meal?"</p> + +<p>"We come with no ill intent," said one, "but as +your friends, Sir Tristram."</p> + +<p>"I am come," said the other, "to greet you as a +friend and comrade, and my companion is eager +to see and welcome La Belle Isolde."</p> + +<p>"Then remove your helms, that I may see what +guests I have."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>"That we do, willingly."</p> + +<p>No sooner were their helmets off than Tristram +sprang hastily to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Madam, arise," he cried; "this is none less +than my lord King Arthur; and this my very dear +friend Sir Lancelot."</p> + +<p>Then the king and queen kissed, and Lancelot +and Tristram warmly embraced, while deep joy +filled all hearts there. At the request of Isolde the +visitors removed their armor and joined them at +their meal.</p> + +<p>"Many is the day that I have longed to see you," +said Arthur to Isolde, "for much praise have I +heard of you, and not without warrant. For a +nobler match for beauty and valor than you and +Sir Tristram the world does not hold."</p> + +<p>"We thank you heartily," replied Tristram and +Isolde. "Such praise from King Arthur is the +highest honor that men's lips could give."</p> + +<p>Then they talked of other things, but mainly of +the tournament.</p> + +<p>"Why were you against us?" asked Arthur. +"You are a Knight of the Round Table, and have +fought to-day against your own."</p> + +<p>"Here is Dinadan, and your own nephew Gareth. +You must blame them for that," said Tristram, +smiling.</p> + +<p>"You may lay all the blame on my shoulders, +if Tristram wishes it," said Gareth.</p> + +<p>"Not on mine, then," said Dinadan. "Mine +are only broad enough to carry my own sins. It +was this unhappy Tristram brought us to the tournament, +and I owe to him a whole body full of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +aches and pains as it is, without taking any of his +sins in my sack, to boot."</p> + +<p>At this the king and Lancelot laughed heartily, +and the more so at the sour grimace with which +Dinadan ended.</p> + +<p>"What knight was he with the shield of silver +that held you so short?" asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Here he sits," said Tristram.</p> + +<p>"What! was it Palamides?"</p> + +<p>"None less than he," said Isolde.</p> + +<p>"That was not a courteous action."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Palamides, "Tristram was so disguised +that I knew him not."</p> + +<p>"That may well be," said Lancelot, "for I knew +him no better."</p> + +<p>"However it be, we are friends again," said +Tristram, "and I hope will continue so."</p> + +<p>And so the evening passed, till the time came +for Arthur and Lancelot to take their leave.</p> + +<p>That night Palamides slept not for the pain +and envy that burned in his heart. But when his +friends entered his chamber in the morning they +found him fast asleep, with his cheeks stained with +tears.</p> + +<p>"Say nothing," said Tristram. "The poor fellow +has been deeply wounded by the rebuke that +I and Isolde gave him. Lay no heavier load upon +his heart."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h4>THE WOES OF TWO LOVERS.</h4> + + +<p>Early on the third morning of the tournament +the knights of Tristram's party were up and armed, +they now being all arrayed in red, as was also +Isolde and her maidens. And rare was the show +they made as they rode gayly to the priory, where +they left Isolde and her maidens to occupy their +proper seats. As the knights turned thence towards +the field they heard three loud bugle-blasts, and saw +the throng of armed knights press eagerly forward, +while already from the listed space came the thunder +of hoofs and the cries of combatants.</p> + +<p>Into the field they rode, Palamides in advance, +and such havoc did he make in the opposing ranks +that shouts of approval went up from all the seats. +But Tristram now rode forward at the full speed +of his great war-horse, hurled Kay the seneschal +from his saddle, smote down three other knights +with the same spear, and then, drawing his sword, +laid about him like a roused giant.</p> + +<p>Quickly changed the cry from Palamides. "O +Tristram! O Tristram!" shouted the throng of +spectators, and the deeds of this new champion +threw those of the former victor into the shade.</p> + +<p>Gareth and Dinadan also nobly aided the two +champions, rousing the admiration of Arthur and +Lancelot by their gallantry, and the four knightly +comrades soon cleared a wide space in the ranks +before them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>"Come," said Arthur, "we must to the rescue, +or our side will be driven from the field before the +day is an hour old. See how the others crowd in on +Tristram's steps, like wolves to the prey."</p> + +<p>Then he and Lancelot hastily armed and sought +the field, where they quickly fought their way into +the thickest press of the tumult. Tristram, not +knowing them, rode upon them and thrust King +Arthur from his horse, and when Lancelot rushed +to his rescue he was surrounded with such an eager +host that he was pulled from his saddle to the +ground.</p> + +<p>Seeing this, the kings of Ireland and Scotland, +with their knights, rushed forward to take Lancelot +and Arthur prisoners. But they counted without +their host, for the dismounted knights laid about +them like angry lions, driving back all who came +near them. Of all that passed in that hot turmoil +it were too much to say. Many a knight there did +deeds of great prowess, and Arthur and Lancelot +being mounted again, strewed the earth with fallen +knights, Lancelot that day unhorsing thirty warriors. +Yet the other side held so firmly together +that, with all their ardent labor, Arthur and his +party were overmatched.</p> + +<p>At this juncture, Tristram turned to his companions +and said,—</p> + +<p>"My good comrades, I begin to fancy that we are +to-day on the wrong side. King Arthur's party is +overborne more by numbers than valor, for I must +say I never saw so few men do so well. It would +be a shame for us, who are Knights of the Round<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +Table, to see our lord Arthur and our good comrade +Lancelot dishonored. I am in the humor to +change sides, and help our king and liege lord."</p> + +<p>"We are with you in that," cried Gareth and +Dinadan. "We have been fighting against the +grain these three days."</p> + +<p>"Do as you will," said Palamides. "I shall not +change my hand in the midst of the fray."</p> + +<p>"As you will," said Tristram. "You are your +own master. Speed well in your way, and we will +do our best in ours."</p> + +<p>Then he, Gareth, and Dinadan drew out of the +press and rode round to Arthur's side, where they +lent such noble aid that the fortune of the field +quickly changed, and the opposing party began to +give ground. As for Palamides, King Arthur +struck him so fierce a blow that he was hurled from +his horse, while Tristram and Lancelot unhorsed +all before them. Such havoc did they make, indeed, +that the party of the opposing kings was soon in +full flight from the field, bearing Palamides, who +wept for rage and grief, with them.</p> + +<p>Then rarely sounded the trumpets, and loudly +shouted the spectators, while the names of Tristram +and Lancelot were in every mouth, some voting +one the prize, some the other. But neither of these +good comrades would have it alone, so that in the +end it was divided between them.</p> + +<p>When evening drew near, and the knights had +all withdrawn to their pavilions, Palamides rode +up to that of Sir Tristram, in company with the +kings of Wales and Scotland. Here he drew up +his horse, praying his companions to wait a while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +while he spoke to the knight within. Then he cried +loudly at the entrance,—</p> + +<p>"Where are you, Tristram of Lyonesse?"</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Palamides?" answered the knight. +"Will you not dismount and join us?"</p> + +<p>"I seek better company, sir traitor," cried Palamides, +in tones that trembled with fury. "I hate +you now as much as I once esteemed you, and bear +this in mind, if it were daylight as it is night, +I would slay you with my own hands. You shall +die yet for this day's deeds."</p> + +<p>"You blame me wrongly, Palamides," said Tristram, +mildly. "If you had done as I advised you +would have won honor instead of disgrace. Why +come you here seeking to lay your own fault on +me? Since you give me such broad warning, I +shall be well on my guard against you."</p> + +<p>"Well you may, sir dastard, for I love you not," +and, fiercely spurring his horse, the hot-blooded +Saracen joined his kingly companions.</p> + +<p>When the next day dawned the festive array +which had long spread bustle and splendor round +Lonazep broke up, and knights and ladies rode +off in all directions through the land, to carry far +and wide the story of the wondrous deeds of valor +that had been performed at the great tournament. +Tristram and his two comrades, with Hector de +Maris and Bleoberis, escorted La Belle Isolde to +Joyous Gard, where for seven days the guests were +nobly entertained, with all the sports and mirthfulness +that could be devised. King Arthur and +his knights drew back to Camelot, and Palamides +rode onward with the two kings, his heart torn with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +mingled sorrow and despair. Not alone was he +in grief for his disgrace in the field, under the +eyes of her he loved, but was full as sorrowful +for the hot words he had spoken in his wrath to +Tristram, who had been so kind and gentle to him +that his heart was torn to think how falsely and +treacherously he had requited him.</p> + +<p>His kingly companions would have had him stay +with them, but he could not be persuaded, so the +king of Ireland presented him with a noble courser, +and the king of Scotland with valuable gifts, and +he rode his way, still plunged in a grief that was +almost despair. Noon brought him to a forest +fountain, beside which lay a wounded knight, who +sighed so mournfully that the very leaves on the +trees seemed to sigh in echo.</p> + +<p>"Why mourn you so, fair knight?" asked Palamides, +mildly. "Or if you care not to tell, at least +let me lie beside you and join my moans to yours, +for I dare say I have a hundredfold deeper cause +for grief, and we may ease our hearts by mutual +complaints."</p> + +<p>"What is your name, gentle sir?"</p> + +<p>"Such as I am, for better or worse, men call +me Palamides, son to King Astlabor."</p> + +<p>"Noble sir, it solaces me much to meet you. I +am Epinegris, son to the king of Northumberland. +Now repose you on this mossy bank and let us tell +our woes, and so ease somewhat our sad hearts."</p> + +<p>Then Palamides dismounted and laid himself beside +the wounded knight.</p> + +<p>"This is my source of woe," he said. "I love +the fairest queen that ever drew breath, La Belle +Isolde, Cornwall's queen."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>"That is sheer folly," said Epinegris, "for she +loves none but Tristram de Lyonesse."</p> + +<p>"Know I it not? I have been in their company +this month, daily reaping sorrow. And now I +have lost the fellowship of Tristram and the love +of Isolde forever, through my envy and jealousy, +and never more shall a glad thought enter my +sorrowful heart."</p> + +<p>"Did she ever show you signs of love?"</p> + +<p>"Never. She hated me, I fear. And the last +day we met she gave me such a rebuke that I will +never recover from it:—yet well I deserved it by +my unknightly acts. Many great deeds have I +done for her love, yet never shall I win a smile +from her eyes."</p> + +<p>"Deep is your grief, indeed," said Epinegris, +with a heart-breaking sigh, "yet it is but a jest +to my sorrow. For my lady loved me, and I won +her with my hands. But, alas! this day I have +lost her and am left here to moan. I took her +from an earl and two knights that were with her; +but as we sat here this day, telling each other of +our loves, there came an errant knight, named +Helior de Preuse, and challenged me to fight for my +lady. You see what followed. He wounded me +so that he left me for dead and took my lady with +him. So my sorrow is deepest, for I have rejoiced +in my love, and you never have. To have and lose +is far worse than never to own."</p> + +<p>"That is true," said Palamides. "But yet I +have the deepest cause for grief, for your love is +not hopeless, like mine. And I shall prove this, +for if I can find this Helior he shall be made to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +yield you your lady, unless he prove able to deal +with me as he has with you."</p> + +<p>Then he helped Epinegris on his horse and led +him to a hermitage near by, where he left him +under the care of the holy hermit. Here Palamides +stayed not long, but walked out under the +shadow of the green leaves, to be a while alone +with his woes. But not far had he gone before +he saw near him a knight, who bore a shield that +he had seen Hector de Maris wear. With him were +ten other knights, who sheltered themselves from +the noontide heat under the green leaves.</p> + +<p>As they stood there another knight came by +whose shield was green, with a white lion in its +midst, and who led a lady on a palfrey. As he +came up, the knight who bore Sir Hector's shield +rode fiercely after him, and bade him turn and +defend his lady.</p> + +<p>"That I must, in knightly duty," cried the other.</p> + +<p>Then the two knights rode together with such +might that horses and men together were hurled +to the earth. Drawing their swords, they now +fought sturdily for the space of an hour. In the +end the knight of the white lion was stricken to +the earth and forced to beg for his life.</p> + +<p>Palamides stood under the leaves, watching this +combat till it came to its end. Then he went to +the lady, whom he believed to be her whom he +had promised to rescue. Taking her gently by the +hand, he asked her if she knew a knight named +Epinegris.</p> + +<p>"Alas! that ever I did," she sadly replied. +"For his sake I have lost my liberty, and for mine +he has lost his life."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>"Not so badly as that," said Palamides. "He +is at yonder hermitage. I will take you to him."</p> + +<p>"Then he lives!" she cried in joy. "You fill +my heart with gladness."</p> + +<p>But not many steps had Palamides led her before +the victorious knight cried out in tones of fierce +anger,—</p> + +<p>"Loose the lady, sirrah! Whither take you +her?"</p> + +<p>"Whither I will?" answered Palamides.</p> + +<p>"You speak largely, sir knave," cried the knight. +"Do you fancy you can rob me of my prize so +lightly? Think it not, sirrah; were you as good +a knight as Lancelot or Tristram or Palamides, +you should not have that lady without winning +her at a dearer rate than I did."</p> + +<p>"If fight it is, I am ready for you," answered +Palamides. "I promised to bring this lady to her +lover from whom yonder knight stole her, and it +will need more swords than one to make me break +my word."</p> + +<p>"We shall see if that be so," said the other, +attacking him so fiercely that Palamides had much +ado to protect himself. They fought for so long +a time that Palamides marvelled much who this +knight could be that withstood him so sturdily +after his late hard battle.</p> + +<p>"Knight," he said, at length, "you fight like +a hero. I would know your name."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it for yours in return."</p> + +<p>"I agree to that."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, my name is Safere. I am son of +King Astlobar, and brother to Palamides and Segwarides."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>"Then heaven defend me for having fought you, +for I am your brother Palamides."</p> + +<p>At these words Safere fell upon his knees and +begged his brother's pardon; and then they unlaced +their helms and kissed each other with tears of joy.</p> + +<p>As they stood thus, Epinegris advanced towards +them, for he had heard the sounds of fighting, and, +wounded as he was, he came to help Palamides if +he should stand in need.</p> + +<p>Palamides, seeing him approach, took the lady +by the hand and led her to him, and they embraced +so tenderly that all hearts there were touched.</p> + +<p>"Fair knight and lady," said Safere, "it would +be a cruel pity to part you, and I pray heaven to +send you joy of each other."</p> + +<p>"You have my sincere thanks," said Epinegris. +"And deeper thanks has Sir Palamides for what +he has done for me this day. My castle is near by; +will you not ride there with me as a safeguard?"</p> + +<p>"That we gladly will," they said, and when +Epinegris had got his horse they rode with him +and the lady to the castle, where they were nobly +received and treated with the highest honor. They +had such good cheer and such enjoyment as they had +rarely before known. And never burned the flame +of love more warmly than that between Epinegris +and his rescued lady.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h4>THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES.</h4> + + +<p>When morning again dawned over the forest +and the smiling fields that surrounded the castle +of Epinegris, the two brothers rode out, taking +with them the blessings and prayers for good fortune +of those they left behind. But had they known +into what deadly peril they ventured they would +not for days have left those hospitable gates.</p> + +<p>For they rode on hour by hour, until afternoon +came, and then found themselves in front of a +noble manor-house from which came to their ears +doleful sounds of woe and lamentation.</p> + +<p>"What means this woful noise? Shall we enter +and see?" said Safere.</p> + +<p>"Willingly," answered Palamides.</p> + +<p>Leaving their horses at the gates, they entered +the court-yard, where they saw an old man tremblingly +fumbling his beads. But when they came +within the hall they beheld many men weeping +and lamenting.</p> + +<p>"Fair sirs, why make you such a moaning?" +asked Palamides.</p> + +<p>"We weep for our lord, who is slain," they dolefully +replied.</p> + +<p>But one of the knights observed the new-comers +closely, and said secretly to his fellows,—</p> + +<p>"Know you not this man? Fortune has thrown +into our hands the knight who slew our lord at +Lonazep. That tall fellow is Palamides. Let him +not go as easily as he came."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>Hearing this, most of them quietly withdrew +and armed themselves, and then came suddenly +upon their visitors to the number of threescore, +crying,—</p> + +<p>"Defend yourself, if you can, Sir Palamides. +We know you for the murderer of our lord, and +it is our duty to revenge him. Die you shall, +though you had the might of a giant."</p> + +<p>Palamides and his brother, finding themselves +in this desperate strait, set themselves back to +back in the midst of their assailants, and fought +like very giants, keeping their ground for two +hours, though they were attacked by twenty knights +and forty gentlemen and yeomen. But strength +cannot hold out forever against odds, and at the +end they were forced to yield, and were locked up +in a strong prison.</p> + +<p>Within three days thereafter a court of twelve +knights sat upon the charge against them, and +found Sir Palamides guilty of their lord's death.</p> + +<p>Sir Safere, who was adjudged not guilty, was +given his liberty, and bidden to depart from the +castle. He parted with his brother in the deepest +woe.</p> + +<p>"Dear brother, grieve not so greatly," said Palamides. +"If die I must, I shall meet death +bravely. But had I dreamed of such a doom as this, +they should never have taken me alive."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Departure_Pg_93" id="Departure_Pg_93"></a><img src="images/p93.jpg" width="500" height="287" alt="Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron. +THE DEPARTURE." title="THE DEPARTURE." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">THE DEPARTURE.</span> +</div> + +<p>Then Safere departed in untold sorrow, though +not without hope of rescue if he could raise a force +to storm the castle. This he had no chance to do, +for on the next morning Palamides was sent under +an escort of twelve knights to the father of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +dead knight, who dwelt in a strong castle by the +sea-side, named Pelownes, where it had been decided +that the sentence should be put into execution.</p> + +<p>Palamides was placed on a sorry old steed with +his feet bound beneath it, and, surrounded by the +guard of twelve armed knights, was taken towards +the place of death.</p> + +<p>But through the favor of fortune their route lay +by the castle of Joyous Gard, and here they were +seen by one who knew Palamides, and who asked +him whither he was borne.</p> + +<p>"To my death," he answered, "for the slaying +of a knight at the tournament. Had I not left +Sir Tristram this would not have happened to me. +I pray you, recommended me to your lord and to +my lady Isolde, and beg them to forgive me my +trespasses against them. And also to my lord King +Arthur, and to all my fellows of the Round Table."</p> + +<p>When the yeoman heard this he rode in all haste +to Joyous Gard, where he told Tristram of what he +had seen and heard.</p> + +<p>"To his death, you say?" cried Tristram. "And +for an accident of the tournament? Why, I and +twenty others might be served in the same manner. +I have reason to be angry with Palamides, but he +shall not die the death of a dog if I can rescue him."</p> + +<p>This said, he armed in all haste, and taking two +squires with him, he rode at a fast gallop towards +the castle of Pelownes, hoping to overtake the +party before they could pass its gates.</p> + +<p>But fortune had decreed that the prisoner should +be otherwise rescued. For as the guard of knights +rode on their way they passed by a well where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +Lancelot had alighted to drink of the refreshing +waters.</p> + +<p>When he saw the cavalcade approach he put on +his helmet and stood watching them as they passed. +But his heart swelled with anger when he saw Palamides +disarmed and bound in their midst, and +seemingly led to his death.</p> + +<p>"What means this?" he cried. "What has this +knight done that deserves a shameful death? +Whatever it be, I cannot suffer him to be foully +dealt with."</p> + +<p>Then he mounted and rode after the twelve +knights, soon overtaking them.</p> + +<p>"Sir knights," he said, "whither take you that +gentleman? To ride thus bound is not befitting +for a man of his metal."</p> + +<p>At this the guard of knights turned their horses +and faced Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"We counsel you not to meddle with us," they +said, sternly. "This man has deserved death, and +to death he is adjudged."</p> + +<p>"I tell you, sirs, it shall not be. He is too good +a knight to die a shameful death. Defend yourselves, +then, for I will try my one hand against +your twelve, and rescue him or die in the effort."</p> + +<p>The knights of the guard now put their spears +in rest, and Lancelot rode upon them with such +fury that the foremost and three of those behind +him were hurled to the ground before his spear +broke. Then he drew his sword and laid about +him so shrewdly that in a little time the whole +twelve of them were stretched upon the earth, most +of them being sorely wounded. Lancelot now cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +the bonds of Palamides, mounted him upon the +best of their horses, and rode back with him towards +Joyous Gard.</p> + +<p>As they went forward they saw Sir Tristram +approaching. Lancelot knew him at sight, but was +himself unknown, because he bore a golden shield +which neither Tristram nor Palamides recognized. +He therefore mystified them for a time, and declined +to enter Joyous Gard on the plea that he had +other pressing business on hand. But when +strongly entreated, he at length consented, and +entered the castle with them.</p> + +<p>Great was their surprise and joy when he had +unhelmed, to find that they had their host for +guest. Tristram took him in his arms, and so did +Isolde, while Palamides kneeled before him and +thanked him for his life. When Lancelot saw this +he took him by the hand and made him rise.</p> + +<p>"Good sirs," he said, "could I, or any knight +of worship in this land, hesitate to rescue from an +ignoble death such a knight as Palamides? Had +there been fifty instead of twelve, I fear I should +have braved them all."</p> + +<p>Much joy was there in Joyous Gard at the visit +of the lord of the castle, but Lancelot stayed there +but four days. Palamides, however, remained for +two months and more, his love and grief growing +deeper, till he faded away to a shadow of himself.</p> + +<p>One day, at the end of this time, he wandered +far into the neighboring forest, and here by chance +saw the reflection of his face in a clear pool. The +wasted visage disturbed and affrighted him.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" he asked himself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +"Am I, who was called one of the handsomest +knights in the world, wasted to such a frightful +figure? I must leave this life, for it is idle to +grieve myself to death for that which I can never +possess."</p> + +<p>Then he threw himself beside the well, and from +the fulness of his heart began to make a song about +La Belle Isolde and himself, a rhyme made up of +music, love, and grief.</p> + +<p>As chance would have it, Tristram had ridden +into the forest that day in chase of the hart. And +as he rode up and down under the green leaves the +summer air brought to his ears the sound of a +voice singing loud and clear. He rode softly +towards the sound, for he deemed that some knight-errant +lay there solacing himself with song.</p> + +<p>When he came nigh he tied his horse to a tree +and advanced on foot. Then he became aware that +the singer was his guest Palamides, and that his +song was about La Belle Isolde, a doleful and +piteous, yet marvellously well-made song, which +the singer sang loudly and in a clear voice. Tristram +stood listening till he had heard it from +beginning to end. But at the last his anger grew +so high that he needed to restrain himself from +slaying the singer where he lay.</p> + +<p>Remembering that Palamides was unarmed, he +resisted this impulse, and advanced slowly towards +him.</p> + +<p>"Sir Palamides," he said, in a gentle voice, "I +have heard your song, and learned your treason +to your host. If it were not for the shame of an +unknightly act I would deal you here the meed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +you have earned. How will you acquit yourself of +treachery?"</p> + +<p>"Thus will I," said Palamides, springing to his +feet in his surprise. "As for Queen Isolde, you +may know well that I love her above all other +ladies in the world. I loved her before you ever saw +her, as you know, and have never ceased nor shall +ever cease to love her. What honor I have won +is due for the most part to my love of her. Yet +never for a moment has she returned my love, and +I have been her knight without guerdon. Therefore +I dread not death, for I had as lief die as live."</p> + +<p>"Well have you uttered your treason," said +Tristram.</p> + +<p>"No treason is it," said Palamides. "Love is +free to all men, and I have a right to love any +lady I will. If she return it not, no man is harmed. +Such wrong as is done I have suffered, not you, +for your love is returned and mine has brought +me but pain. Yet I shall continue to love La +Belle Isolde to the end of my days as deeply as +you can."</p> + +<p>That there was reason in these words Tristram +could not but have seen, had not anger blinded +his wisdom.</p> + +<p>"None shall love my lady but myself," he cried, +in passion. "And for what you have said I challenge +you to battle to the uttermost."</p> + +<p>"I can never fight in a better quarrel," said +Palamides. "And if you slay me I can never die +by a nobler hand. Since I cannot hope for favor +from La Belle Isolde, I have as good will to die as +to live."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>"Then set a day in which we shall do battle in +this cause."</p> + +<p>"Let it be fifteen days hence. And let the place +be in the meadow under Joyous Gard."</p> + +<p>"Why so long a time?" demanded Tristram. +"To-morrow will suit me better."</p> + +<p>"It is because I am meagre and weak, and have +fallen away to a shadow through hopeless love. +I must rest until I get my strength again before I +can face so doughty a knight."</p> + +<p>"So let it be, then," said Tristram. "Yet once +before you broke a promise to meet me in battle +at the grave near Camelot."</p> + +<p>"What could I do?" rejoined Palamides. "I +was in prison, and could not keep my word."</p> + +<p>"If you had done so, there would have been no +need of a fight now," said Tristram, as he strode +haughtily away.</p> + +<p>Then Palamides took his horse and rode to +Arthur's court, where he did his utmost to rest +and regain strength. When the appointed time +approached he returned, attended by four knights +and four sergeant-at-arms.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Tristram spent his time at the chase. +And by evil fortune, about three days before the +time of battle, a wild arrow shot by an archer at +a hart struck him in the thigh and wounded him +so deeply that he could scarcely return to Joyous +Gard.</p> + +<p>Great was his heaviness of heart, and neither +man nor woman could bring him cheer, for it was +now impossible to keep his word with his rival; +and his heart grew full of the fancy that Palamides<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +himself had shot that arrow, so as to prevent +him doing battle on the appointed day. But +this no knight about Tristram would believe.</p> + +<p>When the fifteenth day came Palamides appeared +at the place fixed, with the knights and +sergeants whom he had brought with him to bear +record of the battle. One sergeant bore his helm, +a second his spear, and a third his shield. And +for two hours he rested in the field, awaiting the +approach of his antagonist.</p> + +<p>Then, seeing that Tristram failed to come, he +sent a squire to Joyous Gard to remind him of his +challenge. When Tristram heard of this message +he had the squire brought to his chamber, and +showed him his wound.</p> + +<p>"Tell Sir Palamides," he said, "that were I able +to come he would not need to send for me, and +that I had rather be whole to-day than have all +King Arthur's gold. Tell him, moreover, that as +soon as I am able I shall seek him throughout the +land, as I am a true knight; and when I find him +he shall have his fill of battle."</p> + +<p>This message the squire brought to his master, +who heard it with much secret satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"I would have had hard handling of him, and +very likely have been vanquished," he said, "for +he has not his equal in battle, unless it be Sir +Lancelot. So I am well content to give up the +fight."</p> + +<p>A month passed before Tristram was well. Then +he took his horse and rode from country to country +in search of Palamides, having many strange adventures +by the way, but nowhere could he meet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +or hear of his rival in love. But during his search +Tristram did so many valiant deeds that his fame +for the time quite overtopped that of Lancelot, so +much so that Lancelot's kinsmen in their anger +would have waylaid and slain the valiant warrior.</p> + +<p>For this jealousy Lancelot sternly rebuked them, +saying,—</p> + +<p>"Bear it well in mind, that if any of you does +any harm to Sir Tristram, that man shall I slay +with my own hands. To murder a man like this +for his noble deeds! Out upon such base designs! +Far rather should you worship him for his valor +and royal prowess."</p> + +<p>And so time went on for the space of two years, +during which Tristram sought in vain for his +rival.</p> + +<p>At the end of that time he came home to Joyous +Gard from one of his journeys of adventure, and +there was told by La Belle Isolde of a great feast +to be held at the court on the coming day of Pentecost, +which she counselled him strongly to attend.</p> + +<p>Much debate passed between him and his lady-love +on this subject, for he was loth to go without +her, and she cared not to go. In the end he declared +that he would obey her wishes, but would +ride thither unarmed, save for his sword and spear.</p> + +<p>This he did, and though she in her loving anxiety +sent after him four knights, he sent them back +within half a mile. Yet he soon had reason to +repent his rashness. For hardly had he gone a +mile farther when he came upon a wounded knight, +who told him he owed his hurt to Sir Palamides. +What to do now, Tristram knew not. Near by was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +the foe he had so long sought in vain, and he was +unarmed. Should he ride back for his armor, or +go on as he was?</p> + +<p>While he stood thinking, Palamides appeared, +and knew him at sight.</p> + +<p>"Well met, Sir Tristram!" he cried. "I have +heard much of your search for me. You have found +me now, and we shall not part till we have settled +our old scores."</p> + +<p>"As for that," answered Tristram, "no Christian +can boast that I ever fled from him, nor shall +a Saracen make this boast, even if I be unarmed."</p> + +<p>Then he put his horse to the gallop and rode on +Palamides with such fury that his spear broke +into a hundred pieces. Throwing it away, he drew +his sword and struck Palamides six great strokes +upon the helm, while the Saracen stood unresisting, +and wondering at the folly and madness of his foe. +Then Tristram cried out in fury,—</p> + +<p>"Coward knight, why stand you thus idly? You +dare not do battle with me, for doubt not but I can +endure all your strength and malice."</p> + +<p>"You know well, Sir Tristram," answered Palamides, +"that I cannot in honor strike at your unarmed +head. If I should slay you thus, shame +would be my lot. As for your valor and hardiness, +those I shall never question."</p> + +<p>"You speak well," answered Tristram.</p> + +<p>"Tell me this," continued Palamides. "Were +I here naked of armor, and you full armed as I +am, what would you do?"</p> + +<p>"I shall not answer from fear, but from truthfulness. +I would bid you depart, as I could not +have ado with you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>"No more can I with you," said Palamides, +"therefore ride on your way."</p> + +<p>"I shall ride or abide as I may choose," said +Tristram. "But tell me this, Palamides: how +is it that so good a knight as you refuses to be +christened, as your brothers have long been?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot become a Christian till a vow I made +years ago is fulfilled. I believe fully in Jesus +Christ and His mild mother Mary; but there is +one battle yet I must fight, and when that is done +I will be baptized with a good will."</p> + +<p>"If that is the battle with me," said Tristram, +"you shall not long wait for it. For God defend +that through my fault you should continue a Saracen. +Yonder is a knight whom you have hurt. +Help me to put on his armor and I will aid you to +fulfil your vow."</p> + +<p>So they rode together to the wounded knight, +who was seated on a bank. Tristram saluted him, +and he weakly returned the salute.</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me your name, sir knight?" +asked Tristram.</p> + +<p>"I am Sir Galleron of Galway, and a Knight +of the Round Table."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for your hurts, and beg you to lend +me your armor, for I am unarmed, and would do +battle with this knight who wounded you."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it with a good will. But you +must beware, for this is no common knight."</p> + +<p>"I know him well," answered Tristram, "and +have an old quarrel with him."</p> + +<p>"Will you kindly tell me your name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>"Then it was idle to warn you. Well I know +your renown and worship; and Sir Palamides is +likely to have no light task."</p> + +<p>Tristram now took off the armor of the wounded +knight, who, as well as he could, helped him to +put it on himself. This accomplished, Tristram +mounted his horse and took in his hand Sir Galleron's +spear.</p> + +<p>Riding to where Palamides stood waiting, he +bade him make ready. In a minute more the two +strong knights came hurtling together like two +lions. Each smote the other in the centre of the +shield, but Palamides's spear broke, while that of +Tristram overturned the horse of Palamides. In +a moment the unhorsed knight had sprung to his +feet and drawn his sword, while Tristram alighted, +tied his horse to a tree, and advanced to the fray.</p> + +<p>The combat that succeeded was a hard and well-fought +one, as only it could be between two such +knights. For more than two hours it continued, +Tristram often bringing Palamides to his knees by +his mighty strokes, while Palamides cut through +Tristram's shield and wounded him. Then, in a +fury of anger, Tristram rushed upon his rival and +hurled him to the earth. But in an instant the +agile Saracen was on his feet again, fighting with +all his old strength and skill. And so the combat +went on, hour by hour, and, hard as Tristram +fought, Palamides stood as nobly to his work, and +gave him stroke for stroke.</p> + +<p>But, as fortune willed, in the end a fierce blow +struck the sword from Palamides's hand, nor dare +he stoop for it, for fear of being slain. So he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +stood moveless, regarding it with a sorrowful heart.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Tristram, "I have you at advantage, +as you had me this day. But it shall never +be said that Tristram de Lyonesse killed a weaponless +knight. Therefore take your sword, and let +us make an end of this battle."</p> + +<p>"As for that, I am willing to end it now," said +Palamides. "I have no wish to fight longer. Nor +can I think that my offence is such that we may +not be friends. All I have done is to love La Belle +Isolde. You will not say that I have done her +aught of dishonor by holding that she is peerless +among ladies, or by the valor which love for her +has given me. As for such offence as I have given +you, I have atoned for it this day, and no one can +say that I have not held my own like a man. But +this I will affirm, that I never before fought with +a man of your might. Therefore I beg you to forgive +me for all wrongs which I have done you, and +as my vow is now fulfilled, I stand ready to go +with you to the nearest church, there to be confessed, +and to receive baptism as a true and earnest +Christian knight."</p> + +<p>"I gladly forgive you all you have done against +me," said Tristram; "the more so that you have +done it rather from love than from hatred. It fills +my heart with joy to be the means of bringing the +valiant Palamides into the Church of Christ, and +hereafter I shall hold you among my best friends. +Within a mile from here is the suffragan of Carlisle, +who will gladly give you the sacrament of baptism; +and all Christendom must rejoice to gain so noble +a convert."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>Then they took their horses and helped Galleron +to his, and rode to the church, where Tristram +told the suffragan the purpose of their coming. +Proud to bring into the fold of the church so notable +a convert, the suffragan filled a great vessel with +water, and hallowed it. This done, he confessed +and baptized Sir Palamides, while Tristram and +Galleron stood as his godfathers.</p> + +<p>Afterwards the three knights rode to Camelot, +much to the joy of the king and queen, who gladly +welcomed Tristram to their court, and were no less +glad to learn that the valiant Palamides had become +a Christian, and that the long rivalry between +him and Tristram was at an end. The great feast +of Pentecost that followed was the merriest that +had ever been held at Arthur's court, and the merriest +that ever would be, for the breath of coming +woe and trouble was in the air, and the time was +near at hand in which that worthy fellowship of +noble knights was destined to break up in dire +disaster.</p> + +<p>But first of all the tide of disaster came upon +Tristram the brave and Isolde the fair, as we must +now relate. The chronicles tell the story at length, +but the record of treachery and crime had always +best be short, and so we shall make that of King +Mark, the murderer.</p> + +<p>Many years before the time to which we have +now come, King Mark's treachery had filled Cornwall +with mischief and all the land with horror, +through a deed of frightful crime. And in thus +wise it came about. Cornwall had been invaded +by a host of Saracens, but before they could do any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +mischief, Prince Baldwin, King Mark's brother, +attacked them, burned their ships, and utterly destroyed +them. Furious at heart that his brother +should win such honor, while he lay cowering with +fear in his castle, Mark invited him to Tintagil, +with his wife and child. There suddenly charging +him with treason for attacking the Saracens without +orders, he stabbed him to the heart, and would +have slain his wife and child as well had not the +lady Anglides fled for life with her child.</p> + +<p>Mark sent after them an old knight named Sir +Sadok, with orders to bring them back to Tintagil. +But he suffered them to escape, and brought back +to the king a false tale that he had drowned the boy.</p> + +<p>Many years now passed by, during which Baldwin's +son, Alexander the orphan, grew up to be a +youth large of limb and strong of arm. In due +time he was made a knight, whereupon Anglides +produced the bloody doublet and shirt of her murdered +husband, which she had carefully preserved, +and laid upon the young knight the duty of revenging +his father's death. The story of the crime had +been diligently kept from him, but he now accepted +this heavy charge with alacrity, and vowed solemnly +to devote his life to the duty of revenging his murdered +father.</p> + +<p>News of all this was quickly brought to King +Mark, by a false knight who hoped to win favor +by turning informer.</p> + +<p>"By my halidom," cried Mark, "whom can I +trust? I fancied the young viper was dead years +ago. That false hound, Sadok, let him escape. As +I am a living man, he shall pay the penalty of his +treason."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Seizing a sword, he burst furiously from the +chamber, and rushed madly through the castle in +search of the knight who had deceived him. When +Sadok saw him coming, with fury in his face, he +guessed what had happened, and drew his own +sword in haste.</p> + +<p>"King Mark," he cried, "beware how you come +nigh me. I saved the life of Alexander, and glory +in it, for you slew his father cowardly and treacherously. +And it is my hope and prayer that the +youth may have the strength and spirit to revenge +the good Prince Baldwin on his murderer."</p> + +<p>"What, traitor! What, dog! Do you dare rail +thus at me?" cried the king, and in a voice of fury +he bade four knights of his following to slay the +traitor.</p> + +<p>These knights drew their swords and advanced +in a body on Sadok; but he got the wall of them, +and fought so shrewdly that he killed the whole +four in King Mark's presence.</p> + +<p>Then, shaking his clinched fist at the king, he +said,—</p> + +<p>"I would add your false body to the heap, but +that I leave you for Alexander's revenge."</p> + +<p>This said, he took horse and rode briskly away, +and in all his court Mark could not find a knight +willing to pursue him, for all that held with the +king feared the old knight's sturdy arm.</p> + +<p>King Mark now finding his wrath of no avail, +set himself to devising some scheme of treachery +by which the danger that threatened him might be +removed. In the end he made a compact with Morgan +le Fay and the queen of Northgalis, both false<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +sorceresses, in which they agreed to fill the land +with ladies that were enchantresses, and with +false knights like Malgrim and Breuse Sans Pité, +so that the young knight Alexander le Orphelin +should be surrounded with magic and treachery, +and without doubt be taken prisoner or slain.</p> + +<p>Soon after his knighting, Alexander set out for +King Arthur's court, and on the way there had +many adventures, in which he proved himself a +knight of great valor and skill. Among these was +a mighty battle with the false knight Malgrim, +whom in the end he killed.</p> + +<p>But now Morgan le Fay sought to entrap him +by her false devices. She gave him a sleeping +draught, and had him taken in a horse-litter to a +castle of hers named La Belle Regard.</p> + +<p>Here she cured him of his wounds by healing +salves, but not until he had promised that he would +not set foot beyond the boundaries of that castle +for a twelvemonth and a day. When he had recovered, +Alexander chafed bitterly at his confinement, +for he felt sure that the pledge had been exacted +from him to save King Mark from his vow of +revenge. Yet his word held him close prisoner.</p> + +<p>As one day he wandered through the halls of the +castle, like a young lion in a cage,—now heavy +and sad, now burning with desire for action,—there +came to him a damsel who was cousin to Morgan +le Fay, and to whom the castle of La Belle Regard +by right belonged.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," she said to him, "I find you doleful +of aspect; yet I bear tidings that should make +you merry!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>"I pray you tell them to me," he answered. "I +am here now a prisoner by promise, but must say +that time hangs very heavy on my hands."</p> + +<p>"You are more of a prisoner than you deem," +she replied. "My cousin, Morgan le Fay, keeps +you here for purposes of her own which you will +scarcely find to your liking."</p> + +<p>"I fancy she keeps me here through an understanding +with King Mark," he rejoined. "I have +no faith in her, but I cannot break my word of +honor."</p> + +<p>"Truly, fair sir," she said, "I pity your unhappy +lot, and have a plan in mind through which you +may escape from this durance without loss of +honor."</p> + +<p>"Do that and I shall owe you my life's service," +he answered, warmly. "Tell me, dear lady, by +what means I can be freed."</p> + +<p>"This I may justly say, that this castle of right +belongs to me. I have been unjustly deprived of +it, and in right and honor you are my prisoner, +not Morgan's. I have an uncle who is a powerful +nobleman, the Earl of Pase, and who hates Morgan +le Fay above all persons. I shall send to him, and +pray him for my sake to destroy this castle, which +harbors only evil customs. He will come at my +wish and set fire to the building throughout. As +for you, I shall get you out at a private postern, +and there have your horse and armor ready."</p> + +<p>"Truly, fair maiden, you are as wise as you are +beautiful," he answered, in eager accents. "Release +me from imprisonment to Morgan and I will +hold myself your prisoner for life."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>Then she sent to her uncle the earl, and bade +him come and burn that haunt of mischief,—a +design which he already had in mind.</p> + +<p>When the appointed day came the Earl of Pase +sought the castle with four hundred knights, and +set fire to it in all parts, ceasing not his efforts +till there was not a stone left standing of the once +proud stronghold.</p> + +<p>But Alexander was not willing to take this as +a release from his vow, but stationed himself within +the limits of the space where had stood the castle +of La Belle Regard, and made it known far and +wide that he would hold that ground against all +comers for a twelvemonth and a day.</p> + +<p>Word of this knightly challenge soon came to +Arthur's court, where was then a lady of famous +beauty and great estate, known as Alice la Belle +Pilgrim, daughter of Duke Ansirus, called the pilgrim, +since he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem +every third year.</p> + +<p>When this fair maiden heard of Alexander's +challenge, she went into the great hall of Camelot +and proclaimed in the hearing of all the knights +that whoever should overcome the champion of +La Belle Regard should wed her and be lord of +all her lands.</p> + +<p>This done, she went to La Belle Regard, where +she set up her pavilion beside the piece of earth +held by the young knight. And as the weeks passed +by there came from all directions knights who had +heard of Alexander's challenge and Alice's offer, +and many a hard battle was fought. Yet from +them all Alexander came as victor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>But the more he triumphed over his knightly +foes the deeper he fell captive to his fair neighbor, +for whom he grew to feel so deep a love that it +almost robbed him of his wits. Nor was his love +unrequited, for his valor and youthful beauty had +filled her heart with as ardent a passion for him +in return, and she prayed as warmly for his victory +in every combat as though he had been her chosen +champion.</p> + +<p>And so time passed on, varied by fighting and +love-making, till one day, after Alexander had unhorsed +two knights, there came to him the lady +to whom he owed the burning of the castle, who +told Alice the whole story of what had then +occurred.</p> + +<p>"You worked wisely and well," answered Alice. +"Sir Alexander, indeed, has not gained much more +freedom, except it be freedom to fight. But that +is more his fault than yours."</p> + +<p>"Have I not?" exclaimed the young knight. +"I have gained freedom to love also; for which I +am ever beholden to this fair damsel."</p> + +<p>At this Alice turned away with a rosy blush, +while the maiden stood regarding them with merry +smiles.</p> + +<p>"I have, by right, the first claim on you, Sir +Alexander," she said. "But if this fair lady wants +you, I should be sorry to stand in love's light. I +yield my claim in her favor."</p> + +<p>As they thus conversed in merry mood, three +knights rode up, who challenged Alexander to joust +for the proffered prize of the hand and estate of +Alice la Belle Pilgrim. But the three of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +got such falls that they lost all desire to wed the +lady, and, like all knights whom Alexander overcame, +they were made to swear to wear no arms for +a twelvemonth and a day.</p> + +<p>Yet love may bring weakness as well as strength, +as the young lover was to find to his cost. For +there came a day in which, as he stood looking +from his pavilion, he saw the lady Alice on horseback +outside, and so charming did she appear in +his eyes that his love for her became almost a +frenzy. So enamoured was he that all thought of +life and its doings fled from his brain, and he grew +like one demented.</p> + +<p>While he was in this state of love-lorn blindness +the false-hearted knight Sir Mordred rode up with +purpose to joust. But when he saw that the youthful +champion was besotted with admiration of his +lady, and had no eyes or mind for aught beside, he +thought to make a jest of him, and, taking his +horse by the bridle, led him here and there, designing +to bring the lover to shame by withdrawing +him from the place he had sworn to defend.</p> + +<p>When the damsel of the castle saw this, and +found that no words of hers would rouse Alexander +from his blind folly, she burned with indignation, +and bethought her of a sharper means of bringing +him back to his lost senses.</p> + +<p>So she put on her armor and took a sword in her +hand, and, mounting a horse, rode upon him with +the fury of a knight, giving him such a buffet on +the helm that he thought that fire flew from his +eyes.</p> + +<p>When the besotted lover felt this stroke he came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +of a sudden to his wits, and felt for his sword. +But the damsel fled to the pavilion and Mordred +to the forest, so that Alexander was left raging +there, with no foe to repay for that stinging blow.</p> + +<p>When he came to understand how the false knight +would have shamed him, his heart burned with +wrath that Sir Mordred had escaped his hands. +But the two ladies had many a jest upon him for +the knightly stroke which the damsel had given +him on the helm.</p> + +<p>"Good faith," she said, "I knew not how else to +bring back his strayed wits. I fancy I would have +given him some shrewd work to do if I had chosen +to stand against him. These men think that none +but they can wear armor and wield swords. I took +pity on your champion, Alice, or it might have +gone hard with him," and she laughed so merrily +that they could not but join her in her mirth.</p> + +<p>After that nearly every day Alexander jousted +with knights of honor and renown, but of them all +not one was able to put him to the worse, and he +held his ground to the twelvemonth's end, proving +himself a knight of the noblest prowess.</p> + +<p>When the year had reached its end and his pledge +was fully kept, he departed from that place with +Alice la Belle Pilgrim, who afterwards became his +loving wife, and they lived together with great +joy and happiness in her country of Benoye.</p> + +<p>But though he let love set aside for the time his +vow of revenge on King Mark, he did not forget +the duty that lay before him, nor did that evil-minded +king rest at ease under the knowledge that +an avenger was in the land. Many a false scheme<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +he devised to keep Alexander from his court, and +in the end his treacherous plots proved successful, +for the young knight was murdered by some of +King Mark's emissaries, with his father's death +still unrevenged.</p> + +<p>But vengeance sleeps not, and destiny had decided +that the false-hearted king should yet die in +retribution for the murder of Prince Baldwin. +Alexander left a son, who was named Bellengerus +le Beuse, and who grew up to become a valiant and +renowned knight. He it was who avenged the +slaughter of Prince Baldwin, and also of Sir Tristram, +for this noble knight was also slain by the +felonious king, as we must now tell.</p> + +<p>Through the good services of King Arthur and +Queen Guenever, after Tristram and Isolde had +long dwelt at Joyous Gard, peace was made between +them and King Mark, and they returned +to Tintagil, where for a long time all went on in +seeming friendship and harmony.</p> + +<p>But the false king nursed the demon of jealousy +deep within his breast, and bided his time for +revenge. At length, on a day when Tristram, +dreaming not of danger, sat harping before La +Belle Isolde, the treacherous king rushed suddenly +upon him with a naked sword in his hand and +struck him dead at her feet.</p> + +<p>Retribution for this vile deed came quickly, for +Bellengerus was at Tintagil Castle at the time, +brought there by thirst of vengeance, and with a +heart filled with double fury by the news of this +dastardly deed, he rushed upon King Mark as he +stood in the midst of his knights and courtiers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +and struck him to the heart with his father's +avenging blade.</p> + +<p>Then, aided by Dinas, Fergus, and others of +Tristram's friends, he turned upon Andred and +the remainder of King Mark's satellites, and when +the work of blood was done not one of these false-hearted +knights remained alive, and the court of +Cornwall was purged of the villany which had long +reigned there supreme.</p> + +<p>But La Belle Isolde loved Tristram with too deep +a love to survive his death, and she fell swooning +upon the cross above his tomb and there sobbed +out her life; and she was buried by his side, that +those who had been so united in life should not be +parted in death.</p> + +<p>Great was the grief and pity aroused throughout +England, and through all lands where knighthood +was held in honor, by this distressful event, for +never before had two such faithful lovers breathed +mortal air. And long thereafter lovers made pilgrimages +to their tomb, where many prayed fervently +for a draught from that magic goblet from +which Tristram and Isolde drank, and whose wine +of love forever after ran so warmly in their veins.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="BOOK_IX" id="BOOK_IX">BOOK IX.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h4>THE ENCHANTED CASTLE OF KING PELLAM.</h4> + + +<p>After many years had come and gone, and all +at the court of Arthur the king had grown older +and wiser, there came to pass a series of adventures +more marvellous than had ever been known +upon the earth before, and of a nobler kind than +mere tourneyings and joustings, being no less than +the quest of the holy vessel named the Sangreal, +in which was kept a portion of the blood of our +blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>And through this quest much disaster came upon +the land, and the noble fellowship of the Round +Table was broken up and destroyed, for many went +in search of the holy vessel who had lived evil +lives, and of these few came back, but most of +them died deaths of violence.</p> + +<p>This sacred talisman—the Sangreal—had been +brought to England centuries before by Joseph of +Arimathea, a follower of our Saviour, and had +passed down from him to his descendant, King +Pellam, of Listengeise, him whom Balin struck the +dolorous stroke, and who was destined to lie in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +misery and pain until he should be healed of his +wound by the winner of the holy vessel.</p> + +<p>But to tell how this perilous quest began we must +go long years back and relate a story of strange +adventures and marvellous deliverances.</p> + +<p>For it had happened that during a feast of Whitsuntide +Lancelot du Lake left Arthur's court at +Camelot and rode afar in search of adventures. And +after a long journey, in which many strange things +came to pass, he arrived at Listengeise, the land +of King Pellam. Here he rescued the king's fair +daughter, Elaine, from a dismal enchantment, under +which she had long lain through the wiles of Morgan +le Fay and the queen of Northgalis, who hated +her bitterly from her renown for beauty.</p> + +<p>After the rescue of the lady, Lancelot fought +with and killed a mighty serpent that haunted a +tomb near by, and had done much harm in the +land. Then there came to him a dignified and noble +baron, who thanked him heartily in the name of +the king, and invited him to a repast in the castle +hall.</p> + +<p>But as they sat at table a wonderful thing took +place. For in at the open window of the hall +there flew a dove, which bore in its mouth what +seemed a little censer of gold. And from this censer +came such a rich and penetrating perfume as if +all the spicery of the world had been there, while +upon the table suddenly appeared the most delicious +of meats and drinks. Then came in a damsel, +young and beautiful, who bore in her hands a +vessel of gold, before which all who were there +kneeled and prayed devoutly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 388px;"> +<a name="Quest_Pg_118" id="Quest_Pg_118"></a><img src="images/p118.jpg" width="388" height="500" alt="ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL." title="ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL." /> +<span class="caption">ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>"What may all this mean?" asked Lancelot in +deep surprise.</p> + +<p>"It has been granted you to see the most precious +and wonderful thing in the world," answered the +noble baron. "For you have been permitted to +gaze upon the holy Sangreal. In the time to come +all Arthur's knights shall take part in a quest for +this precious talisman, and great shall be the woe +therefrom, for through that quest the Round Table +fellowship shall be broken up and many of its +noble knights destroyed."</p> + +<p>But all that passed in that land is too much for +us to tell. We shall say only that the fair Elaine +came to love Lancelot dearly, but he gave her no +love in return, for all the affection of his heart +was centred upon Queen Guenever. Yet King Pellam +so desired that Lancelot should wed his fair +daughter that in the end he used enchantment, and +brought him to make her his wife when under a +magic spell, the deluded knight fancying that it +was Guenever whom he had wedded.</p> + +<p>This delusion last not long, and when the deceived +spouse came to his senses and learned how +he had been dealt with, he broke away like a madman, +and, gaining his horse, rode wildly through +the land. And every knight-errant who dared to +joust with him was made to suffer from the fury +that burned in his blood.</p> + +<p>Long afterwards, as chance and adventure +brought about, there came to King Pellam's castle +Sir Bors de Ganis, Lancelot's nephew. He was +gladly received, and treated with all the good cheer +and honor which the castle could afford. And as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +he sat at his repast with, the castle lords, there +came in, as it had come to Lancelot, the dove with +the censer, at which the air was filled with the +richest perfume, and the table covered with the +most delicious viands. Then entered the maiden +with the holy grail, and all fell to their prayers.</p> + +<p>"Truly," said Bors, "this is a strange place, and +a land full of marvels."</p> + +<p>"This I will say," answered the noble baron who +sat in the king's chair, "that of the knights who +come here few see the holy vessel, and fewer go +away with any honor. Gawaine, the good knight, +was here but lately; but he saw not what your +eyes have beheld, and he left here in shame. None +but those of a worshipful life and who love God +devoutly can behold this marvel, or sleep in this +castle without coming to harm."</p> + +<p>"I am in quest of adventures," said Bors, "and +shall lie in your castle this night, come what will. +Men call me honest and virtuous, and I stand +ready to dare all perils the castle may hold."</p> + +<p>"I counsel you not," said the baron. "You will +hardly escape without harm and shame."</p> + +<p>"Let come what will come, I am ready."</p> + +<p>"Then I advise you to confess, and go to your +chamber with a clean soul, for you will be sorely +tried."</p> + +<p>"Let it be so. Your counsel is wise."</p> + +<p>After Sir Bors had been confessed and received +absolution, he was led into a fair large chamber, +around which were many doors, while a bed of royal +richness stood in the middle of the floor. Here +he was left alone, and threw himself on the bed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +his armor, deeming it wise to be prepared for all +that might come.</p> + +<p>Not long had he lain there with open eyes and +alert wits, when the room was all at once brilliantly +lighted up, though whence the light came he could +not tell. And suddenly a great and long spear, +whose point burnt like a taper, shot across the +chamber without hand to guide it, and struck him +in the shoulder so fierce a blow that his armor +was pierced, and he received a wound, a hand's-breadth +in depth, which pained him bitterly.</p> + +<p>Quickly afterwards an armed knight strode in, +with shield on shoulder and sword in hand, who +cried in a harsh voice,—</p> + +<p>"Arise, sir knight, and fight with me."</p> + +<p>"I shall not fail you," said Bors, hot with the +pain of his wound. "I am sorely hurt, but I have +vowed boldly to dare aught that might come to me. +If that burning spear came from your hand you +shall pay dearly for it."</p> + +<p>With these words he sprang from the bed and +attacked the intruder, and a hard and stern battle +began, which lasted long. At the end the intruding +knight was driven backward to a chamber door, +through which he passed, leaving Bors master of +the floor.</p> + +<p>But hardly had he rested a minute when the +defeated knight returned, as fresh as at the start, +and attacked Bors with renewed strength. Again +the battle went on fiercely. But when Bors saw his +antagonist once more retreating towards the chamber +door, he cried out,—</p> + +<p>"Not so, my good fellow. You played that trick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +on me once; you shall not again. Back and defend +yourself. If you defeat me it shall be by strength, +not by magic." And he stationed himself before +the door, and drove back his opponent with such +fury, that in a moment more he hurled him to +the floor.</p> + +<p>"Yield, or you die!" he cried, setting his foot +on the fallen knight's head.</p> + +<p>"I yield," came the answer.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"I am Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches."</p> + +<p>"Then, Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches, +take yourself away. And if you have any of your +fellows behind yonder door, bid them to keep out +of this room, for I came here to sleep, not to fight. +At Whitsunday next, present yourself at King +Arthur's court, and tell him that you have come +thither as a prisoner of Sir Bors of the sharp +sword."</p> + +<p>This, Sir Pedivere swore to do, and left his conqueror +to what rest he could get. But this was +little, for enchantment surrounded the daring +knight. The room suddenly became full of frightful +noises and alive with peril. Whence they came he +knew not, whether through doors or windows, but +a flight of arrows and of crossbow bolts filled the +air, whistling shrewdly past his ears, while many +of them fell upon him and pierced his flesh through +the open places in his armor.</p> + +<p>"Who can sleep in such a den of witchcraft as +this?" he cried, in a rage, springing from the bed. +As he did so one of the doors opened, and a great +lion leaped fiercely in, with a hideous roar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>"It is better to fight a lion that one can see, +than arrows which nobody shoots," cried Bors, and +he rushed without hesitation on the dangerous +animal.</p> + +<p>Sharp was the fight that followed, but of short +duration. The lion sprang wildly upon him, and +tore the shield from his arm, while the sharp claws +rent his flesh. But the knight retorted with a +sweeping stroke that cut off the frightful beast's +head, and stretched its tawny body lifeless on the +floor.</p> + +<p>Then Bors walked to the window to see whither +the arrows had come, and as he looked into the +castle court he beheld a wondrous sight. For before +his eyes stood a dragon, huge and horrible of +aspect, in whose forehead were letters of gold which +seemed to him to form King Arthur's emblem. And +as he gazed there leaped into the court an old +and mighty leopard, which sprang upon the dragon +and engaged in desperate battle with the huge +monster.</p> + +<p>At last the dragon spit out of its mouth a hundred +of what seemed small dragons, and these +quickly leaped upon the frightful beast and rent it +to fragments. Then all the animals disappeared, +and an old man came into the court, around whose +neck two adders wreathed their folds. In his +hand was a harp, upon which he played, while he +sang an old song telling how Joseph of Arimathea +came to that land. When his song was ended he +said to Sir Bors,—</p> + +<p>"Go from this land, sir knight, for you shall +have no more adventures here. You have played<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +your part well and nobly, and shall do still better +hereafter, for wondrous things are reserved for you."</p> + +<p>Then Bors saw a dove of whitest plumage fly +across the court with a golden censer in its mouth, +from which seemed to stream the most delicious +perfumes. And the tempest which had raged in the +sky suddenly ceased, while from the rent clouds +the full moon poured down its white light to the +earth.</p> + +<p>Next there came into the court four children +who bore four tapers, and an old man in their midst +with a censer in one hand a spear in the other, +and that spear was called the spear of vengeance.</p> + +<p>"Go to your cousin, Sir Lancelot," said the old +man, "and tell him what you have seen, and that +if he had been as clean of sin as he should be, the +adventure which all this signifies would have been +his. Tell him, moreover, that though in worldly +adventures he passes all others in manhood and +prowess, there are many his betters in spiritual +worth, and that what you have seen and done this +night he was not deemed worthy of."</p> + +<p>Then Bors saw four meanly-dressed gentlewomen +pass through his chamber, and enter an apartment +beyond which was lit up with a light like that of +midsummer. Here they knelt before an altar of +silver with four pillars, where also kneeled a man +in the dress of a bishop. And as the knight looked +upward he beheld a naked sword hovering over his +head, whose blade shone like silver, yielding a flashing +light that blinded him as he gazed. As he +stood thus sightless, he heard a voice which said,—</p> + +<p>"Go hence, Sir Bors, for as yet thou art not +worthy to be in this place."</p> + +<p>Then the door of that chamber closed, and he +went backward to his bed, where he lay and slept +undisturbed till morning dawned. But when the +regent of King Pellam learned what had happened +to his guest in the night, and how he had escaped +the perils of the enchanted chamber, he greeted him +joyfully, and said,—</p> + +<p>"You are the first that ever endured so well +that chamber's mysteries. And more has been +shown to your eyes than any others have seen. Go +home, worthy knight. You are chosen for great +deeds in the time to come."</p> + +<p>Sir Bors thereupon took his horse and rode away, +thinking long and deeply on all that had happened +to him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h4>THE MARVEL OF THE FLOATING SWORD.</h4> + + +<p>Many and strange were the events that followed +those we have just related, and great trouble and +woe came therefrom. For when Sir Bors returned +to Camelot and told the story of the wedding of +Lancelot and Elaine, much was the secret talk and +great the scandal. And when the news came to +Guenever's ears she flamed with wrath.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards, Lancelot returned, still half +frenzied with the deception that had been practised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +upon him. When Guenever saw him she accused +him bitterly of being a traitor to love, and harshly +bade him leave the court, and never come again +within her sight.</p> + +<p>This bitter reviling turned Lancelot's frenzy to a +sudden madness. With distracted brain he leaped +from a window into a garden, and ran like a wild +man through wood and brake, heedless that his +clothes were torn and his flesh rent with thorns +and briers. Thus hotly burns despised love in the +human heart and brain, and thus it may turn the +strongest senses away and bring madness to the +clearest mind.</p> + +<p>On learning what had passed, Bors and Hector +went to the queen, and accused her harshly of the +great wrong she had done to the noble Lancelot. +But she was already torn with remorse, and she +knelt before these noble knights, begging their forgiveness, +and praying them pitifully to seek Lancelot +and bring him back to the court.</p> + +<p>Months passed and Lancelot returned not, nor +could he be found, though he was sought through +many lands. For he kept afar from cities and +courts, and roamed through wilds and wastes, where +he had many adventures in his madness, and did +strange and wild things.</p> + +<p>For two years he wandered hither and thither in +frenzy, until at length he came to King Pellam's +city of Corbin, and to the castle where dwelt the +fair Elaine. Here he was given shelter in a little +outhouse, with straw to sleep on, while every day +they threw him meat and set him drink, for none +would venture near a madman of such savage aspect.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>But one day as he slept, Elaine chanced to behold +him, and knew him at once for Lancelot. Telling +a trusty baron of her discovery, she had the distracted +knight borne still sleeping into a tower +chamber in which was kept the holy vessel, the +Sangreal, concealed from all eyes save those of persons +of saintly life. Lancelot was laid near this, +and when all had left the chamber a man of sanctity +entered and uncovered the vessel. Such was its +holy influence that it wrought marvellously upon +the distracted knight as he lay there asleep and +the madness passed away from his brain. When he +woke he was himself again, as whole a man in +mind and body as any that stood upon the earth. +For so healing was the virtue of that precious vessel +that it not only drove the cloud of madness from his +mind, but gave him back all his old might and +comeliness of body.</p> + +<p>Then, ashamed of his frenzy, and anxious not +to be known, Lancelot assumed the name of the +Chevalier Mal Fet, or the knight who has trespassed, +and took up his abode with Elaine and +many knights and ladies at a castle given him by +King Pellam. This stood on an island in the +midst of a deep and clear lake, which Lancelot +named the Joyous Isle. And now, filled again +with martial fervor, he made it known far and wide +that he would joust with any knights that came that +way, and that any one who should put him to the +worst would receive as a prize a jewel of worth and +a jerfalcon.</p> + +<p>But none won the prize, though very many noble +knights jousted with the Chevalier Mal Fet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>Last of all came Percivale and Hector, who had +been long in search of Lancelot. Learning the +challenge, Percivale jousted with Lancelot, and +afterwards they fought with swords. So long and +even was their combat, that a length both paused +for breath. And now Percivale, wondering who +this sturdy knight could be, told his name, and +asked for his in return. At this, Lancelot threw +away his weapon, and took his late opponent in +his arms, crying out that he was Lancelot du Lake.</p> + +<p>Glad was the meeting between these old friends +and comrades, and richly were the new-comers entertained +in the castle. But in the end they persuaded +Lancelot to go with them to Camelot, and +the disconsolate Elaine was left to return, with +her knights and ladies, to her father's castle.</p> + +<p>After these events years came and went, until +many summers and winters had passed over England's +fair isle, and age had begun to lay its hand +on those who had been young, while those who +had been children grew up and became knights +and ladies. Then came at length the time fixed +by destiny for the adventure of the Sangreal. And +thus this adventure began.</p> + +<p>When again approached the vigil of Pentecost, +and all the fellowship of the Round Table had +come to Camelot, and the tables were set to dine, +there rode into the great hall a gentlewoman of +noble aspect, whose horse was white with sweat and +foam.</p> + +<p>She saluted Lancelot and begged him to go with +her, though whither and for what purpose she would +not say. Stirred by his love of adventure, he armed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +and rode with her, and before the day's end reached +an abbey of nuns in a secluded valley. Here, as +he stood conversing with the abbess, there came in +to him twelve nuns, bringing with them a youth +who had not yet reached manhood, but was large +and powerful of frame, and as handsome of face +as any man he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the ladies, with weeping eyes, "we +bring you this child, whom we have long nourished, +and pray you to make him a knight; for +there is no worthier man from whom he can receive +the order of knighthood, and we hold him +worthy of your sword."</p> + +<p>Lancelot looked long at the young squire, and +saw that he was seemly, and demure as a dove, +and of wonderful beauty of form and features, +and his heart went out with great love for the +beautiful youth.</p> + +<p>"What is his name?" asked Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"We call him Galahad."</p> + +<p>"Comes this desire from himself?"</p> + +<p>"It does," said they all.</p> + +<p>"From whom has he sprung?"</p> + +<p>"His mother is dead. His father is a full noble +knight, as you shall soon learn."</p> + +<p>"Then he shall be knighted by my hand to-morrow +at the morning services, for truly he seems +worthy of it."</p> + +<p>That night, Lancelot's cousins, Bors and Lionel, +stopped at the abbey, and spent there a cheery +evening with their noble kinsman. At early morn +of the next day he gave the accolade to the youth, +pronouncing him knight, and bidding Bors and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +Lionel to stand as his godfathers in the order of +knighthood.</p> + +<p>"And may God make you a good man and a +noble knight," he said. "Beauty you have now, +equal to any I have ever seen, and strength and +courage I doubt not; if you bear with these a +noble heart and an earnest mind you have the best +treasures that God can confer or man possess."</p> + +<p>Then, when they had broken their fast, Lancelot +said to the demure and modest young knight,—</p> + +<p>"Fair sir, will you come with me to the court +of King Arthur?"</p> + +<p>"I humbly beg your pardon," said Galahad, "but +I cannot come at this time. Trust me to follow +soon."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot and his cousins left the abbey +and rode to Camelot, where they arrived before +the hour of the feast. In the great hall were many +noble knights, some of them strangers, who walked +about the Round Table, reading the names in letters +of gold in the several seats, and saying,—</p> + +<p>"Here sits Gawaine, here Lancelot, here Percivale," +and so with the others.</p> + +<p>At length they came to the seat perilous, in which +no man but Percivale had hitherto dared to sit, +and which he no longer occupied. To their deep +surprise they found there newly written in letters +of gold these words,—</p> + +<p>"Four hundred and fifty-four winters after the +passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the knight shall +come for whom this seat is held by destiny."</p> + +<p>"What marvellous thing is this?" cried all who +saw it. "Here is a miracle."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>"In the name of God, what means it?" cried +Lancelot. "Percivale long since had warning to +leave that seat. Who shall fill it to-day, for this +is the feast of Pentecost of the four hundred and +fifty-fourth year. The year and day have come, +but where and who is the man? I advise that +these letters be hidden, till he come for whom +this seat is pre-ordained."</p> + +<p>Then it was ordered that the writing should be +covered with a cloth of silk; and the king bade his +guests to hasten to dinner, and forget for the time +being what they had seen.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Kay, the steward, "if you go to +table now you will break your old custom, not to +sit at dinner on this day till you have seen or +heard of some adventure."</p> + +<p>"Very true," said the king. "I had forgotten +my custom through this strange event."</p> + +<p>As they stood thus speaking, there came hastily +into the court a squire, whose eyes were big with +wonder.</p> + +<p>"Sire, I bring you marvellous tidings," he cried +to the king.</p> + +<p>"What are they?" demanded Arthur.</p> + +<p>"As I stood but now by the river, I saw floating +on its waters a great square stone, and above this +stood the hilt of a sword, whose blade was thrust +deeply into the stone."</p> + +<p>"A stone that floats!" said the king. "That is +strange, indeed. I must see this marvel."</p> + +<p>Then he, followed by all the knights, went to +the river, and saw there that the squire had spoken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +truly; for a great stone that seemed of red marble +floated like wood on the water, and thrust deeply +into it was a rich sword, in whose pommel were +many jewels of price. As they looked in wonder +the stone whirled inward on an eddy and came +aground at their feet. And now they saw that the +precious stones were set in letters of gold, which +none there could read. But there was a man at +the court learned in strange tongues, and he being +sent for, read these with ease, and thus interpreted +them,—</p> + +<p>"Never shall the hand of man draw me from +this stone until he comes by whose side I am to +hang; and he shall be the best knight in the world."</p> + +<p>"Lay your hand on this sword and draw it," +said the king to Lancelot. "To you it surely belongs; +for you are the best knight in the world."</p> + +<p>"Best of hand, mayhap, but not of heart and +life," said Lancelot, soberly. "Certes, sir, that +sword is not for me, nor have I the hardiness to +set hand thereto. I had a vision in my last night's +sleep, and this it told me: that he who seeks to +draw that sword, and fails therein, shall in time +receive from it a wound which shall be very long in +healing. And this more I learned, that this same +day, and with the drawing of that sword, shall +begin the marvellous quest of the holy vessel, the +Sangreal. For fate has destined that this precious +amulet shall be sought throughout the world; and +to him who finds it the greatest of earth's honors +shall come."</p> + +<p>The king and all the knights heard these words +with wonder, for Lancelot spoke like one inspired. +Then Arthur turned to Gawaine.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>"Fair nephew," he said, "try you this task for +my love."</p> + +<p>"Saving your good grace," said Gawaine, "that +I shall not do."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, seek to draw the sword at my command."</p> + +<p>"Your command I must obey," said Gawaine, +"yet I dread to meddle with magic."</p> + +<p>Then he took the sword by the handle, and pulled +with all his might, but he could not stir it.</p> + +<p>"I thank you," said the king, "for the trial, +even if you have failed."</p> + +<p>"My lord Gawaine," said Lancelot, "bear well +in mind, this sword shall touch you so sore that +you would give the best castle in this kingdom +not to have set your hand thereto."</p> + +<p>"It may be," answered Gawaine. "Yet I could +not disobey the command of the king."</p> + +<p>Then the king turned to Percivale, and asked +him for his love to try the task.</p> + +<p>"Gladly will I," he said, "if only to bear Gawaine +fellowship."</p> + +<p>But pull as strongly as he would, the sword +yielded not to his hand. And there were more +there so hardy as to disregard Lancelot's warning +and seek to draw the sword, but to no hand would +it yield.</p> + +<p>"Try no more," said Kay to the king. "You +have seen your marvel, and now may, with a good +appetite, go to your dinner."</p> + +<p>This advice seemed timely to the king, and all +went to the court, where the knights took their +seats at the Round Table, and were served by young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +men lately made knights. When they had been +fully served, every seat being filled save the seat +perilous, another marvellous thing happened. For +suddenly all the doors and windows of the hall shut +of themselves. Yet the room was not greatly darkened, +and men looked into one another's faces +with abashed and frightened visages.</p> + +<p>"Fair fellows and lords," said the king, "this is +a day of strange events. And I doubt if we shall +not see greater before night comes, for it seems a +day set aside by the fates."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, there came into the hall an ancient +man, clothed all in white, but no knight knew +through which door he had entered. By the hand +he led a young knight, clad in red armor, but without +sword or shield, an empty scabbard hanging +by his side.</p> + +<p>"Peace be with you, fair lords," said the old +man. Then he turned to King Arthur, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Sir, I bring with me a young knight who is of +kingly lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph of +Arimathea. By his hand many strange marvels +are destined to be accomplished."</p> + +<p>The king heard these words with close attention, +and answered graciously,—</p> + +<p>"Sir, you are right welcome here, and the young +knight you bring."</p> + +<p>Then the old man removed the youth's armor, +and put upon him a coat of red sendal and a mantle +that was furred with ermine. And Lancelot saw +that the young man was he whom he had knighted +that morning at the abbey.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 321px;"> +<a name="Joseph_Pg_134" id="Joseph_Pg_134"></a><img src="images/p134.jpg" width="321" height="500" alt="JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA." title="JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA." /> +<span class="caption">JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.</span> +</div> + +<p>But the chief wonder of the day was now to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +appear. For the old man said to his young companion,—</p> + +<p>"Sir, follow me." He led him around the table +till they came to the seat perilous, beside which +sat Lancelot. Here the old man lifted up the +silken cloth, and lo! the letters which had been +covered were gone, and new letters of gold were +visible, which read,—</p> + +<p>"This is the seat of Galahad, the high prince."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the old man, "this seat is yours. +Long has it waited your coming."</p> + +<p>And he seated him therein, while all the circle +of knights looked on in wonder. Now for the first +time the young knight spoke.</p> + +<p>"Dear sir," he said, "you may now depart, for +you have done well what you were commanded to +do. Recommend me to my grandsire, King Pellam, +and say to him that I will come and see him +as soon as I may."</p> + +<p>With this the old man departed. Outside there +waited twenty noble squires, who mounted when +he came, and rode away with him. The Knights +of the Round Table marvelled greatly at all this, +and the more so on seeing that he who occupied +that chair of peril was one so tender of age, and +a youth whom no one knew, nor whence he came; +but to one another they privately said,—</p> + +<p>"This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be +achieved; for none ever sat there before but Percivale, +and he was not long deemed worthy to +occupy that seat."</p> + +<p>The talk of this strange event quickly passed +through the palace, and came to the queen, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +heard it with wonder. Those who brought word +said that the youth resembled Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"I must see this strange thing," she said, and, +followed by her ladies, she entered the hall.</p> + +<p>"It is Sir Lancelot in youth again," she cried, +on looking the young knight in the face. "Fair +sir, tell me truly, what father had you, and what +mother."</p> + +<p>"King Pellam is my grandsire," answered Galahad, +"and Elaine was my mother. As for my +father, I know him not."</p> + +<p>"Then do I," cried the queen, "for he sits beside +you. Sir Lancelot is your father. You are +son unto the noblest knight that ever wore sword."</p> + +<p>At these words Lancelot rose up in haste, for +he had not dreamed of what was to come; and +he clasped the youth in his arms and kissed his fair +young face with a love that overflowed his heart.</p> + +<p>"My son!" he said. "Can it be? Greatly, indeed, +have I felt drawn unto you."</p> + +<p>"And my heart went out to you, dear father," +said Galahad, "from the moment I looked upon +your noble face."</p> + +<p>The sight of this affecting meeting filled all +hearts there with joy, and the king warmly congratulated +Lancelot on having found so worthy a +son; "for to him, I dare avow," he said, "is destined +that great achievement of the Sangreal of +which you have this day told us."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur took Galahad by the hand, and +said,—</p> + +<p>"Come with me, young sir," and led him from +the palace to the river to show him the marvel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +of the stone. After them followed the knights, and +the queen and ladies of the court, all full of hope +of greater wonders yet to come.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the king, "that sword floated hither +this day. Many knights of great prowess have +tried to draw it and failed."</p> + +<p>"That is no marvel," said Galahad. "The sword +is not theirs, but mine. And since I knew it +awaited me I have brought no sword; but its scabbard, +as you may see, hangs by my side."</p> + +<p>Then he laid his hand upon the sword, and, +while all eyes opened wide with wonder, drew it +from the stone as easily as if it came from the +water only, and thrust it into the scabbard, saying +to the king,—</p> + +<p>"It fits there better than in a floating stone."</p> + +<p>"God has sent it you," said the king. "And I +doubt not he will send you a shield in as marvellous +a manner."</p> + +<p>"This is the sword that at one time belonged +to Balin le Savage," said Galahad, "and with +which he killed his brother Balan, in that terrible +joust which happened many years ago. The scabbard +I wear was Balin's scabbard, and it was Merlin +who put the sword into that stone, saying that no +hand should draw it but that of Lancelot, or his +son Galahad. Nor can any man have forgotten +the dolorous stroke which Balin dealt my grandfather +King Pellam, of which he is not yet healed, +nor shall be till I heal him. So has Merlin +prophesied."</p> + +<p>As they talked thus a lady on a white palfrey +was seen riding down the river side to where they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +stood. Reaching the group, she saluted the king +and queen, and asked if Sir Lancelot were there.</p> + +<p>"I am here, fair lady," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Sad is it," she said, while tears flowed from +her eyes, "that all your great renown is changed +since this day's dawn."</p> + +<p>"Damsel, why say you this?"</p> + +<p>"Until to-day you were the best knight in the +world," she answered. "But he who should say +this now would speak falsely, for there has come a +better than you. And this is proved by the adventure +of the sword to which you dared not set your +hand. Remember well what I have said."</p> + +<p>"As touches that," rejoined Lancelot, "I never +had the pride of being the best knight in the world, +nor do I envy my son if any worship has passed +from me to him."</p> + +<p>"Yet you were the greatest; and still are among +sinful men," she persisted. "And, sir king," she +said to Arthur, "this more I am bid to say, from +the holy lips of Nancien the hermit, that to you +shall fall to-day the greatest of honors; for this +day the Sangreal shall appear in your palace, and +feed you and all your fellowship of the Round +Table!"</p> + +<p>With these words she turned her palfrey and +rode away as she had come, leaving all who had +heard her lost in wonder and admiration.</p> + +<p>When they had a little got over their wonder +at what they had seen, the king gave orders that the +stone should be taken from the water, saying that +he would have it set up as a monument of those +strange events.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>"And as it may be long before you all come together +here again, I should like to have you joust +in the meadow of Camelot, by way of honor to this +day."</p> + +<p>Thus he spoke; but his real purpose was to see +Galahad proved, for he feared that if he once left +the court it might be long before he should see +him again. Then the knights put on their armor +and rode to the meadow in a gallant cavalcade. +Galahad also, at the earnest request of the king, +put on armor, but he would take no shield, though +the king and Lancelot prayed him to do so. The +most he would consent to do was to take a spear.</p> + +<p>But noble work he did that day, meeting all +men who cared to break spears with him, so that +by the end of the joust he had thrown down many +good Knights of the Round Table. Only two of +them, Lancelot and Percivale, were able to keep +their seats against the vigorous onset of the strong +young knight.</p> + +<p>When the jousting was at an end, the king and +knights went back to Camelot, where they attended +even-song at the great minster. Thence they proceeded +to the palace hall, where all took their seats +at the table for supper.</p> + +<p>But as they sat eating, there came outside a +terrible crash of thunder, and a wind arose that +seemed as if it would rend the great hall from its +foundations. In the midst of this blast the hall +was lighted by a sudden gleam seven times brighter +than the midday light, in whose glare the knights +sat dumb, none daring to speak. But each looked +at the others, and it seemed to each that his fellows<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +were fairer of visage than he had ever seen them +before.</p> + +<p>Then the storm and the glare passed away as +suddenly as they had come, and there entered the +hall the holy grail. None there saw it, for it was +covered with white samite, but the hall was filled +with the rarest odors, and each knight saw on the +table before him the meats and drinks that he +loved best in the world.</p> + +<p>When the holy vessel had passed through the +hall, it suddenly vanished, none knew how. And +not till then dared any man speak.</p> + +<p>"Certes," said the king, "we ought to thank +God devoutly for what he has shown us this day."</p> + +<p>"We have enjoyed the richest of perfumes, and +have before us the rarest of food," said Gawaine; +"and we have but one thing to regret, that the +sacred vessel was so preciously covered that no eye +might behold it. But this miracle has filled my +soul with the warmest desire to see this holy thing, +and I therefore vow that to-morrow, without delay, +I shall set out in quest of the Sangreal, and shall +not return hither till I have seen it more openly, +if it take me a twelvemonth or more. If I fail +in the end, I shall return as one who is not worthy +to behold the holy vessel."</p> + +<p>On hearing these words the other knights arose +as one man, and repeated the vow which Gawaine +had made.</p> + +<p>Upon this, King Arthur sprang to his feet in deep +displeasure, for there came to his mind like a +vision a host of evil consequences from this inconsiderate +vow.</p> + +<p>"You are over-hasty, Gawaine," he said, sharply, +"and have done me a lifelong evil with your vow. +For you have bereft me of the fairest fellowship +that ever came together in this world. When my +knights depart hence on that difficult search, well +I know that they will never all meet again in this +world, for many shall die in the quest. Therefore +it distresses me deeply, for I have loved them as I +loved my life, and I would rather have my soul +depart from my body than to lose their noble fellowship. +Long have we dwelt together in sorrow +and in joy, but I fear our happy days are at an end, +and that trouble and suffering await us in the time +to come. What God wills must be, but my heart +is sore at the thought of it."</p> + +<p>And men who looked upon the king could see +tears of distress and grief flowing from his eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h4>HOW GALAHAD GOT HIS SHIELD.</h4> + + +<p>When morning came the knights made ready for +their departure, amid the tears and lamentations +of ladies, and with the deep sorrow of the king and +queen. For there were a hundred and fifty of them +in all, comprising the whole fellowship of the Table +Round, and King Arthur had deep reason for his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +fear that he would never gather all these gallant +knights round his festal board again. And so they +mounted and rode through the streets of Camelot, +where was weeping of rich and poor, and the king +turned away and could not speak for grief, while +Queen Guenever hid herself in her chamber, to be +alone with her bitter sorrow at the going of +Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Onward they rode in company until they came +to a castle and town that were named Vagon. +There they stopped and were well entertained by +the lord of the castle, who was a man of great hospitality. +But when morning came it was decided +between them that they should separate, each taking +his own course, so that the Sangreal might be +sought in all quarters. This they did with much +sorrow and many fervent farewells, each knight +taking the way that he liked the best, and riding +alone and afar on his perilous quest.</p> + +<p>First must we follow the young knight Galahad, +who still rode without a shield, and who passed +onward for four days without an adventure. Near +eventide of the fourth day he came to a white abbey, +where he was received with great respect, and led +to a chamber that he might lay off his armor. And +here, to his surprise, he met with two of the goodly +company from which he had lately parted, Sir +Uwaine and King Bagdemagus.</p> + +<p>"Sirs," said Galahad, "what adventure brought +you hither?"</p> + +<p>"We are told," they replied, "that within this +place is a shield of perilous significance. For he +who bears it about his neck runs deep risk of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +slain within three days, or maimed forever. Yet," +said Bagdemagus, "I shall bear it to-morrow and +try my fortune."</p> + +<p>"In the name of God, try it," said Galahad. +"Yet truly you take a great risk."</p> + +<p>"If I fail therein, you shall take the adventure. +I am sure you will not fail."</p> + +<p>"I agree to that," said Galahad. "I have ridden +far enough without a shield."</p> + +<p>Then they went to supper, and afterwards to +sleep. When morning came Bagdemagus asked of +the abbot where the magic shield was, and a monk +led him behind an altar where hung a shield as +white as snow, but with a red cross in its centre.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are well advised of what you do," +said the monk. "No knight, unless he be the +worthiest in the world, can safely bear this shield."</p> + +<p>"I know well that I am not the best of knights," +said Bagdemagus; "and yet I shall wear it and +dare the danger."</p> + +<p>Then he took it out of the monastery, and said +to Galahad,—</p> + +<p>"If it please you, await me here till you learn +how I shall speed."</p> + +<p>"I shall await tidings," said Galahad.</p> + +<p>Bagdemagus now rode forward with a squire, +that he might send back tidings of his good or ill +fortune, and passed onward for two miles, when he +found himself in a valley before a hermitage. +Here he saw a stalwart knight in white armor, +horse and all, who, in seeing the red-cross shield, +rode upon him at the full speed of his charger. +Bagdemagus put his spear in rest and rode to meet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +him, but his spear broke on the white knight, while +he was wounded in the right shoulder and borne +from his horse, the treacherous shield refusing to +cover him. Then the victor knight alighted and +took the white shield from him, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, you have acted with more folly than +wisdom, for you should have known that only he +who has no peer living can safely bear this shield."</p> + +<p>Then he went to the squire who had come with +King Bagdemagus, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Bear this shield to the good knight Sir Galahad, +whom you left in the abbey, and greet him +from me."</p> + +<p>"What shall I tell him is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Take no heed of my name. That is not for +you to know, nor for any earthly man. Content +yourself with telling Sir Galahad that this shield +is for him, and for no other man to wear. And +may God aid him to bear it worthily and worshipfully."</p> + +<p>But the squire went first to Bagdemagus and +asked him if he were seriously wounded.</p> + +<p>"Forsooth, I am," he said. "I shall scarce +escape from death."</p> + +<p>The squire then conveyed him in great pain to +the hermitage, and left him in care of the hermit. +And as the chronicle tells, he lay there long, and +barely escaped with life.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Oath_Pg_144" id="Oath_Pg_144"></a><img src="images/p144.jpg" width="500" height="318" alt="Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron. + +OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD." title="OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Sir Galahad," said the squire, when he had +returned to the abbey, "King Bagdemagus has paid +dearly for his venture. He lies at a hermitage +sorely wounded. As for you, the knight that overthrew +him sends you greeting, and bids you to bear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +this shield, through which marvellous adventures +shall come to you."</p> + +<p>"Then blessed be God and fortune," said Galahad.</p> + +<p>He now resumed his arms and mounted his horse, +hanging the white shield about his neck and commending +himself to God. Uwaine offered to bear +him company, but this was not to be.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," said Galahad, "I thank you for +your offer, but I must go alone, save that this squire +shall bear me fellowship."</p> + +<p>With these words the youthful knight rode away, +and soon came to where the white knight abode +by the hermitage. They saluted each other courteously, +and fell into a conversation in which the +white knight told Galahad the story of the magical +shield.</p> + +<p>"In the far past time," he said, "soon after +Joseph of Arimathea took down the body of our +Lord from the holy cross, and bore it from Jerusalem +to a city named Sarras, there was a king of +Sarras named Evelake, who was then at war with +the Saracens. This king, through the teachings of +Joseph, was converted from the old law to the new, +and for him this shield was made, in the name of +Him who died on the cross. Afterwards, when +Evelake was in battle, the shield was covered with +a cloth, which was only removed in times of deadly +peril, and then his enemies saw the figure of a man +on the cross, before which they fell back discomfited. +At times the cross of the shield would vanish away, +and at times stand out clear and bright; and such +was its virtue that a soldier whose hand was stricken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +off was made whole again by touching the cross. +The time came at length when Joseph left Palestine +and journeyed westward, and King Evelake with +him, till they came to Great Britain, where all the +people had been pagans, but were then converted +to the Christian faith. Soon afterwards Joseph +sickened and came near to death, and while he lay +in his bed he bade Evelake bring him the shield, +and on it he traced a red cross with his own blood. +Then he said to Evelake, 'No man hereafter shall +bear this shield but he shall repent it, until Galahad, +the last of my lineage, shall come to seek it, +and with it he shall do marvellous deeds.' 'Where +shall the shield await his coming?' asked Evelake. +'You shall leave it in the abbey where Nancien the +hermit shall lie after his death, and thither the +knight Galahad shall come for it soon after he +receives the order of knighthood.' This is the +story of the shield, and this day has the prediction +been fulfilled. Wear the shield worthily and well, +young knight, for much glory and renown shall +come to you through it. You are in God's hands; +to God commend yourself."</p> + +<p>With these words the white knight vanished away, +and in the place where he had stood was seen but +empty air.</p> + +<p>Then the squire, who had heard these words, +alighted and kneeled at Galahad's feet, praying +that he would make him a knight.</p> + +<p>"That I shall consider," said Galahad. "But +now let us return to the abbey."</p> + +<p>Here Galahad drove away a fiend that had long +dwelt in a tomb near by, where it made such noise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +that none could venture near it. But the virtue +of the shield protected him from all harm from this +evil shape, which was forced to depart.</p> + +<p>When morning came, he asked the young squire +his name.</p> + +<p>"Sir," he answered, "men call me Melias de +Lile, and I am the son of the king of Denmark."</p> + +<p>"Then, fair sir, since you come of kings and +queens, I shall make you a knight; and look you +that knighthood sit well on you, for you should +be a mirror of chivalry."</p> + +<p>"That shall I seek to be," said Melias.</p> + +<p>Then Galahad gave him the accolade as he +kneeled before him, and bade him rise a knight.</p> + +<p>"Now, dear sir," said Melias, "since you have +done me this high honor, it is but right that you +grant me my first request, so that it be in reason."</p> + +<p>"You speak justly," said Galahad.</p> + +<p>"I beg, then, that you let me ride with you in +the quest of the Sangreal till some adventure shall +part us."</p> + +<p>"That I grant willingly."</p> + +<p>Armor was now brought to Melias, and when it +had been girded upon him he and Galahad rode +away, and passed onward all that week without an +adventure. But on the Monday next, as they set +out from an abbey, they came to where a cross +marked a parting of the road. On the cross was +written,—</p> + +<p>"Ye knights-errant, that ride in quest of adventures, +here lie two ways. He that takes the right-hand +road shall not leave it again, if he be a good +man and a worthy knight. He that takes the left-hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +shall not lightly win fortune, for his strength +and endurance will be soon tried."</p> + +<p>"If you will suffer me to take the left-hand road +I should like it greatly," said Melias. "My +strength and skill need trial."</p> + +<p>"It were better not. I fancy that I only should +face the danger that there confronts us."</p> + +<p>"Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have this +adventure."</p> + +<p>"Take it, then, in God's name," said Galahad; +"and do your duty worthily."</p> + +<p>So Melias rode forward and soon found himself +in a forest, through which he passed for two days, +seeing there neither man, woman, nor child. Then +he came from the forest into a broad meadow, where +stood a lodge built of green boughs. And in that +lodge was a chair, on which lay a crown of gold +wrought with rich and subtle skill. Also there +were cloths spread upon the earth, upon which +delicious meats were laid.</p> + +<p>Melias beheld all this and thought it marvellous. +He felt no hunger, but the crown of gold roused +his covetousness, and he took it up and rode away +with it. But not far had he ridden when a knight +came after him, who said,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, why have you taken that crown? +It is not yours; therefore defend yourself."</p> + +<p>Then Melias blessed himself, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Fair Lord of Heaven, help and save thy new +made knight."</p> + +<p>Then they rode together at full speed, but +Melias's prayer availed him naught, for the spear-head +of the other went through his hauberk, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +wounded him so deeply in the left side that he +fell to the earth like a dead man. Then the victor +knight took the crown and rode away.</p> + +<p>But with wise forethought Galahad had followed +Melias, and now rode into the valley, where +he found him in peril of death.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Melias!" he cried, "better for you had you +taken the other way. Who has done you this +harm?"</p> + +<p>"For God's love, let me not die in this place!" +said Melias in reply. "Bear me to some abbey +near by, where I may be confessed and have the +rites of the church."</p> + +<p>"It shall be done," said Galahad. "But where +is he who has wounded you?"</p> + +<p>The reply came from the edge of the forest, +where Galahad heard a voice cry in stirring tones,—</p> + +<p>"Knight, defend yourself from me."</p> + +<p>"Beware, sir," warned Melias. "He it is that +has left me thus."</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," said Galahad, "come on at your +peril."</p> + +<p>Then they rode together as fast as their horses +could run, and Galahad drove his spear through +the shoulder of his opponent, hurling him from +his horse. But in his fall the spear broke. Then, +before the young knight could turn, another knight +rode from under the leaves and broke his spear +upon him.</p> + +<p>At this treacherous act Galahad drew his sword +in wrath, and with a keen blow smote off the left +arm of his antagonist, whom he pursued into the +forest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>He soon returned, however, and took up Melias +gently, for the truncheon of the spear was in his +body, and bore him on his horse in his arms to an +abbey near at hand. Here the wounded knight +was unarmed and laid upon a bed, where the rites +of the church were administered to him.</p> + +<p>"Sir Galahad," he then said, "let death come +when it will, I am at peace with God." And he +drew the truncheon of the spear from his body, +and swooned away.</p> + +<p>But an old monk who stood there, and who was +a skilful leech, examined the wound, and said, "He +need not die. By the grace of God I hope to heal +him of this wound within seven weeks."</p> + +<p>This gladdened Galahad, and he remained at the +abbey three days to see how Melias should fare. +Then he asked him how it stood with him.</p> + +<p>"I feel now as if I may live," he answered.</p> + +<p>"God be thanked for that," said Galahad. +"Now must I depart, for I have much to do, and +the quest of the Sangreal will not permit long +leisure and delay."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the monk, "it is for his sin this +knight is so bitterly wounded. He took on him +the high order of knighthood without clean confession, +which was a sinful thing to do. As for +the two ways to which you came, the way on the +right betokens the highway of righteousness, and +the way on the left, which he chose, betokens that +of sinners and infidels. And when the devil saw +his presumption in taking the quest of the Sangreal +without being worthy of it, he caused his overthrow. +And when he took the crown of gold he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +sinned in covetousness and theft. As for you, Sir +Galahad, the two knights with whom you fought +signify the two deadly sins which abide in Sir +Melias. But they could not withstand you, for +you are without deadly sin."</p> + +<p>"God send I may keep so," said Galahad. "Now +must I depart. I pray you do your utmost for +this knight."</p> + +<p>"My Lord Galahad," said Melias, "I shall get +well, and shall seek you as soon as I can ride."</p> + +<p>"God grant you speedy health," said Galahad, +and he left the room and sought his horse, and +rode away alone.</p> + +<p>After he had ridden for days in various directions, +it chanced that he departed from a place +called Abblasoure, where he had heard no mass, as +was his daily custom. But ere the day was old, he +came to a mountain, on which he found a ruined +chapel, and here he kneeled before the altar, and +besought God's counsel. And as he prayed he heard +a voice that said, "Go now, thou adventurous +knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and do away with +the wicked customs which there are kept."</p> + +<p>When Galahad heard this he took his horse and +rode away, full of gladness that he might thus serve +God. And not long nor far had he ridden before +he saw in a valley before him a strong castle, with +high towers and battlements and deep ditches; +and beside it ran a broad river, named the Severn.</p> + +<p>Here he met an aged man, whom he saluted, +and asked the castle's name.</p> + +<p>"It is the Castle of Maidens," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"Then it is a cursed castle, and an abode of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +sin," said Galahad. "All pity is wanting within +those walls, and evil and hardness of heart there +have their abode."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir knight, you would do well to turn +and leave it."</p> + +<p>"That shall I not," said Galahad. "I have come +here to punish the evil-doers that there abide."</p> + +<p>Leaving the old man, he rode forward, and soon +met with seven fair maidens, who said to him,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, you ride in folly, for you have the +water to pass."</p> + +<p>"And why should I not pass the water?" asked +Galahad.</p> + +<p>He continued his ride, and next met a squire, +who said,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, I bring you defiance from the +knights in the castle, who forbid you to go farther +till they learn your purpose."</p> + +<p>"You may tell it to them, if you will. I come +to destroy the wicked customs of this castle."</p> + +<p>"Sir, if you abide by that, you will have enough +to do."</p> + +<p>"Go now and bear them my answer."</p> + +<p>Then the squire returned to the castle, from +which there soon after rode seven knights, in full +armor. When they saw Galahad they cried,—</p> + +<p>"Knight, be on your guard, for you have come +to your death."</p> + +<p>"What!" asked Galahad, "will you all assail me +at once?"</p> + +<p>"That shall we; so defend yourself."</p> + +<p>Then Galahad rode against them and smote the +foremost such a blow that he nearly broke his neck.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +The others rode on him together, each striking his +shield with might. But their spears broke and +he still held his seat.</p> + +<p>He now drew his sword, and set upon them with +such energy that, many as they were, he put them +all to flight, chasing them until they entered the +castle, and following them within its walls till they +fled from the castle by another gate.</p> + +<p>Galahad was now met by an old man, clad in +religious costume, who said to him,—</p> + +<p>"Sir, here are the keys of the castle."</p> + +<p>Then the victor ordered that all the gates should +be thrown open, and in the streets of the neighboring +town were crowds of people, crying gladly,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, you are heartily welcome. Long +have we waited for the deliverance which you +bring us."</p> + +<p>And a gentlewoman came, who said to him,—</p> + +<p>"These knights are fled, but they will come +again. Therefore, sir, I counsel you to send for +all the knights that hold their lands of this castle, +and make them swear to restore the old customs, +and do away with the evil practices which these +villanous knights have fostered."</p> + +<p>"That is good counsel," said Galahad.</p> + +<p>Then she brought him a horn of ivory, richly +adorned with gold, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Blow this horn loudly. It will be heard two +miles and more from the castle, and all that hear +it will come."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Galahad_Pg_153" id="Galahad_Pg_153"></a><img src="images/p153.jpg" width="500" height="323" alt="Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron. +SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS." title="SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Galahad took the horn, and blew so loud a blast +that the very trees shook therewith. Then he +seated himself and waited to see what would come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +from the summons. As he sat there a priest came +to him and said,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, for seven years these brethren have +held the castle, whose lord, Duke Lianor, they +killed, and held his daughter prisoner; and by +force they have kept all the knights of the castle +under their power, and have acted as tyrants, robbing +the common people of all they had, and taking +tribute and demanding service from all the country +round. Seven years ago the duke's daughter said +to them, 'You shall not hold this castle for many +years, for by one knight you shall be overcome.' +'Say you so,' they replied. 'Then shall never +knight or lady pass this castle, but all that come +shall stay or lose their heads, till comes that knight +of whom you prophesy.' Therefore this is called +the Maidens' Castle, since its tyrants have so long +made war upon maidens."</p> + +<p>"Is the duke's daughter still here?"</p> + +<p>"No; she died three days after the castle was +taken. But her younger sister and many other +ladies are held prisoners."</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards the knights of the country began +to flock in, in response to the bugle-call, and glad +were they to find what had occurred. Galahad +made them do homage and fealty to the duke's +daughter, which they did with great willingness +of heart.</p> + +<p>And when the next day dawned great news was +brought in, for a messenger came to Galahad and +told him that the seven felon brothers had been met +by Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, and all slain.</p> + +<p>"So ends their rule and power," said Galahad, +fervently. "It is well done, and well are all here +delivered."</p> + +<p>Then he commended them to God, and took his +armor and horse, and rode away amid the prayers +of those he had delivered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h4>THE TEMPTATION OF SIR PERCIVALE.</h4> + + +<p>Many adventures had the other knights that set +out in search of the Sangreal, and much reproof +did many of them receive for the evil lives they +had led; but all this we cannot stop to tell, but must +confine ourselves to the deeds of a few only. As +for Sir Gawaine, he parted from Gareth and +Uwaine after they had slain the seven wicked +knights of the Castle of Maidens, and rode from +Whitsuntide to Michaelmas without an adventure. +Then came a day in which he met Sir Hector de +Maris, and glad were both at the meeting.</p> + +<p>"Truly," said Gawaine, "I am growing weary +of this quest."</p> + +<p>"And I as well," said Hector. "And of the +twenty knights I have met from time to time, they +all complain as we do."</p> + +<p>"Have you met with Lancelot?"</p> + +<p>"No, nor with Percivale, Bors, or Galahad. I +can learn nothing of these four."</p> + +<p>"They are well able to take care of themselves,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +said Gawaine. "And if they fail to find the Sangreal, +it is waste of time for the rest of us to seek +it, for outside of them there is little virtue in the +Round Table fellowship."</p> + +<p>Afterwards these two knights went far in company, +and had strange dreams and visions, the +meaning of which was expounded to them by the +hermit Nancien. This holy man also reproved +Gawaine severely for his evil life, and bade both +him and his companion to give up the search for +the Sangreal, as that high achievement was not +for hands like theirs.</p> + +<p>Soon after they met an armed knight in the +road, who proffered to joust with them. Gawaine +accepted the challenge, and rode against this unknown +opponent, dealing him so severe a blow that +he was hurled from his horse with a mortal wound. +But when they had removed his helmet, what was +their horror to find that it was their friend and +comrade, Uwaine.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" cried Gawaine, "that such a fatal misadventure +should have befallen me! I would +sooner have died myself."</p> + +<p>"Thus ends my quest of the Sangreal," said +Uwaine. "And thus will end that of many a +noble knight. Dear friends, commend me to King +Arthur, and to my fellows of the Round Table, and +sometimes think of me for old brotherhood's sake."</p> + +<p>And he died in their arms, leaving them plunged +in the deepest grief, from which they were long in +recovering.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Lancelot and Percivale rode far in +company, and many things happened to them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +While journeying through a strange region they +met an unknown knight, whom they challenged +to joust. But the event turned out little to their +satisfaction, for Lancelot was hurled to the ground, +horse and man, and Percivale received so fierce a +sword-blow that he would have been slain had not +the sword swerved.</p> + +<p>Then the victor knight rode rapidly away, leaving +them to recover as they best could. But a +recluse near whose hut this encounter had taken +place told them that the victor was Sir Galahad. +On learning this they pursued him at all speed, +but in vain.</p> + +<p>Percivale now turned back to question the recluse +further, but Lancelot kept on, passing through +waste and forest till he came to a stone cross at the +parting of two ways.</p> + +<p>Near by was a ruined chapel, with broken door, +and other signs of waste and decay, if it had been +long deserted. But when he looked within he saw +to his great surprise a high altar richly dressed +with cloth of white silk, on which stood a lofty +candelabra of silver which bore six great candles, +all lighted.</p> + +<p>Lancelot sought to enter the chapel, but try as +he would he could not pass the broken door, nor +find entrance elsewhere. Some invisible power +seemed to stand between him and admission to that +sacred place.</p> + +<p>Then, out of heart at this ill success, he took +off his helm and sword, relieved his horse of saddle +and bridle, and lay down to sleep before the cross. +Night came upon him as he lay there, and with +the night came strange visions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>For as he lay but half asleep he saw a sick knight +brought thither in a litter. This knight prayed +earnestly for aid in his affliction, and as he did so +Lancelot saw the silver candlestick come from the +chapel to the cross, and after it a table of silver +on which was the holy grail. The sick knight +crawled painfully to it on his hands and knees, +and raised himself so as to touch and kiss the +sacred vessel. No sooner had he done so than he +grew whole and sound, with all his pain and sickness +gone, and rose to his feet with his former +strength and vigor.</p> + +<p>"Lord, I thank thee deeply," he said; "for +through thy infinite grace I am healed of my affliction."</p> + +<p>Then the holy vessel returned to the chapel, and +Lancelot strove hard to rise and follow it. But +his limbs were powerless, and he lay like one chained +to the ground.</p> + +<p>He now fell into deep slumber, and waked not +till near morning. And as he raised himself and +sat on the ground he heard a voice in the air, that +seemed to come from no earthly lips.</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot," it said, "more hard than is the +stone, more bitter than the wood, more bare than +the barren fig-tree, arise and go from hence, and +withdraw thyself from this holy place."</p> + +<p>Lancelot arose with a heavy heart, for the sense +of these words sank deeply within him. But when +he sought his horse and helm and sword he found +they were gone, for they had been taken by the +knight whose healing he had seen.</p> + +<p>Deeply depressed and unhappy at this misfortune,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +he left the cross on foot, and wandered onward +till he came to a hermitage on a high hill.</p> + +<p>Here he told the hermit what had happened to +him, and confessed all the evil deeds of his life, +saying that he had resolved to be a different man +from what he had been, and to live a higher life +than that of doing deeds of arms that men might +applaud.</p> + +<p>Then the holy man gave him absolution, with +injunctions of penance, and prayed that he would +abide with him all that day. This Lancelot did, +talking much with him upon his sins, and repenting +sincerely the worldly life he had led.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Percivale had returned to the recluse, +and questioned her as to how he should find Galahad.</p> + +<p>"That I cannot surely tell," she said. "Ride +hence to a castle which is called Goothe, where he +has a cousin-german. If he can give you no tidings, +then ride straight to the castle Carbonek, +where the maimed king lies, and there you shall +hear sure tidings of him."</p> + +<p>Percivale, leaving her, rode onward till eventide, +and as he looked around him for shelter he heard +a clock strike loud and clear. He now perceived +before him a mansion, with lofty walls and deep +ditches. Here he knocked loudly, and was let in +without delay.</p> + +<p>After laying off his armor, he was led to the supper +hall, where he was well served, and afterwards +spent the night in comfort. When morning dawned +he entered the chapel for the mass, and found +there a priest ready at the altar. On the right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +side was a pew closed with iron, and behind the +altar a rich bed, covered with cloth of silk and +gold. On this bed lay a person with covered visage, +so that he could not tell if it were man or woman.</p> + +<p>After the service was over the occupant of the +bed sat up and threw back the covering, and then +Percivale saw that it was a man of very great age, +on whose head was a crown of gold. But his +shoulders and body to the middle were unclad, and +were covered with wounds, as were also his arms +and face.</p> + +<p>To all seeming he might have been three hundred +years of age, for so venerable a face Percivale had +never gazed upon, and as he sat up he prayed fervently, +with joined hands. When the mass was +over the priest bore the sacrament to the sick king. +And when he had used it, he took off his crown +and commanded it to be set on the altar. Then he +lay down again.</p> + +<p>Percivale now asked one of the attendants who +this venerable man was.</p> + +<p>"You have heard of Joseph of Arimathea," was +the reply, "and how he came into this land to +convert the heathen. With him came a king named +Evelake, whom he had converted in the city of +Sarras, in Palestine. This king afterwards had +an earnest desire to be where the Sangreal was, and +on one occasion he ventured so nigh it that God +was displeased with him, and struck him almost +blind. Then King Evelake prayed for mercy and +pardon, and begged that he might not die until +he who was to achieve the Sangreal should come, +that he might see him and kiss him. There answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +him a voice that said: 'Thy prayers are +heard; thou shalt not die till he has kissed thee. +And when he comes thy eyes shall be opened to see +clearly, and thy wounds shall be healed; but not +until then.' So King Evelake has lived in this +mansion for three hundred winters, waiting for +the coming of the knight who shall heal him. +Now, sir, will you tell me what knight you are, +and if you are of the Round Table fellowship?"</p> + +<p>"That am I, and my name is Percivale de +Galis."</p> + +<p>On hearing this the good man welcomed Percivale +warmly, and pressed him to remain. But +the knight replied that he could not, for his duty +led him onward.</p> + +<p>Percivale now left the chapel, and, arming himself, +he took his horse and rode onward. And +that day more strange things happened to him than +we have space to tell. Not far had he ridden when +he met twenty men-at-arms, who bore on a bier a +dead knight. On learning that he was from King +Arthur's court, they assailed him fiercely, killed +his horse, and would have slain him; but when he +was at the worst strait a knight in red armor came +hastily to his rescue, and rode fiercely on the +assailants.</p> + +<p>He attacked these, indeed, with such fury that +many of them were soon stretched on the ground; +while the others fled into a thick forest, whither +they were hotly pursued by their assailant.</p> + +<p>On seeing him thus ride away, Percivale was +deeply grieved, for he well knew his rescuer was +Galahad, and he had no horse to follow him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>He went forward as fast as he could on foot, and +had not gone far when he met a yeoman riding on +a hackney, and leading a great war-horse, blacker +than any bear.</p> + +<p>Percivale begged that he would lend him this +horse, that he might overtake a knight before him. +But this the yeoman refused, saying that the owner +of the horse would slay him if he should do so.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards, as Percivale sat woebegone +beneath a tree, an armed knight came riding past +on the black horse, pursued by the yeoman, who +called him robber, and moaned bitterly that his +master would kill him for the loss of his charge.</p> + +<p>"Lend me your hackney," said Percivale; "I +may get you your horse again."</p> + +<p>This the yeoman gladly did, and Percivale pursued +the robber knight, loudly bidding him to +stand and deliver.</p> + +<p>The knight at this turned and rode fiercely upon +him, but directed his spear against the horse instead +of the rider, striking it in the breast, so that it +fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>He now rode away, without heeding Percivale's +angry demand that he should stop and fight it out +on foot. When the dismounted knight found that +his antagonist would not turn, he was so filled +with chagrin that he threw away his helm and +sword, and raved like one out of his wits. Thus +he continued till night came on, when he lay down +exhausted and fell into a deep slumber.</p> + +<p>Near the midnight hour he suddenly awakened, +and saw in the road before him a woman, who +said,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>"Sir Percivale, what do you here?"</p> + +<p>"I do neither good nor ill," he replied.</p> + +<p>"You need a horse," she said. "If you will +promise to do my will when I shall summon you, +I will lend you mine. You will find him no common +one."</p> + +<p>"I promise that," cried Percivale. "I would +do much for a horse just now."</p> + +<p>"Wait, then; I shall fetch you the noblest animal +you ever bestrode."</p> + +<p>She departed, but quickly came again, leading +a horse of midnight blackness, and richly apparelled +for knightly service.</p> + +<p>Percivale looked at it with admiration. He had +not hoped for so great and noble a steed as this. +Thanking her warmly, he sprang to his feet, leaped +to the saddle, and put spurs to the horse, from +whose nostrils fire seemed to glare.</p> + +<p>Away went the black horse under the moonlight, +making such marvellous strides that it seemed to +leave the earth behind it in its magical progress. +With such wondrous speed did it go that in an +hour it had made a four days' journey. Then it +came to the brink of a great body of water, whose +waves foamed and leaped boisterously against the +shore.</p> + +<p>When Percivale saw the heaving waves, which +stretched far away under the moonlight, he drew +with all his force upon the rein; but the fiendish +brute which he rode heeded not his hand, but bore +him madly to the brink. Fear and doubt now +filled the knight's mind, and with a hasty impulse +he made the sign of the cross. At this the beast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +roared loudly in rage, while flame a foot long +poured from its nostrils, and with a wild rear it +shook off its rider, and plunged madly into the +wild billows. And the showering drops which fell +upon Percivale from the plunge burnt like sparks +of fire.</p> + +<p>"God be thanked that I am here alive," cried +the knight, fervently. "I have ridden the foul +fiend in the image of a horse, and barely have I +escaped perdition."</p> + +<p>Then he commended himself to God, and prayed +earnestly to the Lord to save him from all such +perils and temptations. He continued in prayer +all the remainder of that night until the next day +dawned upon the earth.</p> + +<p>When sunrise came he looked needfully about +him, anxious to learn whither he had been borne +by the unholy brute. To his surprise and alarm +he found himself in a wild waste, which was closed +in on one side by the sea, and on the other by a +range of rough and high mountains, impassable +to human feet; a land that seemed without food +or shelter, and the lurking-place of wild beasts.</p> + +<p>He trembled with fear on seeing this, and went +forward with doubtful steps. Not far had he gone +before he saw a strange thing, for a great serpent +passed near him, bearing a young lion by the neck. +Fiercely after it came a great lion, roaring with +rage, and fell upon the serpent, which turned in +defence, so that a mighty battle was waged before +the knight.</p> + +<p>"By my faith," he cried, "the lion is the most +natural beast of the two, and it fights for its young. +The lion it is my duty to help."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>He drew his sword with these words and struck +the serpent so fierce a stroke that it fell dead. +Then he turned his shield against the lion, but as +the latter made no show of fighting him, but fawned +upon him with every mark of joy and gratitude, +he cast down his shield and removed his helm, +and sat there stroking the neck and shoulders of +the beast.</p> + +<p>Until noon he comforted himself with the fellowship +of the lion. Then it took up its whelp +and bore it away, leaving Percivale alone. But he +was not unhappy, for he believed fervently in God, +and prayed with all earnestness that he might be +saved from unholy things, and chosen as a champion +of right and truth.</p> + +<p>When night came, Percivale, to his joy, saw the +lion coming towards him. It crouched at his feet +like a spaniel, and all that night the lion and the +knight slept in company, his head being pillowed +on the shoulder of the beast.</p> + +<p>But during the night a strange dream came to +him. He seemed to see two women, one of whom +was young, and rode upon a lion, and the other +was old, and sat upon a gliding serpent. And the +younger spoke to him as follows,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Percivale," she said, "my lord salutes you, +and sends a warning to you to make ready, for to-morrow +you will have to fight with the strongest +champion in the world. And if overcome you +will be shamed to the world's end."</p> + +<p>"Who is your lord?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The greatest lord in all the world," she said; +and then suddenly vanished.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>Then came the lady upon the serpent, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Percivale, I have done you no harm, and +yet you have worked me injury."</p> + +<p>"What have I done? I have been always heedful +to offend no lady."</p> + +<p>"I have long nourished here a great serpent, +and yesterday you killed it for seeking its prey. +Why did you this? The lion was not in your +care."</p> + +<p>"I aided the lion because it was a nobler beast +than the serpent. In that I did nothing against +you."</p> + +<p>"You did me a great wrong, and in return for +this injury I demand that you become my man."</p> + +<p>"That shall I never be," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Beware, then, proud knight, who pride yourself +on your piety. You have robbed me of that +which I loved; take heed that I catch you not +unawares, or mine you shall be, body and soul."</p> + +<p>With these words she departed, and Percivale +finished his sleep without further vision. In the +morning, when he awoke, he felt feeble. And as +he rose and blessed himself he saw not far off in +the sea a ship that sailed towards him. As it came +near he perceived it to be covered within and without +with white samite, while on the deck stood an +old man dressed in a surplice like a priest.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Percivale, "you are welcome."</p> + +<p>"God keep you," said the old man; "whence +come you?"</p> + +<p>"I am of King Arthur's court, and a Knight of +the Round Table, and am in quest of the Sangreal. +But here I find myself in a wilderness, with no +hope of escape."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>"Doubt not, if you be a true knight."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Percivale.</p> + +<p>"I have come hither from a strange country to +comfort you," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, can you tell me what my dream +signifies?" and Percivale related what had befallen +him.</p> + +<p>"That can I," said the old man. "She that rode +on the lion betokens the new law of holy church, +and she came through love, to warn you of the +great battle that is before you."</p> + +<p>"With whom shall I fight?" asked Percivale.</p> + +<p>"With the strongest champion of the world, and +if you fail in the fight you shall not escape with the +loss of a limb, but shall be shamed to the world's +end. As for her that rode on the serpent, she +betokens the old law. Heed her not. The serpent +you slew betokens the devil that you rode hither, +and whom you overcame by the sign of the cross. +Yield not to her or any of her kindred, or worse +will befall you."</p> + +<p>Then the ship turned and sailed away, leaving +Percivale again alone. But when he went up the +rocks he found there the lion, which he stroked +and made joyful fellowship with.</p> + +<p>And thus time went on till midday. Then Percivale +saw a ship approaching with such speed as +if all the winds in the world had driven it. On +it kept till it reached land at the beach below him. +He hurried hopefully to meet it, and saw that it +was covered with black silk, while on the deck +stood a lady of great beauty, who was dressed in the +richest apparel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>"What brought you into this wilderness?" she +cried to the knight. "Here you are likely to die +of hunger, for no man may cross yonder rocks +and escape."</p> + +<p>"I serve the best master in the world," said +Percivale. "He will not suffer harm to come to +me."</p> + +<p>"Sir Percivale," said she, "know you who I +am?"</p> + +<p>"Who taught you my name?" he answered.</p> + +<p>"I know you better than you deem," she replied, +laughing. "This much I may tell you, that +not long since I was in the waste forest, where I +saw the red knight with the white shield."</p> + +<p>"Ah! is that so? Fain would I meet with +him."</p> + +<p>"I shall bring you to him; but only on covenant +that you will come to my aid when I summon +you."</p> + +<p>"If it be in reason and uprightness, you may +trust me," he replied.</p> + +<p>"I saw him," she continued, "chase two knights +into the stream that is called Mortaise, and follow +them into the water. But they passed over, and +his horse was drowned, and only by his great +strength he got safe to land again."</p> + +<p>"That I am very glad to hear. It would have +been a sad day had that good knight been drowned."</p> + +<p>"You look pale and thin," she remarked. "Have +you eaten lately?"</p> + +<p>"Not these three days," he answered. "Yet I +spoke of late with a good man, whose words refreshed +me as if I had partaken of rich viands."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>"Ah, sir knight," she said, "beware of that old +man. I know him better than you. He is a false +enchanter, who seeks your harm. If you heed his +words shame will be your lot, and you will die on +this rock and be devoured by wild beasts. I am +here to help you in your need, for I am not content +to see so good a knight come to harm and disgrace."</p> + +<p>"Who are you," asked Percivale, "that proffer +me so great a kindness?"</p> + +<p>"Once I was the richest woman in the world," +she answered. "Now I am disinherited and in +want."</p> + +<p>"Then I pity you greatly. Who is it that has +disinherited you?"</p> + +<p>"I dwelt with the greatest man in the world," +she answered, "and to him I owe my beauty,—a +beauty of which I was, alas! too proud. Then I +said that which offended him deeply, and he drove +me away from him, and robbed me of my heritage, +and has never since had pity for me nor for my +friends. Since this has happened I have done my +best to wean his men from him, and many of them +now cling to me, and I and they war against him +day and night. I know no good knight, nor good +man, but that I strive to win him to my side, and +all such I repay well for their services. For he +against whom I wage war is strong, and I need +all the aid to be had. Therefore, since I know +you for a valiant knight, I beseech you to help +me. A fellow of the Round Table cannot, under +his vow, fail any woman that is disinherited, and +that seeks his aid."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>"That is true, indeed," said Percivale, "and I +shall do all I can for you."</p> + +<p>"You have my earnest thanks," she said.</p> + +<p>Then, as the weather was hot, she called some +of her attendants, and bade them bring a pavilion +and set it up on the gravel near the sea-line.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," she said, "I pray you to rest here +in the heat of the day, while my attendants prepare +food for you."</p> + +<p>He thanked her and laid aside his helm and +shield, and fell asleep within the pavilion, where +he slumbered long. When he awoke he asked her +if the food was ready.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered; "I have worked while +you slumbered."</p> + +<p>Then a table was set within the pavilion, and +covered with a rich array of meats and drinks, +of which Percivale ate with great appetite, while +the lady sat opposite him with a very gracious +aspect. The wine he drank was the strongest that +had ever passed his lips, and its strength soon got +into his veins and heated his brain.</p> + +<p>The lady now smiled graciously upon him, and +it seemed to him that he had never beheld so fair +a creature. Her beauty so worked upon his heated +blood, indeed, that he proffered her his love, and +prayed earnestly for hers in return.</p> + +<p>When she saw his loving ardor, and that the +wine worked like fire in his blood, she said, with +a smile of witchery,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Percivale, if I become yours, you must become +mine. I shall not grant you my love unless +you swear that henceforth you will be my true<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +servant, and do nothing but what I shall command. +Will you thus bind yourself, as you are a true +knight?"</p> + +<p>"That will I, fair lady, by the faith of my body."</p> + +<p>"Then this I will say, that of all the knights +in the world you are he whom I most love. And +you may seal upon my lips the compact we have +made."</p> + +<p>But when Percivale came towards her, to claim +the proffered kiss, which she offered with such +bewitching grace, by chance or through God's aid +he saw his sword, which lay on the ground at his +feet, and in its pommel a red cross, with the sign +of the crucifix therein. Then came to his mind the +promise he had made to the old man, and his +knightly vows, and with a pious impulse he raised +his hand and made the sign of the cross on his forehead, +the while his eyes were fixed on the lovely +face of the tempter before him.</p> + +<p>As he did so her smile changed to a look of +deadly hate, and the loveliness of her face to a +hideous aspect, while in the same moment the pavilion +fell as before a great wind, and then vanished +in smoke and cloud.</p> + +<p>Over the sea the wind rose and roared, and as +he looked he saw the ship battling with heaving +waves, while the water seemed to burn behind it. +On the deck stood the lady, who cried,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Percivale, you have betrayed me! Beware, +proud knight, I shall have my revenge." Then +the ship drove out to sea, and vanished from his +sight.</p> + +<p>But in a passion of remorse Percivale snatched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +up the sword that lay before him, and crying, +"Since my flesh has been my master I will punish +it," he drove the naked blade through his thigh, +till the blood spouted out like a fountain.</p> + +<p>"Wretch that I am, how nearly was I lost!" +he cried, in a torment of conscience. "Fair sweet +Father, Jesus Christ my Lord, let me not be shamed, +as I would now have been but for thy good grace. +Take this wound in recompense for what I have +done against thee, and forgive me my deep transgression, +I humbly pray thee."</p> + +<p>But as he lay moaning and bleeding the wild +winds went down and the sea grew smooth, while +he saw coming from the Orient the ship with the +good man, on board, on beholding whom he fell into +a swoon.</p> + +<p>When he awoke he found that his wound had +been dressed and the bleeding stopped. Beside him +sat the good man, who asked him,—</p> + +<p>"How hast thou done since I departed?"</p> + +<p>"Weakly and wickedly enough," he answered. +"A witch beguiled me, and I nearly fell a victim +to her wiles."</p> + +<p>"Knew you her not?"</p> + +<p>"Only that I deem the foul fiend sent her here +to shame me."</p> + +<p>"Worse than that, good knight. Your victory +is greater than you deem. That seeming woman +who deceived you was no less an adversary than +the master-fiend of hell, who has power over all +the lesser devils, and, had you yielded you had +been lost forever. For this is the mighty champion +against whom you were forwarned; he who +was once the brightest angel of heaven, and was +driven out by our Lord Christ for his sins, and +thus lost his heritage. But that the grace of God +was on your side you would have fallen before +this champion of evil. Take this, Sir Percivale, +as a warning and an example."</p> + +<p>With these words the good man vanished away. +Then the mariners carried the wounded knight +on board their ship, and set sail, bearing him +rapidly away from that scene of temptation and +victory.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h4>THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS.</h4> + + +<p>When Sir Bors parted from his companions, on +the quest of the Sangreal, not far had he gone +when he met a religious man riding on an ass, +whom he courteously saluted.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked the good man.</p> + +<p>"I am one of those knights who have set out in +quest of the Sangreal," said Bors. "I would fain +have your counsel in this high duty, for great +honor shall come to him who succeeds therein."</p> + +<p>"That is true," said the good man. "He that +wins the Sangreal will be counted the best knight +and the purest soul among men. None can hope +to attain it except through cleanness of spirit."</p> + +<p>Then they rode together till they came to a +hermitage. Here Bors went into the chapel with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +his companion, and confessed to him, and ate bread +and drank water with him.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the good man, "I charge you that +you take no other food than bread and water till +you sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be."</p> + +<p>"To that I agree. But how know you that I +shall ever sit there?"</p> + +<p>"I know it, let that suffice; but few of your +comrades shall have that honor."</p> + +<p>"All that God sends me will be welcome," said +Bors.</p> + +<p>"Also, instead of a shirt, and in token of chastisement, +you shall wear this garment," and the +good man produced a scarlet coat, which Bors +promised to wear next his skin till the Sangreal +should be won.</p> + +<p>Then, after further wholesome advice, he resumed +his armor and departed. He had gone but +a little way from the hermitage when he passed a +tree that was little more than an old and leafless +trunk, and on one of its boughs he saw a great bird, +surrounded by young that were nearly dead with +hunger. As, he continued to look at this strange +sight, the bird smote itself in the breast with its +sharp beak, and bled till it died among its young. +Then the young birds fed on their mother's blood, +and were revived thereby.</p> + +<p>This to Bors seemed full of deep significance, +and he pondered deeply upon it as he rode onward. +By even-song he found himself near a strong and +high tower, where he asked shelter for the night, +and was hospitably welcomed.</p> + +<p>When he had disarmed he was led to a richly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +furnished apartment, where he found a young and +fair lady, who welcomed him gladly to her tower, +and invited him to take supper with her.</p> + +<p>The table was set with rich meats and many +dainties, but Bors forgot not the hermit's charge, +and bade an attendant to bring him water. In +this he sopped bread and ate it.</p> + +<p>"How is this?" asked the lady in surprise. +"Like you not my meat?"</p> + +<p>"Truly I do, madam; yet I may eat no other +food this day."</p> + +<p>Then the lady was silent, for she feared to displease +him by questioning. After supper, while +they sat talking, a squire came, who said,—</p> + +<p>"Madam, you know well what is set for to-morrow. +You must provide a champion to fight +in your quarrel against Pridam le Noire, or your +sister will have this castle and all your lands."</p> + +<p>"I know that," she said, with a deep sigh. "May +God save me from being robbed, for I see no earthly +aid."</p> + +<p>Her sorrow touched Bors, who asked,—</p> + +<p>"What means this, madam?"</p> + +<p>"Sir," she said, "I shall tell you. There was +formerly a king named Aniause, who owned all +these lands. By chance he loved my sister, who +is much older than I,—and much wickeder also, I +fear. He gave her this land to govern; but she +brought into it many evil customs, and caused the +death of many of his kinsmen. When the king +saw how vilely she governed, he drove her away, +and put me over this district. But he is now dead, +and she is making war on me, and has destroyed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +many of my men, and turned others from me, +so that I have little left but this tower, and the +few men that guard it. Even this she now threatens +to take from me, unless I can find a knight +to fight her champion, who will appear before my +gates to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Is it so?" said Bors. "Who is this Pridam le +Noire?"</p> + +<p>"He is the most stalwart knight in this country, +and has no equal among us."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Bors, "you have given me shelter; +in return I shall aid you as far as I can in +your trouble. You may send word that you have +found a knight who will fight with this Pridam +the Black, in God's quarrel and yours."</p> + +<p>"Then may God's blessing rest upon you," she +cried, gladly. And word was sent out that she +had found a champion who would take on himself +her quarrel.</p> + +<p>That evening she did what lay in her power to +make Bors welcome, and sent him at bedtime to +a chamber whose bed was soft as down, and spread +with silken coverings.</p> + +<p>But in no bed would he rest, but laid himself +on the floor, as he had vowed to do till he found +the Sangreal.</p> + +<p>As he lay there asleep there came to him a vision. +He seemed to see two birds, one white as a swan, +the other of smaller size, and shaped like a raven, +with plumage of inky blackness. The white bird +came to him and said, "If thou wilt give me meat +and serve me, I shall give thee all the riches of +the world, and make thee as fair and white as I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +am." Then the white bird departed, and the black +bird came and said, "I beg that you will serve me +to-morrow, and hold me in no despite; for this I +tell you, that my blackness will avail you more +than the other's whiteness." And this bird, too, +departed.</p> + +<p>But his dream continued, and he seemed to come +to a great place, that looked like a chapel. Here +he saw on the left side a chair, which was worm-eaten +and feeble. And on the right hand were +two flowers of the shape of a lily, and one would +have taken the whiteness from the other but that +a good man separated them, and would not let +them touch. And out of each came many flowers +and plentiful fruit. Then the good man said, +"Would not he act with great folly that should +let these two flowers perish to succor the rotten +tree, and keep it from falling?" "Sir," said the +dreamer, "it seems to me that the flower is of +more value than the wood." "Then take heed +that you never choose the false for the true."</p> + +<p>With this Bors awoke, and made the sign of +the cross on his forehead, and then rose and dressed. +When he had come to the lady she saluted him, +and led him to a chapel, where they heard the +morning service. Quickly afterwards there came +a company of knights that the lady had sent for, to +lead her champion to battle. After he had armed, +she begged him to take some strengthening food.</p> + +<p>"Nay, madam," he answered, "that I shall not +do till I have fought this battle, in which I ask +but God's grace to aid me."</p> + +<p>This said, he sprang upon his horse, and set out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +with the knights and men, closely followed by the +lady and her train. They soon came to where the +other party were encamped, and with them the lady +of their choice.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said the lady of the tower, "you +have done me great wrong to take from me the +lands which King Aniause gave me. And I am +sorry that there should be any battle."</p> + +<p>"You shall not choose," said the other, "unless +you withdraw your knight and yield the tower."</p> + +<p>"That I shall not do. You have robbed me +enough already."</p> + +<p>Then was the trumpet sounded, and proclamation +was made that whichever champion won the battle, +the lady for whom he fought should enjoy all the +land. This done, the two champions drew aside, +and faced each other grimly in their armor of proof.</p> + +<p>But when the sound for the onset was blown +they put spurs to their steeds, which rushed together +like two lions, and the knights struck each +other with such force that their spears flew to +pieces and both fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>They quickly rose and drew their swords, and +hewed at each other like two woodmen, so that +soon each was sorely wounded and bleeding profusely. +Bors quickly found that he had a sturdier +antagonist than he expected, for Pridam was a +strong and hardy fighter, who stood up lustily to +his work, and gave his opponent many a sturdy +blow.</p> + +<p>Bors, perceiving this, took a new course, and +played with his antagonist till he saw that he was +growing weary with his hard work. Then he advanced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +upon him fiercely, and drove him step by +step backward, till in the end Pridam fell. Bors +now leaped upon him and pulled so strongly upon +his helm as to rend it from his head. Then he +struck him with the flat of his sword upon the +cheek, and bade him yield, or he would kill him.</p> + +<p>"For God's love, slay me not!" cried the knight. +"I yield me to thy mercy. I shall swear never +to war against thy lady, but be henceforth her +friend and protector."</p> + +<p>With this assurance, Bors let him live; while +the covetous old lady fled in fear, followed by all +her knights. The victorious champion now called +to him all those who held lands in that estate, and +threatened to destroy them unless they would do +the lady such service as belonged to their holdings. +This they swore to do, and there and then paid +homage to the lady, who thus came to her own +again through the mighty prowess of Sir Bors de +Ganis.</p> + +<p>Not until the country was well in peace did he +take his leave, refusing the offers of wealth which +the grateful lady pressed upon him, and receiving +her warm thanks with a humility that well became +him.</p> + +<p>Hardly would she let him go; but at length he +bade her farewell, and rode away from her tears +and thanks. On he journeyed for all that day, +and till midday of the next, when he found himself +in a forest, where a strange adventure befell +him.</p> + +<p>For at the parting of two ways he met two +knights who had taken prisoner his brother Lionel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +whom they had bound all naked upon a hackney, +while they beat him with thorns till the blood +flowed from every part of his body. Yet so great +of heart was he that no word came from his lips, +and he made no sign of pain.</p> + +<p>Bors, seeing this, was on the point of rushing +to his rescue, when he beheld on the other side a +knight who held as prisoner a fair lady, whom he +was taking into the thickest part of the forest to +hide her from those who sought her. And as they +went she cried in a lamentable voice,—</p> + +<p>"Saint Mary, rescue me! Holy mother, succor +your maid!"</p> + +<p>When she saw Bors she cried out to him grievously +for aid and rescue.</p> + +<p>"By the faith you owe to the high order of +knighthood, and for the noble King Arthur's sake, +who I suppose made you knight, help me, gracious +sir, and suffer me not to come to shame through +this felon knight!"</p> + +<p>On hearing this appeal the distracted knight +knew not what to do. On one side his brother in +danger of his life; on the other a maiden in peril +of her honor.</p> + +<p>"If I rescue not my brother he will be slain; +and that I would not have for the earth. Yet if +I help not the maiden, I am recreant to my vows +of knighthood, and to my duty to the high order +of chivalry."</p> + +<p>Tears ran from his eyes as he stood in cruel +perplexity. Then, with a knightly resolution, he +cried,—</p> + +<p>"Fair sweet Lord Jesus, whose liegeman I am,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +keep Lionel my brother that these knights slay +him not; since for your service, and for Mary's +sake, I must succor this maid."</p> + +<p>Then he turned to the knight who had the damsel, +and loudly cried,—</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, take your hands from that maiden +and set her free, or you are a dead man."</p> + +<p>On hearing this the knight released the maiden +as bidden, but drew his sword, as he had no spear, +and rode fiercely at the rescuer. Bors met him +with couched spear, and struck him so hard a blow +as to pierce his shield and his hauberk on the left +shoulder, beating him down to the earth. On pulling +out the spear the wounded knight swooned.</p> + +<p>"You are delivered from this felon. Can I help +you further?" said Bors to the maiden.</p> + +<p>"I beg you to take me to the place whence he +carried me away."</p> + +<p>"That shall I do as my duty."</p> + +<p>Then he seated her on the knight's horse, and +conducted her back towards her home.</p> + +<p>"You have done nobly, sir knight," she said. +"If you had not rescued me, five hundred men +might have died for this. The knight you wounded +is my cousin, who yesterday stole me away from +my father's house, no one mistrusting him. But +if you had not overcome him, there would soon +have been others on his track."</p> + +<p>Even as she spoke there came a troop of twelve +knights riding briskly forward in search of her. +When they found her delivered their joy was great, +and they thanked Bors profusely, begging him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +accompany them to her father, who was a great +lord, and would welcome him with gladness.</p> + +<p>"That I cannot do," said Bors, "much as I +should like to; for I have another matter of high +importance before me. I can but say, then, farewell, +and God be with you and this fair maiden."</p> + +<p>So saying, he turned and rode briskly away, +followed by their earnest thanks. Reaching the +point where he had seen Lionel in custody, he took +the trail of the horses, and followed them far by +their hoof-marks in the road. Then he overtook +a religious man, who was mounted on a strong horse, +blacker than a berry.</p> + +<p>"Sir knight," he asked, "what seek you?"</p> + +<p>"I seek my brother," he replied, "who came +this way beaten by two knights."</p> + +<p>"Then seek no further, but be strong of heart, +for I have sad tidings for you. Your brother is +dead."</p> + +<p>He then led Bors to a clump of bushes, in which +lay a newly slain body, which seemed to be that +of Lionel. Seeing this, Bors broke into such grief +that he fell to the earth in a swoon, and long lay +there. When he recovered he said, sadly,—</p> + +<p>"Dear brother, I would have rescued you had +not a higher duty called me. But since we are thus +parted, joy shall never again enter my desolate +heart. I can now but say, be He whom I have +taken for my master my help and comfort."</p> + +<p>Thus grieving, he took up the body in his arms, +and put it upon his saddle-bow. Then he said to +his companion,—</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me of some chapel, where I may +bury this body?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>"Come with me. There is one near by."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 382px;"> +<a name="Chapel_Pg_183" id="Chapel_Pg_183"></a><img src="images/p183.jpg" width="382" height="500" alt="AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL." title="AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL." /> +<span class="caption">AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL.</span> +</div> + +<p>They rode forward till they came in sight of a +tower, beside which was an old and half-ruined +chapel. Here they alighted, and placed the corpse +in a tomb of marble.</p> + +<p>"We will leave him here," said the good man, +"and seek shelter for the night. To-morrow we +will return and perform the services for the dead."</p> + +<p>"Are you a priest?" asked Bors.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Then you may be able to interpret a dream +that came to me last night."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he told his dream of the birds, and +that of the flowers.</p> + +<p>"I can interpret the vision of the birds now," +said the priest. "The rest must wait till later. +The white bird is the emblem of a rich and fair +lady, who loves you deeply, and will die for love +if you pity her not. I counsel you, therefore, not +to refuse her, for this I shall tell you, that if you +return not her love, your cousin Lancelot, the best +of knights, shall die. Men will call you a man-slayer, +both of your brother Lionel and your cousin +Lancelot, since you might have saved them both +easily if you would. You rescued a maiden who +was naught to you, and let your brother perish. +Which, think you, was your greater duty?"</p> + +<p>"I did what I thought my duty," said Bors.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, bear this in mind, you will be in +sad fault if you suffer your cousin Lancelot to +die for an idle scruple."</p> + +<p>"I should be sad, indeed," said Bors. "Rather +would I die ten times over than see my cousin Lancelot +perish through fault of mine."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>"The choice lies in your hand," said the priest. +"It is for you to decide."</p> + +<p>As he spoke they came in front of a fair-showing +tower and manor-house, where were knights and +ladies, who welcomed Bors warmly. When he was +disarmed there was brought him a mantle furred +with ermine. Then he was led to the company +of knights and ladies, who received him so gladly, +and did so much to make his stay pleasant, that all +thoughts of his brother Lionel and of the danger +of Lancelot were driven from his mind.</p> + +<p>As they stood in gay converse there came out of +a chamber a lady whom Bors had not before seen, +and whose beauty was such that he felt he had +never beheld so lovely a face, while her dress was +richer than Queen Guenever had ever worn.</p> + +<p>"Here, Sir Bors," said those present, "is the +lady to whom we all owe service. Richer and fairer +lady the world holds not, and she loves you above +all other knights, and will have no knight but you."</p> + +<p>On hearing this, Bors stood abashed. This, then, +he thought, was the white bird of his dream. Her +love he must return or lose Lancelot,—so fate had +spoken.</p> + +<p>As he stood deeply thinking, the lady came up +and saluted him, taking his hand in hers, and bidding +him sit beside her, while her deep eyes rested +upon him with looks that made his soul tremble. +Never had he gazed into such eyes before.</p> + +<p>Then she spoke of many things, luring him into +pleasant conversation, in which he forgot his fears, +and began to take delight in her presence. At the +end she told him how deeply and how long she had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +loved him, and begged him to return her love, saying +that she could make him richer than ever was man +of his age.</p> + +<p>These words brought back all his trouble of soul. +How to answer the lady he knew not, for his vow +of chastity was too deep to be lightly broken.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" she said, "must I plead for your love +in vain?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Bors, "I cannot think of earthly +ties and delights while my brother lies dead, and +awaits the rites of the Church."</p> + +<p>"I have loved you long," she repeated, "both for +your beauty of body and soul, and the high renown +you have achieved. Now that chance has brought +you to my home, think not ill of me if I let you not +go without telling my love, and beseeching you to +return it."</p> + +<p>"That I cannot do," said Bors.</p> + +<p>At these words she fell into the deepest sorrow, +while tears flowed from her beautiful eyes.</p> + +<p>"You will kill me by your coldness," she bewailed. +Then she took him by the hand and bade +him look upon her. "Am I not fair and lovely, +and worthy the love of the best of knights? Alas! +since you will not love me, you shall see me die of +despair before your eyes."</p> + +<p>"That I do not fear to see," he replied.</p> + +<p>"You shall see it within this hour," she said, +sadly.</p> + +<p>Then she left him, and, taking with her twelve +of her ladies, mounted to the highest battlement +of the tower, while Bors was led to the court-yard +below.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>"Ah, Sir Bors, gentle knight, have pity on us!" +cried one of the ladies. "We shall all die if you +are cruel to our lady, for she vows that she and +all of us shall fall from this tower if you disdain +her proffered love."</p> + +<p>Bors looked up, and his heart melted with pity, +to see so many fair faces looking beseechingly down +upon him, while tears seemed to rain from their +eyes. Yet he was steadfast of heart, for he felt +that he could not lose his soul to save their lives, +and his vow of chastity in the quest of the Sangreal +was not to be broken for the delights of earthly +love.</p> + +<p>As he stood, some of the maidens flung themselves +from the tower, and lay dead and bleeding at his +feet, while above he saw the fair face of the lady +looking down, as she stood balanced on the battlement, +like a fair leaf that the next wind would +sweep to certain death.</p> + +<p>"God help me and guide me!" cried Bors in +horror. "What shall I do? Here earthly endurance +is too weak; I must put my trust in heaven." +And he made the sign of the cross on his forehead +and his breast.</p> + +<p>Then came a marvel indeed. A roar was heard +as if thunder had rent the sky, and a cry as if all +the fiends of hell were about him. For the moment +he closed his eyes, stunned by the uproar. When +he opened them again all had gone,—the tower, +the lady, the knights, and the chapel where he had +placed his brother's body,—and he stood in the +road, armed and mounted, while only a broad, empty +plain spread before him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>Then he held up his hands to heaven and cried +fervently: "Father and Creator, from what have I +escaped! It is the foul fiend in the likeness of a +beautiful woman who has tempted me. Only the +sign of the holy cross has saved me from perdition."</p> + +<p>Putting spurs to his horse he rode furiously +away, burning with anxiety to get from that +accursed place, and deeply glad at his escape. As +he proceeded a loud clock-bell sounded to the right, +and turning thither he came to a high wall, over +which he saw the pinnacles of an abbey.</p> + +<p>Here he asked shelter for the night, and was +received with a warm welcome, for those within +deemed he was one of the knights that sought the +Sangreal. When morning came he heard mass, and +then the abbot came and bade him good-morning. +A conversation followed, in which he told the abbot +all that had happened to him, and begged his +interpretation thereof.</p> + +<p>"Truly you are strong in the service of the +Lord," said the abbot, "and are held for great +deeds. Thus I interpret your adventures and +visions. The great fowl that fed its young with +its own blood is an emblem of Christ, who shed +his blood for the good of mankind. And the bare +tree on which it sat signifies the world, which +of itself is barren and without fruit. Also King +Aniause betokens Jesus Christ, and the lady for +whom you took the battle the new law of Holy +Church; while the older lady is the emblem of the +old law and the fiend, which forever war against +the Church.</p> + +<p>"By the black bird also was emblemed the Holy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +Church, which saith, 'I am black but he is fair.' +The white bird represented the fiend, which, like +hypocrisy, is white without and foul within. As +for the rotten chair and the white lilies, the first +was thy brother Lionel, who is a murderer and an +untrue knight; while the lilies were the knight and +the lady. The one drew near to the other to dishonor +her, but you forced them to part. And you +would have been in great peril had you, for the +rescue of a rotten tree, suffered those two flowers +to perish; for if they had sinned together they +had both been damned.</p> + +<p>"The seeming man of religion, who blamed you +for leaving your brother to rescue a lady, was the +foul fiend himself. Your brother was not slain, as +he made it appear, but is still alive. For the +corpse, and the chapel, and the tower were all +devices of the evil one, and the lady who offered +her love was the fiend himself in that showing. +He knew you were tender-hearted, and he did all. +Much you may thank God that you withstood his +temptation, and that until now you have come +through all your adventures pure and unblemished."</p> + +<p>This gladdened the heart of the virtuous knight, +and a warm hope of winning the Sangreal arose +in his soul. Much more passed between them, and +when Bors rode forth it was with the fervent blessing +of the holy abbot.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the second day Bors saw +before him a castle that rose in a green valley, and +met with a yeoman, whom he stopped and asked +what was going on in that country.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>"Sir knight," he answered, "there is to be held +a great tournament before that castle."</p> + +<p>"By what people?" asked Bors.</p> + +<p>"The Earl of Plains," was the answer, "leads +one party, and the nephew of the Lady of Hervin +the other."</p> + +<p>With this the yeoman rode on, and Bors kept on +his course, thinking he might meet Lionel or some +other of his old comrades at the tournament. At +length he turned aside to a hermitage that stood +at the entrance to the forest. And to his surprise +and joy he saw his brother Lionel sitting armed +at the chapel door, waiting there to take part in +the tournament the next morning.</p> + +<p>Springing from his horse, Bors ran up gladly, +crying, "Dear brother, happy is this meeting!"</p> + +<p>"Come not near me!" cried Lionel, leaping to +his feet in a burst of fury. "False recreant, you +left me in peril of death to help a yelping woman, +and by my knightly vow you shall pay dearly for +it. Keep from me, traitor, and defend yourself. +You or I shall die for this."</p> + +<p>On seeing his brother in such wrath Bors kneeled +beseechingly before him, holding up his hands, and +praying for pardon and forgiveness.</p> + +<p>"Never!" said Lionel. "I vow to God to +punish you for your treachery. You have lived +long enough for a dog and traitor."</p> + +<p>Then he strode wrathfully away, and came back +soon, mounted and with spear in hand.</p> + +<p>"Bors de Ganis," he cried, "defend yourself, +for I hold you as a felon and traitor, and the untruest +knight that ever came from so worthy a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +house as ours. Mount and fight. If you will not, +I will run on you as you stand there on foot. The +shame shall be mine and the harm yours; but of +that shame I reck naught."</p> + +<p>When Bors saw that he must fight with his +brother or die he knew not what to do. Again he +kneeled and begged forgiveness, in view of the love +that ought to be between brothers.</p> + +<p>But the fiend that sought his overthrow had put +such fury into Lionel's heart that nothing could +turn him from his wrathful purpose. And when +he saw that Bors would not mount, he spurred his +horse upon him and rode over him, hurting him +so with his horse's hoofs that he swooned with the +pain. Then Lionel sprang from his horse and +rushed upon him sword in hand to strike off his +head.</p> + +<p>At this critical moment the hermit, who was a +man of great age, came running out, and threw +himself protectingly on the fallen knight.</p> + +<p>"Gentle sir," he cried to Lionel, "have mercy +on me and on thy brother, who is one of the +worthiest knights in the world. If you slay him, +you will lose your soul."</p> + +<p>"Sir priest," said Lionel, sternly, "if you leave +not I shall slay you, and him after you."</p> + +<p>"Slay me if you will, but spare your brother, +for my death would not do half so much harm as +his."</p> + +<p>"Have it, then, meddler, if you will!" cried +Lionel, and he struck the hermit a blow with his +sword that stretched him dead on the ground.</p> + +<p>Then, with unquenched anger, he tore loose the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +lacings of his brother's helmet, and would have +killed him on the spot but for a fortunate chance.</p> + +<p>As it happened, Colgrevance, a fellow of the +Round Table, rode up at that moment, and wondered +when he saw the hermit dead, and Lionel +about to slay his brother, whom he greatly loved.</p> + +<p>Leaping hastily to the ground, he caught the +furious knight by the shoulders and drew him +strongly backward.</p> + +<p>"What would you do?" he cried. "Madman, +would you kill your brother, the worthiest knight +of our brotherhood? And are you so lost to honor +as to slay any knight thus lying insensible?"</p> + +<p>"Will you hinder me?" asked Lionel, turning +in rage. "Back, sirrah, or I shall slay you first +and him afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Why seek you to slay him?"</p> + +<p>"He has richly deserved it, and die he shall, +whoever says the contrary."</p> + +<p>Then he ran upon Bors and raised his sword to +strike him on the head. But Colgrevance pushed +between them and thrust him fiercely backward.</p> + +<p>"Off, you murderer!" he cried. "If you are +so hot for blood you must have mine first."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" demanded Lionel.</p> + +<p>"I am Colgrevance, one of your fellows. Round +Table Knights should be brothers, not foes, but I +would challenge King Arthur himself in this +quarrel."</p> + +<p>"Defend yourself, meddler," cried Lionel, rushing +upon him and striking him fiercely on the helm +with his sword.</p> + +<p>"That shall I," rejoined Colgrevance, attacking +him in turn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>Then a hot battle began, for Colgrevance was a +good knight, and defended himself manfully.</p> + +<p>While the fight went on Bors recovered his senses, +and saw with a sad heart Colgrevance defending +him against his brother. He strove to rise and +part them, but his hurts were such that he could +not stand on his feet. And thus he sat watching +the combat till he saw that Colgrevance had the +worst, for Lionel had wounded him sorely, and he +had lost so much blood that he could barely stand.</p> + +<p>At this juncture he saw Bors, who sat watching +them in deep anguish.</p> + +<p>"Bors," he cried, "I am fighting to succor you. +Will you sit there and see me perish?"</p> + +<p>"You both shall die," cried Lionel, furiously. +"You shall pay the penalty of your meddling, +and he of his treason."</p> + +<p>Hearing this, Bors rose with aching limbs, and +painfully put on his helm. Colgrevance again +called to him in anguish,—</p> + +<p>"Help me, Bors! I can stand no longer. Will +you let me die without lifting your hand?"</p> + +<p>At this moment Lionel smote the helm from his +head, and then with another fierce blow stretched +him dead and bleeding upon the earth.</p> + +<p>This murderous deed done, he ran on Bors with +the passion of a fiend, and dealt him a blow that +made him stoop.</p> + +<p>"For God's love leave me!" cried Bors. "If I +slay you or you me, we will both be dead of that +sin."</p> + +<p>"May God never help me if I take mercy on you, +if I have the better hand," cried Lionel, in reply.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>Then Bors drew his sword, though his eyes were +wet with tears.</p> + +<p>"Fair brother," he said, "God knows my heart. +You have done evil enough this day, in slaying a +holy priest and one of our own brotherhood of +knights. I fear you not, but I dread the wrath +of God, for this is an unnatural battle which you +force upon me. May God have mercy upon me, +since I must defend my life against my brother."</p> + +<p>Saying this, Bors raised his sword and advanced +upon Lionel, who stood before him with the wrath +of a fury.</p> + +<p>Then would have been a most unholy battle, had +not God come to the rescue. For as they thus +stood defiant a voice came to them from the air, +which said,—</p> + +<p>"Flee, Bors, and touch him not, for if you do, +you will surely slay him."</p> + +<p>And between them descended a cloud that gleamed +like fire, and from which issued a marvellous flame +that burned both their shields to a cinder. They +were both so affrighted that they fell to the earth, +and lay there long in a swoon.</p> + +<p>When they came to themselves Bors saw that +his brother had received no harm. For this he +thanked God, for he feared that heaven's vengeance +had fallen upon him. Then came the voice again.</p> + +<p>"Bors," it said, "go hence, and bear thy brother +company no longer. Take thy way to the sea where +Percivale awaiteth thee."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, brother," said Bors, "for what I +have done against you."</p> + +<p>"God has forgiven you, and I must," said Lionel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +"It was the foul fiend that filled my soul with +fury, and much harm has come of it."</p> + +<p>Then Bors rode away, leaving Lionel in the company +of those whom he had slain, and took the +most direct road towards the sea.</p> + +<p>At length he came to an abbey that was near the +water-side. And at midnight as he rested there he +was roused from his sleep by a voice, that bade him +leave his bed and ride onward.</p> + +<p>He started up at this, and made the sign of the +cross on his forehead; then took his harness and +horse, and rode out at a broken place in the abbey +wall. An hour or so brought him to the water-side, +and on the strand there lay awaiting him a +ship all covered with white samite. Bors alighted, +and leaving his horse on the stand entered the ship, +commending himself to Christ's fostering care.</p> + +<p>Hardly had he done so before the sails spread, +as of themselves, and the vessel set out to sea so +fast that it seemed to fly. But it was still dark +night, and he saw no one about him. So he lay +down and slept till day.</p> + +<p>When he awaked he saw a knight lying in the +middle of the deck, all armed but the helm. A +glance told him that it was Percivale de Galis, and +he sprang towards him with joy. But Percivale +drew back, asking him who he was.</p> + +<p>"Know you me not?" asked Bors.</p> + +<p>"I do not. But I marvel how you came hither, +unless brought by our Lord himself."</p> + +<p>Then Bors took off his helm and smiled. Great +was Percivale's joy when he recognized him, and +long did they converse in gladness, telling each +other their adventures and temptations.</p> + +<p>And so they went far over the sea, the ship taking +them they knew not whither, yet each comforted +the other, and daily they prayed for God's +grace.</p> + +<p>"Now, that we two are together," said Percivale, +"we lack nothing but Galahad, the best of +knights."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h4>THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAGIC SHIP.</h4> + + +<p>After Galahad had rescued Percivale from the +twenty knights, he rode into a vast forest, through +which he journeyed for many days, meeting there +many strange adventures. Then fortune took him +past a castle where a tournament was in progress, +and where the men of the castle had so much the +worse of it that they were driven back to their +gates, and some of them slain. Seeing this, Galahad +rode to the aid of the weaker party, and did +marvellous deeds of arms, soon aiding them to drive +back their foes.</p> + +<p>As it happened, Gawaine and Hector de Maris +were with the outer party, and when they beheld +the white shield with the red cross, they said to +one another,—</p> + +<p>"That hewer of helms and shields is Galahad, +none less. We should be fools to meet him face to +face."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>Yet Gawaine did not escape, for Galahad came +at full career upon him, and gave him such a blow +that his helm was cleft, and so would his head +have been but that the sword slanted, and cut the +shoulder of his horse deeply.</p> + +<p>Seeing Gawaine thus dealt with, Hector drew +back, not deeming it wise to meet such a champion, +nor the part of nature to fight with his +nephew. Galahad continued his onset till he had +beaten down all the knights opposed to him. Then, +seeing that none would face him, he turned and +rode away as he had come, none knowing whither +he, who had come upon them with the suddenness +of a thunder-clap, had gone.</p> + +<p>"Lancelot du Lake told no less than the truth," +declared Gawaine, bitterly, "when he said that, for +seeking to draw the sword from the stone, I would +get a sore wound from that same blade. In faith, +I would not for the best castle in the world have +had such a buffet."</p> + +<p>"Your quest is done, it seems," said Hector.</p> + +<p>"As for that, it was done before. You can still +seek the Sangreal if you will, but I shall seek my +bed; and I fear I shall stay there much longer than +I care to."</p> + +<p>Then he was borne into the castle, where a leech +was found for him, while Hector remained with +him, vowing he would not leave till his comrade +was well.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Galahad rode on, leaving many a +groan and more than one sore head behind him, +and at night reached a hermitage near the castle of +Carbonek. Here he was welcomed by the hermit;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +but late at night, when they were asleep, a loud +knock came on the door, which roused the host. +Going to see who knocked at that untimely hour, +he found a lady at the door, who said,—</p> + +<p>"Ulfin, rouse the knight who is with you. I +must speak with him."</p> + +<p>This he did, and Galahad went to the door, and +asked her what she wished.</p> + +<p>"Galahad," she replied, "I am sent here to seek +you. You must arm and mount your horse at once, +and follow me. Within three days I shall bring +you to the greatest adventure that ever knight met."</p> + +<p>Without further question Galahad obeyed, and, +having commended himself to God, he bade his fair +guide to lead, and he would follow wherever she +wished.</p> + +<p>Onward they rode during the remainder of the +night and the next day, till they came to a castle +not far from the sea, where Galahad was warmly +welcomed, for the damsel who guided him had been +sent by the lady of that castle.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said the damsel, "shall he stay here +all night?"</p> + +<p>"No," she replied; "only until he has dined, +and has slept a little. He must ride on until destiny +is accomplished."</p> + +<p>So at early nightfall Galahad was called and +helped to arm by torchlight. Then he and the +damsel again took horse, and rode on at speed till +they suddenly found themselves at the ocean's brink, +with the waves breaking at their feet. And here lay +a ship covered with white samite, from which +manly voices cried,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>"Welcome, Sir Galahad. We have long awaited +you. Come on board."</p> + +<p>"What means this?" asked Galahad of the damsel. +"Who are they that call?"</p> + +<p>"No others than your friends and comrades, +Sir Bors and Sir Percivale. Here you must leave +your horse, and I mine, and both of us enter the +ship, for so God commands."</p> + +<p>This they did, taking their saddles and bridles +with them, and making on them the sign of the +cross. When they had entered the ship the two +knights received them with great joy. And as +they stood greeting each other the wind suddenly +rose and drove the ship from the land, forcing it +through the waves at a marvellous speed.</p> + +<p>"Whence comes this ship?" asked Galahad.</p> + +<p>Then Bors and Percivale told him of their adventures +and temptations, and by what miracles +they had been brought on board that vessel.</p> + +<p>"Truly," said Galahad, "God has aided you +marvellously. As for me, had it not been for the +lady who led me, I should never have found you."</p> + +<p>"If Lancelot, your father, were but here," said +Bors, "then it would seem to me that we had all +that heart could wish."</p> + +<p>"That may not be," answered Galahad, "unless +by the pleasure of our Lord."</p> + +<p>As they conversed the ship suddenly ran between +two rocks, where it held fast, but where they could +not land for the raging of the sea. But just before +them lay another ship, which they could reach +without danger.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Magic_Ship_Pg_198" id="Magic_Ship_Pg_198"></a><img src="images/p198.jpg" width="500" height="317" alt="Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron. +THE MAGIC SHIP." title="THE MAGIC SHIP." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">THE MAGIC SHIP.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Thither we must go," said the lady, "and there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +we shall find strange things, for such is the Lord's +will."</p> + +<p>At this they approached the ship, and saw that +it was richly provided, but without man or woman +on board. And on its bow there was written in +large letters,—</p> + +<p>"You who shall enter this ship, take heed of +your belief: for I am Faith, and bid you beware. +If you fail I shall not help you. He who enters +here must be of pure heart and earnest trust."</p> + +<p>They stood looking earnestly at one another after +having read these words.</p> + +<p>"Percivale," said the lady, "know you who I +am?"</p> + +<p>"I do not," he replied. "Have I ever seen you +before?"</p> + +<p>"Know, then, that I am your sister, the daughter +of King Pellinore. I love no man on earth as +I do you. I warn you, therefore, not to enter this +ship unless you have perfect belief in our Lord +Jesus Christ, for if your faith fails you aught here +you shall perish."</p> + +<p>"Fair sister," he replied, "happy am I, indeed, +to know you. As for the ship, I shall not fail to +enter it. If I prove an untrue knight or a misbeliever, +then let me perish."</p> + +<p>As they spoke, Galahad blessed himself and entered +the ship, and after him came the lady, and +then Bors and Percivale. On reaching the deck +they found it so marvellously fair and rich that +they stood in wonder. In the midst of the ship was +a noble bed; and when Galahad went thither he +found on it a crown of silk. Below this lay a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +sword, half drawn from its scabbard, the pommel +being of stone of many colors. The scales of the +haft were of the ribs of two beasts. One beast was +a serpent, known in Calidone as the serpent of the +fiend; and its bone had the magic virtue that the +hand which touched it should never be weary or +hurt. The other beast was a fish, that haunted +the flood of Euphrates, its name Ertanax; its bone +had the virtue that he who handled it should not +think on the joys and sorrows of his past life, but +only of that which he then beheld. And no man +could grasp this sword but the one who passed all +others in might and virtue.</p> + +<p>"In the name of God," said Percivale, "I shall +seek to handle it."</p> + +<p>But in vain he tried, he could not grasp the magic +hilt. No more could Bors, who attempted it in +his turn. Then Galahad approached, and as he +did so saw written on the sword in letters like +blood, "He who draweth me has peril to endure. +His body shall meet with shame, for he shall be +wounded to the death."</p> + +<p>"By my faith, the risk is too great," said Galahad. +"I shall not set my hand to so fatal a blade."</p> + +<p>"That you must," said the lady. "The drawing +of this sword is forbidden to all men, save you. +No one can draw back from that which destiny +commands."</p> + +<p>Then she told a marvellous story of that strange +blade.</p> + +<p>"When this ship arrived in the realm of England," +she said, "there was deadly war between +King Labor and King Hurlame, who was a christened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +Saracen. Here they fought one day by the +sea-side, and Hurlame was defeated and his men +slain. Then he fled into this ship, drew the sword +which he saw here, and with one stroke smote King +Labor and his horse in twain. But a fatal stroke +it proved, for with it there came harm and pestilence +to all this realm. Neither corn nor grass +would grow, fruit failed to ripen, the waters held +no fish, and men named this the waste land of the +two marches. Nor did King Hurlame escape. +When he saw the strange carving of the sword, a +craving came into his mind to possess the scabbard. +Entering the ship for that purpose, he thrust +the sword into the sheath; but no sooner had he +done so than he fell dead beside the bed. And +there his body lay till a maiden entered the ship +and cast it out, for no man could be found hardy +enough to set foot on that fatal deck."</p> + +<p>The three knights on hearing this looked earnestly +at the scabbard, which seemed to them made +of serpent's skin, while on it was writing in letters +of gold and silver. But the girdle was poor and +mean, and ill suited to so rich a sword. The writing +was to this effect: "He who shall wield me +must be hardy of nature. Nor shall he ever be +shamed while he is girt with this girdle; which +must never be put away except by the hands of a +maiden and a king's daughter. And she, if she +shall ever cease to be a maid, shall die the most +villanous death that woman ever endured."</p> + +<p>"Turn the sword," said Percivale, "that we may +see what is on the other side."</p> + +<p>On doing so they found it red as blood, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +coal-black letters, which said: "He that shall praise +me most shall find me most to fail him in time of +great need; and to whom I should be most fair shall +I prove most foul. Thus is it ordained."</p> + +<p>Then Percivale's sister told them the history of +the sword, which was a very strange and admirable +thing to hear. More than once had it been drawn +in modern times; once by Nancien, who afterwards +became a hermit, and in whose hands the sword +fell in half, and sorely wounded him in the foot. +Afterwards it was drawn by King Pellam, and it +was for this boldness that he was destined to be +deeply wounded by the spear with which Balin +afterwards struck him.</p> + +<p>The knights now observed the bed more closely, +and saw that above its head there hung two swords. +With them were three strange spindles, one of +which was white as snow, one red as blood, and one +as green as emerald. As they gazed at them with +curious wonder, the damsel told a strange story +of the surprising things they had gazed upon. And +thus her story ran.</p> + +<p>When mother Eve gathered the fruit for which +Adam and she were put out of Paradise, she took +with her the bough on which the apple grew. As +it kept fair and green, and she had no coffer in +which to keep it, she thrust it in the earth, where, +by God's will, it took root, and soon grew to a great +tree, whose branches and leaves were as white as +milk. But afterwards, at the time of Abel's birth, +it became grass-green. It was under this tree that +Cain slew Abel, and then it quickly lost its green +color, and grew red as blood. So it lived and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +thrived, and was in full life when Solomon, the +wise king, came to the throne.</p> + +<p>It came to pass that, as Solomon studied over +many things, and, above all, despised women in +his heart and in his writings, a voice came which +told him that of his line would be born the Virgin +Mary, the purest and noblest of human kind, and +that afterwards would come a man, the last of his +blood, as pure in mind as a young maiden, and as +good a knight as Joshua of Israel. This revelation +he told to his wife, who had questioned him as to +the reason of his deep study.</p> + +<p>"Sir," she said, "since this knight is to come, it +is our duty to prepare for him. Therefore, I shall +first have made a ship of the best and most durable +wood that man may find."</p> + +<p>This was done by Solomon's command. When +the ship was built and ready to sail, she made a +covering for it of cloth of silk, of such quality +that no weather could rot it. And in the midst she +placed a great bed, of marvellously rich workmanship, +and covered with silk of the finest texture.</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear lord," she said to Solomon, +"since this last knight of your lineage is to pass +in valor and renown all other knights that have +been before or shall come after him, therefore I +counsel you to go into the Temple of the Lord, +where is the sword of the great King David, your +father, which is of magic temper and virtue. Take +off the pommel of this sword and make one of +precious stones, skilfully wrought. And make a +hilt and sheath of great richness and beauty. As +for the girdle, leave that to me to provide."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>Solomon did as she advised, and she took the +sword and laid it in the bed; but when he looked +at it he grew angry, for the girdle was meanly +made of hemp.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing," she said, "fit to make a girdle +worthy of such a sword. But when the time comes +a maiden will change this for a girdle worthy of +him that is to wear it."</p> + +<p>This done, she went with a carpenter to the tree +under which Abel was slain.</p> + +<p>"Carve me from this tree as much wood as will +make me a spindle," she said.</p> + +<p>"Ah, madam," said he, "I dare not cut the tree +which our first mother planted."</p> + +<p>"Do as you are bidden," she ordered. "Dare +not disobey me."</p> + +<p>But as he began to cut the tree drops of blood +flowed out. Then he would have fled, but she made +him cut sufficient to form a spindle. Next she +went to the green and the white trees, which had +grown from the roots of the other, and bade him +cut as much from each of these. From this wood +were three spindles wrought, which she hung up at +the head of the bed.</p> + +<p>"You have done marvellously well," said Solomon, +on seeing this. "Wonderful things, I deem, +shall come of all this, more than you yourself +dream of."</p> + +<p>"Some of these things you shall soon know," +she answered.</p> + +<p>That night Solomon lay near the ship, and as +he slept he dreamed. There came from heaven, as +it seemed to him, a great company of angels, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +alighted in the ship, and took water that was +brought by an angel in a vessel of silver, and +sprinkled it everywhere. Then the angel came to +the sword and drew letters on the hilt, and on the +ship's bow he wrote, "You who shall enter this ship +take heed of your belief," and further as the knights +had read. When Solomon had read these words he +drew back, and dared not enter, and there soon +arose a wind which drove the ship far to sea, so +that it was quickly lost to sight. Then a low voice +said, "Solomon, the last knight of thy lineage shall +rest in this bed." With this Solomon waked, and +lo! the ship was gone.</p> + +<p>This was the story that the fair damsel, Percivale's +sister, told to the knights, as they stood +curiously surveying the bed and the spindles. Then +one of them lifted a cloth that lay on the deck, and +under it found a purse, in which was a written +paper, telling the same strange story they had just +heard.</p> + +<p>"The sword is here," said Galahad; "but where +shall be found the maiden who is to make the new +girdle?"</p> + +<p>"You need not seek far," said Percivale's sister. +"By God's leave, I have been chosen to make that +girdle, and have it here."</p> + +<p>Then she opened a box which she had brought +with her, and took from it a girdle that was richly +wrought with golden threads and studded with +precious stones, while its buckle was of polished +gold.</p> + +<p>"Lo, lords and knights," she said, "here is the +destined girdle. The greater part of it was made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +of my hair, which I loved dearly when I was a +woman of the world. When I knew that I was set +aside for this high purpose, I cut off my hair and +wrought this girdle in God's name."</p> + +<p>"Well have you done!" cried Bors. "Without +you we would have learned nothing of this high +emprise."</p> + +<p>Then the noble maiden removed the mean girdle +from the sword, and put upon it the rich one she +had brought, which became it wonderfully.</p> + +<p>"By what name shall we call this sword?" they +now asked her.</p> + +<p>"Its name is," she answered, "the sword with +the strange girdle; and that of the sheath is, mover +of blood. But no man with blood in him shall +ever see the part of the sheath that was made of +the tree of life."</p> + +<p>Then she took the sword and girded it about Galahad, +fastening the golden buckle about his waist.</p> + +<p>"Now reck I not though I die," she said, "for +I hold that I am one of the world's blessed maidens, +since it has been given to me to arm the worthiest +knight in the world."</p> + +<p>After this they left the magic ship at her bidding, +and entered the one in which they had come. +And immediately there rose a great wind which +blew their vessel from between the rocks, and carried +it afar over the sea.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h4>HOW LANCELOT SAW THE SANGREAL.</h4> + + +<p>The ship that bore the three knights and the +maiden came ashore at length near a castle in +Scotland, where they landed. From here they journeyed +far, while many were their adventures, all +of which tried their virtue and belonged to the quest +of the Sangreal. In them all the sword with the +strange girdle proved of such marvellous worth +that no men, were they a hundred in number, could +stand before it.</p> + +<p>Finally they came to a castle which had the +strange custom that every maiden who passed that +way should yield a dish full of blood. When they +asked the reason of this dreadful custom, they were +told,—</p> + +<p>"There is in this castle a lady to whom the +domain belongs, and who has lain for years sick of +a malady which no leech can cure. And a wise +man has said that she can only be cured if she have +a dish full of blood from a pure virgin and a king's +daughter, with which to anoint her."</p> + +<p>"Fair knights," said Percivale's sister, "I alone +can aid the sick lady, who must die otherwise."</p> + +<p>"If you bleed as they demand, you may die," +said Galahad. "Is not your life worth more than +hers?"</p> + +<p>"This I answer," said she. "If I yield not my +blood there will be mortal war between you and +the knights of the castle to-morrow, and many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +men must die that one woman may not bleed. +If I die to heal the sick lady I shall gain renown +and do God's will, and surely one harm is better +than many. That you will fight for me to the +death, I know, but wherefore should you?"</p> + +<p>Say what they would, she held to her will, and +the next morning bade the people of the castle +bring forth the sick lady. She lay in great pain +and suffering, and bent her eyes pleadingly on +the devoted maiden.</p> + +<p>Then Percivale's sister bared her arm, and bade +them bleed her. This they did till a silver dish +was filled with her life blood. Then she blessed +the lady, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Madam, I have given my life for yours; for +God's love, pray for me!" and she fell in a swoon.</p> + +<p>Galahad and his fellows hastened to stanch the +blood, but it was too late, her life was ebbing +fast.</p> + +<p>"Fair brother Percivale," she said, "death is +upon me. But before I die I have this to tell you. +It is written that I shall not be buried in this +country. When I am dead, seek you the sea-shore +near by, and put my body in a boat, and let it go +where fortune bears it. But when you three arrive +at the city of Sarras, in Palestine, which you will +in God's good time, you shall find me arrived +there before you. There bury me in consecrated +soil. This further I may say, that there the holy +Grail shall be achieved, and there shall Galahad +die and be buried in the same place."</p> + +<p>And as they stood there weeping beside her a +voice came to them, saying,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>"Lords and comrades, to-morrow at sunrise you +three must depart, each taking his own way, and +you shall not meet again till adventure bring you +to the maimed king."</p> + +<p>After that all was done as had been foreseen +and desired. The maiden died, and the same day +the sick lady was healed, through the virtue of +her blood. Then Percivale wrote a letter telling +who she was and what things she had done. This +he put in her right hand, and laid her body in a +vessel that was covered with black silk. The wind +now arose and drove it far from the land, while +all stood watching it till it was out of sight.</p> + +<p>Then they returned towards the castle. But suddenly +a tempest of wind, thunder, and rain broke +from the sky, so furious that the very earth seemed +to be torn up. And as they looked they saw the +turrets of the castle and part of its walls totter +and fall, and in a moment come crashing in ruin +to the earth.</p> + +<p>That night they slept in a chapel, and in the +morning rode to the castle, to see how it had fared +in the storm. But when they reached it they found +it in ruins, while of all that had dwelt there not +one was left alive. All of them, man and woman +alike, had fallen victims to the vengeance of God. +And they heard a voice that said,—</p> + +<p>"This vengeance is for the shedding of maidens' +blood."</p> + +<p>But at the end of the chapel was a church-yard +in which were threescore tombs, over which it +seemed no tempest had passed. And in these lay +all the maidens who had shed their blood and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +died martyrs for the sick lady's sake. On these +were their names and lineage, and all were of +royal blood, and twelve of them kings' daughters.</p> + +<p>The knights turned away, marvelling much at +what they had seen and heard.</p> + +<p>"Here we must part," said Galahad. "Let us +pray that we may soon meet again."</p> + +<p>Then they kissed each other, and wept at the +parting, and each rode his own way into the forest +before them.</p> + +<p>But we must now leave them and return to Lancelot, +whom we left sorely repentant of his sins. +After he departed from the hermitage he rode +through many lands and had divers adventures, +and in the end came to the sea-shore, beside which +he lay down and slept.</p> + +<p>In his slumber, words came to his ear, saying, +"Lancelot, rise and take thine armor, and enter +into the first ship that thou shalt find." On hearing +these words he started up, and saw that all +about him was strangely clear, the skies giving +out a light like that of midday. Then he blessed +himself, and took his arms, and advanced to the +strand, where he saw a ship without sails or oars. +This he entered, as he had been bidden, and when +he was within it his heart was filled with such joy +as he had never before known.</p> + +<p>Naught had he ever thought of or desired but +what seemed come to him now, and in his gladness +he returned thanks fervently to the Lord.</p> + +<p>"I know not what has happened to me," he said, +"but such joy as I feel I never dreamed the human +heart could hold."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>Then he lay down and slept on the ship's deck, +and when he woke the night had passed and it +was broad day.</p> + +<p>And in the ship he found a bed, whereon lay a +dead lady, with a letter in her right hand which +Lancelot read. From this he learned that the fair +corpse was that of Percivale's sister, together with +many of the strange things that had happened to +her and the chosen knights.</p> + +<p>For a month or more Lancelot abode in this ship, +driven about the seas, and sustained by no food, +but by the grace of the Holy Ghost, for he prayed +fervently for God's aid night and morning.</p> + +<p>At length came a night when the ship touched +the shore. Here he landed, being somewhat weary +of the deck. And as he stood on the strand he +heard a horse approach, and soon one rode by that +seemed a knight.</p> + +<p>When he came to the ship he checked his horse +and alighted. Then, taking the saddle and bridle +from the horse, he turned it free and entered the +ship. Lancelot, in surprise, drew near.</p> + +<p>"Fair knight," he said, "I know not who you +are or why you come. But since you seek passage +on my ship you are welcome."</p> + +<p>The other saluted him in turn, and asked,—</p> + +<p>"What is your name? I pray you, tell me, for +my heart warms strangely towards you."</p> + +<p>"My name is Lancelot du Lake."</p> + +<p>"Then are we well met indeed. You are my +father."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you are Galahad?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, truly," and as he spoke he took off his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +helm, and kneeled, and asked his blessing.</p> + +<p>Joyful indeed was that meeting, and gladly there +father and son communed, telling each other all +that had happened to them since they left the court. +When Galahad saw the dead maiden he knew her +well, and told his father the story of the sword, +at which he marvelled greatly.</p> + +<p>"Truly, Galahad," he said, "I never heard of +aught so strange, and can well believe you were +born for wondrous deeds."</p> + +<p>Afterwards for nearly half a year the father +and son dwelt together within that ship, serving +God day and night with prayer and praise. Now +they touched on peopled shores, and now on desert +islands where only wild beasts abode, and perilous +and strange adventures they met. But these we +shall not tell, since they had naught to do with the +Sangreal.</p> + +<p>But at length came a Monday morning when +the ship touched shore at the edge of a forest, before +a cross, where they saw a knight armed all in +white, and leading a white horse. He saluted them +courteously, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Galahad, you have been long enough with your +father. You must now leave the ship, and take +this horse, and ride whither destiny shall lead you +in the quest of the Sangreal."</p> + +<p>Hearing this command, Galahad kissed his father, +and bade him farewell, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Dear father, I know not if we shall ever meet +again."</p> + +<p>"Then I bid you," said Lancelot, "to pray to the +great Father that He hold me in His service."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>There came in answer a mysterious voice that +spoke these words,—</p> + +<p>"Think each to do well; for you shall never +see each other till the dreadful day of doom."</p> + +<p>This voice of destiny affected them greatly, and +they bade each other a tearful farewell, Lancelot +begging again the prayers of his son in his behalf. +Then Galahad mounted the white horse and rode +into the forest, while a wind arose which blew the +ship from shore, and for a month drove it up and +down the seas.</p> + +<p>But at length came a night when it touched +shore on the rear side of a fair and stately castle. +Brightly shone the moon, and Lancelot saw an +open postern in which stood on guard two great +lions. As he looked he heard a voice.</p> + +<p>"Lancelot," it said, "leave this ship and enter +the castle. There shalt thou see a part of that +which thou desirest."</p> + +<p>Lancelot at this armed himself and went to the +gate, where the lions rose rampant against him. +With an instinct of fear he drew his sword, but +at that instant appeared a dwarf, who struck him +on the arm so sharply that the sword fell from +his hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh, man of evil hope and weak belief," came +the mysterious voice, "trust you more in your +armor than in your Maker? Does He who brought +you here need a sword for your protection?"</p> + +<p>"Truly am I reproved," said Lancelot. "Happy +am I to be held the Lord's ward and servant."</p> + +<p>He took up his sword and put it in the sheath, +then made a cross on his forehead, and advanced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +to the lions, which raged and showed their teeth +as if ready to rend him in pieces. Yet with a bold +step and tranquil mien he passed between them +unhurt, and entered the castle.</p> + +<p>Through it he went, room by room, passage by +passage, for every door stood wide and no living +being met him as he advanced. Finally he came +to a chamber whose door was closed, and which +yielded not to his hand when he sought to open +it. He tried again with all his force, but the door +resisted his strength.</p> + +<p>Then he listened, and heard a voice that sang +more sweetly than he had ever heard. And the +words seemed to him to be, "Joy and honor be +to the Father of Heaven!"</p> + +<p>Lancelot no longer sought to open the door, but +kneeled before it, feeling in his heart that the Sangreal +was within that chamber.</p> + +<p>"Sweet Father Jesus," he prayed, "if ever I +did aught in thy service, in pity forgive me my +sins, and show me something of that which I seek."</p> + +<p>As he prayed the door opened without hands, +and from the room came a light brighter than if +all the torches of the world had been there. He +rose in joy to enter, but the voice spoke sternly in +his ear,—</p> + +<p>"Forbear, Lancelot, and seek not to enter here. +If you enter, you shall repent it dearly."</p> + +<p>Then he drew back hastily, and looked into the +chamber, where he saw a table of silver, on which +was the holy vessel covered with red samite, with +angels about it, one of which held a burning candle +of wax, and one a cross. And before the holy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +vessel stood a priest, who seemed to be serving the +mass. In front of the priest appeared to be three +men, two of whom put the youngest between the +priest's hands, who held him up high as if to show +him. Yet so heavy seemed the figure that the +priest appeared ready to fall with weakness, and +with a sudden impulse Lancelot rushed into the +room, crying, "Fair Lord Jesus, hold it no sin that +I help the good man, who seems in utmost need."</p> + +<p>But as he rashly entered and came towards the +table of silver, a breath that seemed half fire smote +him so hotly in the face that he fell heavily to the +earth, and lay like one bereft of all his senses. +Then many hands seemed to take him up, and +bear him without the door, where he lay to all +seeming dead.</p> + +<p>When morning dawned he was found there by +the people of the castle, who marvelled how he +got there, and could not be sure if he were dead +or alive. But they laid him in a bed, and watched +him closely, for days passed without signs of life +or death. At length, on the twenty-fifth day, he +gave a deep sigh, and opened his eyes, and gazed +in wonder on the people about him.</p> + +<p>"Why have you wakened me?" he cried. "Why +left you me not to my blessed visions?"</p> + +<p>"What have you seen?" they asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Such marvels as no tongue can tell nor ear +understand," he said. "And more had I seen but +that my son was here before me. For God's love, +gentlemen, tell me where I am."</p> + +<p>"Sir, you are in the castle of Carbonek."</p> + +<p>"I thank God of His great mercy for what I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +have seen," he said. "Now may I leave the quest +of the Sangreal, for more of it shall I never see, +and few men living shall see so much."</p> + +<p>These words said, he arose and dressed in new +clothing that they brought him, and stood in his +old strength and beauty before the people.</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot!" they cried, "is it you?"</p> + +<p>"Truly so," he answered.</p> + +<p>Then word was brought to King Pellam, the +maimed king, who now dwelt in that castle, that +the knight who had lain so long between death +and life was Lancelot. Glad was the king to hear +this, and he bade them bring Lancelot to him.</p> + +<p>"Long has my daughter Elaine been dead," he +said. "But happy she lived in having been loved +by you, and in the grace of her noble son Galahad."</p> + +<p>"I was but cold to her," answered Lancelot, +"for she was a lovable lady. But in truth I have +been held from love and life's delights, for my +fate has not been my own to control."</p> + +<p>For four days he abode at the castle, and then +took his armor and horse, saying that now his +quest of the Sangreal was done, and duty bade +him return to Camelot.</p> + +<p>Back through many realms he rode, and in time +came to the abbey where Galahad had won the +white shield. Here he spent the night, and the +next day rode into Camelot, where he was received +with untold joy by Arthur and the queen.</p> + +<p>For of the Knights of the Round Table who +had set out on that perilous quest more than half +had perished, and small was the tale of that gallant +fellowship that could now be mustered. So the +coming of Lancelot filled all hearts with joy.</p> + +<p>Great was the marvel of the king when Lancelot +told him of what he had seen and done, and of the +adventures of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors.</p> + +<p>"God send that they were all here again," said +the king.</p> + +<p>"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "One +of them shall come again, but two you shall never +see."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 277px;"> +<a name="Galahad_Pg_217" id="Galahad_Pg_217"></a><img src="images/p217.jpg" width="277" height="500" alt="From the painting by George Frederick Watts. + +SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL." title="SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL." /> +<span class="caption2">From the painting by George Frederick Watts.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h4>THE DEEDS OF THE THREE CHOSEN KNIGHTS.</h4> + + +<p>After Galahad left the ship and his father Lancelot, +he rode far and had many adventures, righting +many wrongs and achieving many marvels. +Among these he came to the abbey where was the +ancient King Evelake, who had laid blind three +hundred years, as we have elsewhere told.</p> + +<p>The old king knew well that his deliverance +had come, and begged to be embraced by the pious +youth. No sooner had he been clasped in his +arms than his sight returned, and his flesh grew +whole and young.</p> + +<p>"Now, sweet Saviour, my destiny is fulfilled; +receive thou my soul," he prayed.</p> + +<p>As he said these words the soul left his body, +and the miracle of his fate was achieved.</p> + +<p>Many days after this Galahad met Percivale,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +and soon the two came upon Bors, as he rode out +of a great forest, that extended many days' journey +through the land.</p> + +<p>And so they rode in glad companionship, with +many a tale of marvel to tell, till in time they +came to the castle of Carbonek, where they were +gladly received, for those in the castle knew that +the quest of the Sangreal was now wellnigh +achieved.</p> + +<p>When evening approached, and the table for +supper was set, the mysterious voice that so often +had guided these knights spoke again.</p> + +<p>"They that are not worthy to sit at the table +of Jesus Christ arise," it said; "for now shall the +worthiest be fed."</p> + +<p>Then all arose save Eliazar, the son of King +Pellam, and a maid who was his niece, and the +three knights. But as they sat at supper nine +other knights, in full armor, entered at the hall +door, and took off their helmets and armor, and +said to Galahad,—</p> + +<p>"Sir, we have come far and in haste to be with +you at this table, where the holy meat shall be +served."</p> + +<p>"If you are worthy, you are welcome," said +Galahad. "Whence come you?"</p> + +<p>Three of them answered that they were from +Gaul, three from Ireland, and three from Denmark, +and that they had come thither at the bidding +of the strange voice.</p> + +<p>So they all sat at table. But ere they began to +eat, four gentlewomen bore into the hall a bed, +whereon lay a man sick, with a crown of gold on +his head. Setting him down, they went away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>"Galahad, holy knight, you are welcome," said +he who lay in the bed, raising his head feebly. +"Long have I waited your coming, in pain and +anguish, since Balin, the good knight, struck me +the dolorous stroke. To you I look for aid and +release from my long suffering."</p> + +<p>Then spoke the voice again: "There be those +here who are not in the quest of the Sangreal; +let them depart." And the son and niece of the +king rose and left the room.</p> + +<p>Then there came suddenly four angels, and a +man who bore a cross and wore the dress of a bishop, +whom the angels placed in a chair before the silver +table of the Sangreal. In his forehead were letters +which said, "This is Joseph, the first bishop of +Christendom."</p> + +<p>Next opened the chamber door, and angels entered, +two bearing wax candles, the third a towel, +and the fourth a spear that bled, the blood drops +falling into a silver vessel which he held in his +other hand. The candles were set on the table, +the towel spread upon the vessel, and the spear set +upright on this.</p> + +<p>The bishop then said mass, at which other +strange signs were seen; for a figure like a child, +with a face that shone like flame, entered into the +bread of the sacrament. Then the bishop kissed +Galahad, and bade him kiss his fellows. This +done, he said,—</p> + +<p>"Servants of Jesus Christ, ye shall here be fed +on such meats as never knights tasted;" and with +these words he vanished.</p> + +<p>But as they knelt in prayer before the table,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +they saw come out of the holy vessel a man who +bore all the signs of the passion of Jesus Christ. +And he took up the vessel and bore it to Galahad +and to the other knights, who kneeled to receive the +sacrament; and so sweet was it that their hearts +marvelled and were filled with joy.</p> + +<p>"Now have you tasted of Christ's own food," he +said, "and seen what you highly and holily desired. +But more openly shall you see it in the city of +Sarras, in the spiritual place. Therefore you must +go hence, for this night the holy vessel will leave +this realm, and will never more be seen here. To-morrow +you three shall go to the sea, where a ship +awaits you; and you must take with you the sword +with the strange girdle."</p> + +<p>"Shall not these good knights go also?" asked +Galahad.</p> + +<p>"Not so. They have seen all that is fitting to +them. As for you, two of you shall die in my +service, and the third shall return and tell what +he has seen."</p> + +<p>Then he gave them his blessing, and vanished +from out their midst.</p> + +<p>When they had somewhat recovered from the +weight of these marvels, Galahad went to the spear +that lay on the table, and touched the blood with +his fingers, and with it anointed the wounds of the +maimed king. And at this touch he started up +whole and strong, thanking God fervently for his +healing.</p> + +<p>But he went not into the world again, but to a +monastery of white monks, where he became a man +of holy renown.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>At midnight came a voice to the nine knights, +which said,—</p> + +<p>"My sons, and not my chieftains; my friends, +and not my warriors; go ye hence, and do well what +comes to you, in my service."</p> + +<p>"Lord," they replied, "wilt thou vouchsafe also +to call us thy sinners? Thy servants we shall be +henceforth."</p> + +<p>And they arose, armed, and departed, bidding +a solemn adieu to the three knights. When morning +dawned these three rose also, and rode till they +came to the sea. Here awaited them the ship wherein +they had found the sword and the three magic +spindles, and to their wonder and delight they +beheld in its midst the table of silver and the +Sangreal, which was covered with red samite.</p> + +<p>It was a joyous company that sailed over the sea +in that magical ship, and at the wish of his comrades +Galahad slept in the bed where the sword +had lain, and Bors and Percivale on the deck +beside him.</p> + +<p>And so they went by day and by night, and at +length came to the city of Sarras. Here, as they +would have landed, they saw beside them, just +come to shore, the ship that bore the corpse of +Percivale's sister, and this as fair and as fresh as +when first placed within it.</p> + +<p>Then they took up the silver table and bore it +to the city, at whose gate sat an old and crooked +cripple.</p> + +<p>"Come hither, and help us carry this heavy +thing," said Galahad.</p> + +<p>"How shall I do that? I have not gone for ten +years without crutches."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>"No matter for that. Show your good will by +trying."</p> + +<p>Then the cripple rose and took hold, and in +that instant he was whole and strong, and helped +them bear the table to the palace. This done, they +returned, and bore to the palace the corpse of +Percivale's sister, which they placed in a rich tomb, +suited to a king's daughter.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the report had spread through the +city that a cripple had been made whole by three +strange knights, and people flocked to see them.</p> + +<p>When the king of the city saw and heard all +this, he came to the knights and asked them who +they were, and what it was they had brought into +his realm.</p> + +<p>Galahad answered him, telling of the marvel +of the Sangreal, and of God's power and grace +therein.</p> + +<p>But the king, Estorause, a tyrant in will and a +pagan in faith, heard this with wrath and unbelief, +and ordered the knights to be put in prison +as spies and felons.</p> + +<p>For a whole year they lay thus in prison, yet +were always kept whole and in good spirits; for +the holy Sangreal came to them in their dungeons, +and filled their souls with joy. When the year +ended, Estorause grew sick unto death, and in +remorse sent for the imprisoned knights, whose +pardon and forgiveness he fervently begged. This +they gave him, and he straightway died.</p> + +<p>His death threw the city into dismay, for he +had left no successor to the throne. But as the +lords sat in council there came a voice that bade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +them choose the youngest of the three knights for +their king. This mysterious behest was told to the +citizens, and with one acclaim they hailed it as +God's will, and demanded Galahad as their king.</p> + +<p>Thereupon he became king of Sarras, though it +was not his wish; but he felt it to be God's command. +And when he came to the throne he had +constructed a chest of gold and precious stones, in +which was placed the table of silver with the holy +vessel, and before this the three knights kneeled +and prayed daily with fervent zeal.</p> + +<p>And so time rolled on till came the day that was +the anniversary of that in which Galahad had +taken the crown. On this morning he rose betimes, +and before the holy vessel he saw a man dressed +like a bishop, while round about him was a great +fellowship of angels.</p> + +<p>"Come forth, thou servant of Jesus Christ, and +thou shalt see what thou hast so much desired," +said the bishop.</p> + +<p>Then Galahad began to tremble, his flesh quaking +in the presence of things spiritual. And he +held his hands up towards heaven, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Lord, I thank thee, for now my desire is fulfilled. +And if it be thy will that I should come +to thee, I wish no longer to live."</p> + +<p>"I am Joseph of Arimathea," said the strange +presence, "and am sent by the Lord to bear thee +fellowship. Thou resemblest me in two things; +for thou hast seen the highest marvel of the Sangreal, +and are pure of heart and of body. Now +say farewell to thy comrades, for thy time is come +to depart."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>Galahad thereupon went to Percivale and Bors, +and kissed them, and commended them to God, +saying to Bors,—</p> + +<p>"Fair friend, who art destined to return to our +native realm, salute for me my lord and father +Lancelot, and bid him remember the evils of this +unstable world, and bear in mind the duty he has +been taught."</p> + +<p>Then he kneeled before the table and prayed +fervently, and suddenly his soul departed from his +body, a multitude of angels bearing it visibly upward +toward heaven, in full view of his late comrades. +Also they saw come from heaven a hand, +with no body visible, and take up the holy vessel and +the spear, and bear them to heaven. And from +that moment no man ever saw on earth again the +blessed Sangreal.</p> + +<p>Afterwards Galahad's body was buried with great +honor, and with many tears from his two fellows +and from the people whom he had governed. Then +Percivale betook him to a hermitage, and entered +upon a religious life; while Bors stayed with him, +but in secular clothing, for it was his purpose to +return to England.</p> + +<p>For a year and two months Percivale lived thus +the holy life of a hermit, and then he passed out of +this world, and was buried by Bors—who mourned +him as deeply as ever man was mourned—beside +his sister and Galahad. This pious office performed, +Sir Bors, the last of the three chosen knights, felt +that his duty in that land was at an end, and +thereupon took ship at the city of Sarras and sailed +for the realm of England, where he in good season<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +arrived. Here he took horse and rode in all haste +to Camelot, where King Arthur and the court then +were, and where he was received with the greatest +joy and wonder, for so long had it been since any +man there had set eyes on him, that all believed him +to be dead.</p> + +<p>But greater than their wonder was their admiration +when the returned knight told the story of +miracle and adventure which had befallen him and +his two comrades, and the pious maid, Percivale's +sister, and of the holy life and death of Galahad +and Percivale. This marvellous narrative the king +had told again to skilled clerks, that they might +put upon record the wonderful deeds of these good +knights. And it was all written down in great +books, which were put in safe keeping at Salisbury.</p> + +<p>Bors then gave to Lancelot the message which +his son had sent him, and Lancelot took him in his +arms, saying, "Gentle cousin, gladly do I welcome +you again. Never while we live shall we part, but +shall ever be true friends and brothers while life +may last to us."</p> + +<p>And thus came to an end the marvellous and +unparalleled adventure of the Holy Grail.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Cathedral_Pg_225" id="Cathedral_Pg_225"></a><img src="images/p225.jpg" width="500" height="310" alt="SALISBURY CATHEDRAL." title="SALISBURY CATHEDRAL." /> +<span class="caption">SALISBURY CATHEDRAL.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="BOOK_X" id="BOOK_X">BOOK X.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE LOVE OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h4>THE POISONING OF SIR PATRISE.</h4> + + +<p>After the quest of the Sangreal was ended, and +all the knights who were left alive had come again +to Camelot, there was great joy in the court, with +feasts and merrymakings, that this fortunate remnant +might find a glad welcome. Above all, King +Arthur and Queen Guenever were full of joy in +the return of Lancelot and Bors, both from the +love they bore them and the special honor they +had gained in the quest.</p> + +<p>But, as is man's way, holy thoughts vanished +with the holy task that gave them rise, the knights +went back to their old fashions and frailties, and +in Lancelot's heart his earthly love for the queen +soon rose again, and his love of heaven and holy +thoughts grew dim as the days went by. Alas that +it should have been so! for such an unholy passion +could but lead to harm. To fatal ills, indeed, it +led, and to the end of Arthur's reign and of the +worshipful fellowship of the Table Round, as it is +our sorrowful duty now to tell.</p> + +<p>All this began in the scandal that was raised +in the court by the close companionship between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +Lancelot and the queen. Whisper of this secret +talk at length came to that good knight's ears, and +he withdrew from Queen Guenever as much as he +could, giving himself to the society of other ladies +of the court, with design to overcome the evil activity +of slanderous tongues.</p> + +<p>This withdrawal filled the queen with jealous +anger, and she accused him bitterly of coldness in +his love.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lancelot, "only that love for +you clung desperately to my heart, and drove out +heavenly thoughts, I should have gained as great +honor in the quest of the Sangreal as even my son +Galahad. My love is still yours, but I fear to show +it, for there are those of the court who love me not, +such as Agravaine and Mordred, and these evil-thinking +knights are spreading vile reports wherever +they may. It is for this I make show of delight +in other ladies' society, to cheat the bitter tongue +of slander."</p> + +<p>To this the queen listened with heaving breast +and burning cheek. But at the end she burst into +bitter tears and sobs, and wept so long that Lancelot +stood in dismay. When she could speak, she +called him recreant and false, declared she should +never love him more, and bade him leave the court, +and on pain of his head never come near her again.</p> + +<p>This filled the faithful lover with the deepest +grief and pain; yet there was anger, too, for he +felt that the queen had shut her ears to reason, and +had let causeless jealousy blind her. So, without +further words, he turned and sought his room, prepared +to leave the court. He sent for Hector, Bors,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +and Lionel, and told them what had happened, and +that he intended to leave England and return to +his native land.</p> + +<p>"If you take my advice you will do nothing so +rash," said Bors. "Know you not that women +are hasty to act, and quick to repent? This is not +the first time the queen has been angry with you; +nor will her repentance be a new experience."</p> + +<p>"You speak truly," said Lancelot. "I will ride, +therefore, to the hermitage of Brasias, near Windsor, +and wait there till I hear from you if my lady +Guenever changes her mood. I pray you do your +best to get me her love again."</p> + +<p>"That needs no prayer. Well you know I will +do my utmost in your behalf."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot departed in haste, none but Bors +knowing whither he had gone. But the queen +showed no sign of sorrow at his going, however +deeply she may have felt it in her heart. In +countenance she remained serene and proud, as +though the world went well with her, and her heart +was free from care.</p> + +<p>Her desire, indeed, to show that she took as much +joy in the society of other knights as in that of +Lancelot led to a woful and perilous event, which +we have next to describe. For she gave a private +dinner, to which she invited Gawaine and his +brethren and other knights, to the number of +twenty-four in all. A rich feast it was, with all +manner of dainties and rare devices. Much was +the joy and merriment of the feasting knights.</p> + +<p>As it happened, Gawaine had a great love for +fruits, especially apples and pears, which he ate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +daily at dinner and supper; and all who invited +him to dine took care to provide his favorite fruits. +This the queen failed not to do. But there was at +the feast an enemy of Gawaine's, named Pinel le +Savage, who was a cousin of Lamorak de Galis, +and had long hated Gawaine for the murder of +that noble knight.</p> + +<p>To obtain revenge on him, Pinel poisoned some +of the apples, feeling sure that only Gawaine would +eat them. But by unlucky chance a knight named +Patrise, cousin to Mador de la Porte, eat one of the +poisoned apples. So deadly was the venom that in +a moment he was in agony, and very soon it so +filled his veins that he fell dead from his seat.</p> + +<p>Then was terror and wrath, as the knights sprang +in haste and turmoil from their seats. For they +saw that Patrise had been poisoned, and suspicion +naturally fell upon the queen, the giver of the feast.</p> + +<p>"My lady, the queen," cried Gawaine in anger, +"what thing is this we see? This fate, I deem, was +meant for me, since the fruit was provided for my +taste. Madam, what shall I think? Has this good +knight taken on himself the death that was intended +to be mine?"</p> + +<p>The queen made no answer, being so confused +and terrified that she knew not what to say.</p> + +<p>"This affair shall not end here," cried Mador de +la Porte in great wrath. "Here lies a noble knight +of my near kindred, slain by poison and treason. +For this I shall have revenge to the utterance. +Queen Guenever, I hold you guilty of the murder +of my cousin, Sir Patrise. I demand from the laws +of the realm and the justice of our lord the king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +redress for this deed. A knight like this shall not +fall unrevenged, while I can wield spear or hold +sword."</p> + +<p>The queen, at this hot accusation, looked appealingly +from face to face; but all stood grave and +silent, for greatly they suspected her of the crime. +Then, seeing that she had not a friend in the room, +she burst into a passion of tears, and at length fell +to the floor in a swoon.</p> + +<p>The story of this sad business soon spread through +the court, and quickly came to the ears of the king, +who hastened to the banqueting hall full of trouble +at what he had heard. When Mador saw him, he +again bitterly accused the queen of treason,—as +murder of all kinds was then called.</p> + +<p>"This is a serious affair," said the king, gravely. +"I, as a rightful judge, cannot take the matter +into my own hands, or I would do battle in this +cause myself, for I know well that my wife is +wrongly accused. To burn a queen on a hasty +accusation of crime is no light matter, though you +may deem it so, Sir Mador; and if you demand +the combat, fear not but a knight will be found to +meet you in the lists."</p> + +<p>"My gracious lord," said Mador, "you must hold +me excused, for though you are our king, you are +a knight also, and held by knightly rules. Therefore, +be not displeased with me, for all the knights +here suspect the queen of this crime. What say +you, my lords?"</p> + +<p>"The dinner was made by the queen," they answered. +"She or her servants must be held guilty +of the crime."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>"I gave this dinner with a good will, and with +no thought of evil," said the queen, sadly. "May +God help me as an innocent woman, and visit this +murder on the base head of him who committed +it. My king and husband, to God I appeal for +right and justice."</p> + +<p>"And justice I demand," said Mador, "and require +the king to name a day in which this wrong +can be righted."</p> + +<p>"Be it so, then," said the king. "Fifteen days +hence be thou ready armed on horseback in the +meadow beside Winchester. If there be a knight +there to meet you, then God speed the right. If +none meet you, then my queen must suffer the +penalty of the law."</p> + +<p>When Arthur and the queen had departed, he +asked her how this case befell.</p> + +<p>"God help me if I know," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Where is Lancelot?" asked the king. "If he +were here, he would do battle for you."</p> + +<p>"I know not," she replied. "His kinsmen say +he has left the land."</p> + +<p>"How cometh it," said the king, "that you cannot +keep Lancelot by your side? If he were here +your case would be won. Sir Bors will do battle +in his place, I am sure. Go seek him and demand +his aid."</p> + +<p>This the queen did, begging Bors to act as her +champion; but he, as one of the knights who had +been at the dinner, demurred, and accused her of +having driven Lancelot from the country by her +scorn and jealousy.</p> + +<p>Then she knelt and begged his aid, and the king,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +coming in, also requested his assistance, for he was +now sure the queen had been unjustly defamed.</p> + +<p>"My lord," answered Bors, "it is a great thing +you require of me, for if I grant your request I +will affront many of my Round Table comrades. +Yet for your and Lancelot's sake I will be the +queen's champion on the day appointed, unless it +may happen that a better knight than I come to +do battle for her."</p> + +<p>"Will you promise me this, on your faith?" +asked the king.</p> + +<p>"I shall not fail you," said Bors. "If a better +knight than I come, the battle shall be his. If not, +I will do what I can."</p> + +<p>This promise gladdened the king and queen, +who thanked Bors heartily, and were filled with +hope, for they trusted greatly in this good knight's +prowess and skill.</p> + +<p>Bors, however, had other thoughts than they +dreamed of, and left the court secretly, riding to +the hermitage of Brasias, where he found Lancelot +and told him of what had occurred.</p> + +<p>"This happens well," said Lancelot. "The +queen shall not suffer. Do you make ready for +the battle, but tarry and delay, if I am not there, +as much as you may, till I arrive. Mador is a +hot knight, and will be hasty to battle. Bid him +cool his haste."</p> + +<p>"Leave that to me," said Bors. "Doubt not that +it will go as you wish."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the news spread throughout the court +that Bors had taken on himself the queen's championship. +This displeased the most of the knights,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +for suspicion of the queen was general. On his +return many of his fellows accused him hotly of +taking on himself a wrongful quarrel.</p> + +<p>"Shall we see the queen of our great lord King +Arthur brought to shame?" he demanded. "To +whom in the world do we owe more?"</p> + +<p>"We love and honor our king as much as you +do," they answered. "But we cannot love a destroyer +of knights, as Queen Guenever has proved +herself."</p> + +<p>"Fair sirs," said Bors, "you speak hastily, methinks. +At all times, so far as I know, she has +been a maintainer, not a destroyer, of knights, +and has been free with gifts and open-handed in +bounty to all of knightly fame. This you cannot +gainsay, nor will I suffer the wife of our noble +king to be shamefully slain. She is not guilty of +Sir Patrise's death, for she never bore him ill will, +nor any other at that dinner. It was for good +will she invited us there, and I doubt not her innocence +will be proved; for howsoever the game goeth, +take my word for it, some other than she is guilty +of that murder."</p> + +<p>This some began to believe, convinced by his +words, but others still held their displeasure, believing +the queen guilty.</p> + +<p>When at length the day that had been fixed for +the battle came, there was a great gathering of +knights and people in the meadow beside Winchester, +where the combat was to take place. But +many shuddered when they saw another thing, for +an iron stake was erected, and fagots heaped round<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +it, for the burning of the queen should Mador win +the fight.</p> + +<p>Such, indeed, was the custom of those days. +Neither for favor, for love, nor for kindred could +any but righteous judgment be given, as well upon +a king as upon a knight, upon a queen as upon a +poor lady, and death at the stake was the penalty +for those convicted of murder.</p> + +<p>Now there rode into the lists Sir Mador de la +Porte, and took oath before the king that he held +the queen to be guilty of the death of Sir Patrise, +and would prove it with his body against any one +who should say to the contrary.</p> + +<p>Sir Bors followed, and made oath as the queen's +champion that he held her guiltless, and would +prove it with his body, unless a better knight came +to take the battle on him.</p> + +<p>"Make ready then," said Mador, "and we shall +prove which is in the right, you or I."</p> + +<p>"You are a good knight, Sir Mador," said Bors, +"but I trust that God will give this battle to justice, +not to prowess."</p> + +<p>He continued to talk and to make delay till +Mador called out impatiently,—</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that we waste time and weather. +Either come and do battle at once, or else say nay."</p> + +<p>"I am not much given to say nay," answered +Bors. "Take your horse and make ready. I shall +not tarry long, I promise you."</p> + +<p>Then each departed to his tent, and in a little +while Mador came into the field with his shield on +his shoulder and his spear in his hand. But he +waited in vain for Bors.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>"Where is your champion?" cried Mador to the +king. "Bid him come forth if he dare!"</p> + +<p>When this was told to Bors he was ashamed to +delay longer, and mounted his horse and rode to +his appointed place. But as he did so he saw a +knight, mounted on a white horse, and bearing a +shield of strange device, emerge from a neighboring +wood, and come up at all speed. He continued his +course till he came to Sir Bors.</p> + +<p>"Be not displeased, fair knight," he said, "if I +claim this battle. I have ridden far this day to +have it, as I promised you when we spoke last. +And for what you have done I thank you."</p> + +<p>Then Bors rode to the king and told him that a +knight had come who would do battle for the queen +and relieve him from the championship.</p> + +<p>"What knight is this?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"All I may say is that he covenanted to be here +to-day. He has kept his word, and I am discharged."</p> + +<p>"How is this?" demanded Arthur. "Sir +knight, do you truly desire to do battle for the +queen?"</p> + +<p>"For that, and that alone, came I hither," answered +the knight. "And I beg that there be no +delay, for when this battle is ended I must depart +in haste on other duties. I hold it a dishonor to +all those knights of the Round Table that they can +stand and see so noble a lady and courteous a queen +as Queen Guenever rebuked and shamed among +them all. Therefore I stand as her champion."</p> + +<p>Then all marvelled what knight this could be, +for none suspected him. But Mador cried impatiently +to the king,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>"We lose time here. If this knight, whoever +he be, will have ado with me, it is time to end words +and begin deeds."</p> + +<p>"You are hot, Sir Mador. Take care that your +valor be not cooled," said the other.</p> + +<p>They now moved to their appointed stations, and +there couched their spears and rode together with +all the speed of their chargers. Mador's spear +broke, but the spear of his opponent held, and bore +him and his horse backward to the earth.</p> + +<p>But he sprang lightly from the saddle, and drew +his sword, challenging the victor to do battle with +him on foot. This the other knight did, springing +quickly to the ground, and drawing his sword. +Then they came eagerly to the combat, and for the +space of near an hour fought with the fury of wild +beasts, for Mador was a strong knight, proved in +many battles.</p> + +<p>But at last the strange champion struck his opponent +a blow that brought him to the earth. He +stepped near him to hurl him flat, but at that instant +Mador suddenly rose. As he did so he struck +upward with his sword, and ran the other through +the thick of the thigh, so that the blood flowed +freely.</p> + +<p>When he felt himself wounded he stepped back +in a rage, and grasping his sword struck Mador +a two-handed blow that hurled him flat to the +earth. Then he sprang upon him to pull off his +helm.</p> + +<p>"I yield me!" cried Mador. "Spare my life, +and I release the queen."</p> + +<p>"I shall not grant your life," said the other,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +"only on condition that you freely withdraw this +accusation from the queen, and that no charge +against her be made on Sir Patrise's tomb."</p> + +<p>"All this shall be done. I have lost, and adjudge +her innocent."</p> + +<p>The knights-parters of the lists now took up Sir +Mador and bore him to his tent. The other knight +went to the foot of King Arthur's seat. By that +time the queen had come thither also, and was +heartily kissed by her overjoyed lord. Then king +and queen alike thanked the victor knight, and +prayed him to take off his helmet, and drink some +wine for refreshment. This he did, and on the +instant a loud shout went up from all present, for +they recognized the noble face of Lancelot du Lake.</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot!" cried the king. "Never were +you more heartily welcome. Deep thanks I and +Queen Guenever owe you for your noble labor this +day in our behalf."</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur," said Lancelot, "I would +shame myself should I ever fail to do battle for +you both. It was you who gave me the high honor +of knighthood. And on the day you made me +knight I lost my sword through haste, and the +lady your queen found it and gave it me when I +had need of it, and so saved me from disgrace +among the knights. On that day I promised her +to be ever her knight in right or wrong."</p> + +<p>"Your goodness merits reward," said the king, +"and therein I shall not fail you."</p> + +<p>But as the queen gazed on Lancelot, tears came +to her eyes, and she wept so tenderly that she +almost sank to the ground from sorrow and remorse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +at her unkindness to him who had done her such +noble service.</p> + +<p>Now the knights of his blood came around Lancelot +in the greatest joy, and all the Knights of +the Round Table after them, glad to welcome him.</p> + +<p>And in the days that followed Lancelot was cured +of his wound, and Mador put under the care of +skilful leeches, while great joy and gladness reigned +in the court for the happy issue of that combat +which had promised so fatal an ending.</p> + +<p>About this time it befell that Nimue, the damsel +of the lake, came to the court, she who knew so +many things by her power of enchantment, and +had such great love for Arthur and his knights. +When the story of the death of Sir Patrise and +the peril of the queen was told her, she answered +openly that the queen had been falsely accused, +and that the real murderer was Sir Pinel, who +had poisoned the apples to destroy Gawaine, in +revenge for the murder of Lamorak. This story +was confirmed when Pinel fled hastily from the +court, for then all saw clearly that Guenever was +innocent of the crime.</p> + +<p>The slain knight was buried in the church of +Westminster, and on his tomb was written,—</p> + +<p>"Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir +Pinel le Savage, through poisoned apples intended +for Sir Gawaine." And to this was added the story +of how Guenever the queen had been charged with +that crime, and had been cleared in the combat by +Sir Lancelot du Lake, her champion.</p> + +<p>All this was written on the tomb, to clear the +queen's good fame. And daily and long Sir Mador +sued the queen to have her good grace again. At +length, by means of Lancelot, he was forgiven, and +entered again into the grace of king and queen. +Thus once more peace and good-will were restored +to Camelot.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h4>THE LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT.</h4> + + +<p>It came to pass that, within fifteen days of the +Feast of the Assumption, King Arthur announced +that a great tournament would be held on that +day at Camelot, where he and the king of Scots +would hold the lists against all who should come. +This tidings went far, and there came to Camelot +many noble knights, among them the king of North +Wales, King Anguish of Ireland, the king with the +hundred knights, Sir Galahalt the high prince, +and other kings, dukes, and earls.</p> + +<p>But when Arthur was ready to ride from London, +where he then was, to Camelot, the queen +begged to be excused from going with him, saying +that she was not well. Lancelot, too, would not +go, on the plea that he was not well of the wound +which Sir Mador had given him. So the king set +out in grief and anger, for the absence of his wife +and Lancelot tried him sorely. On his way to +Camelot he lodged in a town named Astolat, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +is now known as Gilford, and here he remained +for several days.</p> + +<p>But hardly had he departed before the queen +sought Lancelot, and blamed him severely for not +going with the king, saying that he thus exposed +her to slander.</p> + +<p>"Madam, your wisdom comes somewhat late. +Why gave you not this advice sooner?" said Lancelot. +"I will go, since you command it; but +I warn you that at the jousts I will fight against +the king and his party."</p> + +<p>"Fight as you will, but go," said Guenever. "If +you take my counsel, however, you will keep with +your king and your kindred."</p> + +<p>"Be not displeased with me, madam," said Lancelot. +"I will do as God wills, and that, I fear, +will be to fight against the king's party."</p> + +<p>So the knight took horse and rode to Astolat, and +here in the evening he obtained quarters in the +mansion of an old baron, named Sir Bernard of +Astolat. It happened that this mansion was near +the quarters of the king, who, as in the dusk he +walked in the castle garden, saw Lancelot draw +near to Sir Bernard's door, and recognized him.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" said the king, "is that the game? That +gives me comfort. I shall have one knight in the +lists who will do his duty nobly."</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" asked those with him.</p> + +<p>"Ask me not now," said the king, smiling. +"You may learn later."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Lancelot was hospitably received by +the old baron, though the latter knew not his guest.</p> + +<p>"Dear sir," said Lancelot to his host, "I thank<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +you for your kindness, and I shall owe you deeper +thanks if you will lend me a shield. Mine is too +well known, and I wish to fight in disguise."</p> + +<p>"That shall I willingly," answered his host. "I +have two sons who were lately knighted, and the +elder, Sir Tirre, has been hurt. His shield you +shall have, for it is yet unknown in list or field. +As for my younger son, Sir Lavaine, he is a strong +and likely youth, whom I beg you will take with +you. I feel that you must be a champion of renown, +and hope you will tell me your name."</p> + +<p>"Not at present, if you will excuse me," said +Lancelot. "If I speed well at the tournament I +will return and tell you. But I shall be glad to +have Sir Lavaine with me, and to use his brother's +shield."</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to both," said Sir Bernard.</p> + +<p>This old baron had a daughter of great beauty, +and in the freshness of youth, who was known +in that region as the Fair Maid of Astolat, by name +Elaine le Blank. And when she saw Lancelot her +whole heart went out to him in love,—a love of +that ardent nature that never dies while she who +wears it lives.</p> + +<p>Lancelot, too, was strongly attracted by her fresh +young face, of lily-like charm; but he had no love +to give. Yet he spoke in tender kindness to the +maiden, and so emboldened her that she begged him +to wear her token at the tournament.</p> + +<p>"You ask more than I have ever yet granted +to lady or damsel," said Lancelot. "If I yield to +your wish I shall do more for your love than any +woman born can claim."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 327px;"> +<a name="Welcome_Pg_241" id="Welcome_Pg_241"></a><img src="images/p241.jpg" width="327" height="500" alt=""YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH!" SAID SIR BERNARD." title=""YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH!" SAID SIR BERNARD." /> +<span class="caption">"YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH!" SAID SIR BERNARD.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>She besought him now with still more earnestness, +and it came to his mind that if he wished to +go to the lists disguised he could take no better +method, for no one would recognise Lancelot under +a damsel's token.</p> + +<p>"Show me what you would have me wear, fair +maiden," he said.</p> + +<p>"It is a red sleeve of mine," she answered, "a +sleeve of scarlet, embroidered with great pearls," +and she brought it to him.</p> + +<p>"I have never done this for damsel before," said +Lancelot. "In return I will leave my shield in +your keeping. Pray keep it safe till we meet +again."</p> + +<p>Then the evening was spent in merry cheer; +but that night Elaine slept but lightly, for her +slumber was full of dreams of Lancelot, and her +heart burned with fears that he might come to +harm in the lists.</p> + +<p>On the next day King Arthur and his knights +set out for Camelot. Soon afterwards Lancelot and +Lavaine took leave of Sir Bernard and his fair +daughter, while the eyes of Elaine followed the +noble form of Lancelot fondly and far, as he rode. +Both the knights had white shields, and Lancelot +bore with him Elaine's red embroidered sleeve. +When they reached Camelot they took lodging privately +with a rich burgess of the town, that none +might know them.</p> + +<p>When came Assumption Day, the lists were set, +the trumpets blew to the field, the two parties of +knights gathered promptly to the fray, and fierce +was the encounter between them. In the end, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +hard fighting, the party of Arthur bore back their +opponents, who were headed by the kings of Northumberland +and North Wales.</p> + +<p>All this was seen by Lancelot and Lavaine, who +sat their horses at a distance looking on.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Lancelot, "let us help these good +fellows, who seem to be overpowered."</p> + +<p>"Lead on," said Lavaine. "I shall follow and +do my best."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot, with the red sleeve fastened upon +his helmet, rode into the thickest of the press, and +smote down such numbers of knights with spear +and sword that the party of the Round Table were +forced to give back, and their opponents came on +with fresh heart. And close upon Lancelot's track +Lavaine smote down several good knights.</p> + +<p>"Who can this wonderful fighter be?" asked +Gawaine of the king.</p> + +<p>"I know him well," said Arthur, "but will not +name him since he is in disguise."</p> + +<p>"I could believe it was Lancelot," said Gawaine, +"but for that red sleeve. No man ever saw Lancelot +wear a woman's token."</p> + +<p>"Let him be," said Arthur. "He will be better +known before he is done."</p> + +<p>Then nine knights of Lancelot's kindred, angry +at seeing this one champion beat down all before +him, joined together and pressed hotly into the +din, smiting down all that opposed them. Three +of them—Bors, Hector, and Lionel—spurred together +on Lancelot, all striking him at once with +their spears. So great was their force that Lancelot's +horse was hurled to the ground, and his shield<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +pierced by Bors, whose spear wounded him in the +side, breaking and leaving its head deep in the +flesh.</p> + +<p>Seeing this misfortune, Lavaine spurred fiercely +on the king of the Scots, thrust him from his horse, +and, in despite of them all, brought that horse to +Lancelot, and helped him to mount. Then, though +so sorely hurt, Lancelot drew his sword, and, aided +by Lavaine, did such deeds of arms as he had never +surpassed in his hours of greatest strength. As +the chronicles say, that day he unhorsed more than +thirty knights; and Lavaine followed his example +well, for he smote down ten Knights of the Round +Table in this his first tournament. So does a noble +example stir young hearts.</p> + +<p>"I would give much to know who this valiant +knight can be," said Gawaine.</p> + +<p>"He will be known before he departs," answered +Arthur. "Trust me for that."</p> + +<p>Then the king blew to lodging, and the prize was +given by the heralds to the knight with the white +shield who bore the red sleeve. Around Lancelot +gathered the leaders on his side, and thanked him +warmly for gaining them the victory.</p> + +<p>"If I have deserved thanks I have sorely paid +for them," said Lancelot, "for I doubt if I escape +with my life. Dear sirs, permit me to depart, for +just now I would rather have repose than be lord +of all the world."</p> + +<p>Then he broke from them and galloped away, +though his wound forced piteous groans from his +steadfast heart. When out of sight of them all he +checked his horse, and begged Lavaine to help him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +dismount and to draw the spear-head from his side.</p> + +<p>"My lord," said Lavaine, "I would fain help +you; yet I fear that to draw the spear will be your +death."</p> + +<p>"It will be my death if it remains," said Lancelot. +"I charge you to draw it."</p> + +<p>This Lavaine did, the pain being so deadly that +Lancelot shrieked and fell into a death-like swoon, +while a full pint of blood gushed from the wound. +Lavaine stopped the bleeding as well as he could, +and with great trouble got the wounded knight to +a neighboring hermitage, that stood in front of a +great cliff, with a clear stream running by its foot.</p> + +<p>Here Lavaine beat on the door with the butt of +his spear, and cried loudly,—</p> + +<p>"Open, for Jesus' sake! Open, for a noble +knight lies bleeding to death at your gate!"</p> + +<p>This loud appeal quickly brought out the hermit, +who was named Baldwin of Brittany, and had once +been a Round Table knight. He gazed with pity +and alarm on the pale face and bleeding form before +him.</p> + +<p>"I should know this knight," he said. "Who +is he?"</p> + +<p>"Fair sir," said Lancelot, feebly, "I am a +stranger and a knight-errant, who have sought renown +through many realms, and have come here to +my deadly peril."</p> + +<p>As he spoke the hermit recognized him, by a +wound on his pallid cheek.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my lord Lancelot," he said, "you cannot +deceive me thus."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you know me, help me for heaven's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +sake. Relieve me from this pain, whether it be by +life or death."</p> + +<p>"I shall do my best," said the hermit. "Fear +not that you will die."</p> + +<p>Then he had him borne into the hermitage, and +laid in bed, his armor being removed. This done, +the hermit stanched the bleeding, anointed the +wound with healing ointments, and gave Lancelot +a refreshing and healing draught.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile King Arthur invited the knights of +both parties to a great evening feast, and there asked +the king of North Wales to bring forward the knight +of the red sleeve, that he might receive the prize he +had won.</p> + +<p>"That I cannot do," was the answer. "He was +badly, if not fatally, wounded, and left us so hastily +that we know not whither he went."</p> + +<p>"That is the worst news I have heard these seven +years," said Arthur. "I would rather lose my +throne than have that noble knight slain."</p> + +<p>"Do you know him?" they all asked.</p> + +<p>"I have a shrewd suspicion who he is; and I +pray God for good tidings of him."</p> + +<p>"By my head," said Gawaine, "I should be sorry +enough to see harm come to one that can handle +spear and sword like him. He cannot be far away, +and if he is to be found I shall find him."</p> + +<p>"Fortune aid you in the quest," said the king.</p> + +<p>Then Gawaine took a squire, and they rode in all +directions for six or seven miles around Camelot, +but could learn nothing of the missing knight. +Two days afterwards Arthur and his fellowship set +out on their return to London. On their way they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +passed through Astolat, and here it happened that +Gawaine lodged with Sir Bernard, Lancelot's former +host.</p> + +<p>He was well received, and the old baron and his +fair daughter begged him earnestly for tidings of +the tournament, being specially eager to know who +had done best there.</p> + +<p>"Two knights bore all before them," said Gawaine. +"Both carried white shields, and one wore +on his helmet a red sleeve, as some fair lady's token. +Never saw I a man before do such mighty deeds, +and his fellow seconded him nobly."</p> + +<p>"Blessed be God that that knight did so well," +broke out Elaine, "for he is the first man I ever +loved, and shall be the last."</p> + +<p>"You know him then?" said Gawaine. "Pray +tell me his name."</p> + +<p>"That I know not, nor whence he came; but +this I truly know, that I love him, and that the +token he wore was mine. This, and this only, I +can justly affirm."</p> + +<p>"This is a strange story," said Gawaine. "What +knowledge have you of him? and how came you +to know him?"</p> + +<p>In response, she told him how the knight had +left his shield with her, and taken that of her +brother, with what else she knew.</p> + +<p>"I would thank you much for a sight of that +shield," said Gawaine.</p> + +<p>"I have it in my chamber, covered with a case, +and will send for it," said Elaine.</p> + +<p>When the shield was brought Gawaine removed +the case, and at sight he knew it to be Lancelot's +shield.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>"Ah, mercy!" said Gawaine, "the sight of this +makes my heart heavy."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"For good cause," he answered. "Is the owner +of this shield your love?"</p> + +<p>"Truly so," she replied. "I love him dearly; +would to God he loved me as dearly."</p> + +<p>"Then must I say that you have given your love +to the noblest and most renowned knight in the +world."</p> + +<p>"So it seemed to me; for he carries a noble soul +in his face."</p> + +<p>"This I may say," said Gawaine. "I have +known this knight for more than twenty years, and +never knew him before to wear a woman's token at +joust or tournament. You owe him thanks, indeed, +that he wore yours. Yet I dread greatly that you +will never see him again, and it is for this that my +heart is heavy."</p> + +<p>"Why say you so?" she cried, starting up with +pallid face. "Is he hurt? Is he slain?"</p> + +<p>"Not slain; but sadly hurt. This more it is my +duty to tell you: he is the noble knight, Sir Lancelot +du Lake. I know him by his shield."</p> + +<p>"Lancelot! Can this be so? And his hurt—who +gave it? Is it really perilous?"</p> + +<p>"Had the knight who wounded him known him, +he would have been grieved almost to death. As for +Sir Lancelot, I can tell you nothing more. On receiving +his hurt he left the lists with his comrade, +and cannot be found. He is somewhere concealed."</p> + +<p>"Then shall I go seek him!" cried Elaine. +"Give me leave to do so, dear father, if you would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +not have me lose my mind. I shall never rest till +I find him and my brother, and nurse him back +to health."</p> + +<p>"Go, daughter, if you will," said her father, "for +I am sick at heart to hear such tidings of that noble +knight."</p> + +<p>In the morning Gawaine rejoined King Arthur, +and told him of what he had learned.</p> + +<p>"I knew already it was Lancelot," said the king; +"but never before knew I him to wear woman's +token."</p> + +<p>"By my faith, this lily maiden of Astolat loves +him deeply," said Gawaine. "What it means I +cannot say, but she has set out to seek him, and will +break her heart if she fail to find him."</p> + +<p>And so they rode on to London, where Gawaine +made known to the court that it was Lancelot who +wore the red sleeve and won the prize at the tournament.</p> + +<p>This tidings made no small trouble in the court. +Bors and his kinsmen were heavy at heart when +they learned that it was Lancelot whom they had so +hotly assailed. And Queen Guenever was beside +herself with anger on learning that it was Lancelot +who had worn the red sleeve at the tournament.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Elaine journeyed to Camelot in search +of the wounded knight, and as she sought far and +near about the town, sick at heart, it chanced that +she espied her brother Lavaine, as he rode out to +give his horse air. She called loudly to him, and +when he came up asked him,—</p> + +<p>"How does my lord, Sir Lancelot?"</p> + +<p>"Who told you, sister, that my lord's name was +Lancelot?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>She told him how she had learned this, and they +rode together to the hermitage, where Lavaine +brought her in to see the wounded knight.</p> + +<p>But when she saw him lying there so sick and +pale, and with a death-like hue upon his face, she +stood gazing upon him with dilated eyes and whitening +face, and then suddenly fell to the floor in a +deep swoon.</p> + +<p>"I pray you, Lavaine, take her up and bring her +to me," said Lancelot.</p> + +<p>When she was brought near him he kissed her +pale face, and at the touch of his lips her cheeks +flamed out with red, and life came back to her.</p> + +<p>"Fair maiden," said Lancelot, "it pains me to see +you so deeply afflicted. Comfort yourself, I pray +you. If you come here to my aid you are truly +welcome; but let not this little hurt trouble you; +I shall soon be well of it."</p> + +<p>Then they fell into discourse, and Elaine told +Lancelot how Gawaine had seen and known his +shield. This gave him no small trouble, for he +knew well that the story of the red scarf would get +to Queen Guenever's ears, and he feared its effect +on her hasty and jealous temper. But Elaine never +left Lancelot, but watched him day and night, +nursing him back to health.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h4>HOW ELAINE DIED FOR LOVE.</h4> + + +<p>When Sir Bors learned that his unlucky blow +had brought Lancelot nearly to death's door, he +became sore indeed at heart, and hastened to Camelot +in search of his noble kinsman. Here he met +Lavaine, who knew him and conducted him to the +bedside of the wounded knight.</p> + +<p>When he saw the pale and haggard countenance +of Lancelot, he fell into a passion of tears, and +accused himself bitterly. But Lancelot consoled +him as well as he could, declaring that the fault was +his own, and that he would bear the blame. Then +Bors told him of the anger of the queen, and of his +earnest but vain endeavor to overcome it.</p> + +<p>"I deserve it not," said Lancelot. "I wore the +sleeve only by way of disguise. As for Gawaine, he +would have shown more wisdom and friendship had +he been less free of speech."</p> + +<p>"I told her all this," said Bors, "but she was +past listening to reason. Is this maiden, who is so +busy about you, she whom they call the lily of +Astolat?"</p> + +<p>"She it is," said Lancelot. "I cannot by any +means put her from me."</p> + +<p>"Why should you?" asked Bors. "She is a +beautiful and tender-hearted damsel. Would to +God, fair cousin, you could love her, for I see well, +by her gentle and close care of you, that she loves +you devoutedly."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>"That I am sorry for," said Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"She will not be the first that has loved you in +vain," said Bors; "the more the pity."</p> + +<p>Many other things they talked of, and Lancelot +found such comfort in the presence of Sir Bors that +in a few days he showed great signs of improvement. +Then Bors told him of another tournament that +King Arthur had ordered, to be held at Camelot on +All-hallowmas day, between his party and that of +the king of North Wales.</p> + +<p>This filled Lancelot with an earnest desire to +grow strong, and during the following month, under +the kind care of his cousin, and the gentle ministrations +of Elaine, he improved greatly in health. For +Elaine waited upon him with loving diligence night +and day, and never was child or wife more gentle +and heedful to father or husband than this fair +maid of Astolat to the wounded knight.</p> + +<p>At length came a day when Lancelot felt so much +stronger, through the healing influence of a bath of +herbs which the hermit had gathered in the woods, +that he determined to try if he could wear his armor +and sit in his saddle. He thereupon armed and +had his horse brought out. Mounting the mettled +charger, in the high spirit of new health he spurred +it to full speed.</p> + +<p>But the courser's long rest in the stable had made +it fresh and fierce, and on feeling the spurs it leaped +forward so violently that Lancelot's wound burst +open in the strain, and the blood gushed out again.</p> + +<p>"Bors! Lavaine! help!" he feebly cried. "I +am come to my end."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>As he spoke he fell from his horse to the earth, +and lay there like a corpse.</p> + +<p>The two knights hurried up, full of fearful concern, +and when Elaine, who had heard the pitiful +call, came flying to the spot, she threw herself on +the prostrate form, weeping like one beside herself +with grief, and kissing the insensible knight as if she +hoped thus to recall him to life.</p> + +<p>"Traitors you are!" she cried wildly to her +brother and Sir Bors. "Why did you let him leave +his bed? I hold you guilty of his death."</p> + +<p>At this moment the hermit Baldwin appeared. +When he saw Lancelot in that plight he grew angry +at heart, though he checked the reproachful words +that rose to his lips.</p> + +<p>"Let us have him in," he said, briefly.</p> + +<p>Lancelot was thereupon carried to the hermitage, +his armor removed, and the bleeding stanched, but +it was long before he could be brought out of his +death-like swoon.</p> + +<p>"Why did you put your life thus in jeopardy?" +asked the hermit, reproachfully, when the knight +was again in his senses.</p> + +<p>"I was too eager to attend the tournament, now +near at hand," he said.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sir Lancelot, you have more courage than +wisdom, I fear. As for the tournament, let Sir +Bors attend it and do what he may. By the time +it is over and he returned, I hope that you may +be well once more, if you will but be governed by +my advice."</p> + +<p>This advice was taken and Bors went to the tournament, +where he bore himself so valorously that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +the prize was divided between him and Gawaine. +Gareth and Palamides also did noble deeds, but they +departed suddenly before the prize was declared, +as if called away by some adventure.</p> + +<p>All this Lancelot heard with great pleasure from +Bors on his return, his only regret being that he +had not been able to take part in that knightly +sport. But the remedies of the hermit and the care +of Elaine had meanwhile done him wonderful service, +and he was soon able again to mount his horse +and wear his armor in safety.</p> + +<p>A day, therefore, quickly came when the knight +felt himself in condition for a journey, and when +he and his companions took the road to Astolat, +escorting the fair Elaine back to her father's home. +Here they were gladly received by the old baron +Bernard, and his son Tirre, who had now recovered.</p> + +<p>But when the time approached which Lancelot +had set for his departure, Elaine grew pale and +drooping. At length, with the boldness of speech +of that period, she came to him and said,—</p> + +<p>"My lord Sir Lancelot, clear and courteous sir, +will you then depart, and leave me alone with my +love and sorrow? Have mercy on me, I pray you, +and suffer me not to die of grief."</p> + +<p>"What would you have me do?" asked Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"I brought you back to life; give me your love +in return; make me your wedded wife, and I will +love you as never woman loved."</p> + +<p>"That can I never do," said Lancelot, gravely. +"I shall never wed."</p> + +<p>"Then shall I die for your love."</p> + +<p>"Think not of death, Elaine. If I could marry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +woman it would be you, for I could love you dearly +were my heart free. For your gentleness and kindness +thus only can I repay you. If you can set +your heart upon some worthy knight who is free +to wed you, I shall give to you and your heirs a +thousand pounds yearly, as some small payment +of the debt I owe you."</p> + +<p>"You speak idly and coldly, Sir Lancelot. Your +money I will have none of; and as for wedding, I +have but the choice to wed you or wed my death."</p> + +<p>"You rend my heart, fair Elaine. Would that +it could be as you wish. Alas! that can never be."</p> + +<p>At this, with a cry of heart-pain, the distressed +maiden fell swooning at his feet. Thence she was +borne by women to her chamber, where she lay, +lamenting like one whose heart is broken.</p> + +<p>Sir Bernard now came to Lancelot, who was preparing +to depart, and said,—</p> + +<p>"Dear sir, it grieves me to find my daughter +Elaine in such a distressful state. I fear she may +die for your sake."</p> + +<p>"It grieves me as deeply," said Lancelot. "But +what can I do? That she loves me so deeply I am +sorry to learn, for I have done nothing to encourage +it, as your son can testify. I know that she +is a true and noble maiden, and will do all that +I can for her as an honest knight; but love her as +she loves me I cannot, and to wed I am forbidden. +Yet her distress wounds me sorely."</p> + +<p>"Father," said Lavaine, "I dare avow that she +is as pure and good as my lord Sir Lancelot has +said. In loving him she does but what I do, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +since I first saw him I could never depart from +him; nor shall I leave him so long as he will bear +my company."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot took his leave, and he and Lavaine +rode together to Camelot, where Arthur and the +whole court received the errant knight with the +utmost joy and warmest welcome. Queen Guenever +alone failed to greet him kindly, her jealous anger +continuing so bitter that she would not give him +a word or a look, seek as he would.</p> + +<p>But the joy and brightness at Camelot were replaced +by darkness at Astolat, for the fair Elaine +was in such sorrow day and night that she neither +ate, drank, nor slept; and ever she sadly moaned +and bewailed the cruelty of Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Ten days of this brought her so near her end, +that her old father, with sad heart, sent for the +priest to give her the last sacraments. But even +then she made her plaints of Lancelot's coldness so +mournfully, that the ghostly father bade her cease +such thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Why should I?" she cried. "Am I not a +woman, with a woman's heart and feelings? While +the breath is in my body I must lament my fate; +for I hold it no offence to love, and take God to +witness that I never have and never can love other +than Lancelot du Lake. Since it is God's will that +I must die from unrequited love of so noble a knight, +I pray for his mercy and forgiveness of all my sins. +Never did I offend deeply against God's laws; but +it was not in my nature to withstand the fervent +love that is bringing me to my death."</p> + +<p>Then she sent for her father and brother, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +prayed them to write a letter as she might dictate. +This they did, writing down the mournful words +which she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said, "this more I command you to +do. When I am dead, put this letter in my right +hand before my body grows cold. Then see that I +be richly dressed and laid in a fair bed, and take +me in a chariot to the river Thames. There lay +my body in a barge, covered with black samite, and +with but one man to steer the barge down the river +to Camelot."</p> + +<p>All this they, weeping sadly, agreed to do, and +soon afterwards the maiden died, slain by her love. +Her sad old father then had all done as she had +requested.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, in Camelot the world moved merrily. +But one morning, by fortune, as King Arthur and +Queen Guenever stood talking at a window, they +espied a black barge drifting slowly down the river. +Wondering much what it meant, the king called +Sir Kay and two other knights, and sent them to the +river, bidding them to bring him speedy word of +what the barge contained.</p> + +<p>This they did. On reaching the river-side they +found that the barge had been turned inward, and +lay beside the bank, and to their surprise they saw +in it a rich bed, on which lay the corpse of as fair +a woman as they had ever beheld. In the stern of +the barge sat, with oar in hand, a poor man who +seemed dumb, for no word would he speak.</p> + +<p>"That corpse must I see," said the king, when +word of this event was brought him. "Surely this +betokens something strange."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>He took the queen by the hand and went to the +river-side with her. Here the barge had been made +fast, and they stepped from the shore to its deck. +There they saw the corpse of a beautiful maiden, +dressed in costly attire, and lying in a bed which +was richly covered with cloth of gold. And as she +lay she seemed to smile.</p> + +<p>The queen now espied a letter clasped closely in +her right hand, and showed it to the king.</p> + +<p>"That will surely tell us who she is, and why +she has come hither," he said.</p> + +<p>He thereupon took the letter and returned with +the queen to the palace. Here, surrounded by many +knights, he broke the seal, and gave the epistle to a +clerk to read. This was its purport,—</p> + +<p>"Most noble knight, Sir Lancelot, now hath +death made us two at debate for your love. I was +your lover, she whom men called the Fair Maid +of Astolat; therefore unto all ladies I make my +moan, and I beg you to pray for my soul, and at +the least to bury me, and offer my mass-penny. +This is my last request. God is my witness that +I die a pure maiden. Pray for my soul, Sir Lancelot, +as thou art peerless."</p> + +<p>When this pitiful letter had been read, all who +heard it shed tears, for never had they heard aught +so moving. Then Lancelot was sent for and the +letter read to him.</p> + +<p>"A sorrowful thing is this," he said, in grievous +tones. "Then she is dead, the fair Elaine, and +thus, with silent lips, makes her last prayer. Truly +it wounds me to the heart. Yet, my lord Arthur, +God knows I had no just share in the death of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +maiden, as her brother here, Sir Lavaine, can +testify. She was fair and good, and I owed her +much, but she loved me beyond measure, and her +love I could not return."</p> + +<p>"You might have shown her," said the queen, +reprovingly, "some bounty and gentleness, and thus +have preserved her life."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lancelot, "naught would she +have but my love, and my hand in marriage. I +offered to endow her with a thousand pounds yearly, +if she should love and wed any other, but to this +she would not listen. As for me, I had no other +comfort to give her, for love cannot be constrained, +but must rise of itself from the heart."</p> + +<p>"Truly must it," said the king. "Love is free +in itself, and will not be bound, for if bonds be +placed upon it, it looseth itself perforce. As for +this unhappy maiden, nothing is left for you but +to obey her last pitiful request."</p> + +<p>"That shall I to the utmost of my power," said +Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Then many knights and ladies went to behold +the fair maiden, who had come thither in such moving +wise. And in the morning she was richly interred, +and with all due honor, at Lancelot's command; +and he offered her mass-penny, as did all +the knights who were there present.</p> + +<p>Then the poor dumb servitor returned again with +the barge, rowing it slowly and sadly back to Astolat.</p> + +<p>Afterwards the queen sent for Lancelot, and +begged his pardon humbly for her causeless anger.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Elaine_Pg_259" id="Elaine_Pg_259"></a><img src="images/p259.jpg" width="500" height="298" alt="ELAINE." title="ELAINE." /> +<span class="caption">ELAINE.</span> +</div> + +<p>"This is not the first time," said Lancelot, "that +you have been displeased with me without cause. +What you will, I must bear, and keep my sorrow +within my heart; yet I would that your love were +less tainted by hasty jealousy. As for forgiving you, +what else can I do, my queen? Love cannot live +without forgiveness."</p> + +<p>After these events the winter and spring passed +on, with hunting and hawking, and jousts and +tournaments, and the fate of the fair Elaine was +wellnigh forgotten in the joy of the court. But +her brother Lavaine gained great honor, and at a +tournament that was given on Candlemas day did +so nobly that the king promised he should be made +a Knight of the Round Table at the next feast of +Pentecost.</p> + +<p>And at this tournament Lancelot again fought +in disguise, wearing a sleeve of gold of the queen's, +and did such deeds that the prize was adjudged +to him. Thus a second time did he wear a woman's +token in the lists.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h4>THE CHEVALIER OF THE CART.</h4> + + +<p>The year passed on from Candlemas till after +Easter, and then came the month of May, when +every lusty heart begins to blossom and to bear +fruit; for as herbs and trees flourish in May, so +does the heart of a lover, since in this lusty month +all lovers gain courage, calling to their minds old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +vows and deeds of gentleness, and much that was +forgotten in the winter's chill.</p> + +<p>As winter always defaces and erases green summer, +so fares it with unstable love in man and +woman. But as May flowers and flourishes in +many gardens, so flowers the lover's heart in the +joy of her to whom he has promised his faith. Yet +nowadays men cannot love seven days without their +love cooling; for where love warms in haste it cools +as hastily; thus fareth it in our days,—soon hot, +soon cold. The old love was not so. Men and +women could love together seven years in truth and +faithfulness. Such was the way of love in King +Arthur's days; but love nowadays I liken unto summer +and winter; now hot, now cold, like the changing +seasons. Therefore all ye who are lovers call +to your remembrance the month of May, like as did +Queen Guenever, who while she lived was a true +lover, and therefore she had a good end.</p> + +<p>So it befell in the month of May that Queen +Guenever called unto her certain knights of the +Round Table, inviting them to ride with her in +the early morn a-maying in the woods and fields +beside Camelot.</p> + +<p>"And see that you all be well horsed," she said, +"and clad in green, either in silk or cloth. I shall +bring with me ten ladies, and every knight shall +have a lady behind him, and bring with him a +squire and two yeomen."</p> + +<p>And so, when morning came, the ten knights +invited put on their gayest robes of green, and +rode with the queen and her ladies, a-maying in +the woods and fields, to their great joy and delight.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>Yet this pleasure party led to sad results, as we +have now to tell. For there was a knight named +Meliagrance, son of King Bagdemagus, who had +a castle, the gift of King Arthur, within seven +miles of Camelot. This knight loved the queen, +and had done so for many years, and it had long +been in his heart to steal her away; but he had +never been able to find her without many knights +about her, and, chief of all, Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>When he heard of this Maying party, and that +the queen would be attended by only ten knights, +and these in green robes, he resolved to carry out +his base design, and therefore placed in ambush +twenty men-at-arms and a hundred archers.</p> + +<p>So it happened that while the queen and her +knights were merrily arraying one another in +flowers and mosses, and with wreaths made of +sprays of fresh green, this false knight rode suddenly +from a wood near by, followed by a throng +of armed men, and bade them stand, and yield up +the queen on peril of their lives.</p> + +<p>"Traitor knight," cried Guenever, "what seek +you to do? Wouldst thou, a king's son, and a +knight of the Round Table, seek to dishonor the +noble king who made you what you are? You +shame yourself and all knighthood; but me you +shall never shame, for I had rather cut my throat +than be dishonored by you."</p> + +<p>"Madam, this language will avail you nothing," +said Meliagrance. "I have loved you many a year, +and now that I have you at advantage will take +you as I find you."</p> + +<p>"You must kill us first, unarmed as we are,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +cried the queen's knights. "You have taken us +at a foul disadvantage; but you shall not have the +queen so lightly as you deem."</p> + +<p>"Fight, will you? Then fight it, if you will +have it so," said Meliagrance.</p> + +<p>Then the ten knights drew their swords, and the +others spurred upon them with couched spears. +But so skilfully did the queen's defenders use their +blades that the spears did them no harm.</p> + +<p>The battle then went on with swords, and the +ten knights did noble deeds, slaying many of their +assailants; yet they were so overmatched that +they soon were all stretched upon the earth with +bleeding wounds.</p> + +<p>"Sir Meliagrance," cried the queen, in deep distress, +"kill not my noble knights, I pray you. If +you do them no more harm I will go with you, if +you will take them with me. Otherwise I will +slay myself before you shall take me."</p> + +<p>"Madam, since you wish it, they shall be taken +to my castle, whither you must come with me."</p> + +<p>Then at the queen's command the battle ceased, +and the knights had their wounds dressed. But +Meliagrance watched keenly that none of the company +should escape, for greatly he feared that news +of this outrage might be borne to Lancelot du Lake.</p> + +<p>But there was with the queen a little page who +rode a swift horse, and to him she privily spoke.</p> + +<p>"Slip away, when you see the chance," she said, +"and bear this ring to Lancelot du Lake. Tell +him what has happened, and pray him as he loves +me to come in haste to my rescue. Spare not your +horse, and stay not for land or water."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>The page took the ring, and rode carelessly to +the edge of the circle. Then, seeing his opportunity, +he put spurs to his horse and rode away +at full speed. When Meliagrance saw this he ordered +instant pursuit, and the boy was hotly chased +and fired at with arrows and javelins; yet the speed +of his horse soon carried him beyond danger.</p> + +<p>"Madam," cried Meliagrance, fiercely, to the +queen, "you are plotting to betray me. But if you +have sent for Lancelot du Lake, he shall find the +road to you a perilous one, I warrant him."</p> + +<p>And as they rode to the castle he placed an +ambush of thirty archers by the road-side, charging +them if they saw a knight come that way on a +white horse to slay the horse. But he warned them +not to assail him in person, as they would find him +hard to overcome.</p> + +<p>This done, the party proceeded to the castle; +but here the queen would not let her ladies and +knights out of her presence, and Meliagrance stood +in such dread of Lancelot that he dared not use +force.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the page found Lancelot, and +gave him the queen's ring and message, telling +him the whole story of the treacherous assault.</p> + +<p>"I would give all France to have been there well +armed," cried Lancelot. "The queen shall be +saved, or I will die in the effort. Haste you to +Sir Lavaine and tell him where I have gone, and +bid him follow me to Meliagrance's castle. Tell +him to come quickly, if he wishes to have a hand +in the rescue of the queen and her knights."</p> + +<p>Lancelot was hastily arming as he spoke, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +mounting, he rode with all speed, forcing his horse +to swim the Thames in his haste. In no great +time he reached the spot where the fight had taken +place, and where he found the garlands the knights +had worn, rent with sword-strokes and reddened +with their blood. Then he followed the tracks of +the party till he entered a narrow passage, bordered +by a wood. Here were the archers stationed, and +when Lancelot came by they bade him return, for +that way was closed.</p> + +<p>"Why should I turn?" he demanded. "Whence +get you the right to close the way?"</p> + +<p>"If you go forward it will be on foot, for we +shall kill your horse."</p> + +<p>"Go forward I shall, if there were five hundred +more of you," said Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Then a cloud of arrows whistled through the +air, and the noble horse, struck by a dozen shafts, +fell to the earth. Lancelot leaped lightly from +the falling animal, and rushed in a rage into the +wood; but there were so many hedges and ditches +that he found it impossible to reach his light-armed +assailants.</p> + +<p>"Shame on this Meliagrance for a dastard!" he +cried in anger. "It is a true old saw that a good +man is never in danger but from a coward."</p> + +<p>The angry knight, finding that his assailants +were beyond his reach, set out on foot for Meliagrance's +castle, but found himself so encumbered +with his armor, shield, and spear, that his progress +was but slow. Yet he dared not leave any of his +arms, for fear of giving his foe an advantage.</p> + +<p>At length, by good fortune, there appeared on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +the road a cart, that was used for hauling wood.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, friend carter," said Lancelot, when +the vehicle came near, "what shall I give you for +a ride in your cart to a castle that lies a few miles +away?"</p> + +<p>"You can give me nothing," said the carter. +"I am sent to bring wood for my lord, Sir Meliagrance, +and it is not my fashion to work for two +at once."</p> + +<p>"It is Sir Meliagrance I seek."</p> + +<p>"Then go on foot," said the carter, surlily. "My +cart is for other work."</p> + +<p>Incensed at this, Lancelot dealt the fellow a +blow with his mailed fist that stretched him senseless +on the ground. Then he turned to the carter's +comrade.</p> + +<p>"Strike me not, fair sir," pleaded this fellow. +"I will bring you where you wish."</p> + +<p>"Then drive me and this cart to the gate of +Meliagrance's castle."</p> + +<p>"Leap into the cart, and you shall be there +before the day grows old."</p> + +<p>This Lancelot did, and the carter lashed his +horse forward with all speed, for he was in mortal +fear of the knight's hard fist.</p> + +<p>An hour and a half afterwards, as Guenever +and her ladies stood in a window of the castle, +they saw a cart approaching, in which stood upright +an armed knight, resting on his spear. Even at +that distance they knew him by his shield to be +Lancelot du Lake.</p> + +<p>"A noble and trusty friend he is, indeed, to +come in such a fashion," said the queen. "Hard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +bested he must have been, to be forced to ride +hither in a woodman's cart."</p> + +<p>As they looked, the cart came to the castle +gates, and Lancelot sprang from it to the ground, +his heart full of rage and passion.</p> + +<p>"Where art thou, traitor?" he cried, in a voice +that rang throughout the castle. "Come forth, +thou disgrace to the Round Table fellowship! Come, +with all your men; for here am I, Lancelot du Lake, +who will fight you all single-handed on this +question."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he thrust the gates open with such +force that the porter, who sought to hold them +shut, was hurled like a dead man to the earth.</p> + +<p>When Meliagrance in the castle heard this loud +defiance his cowardly soul sank within him, for +well he knew from whom it came, and he ran in +haste to the queen and fell on his knees before +her, begging her to forgive him and to cool the +wrath of Lancelot. So pitifully did he implore, +that in the end Guenever was moved to compassion, +and went with her ladies to the castle court, +where Lancelot stood furiously bidding the traitor +knight to come down and do battle.</p> + +<p>"Why are you so moved, Lancelot?" asked the +queen.</p> + +<p>"Why should I not be?" he cried, in a rage. +"The hound has killed my horse and stolen my +queen. Is this the thing to bear like a lamb?"</p> + +<p>"He sorely repents his fault, and has moved me +to forgive him," said the queen. "Come in, then, +peaceably, I beg you, for I have passed my word."</p> + +<p>"You accord easily with this dog of a kidnapper,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +said Lancelot, sourly. "Had I looked for +this I might have spared my haste and saved my +horse."</p> + +<p>"It is not through love or favor I have forgiven +him," said the queen, "but to check the voice of +scandal."</p> + +<p>"I am no fonder of scandal than yourself," said +Lancelot. "Yet if I had my will I would make +this fellow's heart full cold before I left this castle."</p> + +<p>"I know that well, but beg that you will be +ruled by me in this affair."</p> + +<p>"Let it be so, if you have passed your word. +But you are too soft of heart Queen Guenever."</p> + +<p>Then she took his hand, for he had taken off +his gauntlet, and led him into the castle, and to +the chamber in which lay the ten wounded knights, +whose hearts warmed at his coming. From them +he learned in full what had occurred, a story which +stirred his blood again into such a flame, that only +the soft hand of the queen hindered him from seeking +Meliagrance through the castle to slay him.</p> + +<p>As they stood talking, Sir Lavaine rode furiously +in at the gate, crying,—</p> + +<p>"Where is my lord, Sir Lancelot du Lake?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am," cried Lancelot from a window. +"All is well, Lavaine."</p> + +<p>"I found your horse slain with arrows, and +judged you were hard pushed."</p> + +<p>"As for that, Lavaine, soft words have turned +hard blows. Come in. We shall right this matter +at another time, when we best may."</p> + +<p>For many a day thereafter, as the French book +says, Lancelot was called the Chevalier of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +Cart, and many an adventure he had under that +homely name.</p> + +<p>All went peacefully that night at the castle, +but the next morning there was new trouble. For +one of the castle maidens brought word to Meliagrance +that she had found what seemed to be the +print of a bloody hand on the coverings of the +queen's bed. Thither he hurried, full of jealous +anger, and found what appeared, indeed, to be the +crimson print of a man's hand. On seeing this +he made a loud outcry, declaring that it was the +blood of one of the wounded knights, and fiercely +accused Guenever of having been false to her lord +King Arthur.</p> + +<p>When word of this accusation came to the +wounded knights they were filled with indignation, +and cried that they would meet Meliagrance or any +man in the lists in defence of the queen's honor.</p> + +<p>"Ye speak proudly," said Meliagrance. "Yet +look here, and see if I have not warrant for what +I say."</p> + +<p>When he showed them the red witness of his +words they were abashed, and knew not what to +answer.</p> + +<p>All this was told to Lancelot, and he came in +haste and anger to the queen's chamber.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"It is that the queen has proved false to her +lord and husband, and this I stand ready to prove +with my body," said Meliagrance.</p> + +<p>"Beware what you say, sir knight," cried Lancelot, +"or you will find your challenge taken."</p> + +<p>"My lord Lancelot," answered Meliagrance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +"good knight as you are, take heed how you do +battle in a wrong quarrel, for God will have a hand +in such a cause."</p> + +<p>"This I say," answered Lancelot, hotly, "that +you accuse the queen wrongly, and these noble +knights as falsely. This is the work of treason +or magic."</p> + +<p>"Hold," said Meliagrance; "here is my glove, +in proof that she is traitress to the king, and that +one of these wounded knights is her leman."</p> + +<p>"I accept your challenge," said Lancelot, "and +will fight you to the death in this cause. When +shall we do battle?"</p> + +<p>"Let it be in eight days from this," said Meliagrance, +"in the field beside Camelot."</p> + +<p>"I am agreed," said Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"Then let us go to dinner," said Meliagrance, +"and afterwards you and the queen and her knights +may ride to Camelot."</p> + +<p>Yet fairly as he spoke his heart was full of +treachery, and before going to the table he asked +Lancelot if he would care to see the rooms and +passages of the castle.</p> + +<p>"If you wish to show them," said Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Then they went from chamber to chamber, Lancelot +having no fear of peril or thought of treason. +But as they traversed a long and dark passage the +false-hearted host trod on a spring, and down fell +a trap-door, giving Lancelot a fall of more than +ten fathoms into a dark cell, whose floor was covered +deeply with straw. This done, Meliagrance +hastened away, after replacing the trap, and ordered +one of his men to remove Lavaine's horse +from the stable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>When the knights came to dinner all were surprised +that Lancelot was not present.</p> + +<p>"Is this one of his old tricks?" asked the queen. +"He has a fashion of thus departing suddenly, +without warning."</p> + +<p>"But not on foot," said Lavaine, and left the +room.</p> + +<p>When he returned, it was to say that his horse +had vanished from the stable, and that doubtless +Lancelot had taken it and ridden off. So they sat +quietly at dinner, and afterwards set out for the +court, the wounded knights being carried under +care of Lavaine, in easily litters.</p> + +<p>When the court was reached, and Arthur was +told of what had occurred, he was full of wrath.</p> + +<p>"So this traitor Meliagrance chooses first to +kidnap my queen, and then to accuse her of treason?" +he cried. "By my crown, I would deal +with him in another fashion only that Lancelot +has taken the challenge. I fancy the fellow will +have his hands full, without my care. But where +is Lancelot?"</p> + +<p>"That we know not," said the knights. "It is +like him to go off in this hasty way. He took Sir +Lavaine's horse, and left us without a word of +parting."</p> + +<p>"Let him he," said the king. "He will come +in good time,—unless he be trapped by some +treachery."</p> + +<p>Little dreamed they of Lancelot's true situation +at that moment. He had been sorely bruised by +his fall, and lay in great pain in the cave, visited +only by a lady, who came to him daily with food.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +Yet it happened, as had occurred so often to +Lancelot, that the lady fell in love with his handsome +face. Meliagrance had made a foolish choice +in sending a woman with a soft heart to his prisoner, +and was likely to pay dearly for his folly. +Yet days passed on, and Lancelot continued deaf +to her sighs and blind to her languishing looks.</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot," she at length said, "do you not +know that your lady, Queen Guenever, will be +burnt at the stake unless you be there at the day +of battle?"</p> + +<p>"God forbid that such a disaster should come +to pass!" cried Lancelot. "Yet if I should not +be there, all men of worship will know that I am +dead, sick, or in prison, for men know me well +enough to know that nothing less would keep me +away. Therefore, some knight of my blood or of +my fellowship will take up this battle, and fight +bravely in the queen's cause."</p> + +<p>"I shall set you free, Sir Lancelot, to fight your +own battle, if you will but give me your love; for +truly I love you with my whole heart."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that I cannot return it," said Lancelot. +"But I cannot lie to you in such a cause, +even for life or honor."</p> + +<p>"Take heed what you say, Sir Lancelot. Shame +will be your lot if any but you fight this battle."</p> + +<p>"As for the world's shame, may Christ defend +me. As for my distress of heart, it is welcome, if +God sends it."</p> + +<p>The lady went away full of sorrowful thoughts. +But on the morning of the day fixed for the battle +she came to him again, and said, gently,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>"Sir Lancelot, I deem you hard-hearted and +cruel; yet I love you too truly to see you disgraced. +If you will solace my heart-pain with +but one kiss, I will set you free, and deliver to +you your armor, and the best horse in the castle +stables."</p> + +<p>"Surely there is no dishonor in a kiss; and well +will you earn it by such service," said Lancelot. +"You offer me new life, fair lady."</p> + +<p>Then he kissed her; and with a face half glad, +half gloomy, she led him from the prison by a +secret passage to the chamber where his armor +had been left. And when he was armed she conducted +him privily to a stable where stood twelve +good horses, and bade him make his choice.</p> + +<p>Lancelot chose a white courser, whose size and +spirit pleased him most, and this he deftly saddled +and bridled. Then, with spear in hand and sword +by side, he commended the lady to God, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Lady, for this good deed I shall do you ample +service if ever it be in my power. If not, may +God reward you."</p> + +<p>This said, he rode with proud mien from the +castle, and galloped at headlong speed away, while +she, with sad eyes and sighing lips, stood looking +with loving regard on his departing form.</p> + +<p>Sadly was his coming needed, for imminent was +the peril of the queen. At the place fixed for the +combat knights and lords had early gathered, and +Meliagrance, feeling sure that Lancelot could not +appear to do battle, put on a haughty mien, and +loudly demanded justice, or the combat. Yet the +hour appointed came and passed, and the queen's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +champion had not appeared; while the king and all +the court grew full of pain and dread as the fatal +moments went by. The laws were strict, and could +not be set aside for queen or commoner. Guenever +must perish at the stake, or be saved by a champion's +sword and spear. Therefore, as the minutes +slowly grew into hours, and nothing of Lancelot +was seen, while Meliagrance more loudly demanded +justice or a champion, all hearts sank deep in +despair.</p> + +<p>"My lord the king," cried Lavaine, at length, +"some sad misfortune has happened to Sir Lancelot. +Never did he fail to appear to do battle unless +he were sick or in prison. I beseech you, +therefore, give me leave this day to do battle for +him, and to strike a knightly blow for my lady the +queen."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, gentle knight," said the king. "I +dare avow that the charge which Meliagrance lays +upon the queen is a false one, for of these ten +wounded knights who were present, there is not one +but would gladly do battle to prove its falsity were +he able to wear armor."</p> + +<p>"That shall I do in the service of my lord +Lancelot," said Lavaine, "if you will give me +leave."</p> + +<p>"Full leave you have," answered the king. "I +pray you do your best; for it seems sure that some +treachery has been done to the noble Lancelot."</p> + +<p>Lavaine now armed in all haste, and, mounting +his war-courser, rode into the lists, where he faced +Meliagrance, challenging him to do battle to the +death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>"Lesses les aller!" cried the heralds.</p> + +<p>The two champions couched their spears, +clutched their bridles, and were about to plunge +the spurs into their horses' flanks, when the sound +of hoofs was heard without, and an armed knight +came galloping at furious speed into the lists.</p> + +<p>"Ho! and abide!" cried King Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Raise your spears, sir knights, this quarrel is +mine," said the new-comer. "You have my thanks, +Lavaine, but only I must fight in this cause."</p> + +<p>Then he rode to the king, lifted his visor, and +showed the noble face of Lancelot, now hot with +indignation.</p> + +<p>"I am here to fight this villain and traitor," he +called, loudly. "My lord the king, I have lain +these eight days in a prison cell, into which the +base hound entrapped me. By fortune I escaped, +and here I am, ready to pay him in fitting coin for +his foul treachery."</p> + +<p>"The dog! has he done this thing?" cried the +king, in anger. "Then, by my crown, whether he +win or not Guenever shall not suffer from the +charge which he has dared bring. But God's justice +will not let him win."</p> + +<p>That Meliagrance quaked at heart on seeing this +seeming apparition from the grave need not be +said. But he had dared the hazard of the die, +and sat his horse in grim silence while his foul +treachery was thus made known to the court. Lancelot +now rode to his place in the lists, and faced +his adversary.</p> + +<p>"Lesses les aller!" cried the heralds again.</p> + +<p>Then, spear in rest, the warriors spurred their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +horses, and met with a shock like thunder in the +centre of the field. Lancelot kept his saddle, but +Meliagrance was hurled over his horse's croup. +Seeing this, Lancelot lightly sprang from his saddle, +drew his sword, and advanced upon his foe, +who was on his feet ready to meet him.</p> + +<p>Hot and fierce was the combat that succeeded, +many great strokes being given and returned; but +at length Lancelot struck so fierce a blow that +Meliagrance was felled to the ground. Then the +dastard cried aloud in an agony of fear,—</p> + +<p>"Noble knight, noble Sir Lancelot, spare my +life, I humbly pray you! I yield me as overcome +and recreant and beseech you, as a Knight and +Fellow of the Round Table, not to slay me helpless. +Alive or dead, I put myself in your hands +and the king's."</p> + +<p>Lancelot stood looking grimly down upon him, +at a loss what to do. To slay him was the wish +of his heart; yet it looked like murder to kill a +praying wretch. In his doubt he turned towards +the queen, and she nodded her head as if to bid +him kill the villain.</p> + +<p>"Rise, sir hound," cried Lancelot. "You shall +fight this battle to the utterance."</p> + +<p>"I will never rise," said Meliagrance, "till you +grant me mercy as a yielding and recreant knight."</p> + +<p>"Coward!" cried Lancelot. "If you fear to +fight me as I am, I will give you odds in the combat. +I will take off my armor from my head and +the left side of my body, and let them bind my +left hand behind me, and fight you with my right +hand alone."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>At this perilous offer Meliagrance started hastily +to his feet, and loudly cried,—</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur, you have heard this offer! +I accept it. Let him be disarmed and bound as +he says."</p> + +<p>"You do not mean to keep this foolish promise, +Lancelot?" demanded the king.</p> + +<p>"That do I," said Lancelot. "I shall not go +back on my word, be it wise or foolish."</p> + +<p>"Then so let it be; but you invite death by such +a reckless compact."</p> + +<p>The attendant knights thereupon removed Lancelot's +helmet, and took from him his shield and +the armor from his left side. They then bound +his left arm behind him, and thus arrayed he was +placed before his antagonist, whose heart burned +with hope and with murderous designs.</p> + +<p>All those who looked on were full of fear for +Lancelot, deeming it the height of folly that he +should take such a frightful risk, while many +ladies closed their eyes, in dread to see him slain.</p> + +<p>With the inspiration of hope, Meliagrance came +up, bearing his sword uplifted, while Lancelot stood +with his head and side fully open to his stroke. +Down came the blade with a deadly sweep that +caused many men to close their eyes, sure that the +knights head would be cleft in twain.</p> + +<p>But Lancelot had no such thought. With a +light swing to the right he avoided the stroke, +which cut idly through the air; then, stepping +forward to give effect to the blow, he swung his +own blade upward with giant strength, and brought +it down on Meliagrance's helmet with such mighty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +force that the hard steel and the head it covered +were shorn in twain, and the traitor knight fell +dead upon the field.</p> + +<p>Wild were the shouts of joy and triumph at this +unlooked-for end to the combat. The king sprang +from his seat and rushed into the lists, where he +warmly clasped Lancelot in his arms; while +Guenever, in joy at her deliverance, kissed him +on both cheeks; and all the knights crowded around +them with glad cries and warm congratulations.</p> + +<p>As for Meliagrance, he was given the burial of +a recreant and traitor, the cause of his death being +inscribed on his tomb, that all might read his dishonor.</p> + +<p>But for Sir Lancelot, the king and queen made +more of him, and felt more love for him in their +hearts, than ever before.</p> + +<p>After this time many events of interest took +place of which we have little space to speak. +Among them, Lancelot healed the wounds of a +knight of Hungary, named Sir Urre, who had been +held in pain, through sorcery, for seven years, till his +wounds should be touched by the best knight in +the world. This knight had a lovely sister, named +Felelolie, whom Lavaine married, whereupon King +Arthur made him a Knight of the Round Table, +and gave him a barony of land.</p> + +<p>As for Lancelot, he gained great fame as the +Chevalier of the Cart. For as many lords and +ladies made sport of him as the knight who had ridden +in a cart, like one sentenced to the gallows, for +a whole twelvemonth he never mounted horse, but +rode only in a cart, during which time he had many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +adventures and fought forty battles, in all of which +he came off victor.</p> + +<p>And so the days grew into years, and all went +happily at Arthur's court, though each passing +day brought the coming time of woe and disaster +nearer to hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="BOOK_XI" id="BOOK_XI">BOOK XI.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE HAND OF DESTINY.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h4>THE TRAPPING OF THE LION.</h4> + + +<p>In May, when every lusty heart flourisheth and +bourgeoneth,—for as winter, with its rough winds +and blasts, causes man and woman to cover and +sit fast by the fire, this fresh and joyous season +brings them forth to gladden in the coming of the +flowery summer,—in this rare month of May, when +only merry thoughts and gentle deeds should be +known, there began a great and unhappy season +of wrath, which ended not till the flower of chivalry +of all the world was destroyed. And this all came +about through the hate and jealousy of two unhappy +knights, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, +brothers unto Sir Gawaine.</p> + +<p>For much in their secret souls they hated the +queen and Lancelot, and they fell to watching this +good knight daily and nightly, with the hope of +bringing him in some way to shame.</p> + +<p>Failing in this base endeavor, they no longer +concealed their enmity, but began to talk openly +of the love of Lancelot for the queen, and to hint +that shameful relations existed between them. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +report of this slanderous talk coming to Gawaine's +ears, he reproved them sharply for indulging in +such base and unworthy scandal, in which he was +joined by his brothers Gareth and Gaheris.</p> + +<p>"You forget what Lancelot has done for you," +said Gawaine. "Who but he rescued you both +when held in prison by Sir Turquine? And many +other things he has done in your favor. Methinks +such kind deeds merit better return than this."</p> + +<p>"Think as you will," said Agravaine, "I have +my opinions and shall hide them no longer."</p> + +<p>As they thus debated King Arthur approached.</p> + +<p>"Now, brothers, stint your noise," said Gawaine.</p> + +<p>"That will we not," they replied.</p> + +<p>"Then the devil speed the pair of you, if you +are bent on mischief! I will listen to no more of +your slanderous talk."</p> + +<p>"Nor will we," said Gareth and Gaheris. "We +owe too much to Lancelot to listen to the false +tales of evil tongues."</p> + +<p>With this they turned and walked away in anger +and grief, as Arthur came up.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" asked the king. "Is there bad +blood between you brethren?"</p> + +<p>"They do not care to hear the truth," said +Agravaine, "but to my fancy it has been kept too +long from your knowledge. We are your sister's +sons, King Arthur, and it is our duty to be honest +and open with you."</p> + +<p>"What would you say?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"Simply what we and all your court know well, +that there are such doings between Lancelot and +your queen as are a disgrace to this realm of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +England. He is a traitor to your person and your +honor, and this we stand ready to prove."</p> + +<p>"This is a perilous charge you make," said +Arthur, deeply moved. "Nor am I ready to believe +such a tale on your mere word. You have gone +far, gentlemen; too far, I deem, without abundant +proof."</p> + +<p>"My lord," said Mordred, "we speak not without +due warrant, and proof you shall have. What +we advise is, that you ride out to the hunt to-morrow. +Lancelot, you will find, will have some +excuse to hold back. Then, when night draws near, +send word to the queen that you will lie out all +that night. Let this be done, and we promise you +we shall take him with the queen. If we do it will +go hard with Lancelot; for we shall not lightly see +our king brought to shame."</p> + +<p>"Be it so," said the king, after deep thought, +for he was little inclined to believe ill of Lancelot. +"I will do as you say. Understand, sir knights, I +have heard all this before; yet I believe it not, and +I consent to your scheme only to put an end to the +vile voice of scandal."</p> + +<p>On the next morning, as agreed upon, Arthur +rode to the hunt; but Lancelot excused himself, +as his enemies had predicted, on the plea that he +was in no mood for the chase. When night came +near a messenger from the king brought word to +Guenever that the hunting party had been drawn +far away, and would not return that night.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mordred and Agravaine selected +twelve knights, all of them enemies of Lancelot, +to whom they told their purpose, and set them on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +guard in the castle of Carlisle, where the court +then was. Of Lancelot's friends few were in the +court, for nearly all had gone with the king to the +hunt.</p> + +<p>When night came, Lancelot told Bors, who dwelt +with him, that he had a fancy to go and speak with +the queen.</p> + +<p>"Do not go to-night, I pray you," said Bors.</p> + +<p>"Why not to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I fear some plot of that rogue, Agravaine, who +has it in his heart to work you ill. I have heard +a whisper, and fear that the king's absence to-night +is part of a plot, and that an ambush is laid to do +you harm."</p> + +<p>"Have no dread of that," said Lancelot. "I +wish only some minutes' conversation with the +queen, and will quickly return again."</p> + +<p>"I should rather you would not go. I am in +doubt that some evil may come of it."</p> + +<p>"Why say you this nephew? Do you deem that +I am a coward, or that the queen is my mistress, +as the evil-tongued say? I go because she has sent +for me, desiring to see me. Am I the man to deny +her request because there are foul-mouthed slanderers +abroad?"</p> + +<p>"Go, then, since I see you will. God speed you, +and send you back safe and sound."</p> + +<p>Lancelot thereupon wrapped himself in his mantle, +and taking his sword under his arm made his +way to the castle, which was some distance from his +residence. Here he sought and entered the queen's +chamber, where she awaited him with her ladies.</p> + +<p>But no sooner had he done so, and scarcely had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +he spoken a word to his royal lady, than Mordred, +Agravaine, and their followers burst in tumult from +the chamber in which they had been concealed, and +loudly exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Traitor knight! Lancelot du Lake, false and +caitiff wretch, now art thou taken in thy treason!"</p> + +<p>So loud they cried that their voices rang throughout +the court, and they crowded round the door +of the queen's chamber, bent on taking Lancelot unarmed, +and slaying him at the feet of Guenever. +Fortunately the door was of solid oak, and a damsel +of the queen had hastily shot the bolts.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" cried the queen, "what vile plot is +this? Mischief is around us, Lancelot!"</p> + +<p>"Is there any armor in your chamber?" asked +Lancelot. "If so, give it to me, and I will face +this malicious crew."</p> + +<p>"There is none," said the queen. "I see no +hope, and fear our love has come to a fatal end. +There seems to be a host of armed knights without. +They will kill you, Lancelot, and death will +come to me through their vile charge of unchastity."</p> + +<p>"Why did I not even wear as much of my armor +as I fought Meliagrance with!" cried Lancelot, in +distress. "If I had but listened to Sir Bors! Never +was I caught in such a trap before."</p> + +<p>As they spoke the tumult without increased, and +Mordred and Agravaine cried together,—</p> + +<p>"Come out, thou traitor knight! Think not to +escape, for we have you like a rat in a trap. Come +out and meet your just deserts."</p> + +<p>"Shall I bear this?" cried Lancelot, flaming +into anger. "The dogs! a dozen of them in armor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +against one man in his mantle! I would rather +meet death at once than stand and hear their reviling +tongues."</p> + +<p>Then he took the queen in his arms and kissed +her, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Most noble Christian queen, I beseech you, as +you have ever been my special good lady, and I +your poor knight, and as I never failed you in +right or wrong since the day that King Arthur +made me knight, that you will pray for my soul if +I be here slain. For you may be sure that Sir +Bors and my other kindred, with Lavaine and others +of my friends, will rescue you from harm, and I +beg you to go with them and live like a queen on +my lands."</p> + +<p>"That will I not, Lancelot," said the queen. "If +you are slain for me, then death may come when +it will, for I shall not live long to mourn you."</p> + +<p>"Then, since my last hour seems to have come, +and our love and life must cease together, so let +it be; but some of those barking curs shall go with +me to the shades. I am heavier at heart for you +than for myself. Ah, that I had but a knight's +armor!"</p> + +<p>"I would that God would be content with my +death, and suffer you to escape," said the queen.</p> + +<p>"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "God +defend me from such a shame. And now may the +Lord Jesus be my shield and my armor."</p> + +<p>This said, he wrapped his mantle around his +arm, and approached the door. As he did so the +strong oaken portal trembled under their blows, +for they had got a great form out of the hall, and +were using it as a battering-ram.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>"Save your trouble, you crew of mischief," said +Lancelot. "Think you that Lancelot du Lake +needs to be come at like a rabbit in its hutch? I +fear you not, and dread not to face an army of such +hounds."</p> + +<p>"Come out, then, or let us into that chamber. +It avails you nothing to strive against us all; but +we will promise to spare your life till we have +brought you to King Arthur."</p> + +<p>"Will you?" said Lancelot, "or do you think to +slay me where I stand? I trust you not, liars."</p> + +<p>Then he unbarred the door and with his left +hand held it open a little, so that but one man could +enter at a time. As he did so, Colgrevance of +Gore, who stood nearest, pressed forcibly through +the opening, and struck a spiteful blow at Lancelot +with his sword. This Lancelot parried, and returned +so fierce a stroke with his own good blade, that he +cut through the helmet and skull of the knight, +and stretched him dead upon the floor.</p> + +<p>Then, with all his great strength, he dragged the +bleeding corpse within the chamber, closed the door +against the pressure of all who bore upon it, and +replaced the bars. "So much for this daring fool," +he cried. "Thank heaven, I have an armor now! +I shall not be quite a sheep at the shambles."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he was hastily stripping the armor +from the body of the dead knight. This done, he +quickly arrayed himself in it, with the aid of the +queen and her ladies.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the assault on the door continued, +and Mordred and Agravaine kept up their cry,—</p> + +<p>"Traitor knight! come out of the queen's chamber!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>"Hold your peace," cried Lancelot. "You shall +not prison me here, I promise you that, and if +you take my counsel, you will depart. I am ready +to agree on my knighthood to appear to-morrow +before the king, and answer there that I came not +to the queen with any evil purpose; and this I +stand ready to prove by word or deed."</p> + +<p>"Out on you, traitor!" cried Mordred. "Have +you, we will, and slay you if we wish, for the king +has given us the choice to save you or slay you."</p> + +<p>"Is that your last word, sirrahs? Then keep +yourselves, for I am not of the breed that die +easily."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he flung down the bars and threw +the door wide open. Then he strode proudly and +mightily among them, sword in hand and clad in +full armor, and at the first blow from his mighty +hand stretched Agravaine dead upon the floor. +Like a maddened lion that charges upon a herd +of sheep, he now rushed upon them, striking fiercely +to right and left, and felling men with every +blow, till in a little while twelve more of his assailants +lay cold in death, for there was not a man +of them all could stand one blow from his powerful +arm.</p> + +<p>Of the whole party only Mordred remained alive, +and he fled wounded with craven haste. Then +Lancelot, leaning on his blood-dripping sword, +turned to the queen, who stood looking at his deeds +of might, with white lips and starting eyes.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Lancelot_Pg_287" id="Lancelot_Pg_287"></a><img src="images/p287.jpg" width="500" height="291" alt="Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. +SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER." title="SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER.</span> +</div> + +<p>"All is at an end now," he said. "Henceforth +King Arthur is my foe, and I am like a wolf at +bay. Yet I fear your enemies will work you fatal +harm, and would have you go with me, and let me +be your knight-protector."</p> + +<p>"That I dread to do," said the queen, "for vile +slander would follow my footsteps. I had better +face my foes. If they devise to put me to death, +then you may come to my rescue, and no one then +can blame me for going with you."</p> + +<p>"That shall I do," said Lancelot. "And I +promise to make such havoc among all men who +mean you harm as I have done among those who lie +here."</p> + +<p>Then he kissed her, and each gave the other a +ring; and so he left the queen and went to his +lodgings.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h4>THE RESCUE OF THE QUEEN.</h4> + + +<p>Little sleep came that night to Lancelot and +his friends. For when he came again to Bors, he +had found him, with others of his kindred, armed +and ready to come to his rescue. They listened +with concern and indignation to Lancelot's story +of how he had been entrapped, and heard with +knightly joy the story of his bold discomfiture of +his foes.</p> + +<p>But it was evident to them all that the event +was one of the greatest moment; that enmity +would exist between Lancelot and the king, and +that Guenever might be adjudged to the stake on +the charge of infidelity to her lord.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>Therefore Bors took it upon himself to gather +in Lancelot's defence all his kindred and friends; +and by seven o'clock of the next morning he had +gained the word of twenty-two Knights of the +Round Table. To these were added knights of +North Wales and Cornwall, who joined Lancelot +for Lamorak's and Tristram's sake, to the number +of fourscore.</p> + +<p>To these Lancelot told all that had occurred, +and expressed his fear of Arthur's hostility.</p> + +<p>"I am sure of mortal war," he said, "for these +knights claimed to have been sent and ordained by +King Arthur to betray me, and I fear the king +may, in his heat and malice, condemn the queen +to the fire. Trust me, that I will not suffer her +to be burnt for my sake. She is and has been ever +a true lady to her lord, and while I live she shall +not become a victim to the malice of her enemies."</p> + +<p>The assembled knights agreed with him in this +decision, and promised their utmost aid in his purpose +of rescue.</p> + +<p>"Rescue her I shall, whoever may be hurt; and +I trust to heaven that no friend of mine will aid +the king to her injury. But if I rescue her, where +shall I keep her?"</p> + +<p>"Did not the noble Sir Tristram, with your good +will, keep La Belle Isolde three years in Joyous +Gard, against the malice of King Mark?" said +Bors. "That place is your own; and there, if the +king adjudge the queen to the stake, you may keep +her till his heat shall cool. Then you may bring +her home with worship, and gain Arthur's thanks."</p> + +<p>"That may not work so well as you fancy," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +Lancelot. "You remember what a return Tristram +got from King Mark."</p> + +<p>"That is another story," replied Bors. "You +know well that Arthur and Mark are men of different +mould. Mark could smile and play the traitor; +but no man living can say that King Arthur was +ever untrue to his word."</p> + +<p>Their conference over, by the advice of Lancelot +the knights put themselves in ambush in a wood as +near Carlisle as they could secretly approach. And +there they remained on guard, waiting to learn what +the king might do.</p> + +<p>Meantime Mordred, though wounded by Lancelot's +sword, had managed to mount his horse, and +rode in all haste to tell the king of the bloody end +of the ambush. On hearing the story, Arthur's mind +was divided between anger and pain.</p> + +<p>"It grieves me sorely that Lancelot should be +against me," he said; "and much I fear that the +glorious fellowship of the Round Table is broken, +for many of our noblest knights will hold with +him. But dishonor must not rest upon England's +crown. The queen has played me false, and shall +suffer death for her treason to her wifely duty."</p> + +<p>For the law was such in those days, that all, of +whatever estate or degree, found guilty of treason, +should suffer death. And so it was ordained in +Queen Guenever's case—since thirteen knights had +been slain, and one escaped sore wounded, in defending +the king's honor—that she should be taken +to the stake, and there be burnt to death as a +traitress.</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur," said Gawaine, "let me counsel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +you not to be over hasty in this severe judgment, +for as I take it the guilt of the queen is not proved. +That Lancelot was found in the queen's chamber I +admit; but he might have come there with no evil +purpose. You know how he has been for years her +chosen knight, and how much he has done for her. +She may have sent for him privily, to avoid scandal, +for conference on some innocent subject. What we +do for the best often turns to the worst, and I dare +affirm that my lady the queen is, and has always +been, faithful and true to her lord. As for Lancelot, +I doubt me not he will make good what I have +said with word and body, against any and all that +question or oppose."</p> + +<p>"That I believe," said the king. "I know Lancelot's +way. But his boldness does not prove the +queen's innocence. For her he shall never fight +again, for she shall suffer the penalty of the law. +And if I can lay my hands on him, he shall die the +shameful death he richly merits."</p> + +<p>"Then may Christ save me from ever seeing it," +said Gawaine.</p> + +<p>"Why say you this?" demanded the king, angrily. +"You have no cause to love him. Last +night he killed your brother Agravaine, and here +is Mordred sorely wounded. He also slew two of +your sons, Sir Florence and Sir Lovel."</p> + +<p>"I know all that. But I gave them warning +beforehand of what would happen if they meddled +in this affair. They brought this fate on themselves. +As for Agravaine, he stirred up this scandalous +business, and has got his deserts."</p> + +<p>"Say no more," cried the king, in hot indignation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +"I am resolved. The honor of Arthur's wife +must be above suspicion. She has fallen from chastity +and shall die the death. As for you, Gawaine, +I bid you arm in your best armor, with your brethren +Gareth and Gaheris, and bring her to the fire, +that she may there hear her judgment, and receive +the death she merits."</p> + +<p>"No, my most noble lord, that shall I never +do," said Gawaine. "No man shall say that I had +aught to do with the death of this worthy lady, +or gave my word in favor of her death."</p> + +<p>"Then bid your brothers, Gareth and Gaheris, +attend."</p> + +<p>"They are young, and may not withstand your +will; but they shall not be there by my counsel," +said Gawaine, stoutly.</p> + +<p>"We must attend, if you command us," said +Gareth and Gaheris to the king. "But it will be +sorely against our wills. If come we must, it shall +be in peaceful guise, and without warlike array."</p> + +<p>"Come as you will," said the king. "This I +say, she shall have judgment this day."</p> + +<p>"Alas! that I have ever lived to see this woful +day!" said Gawaine, sadly, and as he turned away +the tears ran hotly from his eyes.</p> + +<p>But the king was bitterly set in his deadly purpose, +and no sooner had he reached Carlisle than +he gave command that the queen should at once +be led to the place of execution, there to be burned +as a traitress.</p> + +<p>When this fatal decision was known in the castle +there was weeping and wailing and wringing of +hands from many lords and ladies, while of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +knights there present, few would consent to wear +armor to compass the queen's death.</p> + +<p>But Arthur's commands none dared question, +and the unhappy lady was shriven by her ghostly +father, and bound to the fatal stake. In a circle +around her stood a guard of armed knights, while +others were present without armor. But the king +was not there; nor would Gawaine show himself +at that shameful scene.</p> + +<p>Then fire was set to the fagots that surrounded +the stake. But as the flames began to curl upwards +there came a shrill bugle-blast from a neighboring +wood, and of a sudden Lancelot and his knights +broke from their ambush, and rode upon those about +the fire, striking right and left at all who bore arms +and withstood them.</p> + +<p>Down went the guard of knights before this +fierce onset, till full twenty of them lay dead on +the field. But by sad fortune, as Lancelot, in his +warlike fury pressed hither and thither, cutting +and slashing with the hot rage of the berserker, +he by mishap struck the two unarmed knights, +Gareth and Gaheris, and stretched them dead upon +the field.</p> + +<p>This was in the thick of the fray, and he knew +not what he had done, for rather would he have +slain himself than harmed these, his faithful +friends. A few minutes sufficed to kill or disperse +all the guard. Then Lancelot sprang from his +horse, scattered the blazing fagots with his foot, +and with a blow of his sword severed the bonds +that fastened Guenever to the stake.</p> + +<p>The unhappy lady fell, weeping, into his arms, +thanking him in broken accents. With all due haste<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +he mounted her on a horse that had been provided, +and rode off with her and his following of gallant +knights to Joyous Gard, strong of heart and stout +of frame, and resolved to fight for her to the death, +for more than ever he felt himself her chosen knight.</p> + +<p>And when word went through the country round +that Arthur and Lancelot were at odds, many a +good knight rode in all haste to his castle, bent +on taking his side in the coming war.</p> + +<p>But when the news was brought to Arthur of +how Lancelot had rescued the queen, and slain +many of his knights, and in particular Gareth and +Gaheris, his anger turned to such bitter sorrow and +regret that he swooned from pure grief. And when +he came to his senses again he deeply moaned, and +reproached himself for the evil that had befallen.</p> + +<p>"Alas! that I ever wore the crown!" he bewailed. +"Within these two days I have lost forty +knights, and, above all, the noble fellowship of +Lancelot and his kindred, and all because I listened +to the tongue of foul detraction. Alas! that ever +this fatal thing began! Fair friends, see that none +of you tell Gawaine of what has happened, for he +loves Gareth so deeply that I fear, when he hears +of his death, he will go out of his mind. How came +Lancelot to slay these knights, who both loved him +devotedly?"</p> + +<p>"He would never have harmed them had he +known them," said a knight. "It was in the midst +of the hurtling and fierce struggling, when swords +strike they know not where. Sad he will be when +he learns what he has done."</p> + +<p>"I am heavier for the loss of my knights than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +of my queen," said Arthur, sadly. "Other queens +may be had, but such a fellowship of knights can +never be brought together again. And this I know, +that when Gawaine learns of Gareth's death, he will +never rest, nor suffer me to rest, till I have destroyed +Lancelot and his kindred, or they have destroyed +me. Ah, Agravaine, Agravaine, Jesus forgive thy +soul for thy evil will, for thou and thy brother +Mordred have caused all this bitter sorrow."</p> + +<p>While the king thus complained, a tale-bearer, +unheeding his injunctions, came to Gawaine big +with his story, and told him of the rescue of the +queen, and the death of a knightly host.</p> + +<p>"What else could Lancelot do?" said Gawaine. +"I should have done as much myself had I stood +in his place. But where are my brothers? Why +hear I not of them?"</p> + +<p>"Truly," said the man; "they are both killed."</p> + +<p>"Now, Jesus forbid! What! both? Is Gareth +slain? Dare you tell me so?"</p> + +<p>"Alas! the pity of it!"</p> + +<p>"Killed! Who killed him?"</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot slew them both."</p> + +<p>"That is false. Gareth loved him better than +he did me or the king. He would have joined +him against us all, had Lancelot desired. And he +was unarmed. Dare you repeat this story?" and +he caught the man fiercely by the shoulders and +glared wildly in his face.</p> + +<p>"Sir, it is so noised abroad," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Then is all joy gone from my life," moaned +Gawaine, and he fell to the floor in a deep swoon, +in which he lay long like one dead.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>But when Gawaine recovered, and had sought +the king, and learned that his two brothers had +been killed, unarmed and defenceless, his sorrow +changed to bitter and revengeful anger.</p> + +<p>"My king, my lord, and my uncle," he sternly +said, "I vow by my knighthood that I shall never +forgive Lancelot for this murderous deed, but from +this day forth shall remain his deadly foe, till one +of us has slain the other. War to the death it shall +be, and if you aid me not I shall seek Sir Lancelot +alone, if it be through seven kings' realms, till I +hold him to answer for this deed of blood."</p> + +<p>"You shall not need to seek him so far," said +the king. "They say that Lancelot awaits us in +Joyous Gard, and that many knights have joined +him."</p> + +<p>"Well is it so," said Gawaine fiercely. "Then +my lord Arthur, gather your friends, and I will +gather mine. Say not that deeds like this shall go +unpunished in England's realm. Your justice defied! +My unarmed brothers murdered! Shall this +be done, and we basely submit?"</p> + +<p>"You speak to the point," said the king. "We +must strike for honor and revenge. Strong as Lancelot's +castle is, and bold as are his friends, I fancy +I can gain strength enough to draw him out of the +strongest tower in it."</p> + +<p>Then King Arthur sent orders far and wide +through the land, and in brief time there came to +Carlisle many knights, dukes, and earls, so that +he had a great host. These the king informed of +what had happened, and of his purpose to force +Lancelot to yield up his queen, and to punish him +for his trespass.</p> + +<p>Lancelot meanwhile, was not idle, but drew to +himself, many more knights, and provisioned his +castle fully, for he well knew that he must abide +behind walls, as he was far too weak to meet the +king's host in the field.</p> + +<p>Not many days had elapsed when King Arthur +and Gawaine with a great host of men, laid siege +about Joyous Gard, both the town and the castle, +and war replaced the peace that had reigned so +long in the land.</p> + +<p>But Lancelot lay secure in his castle, and for +a long time would not go out himself, nor suffer +any of his knights to pass the gates of town or +castle. And so fifteen weeks of the siege passed +away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h4>THE RETURN OF GUENEVER.</h4> + + +<p>It befell upon a day in harvest-time that Lancelot +looked over the walls of Joyous Gard, and +seeing below him the king and Gawaine, thus spoke +to them,—</p> + +<p>"My lords both, you besiege this castle in vain. +You will gain more dishonor than worship here. +If I chose to come out, with my knights, I should +soon bring this war to an end."</p> + +<p>"Come forth, if thou darest!" cried the king, +in anger. "I promise to meet thee in the midst +of the field."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>"God defend that I should face on the field of +battle the noble king who made me knight."</p> + +<p>"A truce to your fair language," answered the +king. "Trust me, that I am your mortal foe, and +will be so till the day of my death. You have +slain my knights and dishonored my queen, and +hold her from me by force, like a traitor. Think +you I shall lightly forgive this?"</p> + +<p>"You may say what you will, my lord and +king," answered Lancelot. "With you I will not +fight; but as for your lady Guenever, I am ready +to stand for her innocence against any knight +under heaven. Those who have slandered me and +her lie in their teeth, and I hold myself ready to +prove to the death that she is as true and chaste +a lady as ever lived. More than once, my lord, you +have consented that she should be burnt, from the +voice of slander, and more than once have I rescued +her, and forced the lie down the throats of her slanderers. +Then you thanked me for saving her from +the fire. Now, for doing you the same high service +again, you bring war upon me. Your queen is honest +and true, and if you will receive her to your good +grace again I stand ready to deliver her."</p> + +<p>"Recreant knight!" cried Gawaine, in wrath, +"I warrant you my lord the king shall have his +queen and you too, despite your fair words and +proud defiance, and shall slay you both if it please +him."</p> + +<p>"That may be, Gawaine," said Lancelot. "Yet +if I chose to come out of the castle you would not +find it quite child's play to win me and the queen."</p> + +<p>"Save your boastful words," said Gawaine. "As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +for my lady, the queen, I shall say naught to her +dishonor. But, recreant knight, what cause had you +to slay my brother Gareth, who loved you with his +whole soul?"</p> + +<p>"I shall not seek an excuse for that deed," said +Lancelot. "I would with as good will have slain +my nephew Sir Bors. All I may say is that it was +done in the heat of battle, and I knew not they +were slain till word was brought me here."</p> + +<p>"You lie in your teeth!" cried Gawaine. "You +killed them in despite of me; and for this foul deed +I shall make war on you while I live."</p> + +<p>"If you are so hotly set, there is no use for me +to seek accord; yet I am truly sorry for their +deaths and your enmity. Only for this I would soon +have the good grace of my lord Arthur."</p> + +<p>"That may be, traitor, but you will wait long +for peace. You have lorded it over me, and the +whole of us, too long, and slain knights at your +will. Now our turn has come."</p> + +<p>"No one dare say that I ever killed a knight +through treachery, as you, Gawaine, have done."</p> + +<p>"You mean Sir Lamorak. Him I slew, man to +man."</p> + +<p>"Who lies now? You know well that you and +the crew that set upon him dared not meet him +face to face. You struck him treacherously from +behind."</p> + +<p>"A truce to Lamorak. This you may know, +that I will never leave you till I deal with you as +I did with him."</p> + +<p>"Murder me, you mean! I fancy you might +if you caught me in such a strait, which you will +not easily do."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>Then others took the cue from Gawaine, and +the cry went up from many voices: "False and +recreant knight! how long will you hide behind +your castle walls, like a rat in his hole?"</p> + +<p>"How long is this to last?" said Bors and others +to Lancelot. "We pray you to keep us no longer +within these walls, but let us out to do battle with +them. Men will say next that you are afraid. As +for fair speech, it is thrown away. Gawaine will +never forgive you, nor suffer you to make accord +with the king. Therefore fight for your right, for +to that it must come."</p> + +<p>"I am loath to do so," said Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Then he called from the wall to the king,—</p> + +<p>"My knights demand that I let them sally from +the castle. I therefore pray that neither you nor +Sir Gawaine come into the field, for to you two I +wish no harm."</p> + +<p>"What then? Shall we cower in our tents while +others fight our battles?" cried Gawaine. "This +quarrel is mine and the king's. Shall we not fight +in it?"</p> + +<p>"If you will, you will; but I seek not battle with +either of you."</p> + +<p>Then they drew back, and both sides made ready +for battle. And Gawaine, with deadly intent, set +aside a strong body of knights, bidding them to +attack Lancelot in force, and slay him if they could.</p> + +<p>When the next morning came, King Arthur drew +up his host against the castle in three great bands. +And Lancelot's fellowship issued from the castle +at three gates, the three bands being led by Lancelot, +Bors, and Lionel. But Lancelot had given<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +strict charge to his knights to avoid harming King +Arthur and Sir Gawaine.</p> + +<p>Fierce was the battle that followed, and many +good knights were slain. It began with a challenge +from Gawaine, who came out before the king's +host and dared any knight of Lancelot's to joust +with him. This challenge Lionel accepted, but +Gawaine thrust him through the body, and dashed +him to the earth like a dead man. Then his +friends rushed to his rescue and drove back his foes, +bearing him from the field into the castle. This +affray brought on a hot and fiery battle, and soon +the air was filled with shouts, and the earth strewn +with dead and wounded men.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this fray the king hotly attacked +Lancelot; but that faithful knight patiently endured +his assault, and lifted not a hand in defence. +But Bors, seeing his danger, rushed in, and, with +a spear thrust, hurled King Arthur to the ground. +Quickly leaping from his horse, he drew his sword, +and said,—</p> + +<p>"Shall I make an end of this war?"</p> + +<p>"On pain of your head, no! Harm not the +king! I shall not stand by and see him slain."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and helped +the king to his horse again, saying,—</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur, for God's sake, end this strife! +I will not fight you, though you kill me, nor have +I the heart to fight your men. My lord, remember +what I have done for you. Is not this an evil +reward?"</p> + +<p>When Arthur heard these words tears flowed +from his eyes, for Lancelot's courtesy had overcome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +his anger. He turned and rode away, saying +sadly,—</p> + +<p>"Alas! that this war ever began."</p> + +<p>Then both sides drew off, and parties of each +began the sad duty of burying the dead, while the +wounded were borne away, and healing salves applied +to their wounds.</p> + +<p>The next day the battle was renewed, and fought +with the same deadly energy as before. On this +day Bors led the foremost party, and met Gawaine +as Lionel had done the day before. Fiercely together +they rode, and both were hurled to the ground +with deep and dangerous wounds. Around them +the battle raged with double fierceness, but Lancelot +broke in and rescued Bors, and had him borne +to the castle, while the other party bore off +Gawaine.</p> + +<p>Then, as the battle continued, Lavaine and others +begged Lancelot to put forth his strength and fight +with his full might, for he imperilled them all by +his forbearance.</p> + +<p>"Why should you spare your foes?" they said. +"You do but harm thereby. Your enemies spare +not you."</p> + +<p>"I have no heart to fight against the king," said +Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"If you spare them all this day they will never +thank you," said Palamides. "And if they get +the better of you they will slay you without mercy."</p> + +<p>Lancelot saw that this was but the truth, and +stirred by this and the wound of Sir Bors, he +rushed into the fray with his old might and fury, +forcing back all before him. Glad to see the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +Lancelot, his followers pressed forward, driving +back the foe, so that by eventide they had the best +of the fray, and their horses went fetlock deep in +the blood of the slain.</p> + +<p>Then, in pity for Arthur, Lancelot blew the +recall, and suffered the king's party to withdraw +without further slaughter.</p> + +<p>After this there was peace between the parties +for many days, for Gawaine had been so sorely +hurt that he could not stir the king to active war, +and Arthur after awhile returned to Carlisle, leaving +the castle closely besieged.</p> + +<p>But the story of this war had now passed +through Christendom, and had reached the pope, +who, feeling that war between King Arthur and +Lancelot was like battle between brothers, sent a +letter to the king, commanding him, under pain +of an interdict upon all England, to take his +Queen Guenever into favor again, and to make peace +and accord with Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>This Papal bull was brought to Arthur by the +bishop of Rochester, who was then at Rome. When +the king had heard it read he knew not what to +do. He agreed to take back the queen, and in his +heart desired to make friends with Lancelot; but +to this Gawaine, who had then the greatest influence +over him, would not consent.</p> + +<p>In the end it was agreed that if Lancelot would +bring back the queen he should come and go in +safety, and that no word should be spoken to +Guenever, by the king or other person, of aught +that had happened in the past.</p> + +<p>Then the bishop had from the king his assurance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +under the great seal of the realm, as he was +a true anointed knight, that Sir Lancelot should +come and return in safety, and that the queen +should not be spoken to by the king, or any other, +concerning what had passed. With this safe-conduct, +written at length and signed by King Arthur, +the holy prelate rode in state to Joyous Gard, where +he made Lancelot acquainted with all that had happened, +telling him of the pope's action, and of the +peril he would encounter if he withheld the queen +from the king.</p> + +<p>"It was never in my thought," said Lancelot, +"to withhold Queen Guenever from my lord Arthur. +All men know why I have her in charge. +She would have suffered a shameful death through +the king's unjust anger had I not been on hand to +save her life; and I hold her only from peril of +that vile sentence, which has never until now been +remitted. I thank the pope heartily that he has +made peace between Guenever and the king, and +God knows that I will be a thousand-fold gladder +to take her back than I ever was to bring her away. +All I demand is, that I shall come and go in safety, +and that the queen shall have her liberty as before, +and stand in no peril from this or any former +charge against her. For else I dare venture to +keep her from a harder shower than ever yet has +fallen upon her or me."</p> + +<p>"You need dread nothing either for yourself or +the queen," replied the bishop. "You know full +well that the pope must be obeyed, by the king as +well as by you. It were not to the pope's worship +nor my poor honor that you should be distressed, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +the queen put to shame or peril. And as for King +Arthur, here is his promise, under his own writing +and seal."</p> + +<p>Then he showed Lancelot all the written documents +he had brought, both from the pope and the +king.</p> + +<p>"That suffices," said Lancelot. "I would trust +King Arthur's bare word as I would the oath of +half Christendom. No man can say that he ever +broke his plighted faith. Therefore, I beg you to +ride before me to the king, and recommend me to +his good grace, letting him know that in eight days +from to-day, by the grace of God, I shall bring to +him his lady Queen Guenever. And say this further +to him, that I stand ready to meet any one in +the lists for the queen's fair fame except himself +and Sir Gawaine, and the latter more from the +king's love for him than from aught of his own +deserts."</p> + +<p>With this agreement the bishop departed to +Carlisle, and when he had told the king how nobly +Lancelot had spoken, the tears started from Arthur's +eyes, and much he deplored in his heart the +cruel chance that had aroused war between him and +his dearest friend.</p> + +<p>Lancelot now made ready a hundred knights, +who were all dressed in green velvet, with their +horses trapped to their heels, while each knight +held in his hand an olive branch, in token of peace. +For the queen there were provided four and twenty +gentlewomen, who followed her in the same guise; +while Lancelot was followed by twelve coursers, on +each of which sat a young gentleman, and these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +were arrayed in green velvet with golden girdles, +and the horses trapped to the heels with rich cloths, +set with pearls and stones in gold, to the number +of a thousand. As for Lancelot and Guenever, they +were clothed in white cloth-of-gold tissue. And +in this array they rode from Joyous Gard to Carlisle, +and through Carlisle to the castle, while many +an eye shed tears on seeing them.</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot alighted and took the queen, and +led her to where Arthur sat, with Gawaine and +many great lords before him. Then he kneeled, +and the queen with him.</p> + +<p>Many of the assembled knights wept bitterly +on seeing this, but the king sat in haughty silence, +looking steadily upon the pair who knelt before him. +Seeing his countenance, Lancelot rose and forced +the queen to rise also. Then thus he spoke in +knightly pride,—</p> + +<p>"My lord the king, by the pope's command and +yours I have brought you my lady, the queen, as +right requireth. If there be any knight, whatever +his degree, except your sacred self, who shall dare +say she has been untrue to you, I, Lancelot du +Lake, stand ready to make her honor good with my +body. To liars you have listened, and that has +caused all the trouble between you and me. Time +has been, my lord Arthur, when you have been +greatly pleased with me in that I did battle for +my lady your queen. Full well you know, my most +royal sir, that she has been put to great wrong +before this time; and since it pleased you then +that I should fight for her, it seems to me that I +had still more cause this last time to rescue her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +from the fire, since she was to have been burnt for +my sake. Had not the might of God been with me, +think you that I could, unarmed, have prevailed +over fourteen armed knights? I was sent for by the +queen, who wished to confer with me, but had barely +stepped within her chamber, when out burst Mordred +and Agravaine, calling me traitor and recreant +knight."</p> + +<p>"They called you truly," said Gawaine.</p> + +<p>"Did they so, Gawaine? By heaven, in their +quarrel they failed to prove themselves in the +right."</p> + +<p>"I have given you no cause to do evil to me, +Lancelot," said the king. "For I have loved you +and yours more than all my other knights."</p> + +<p>"My good lord and liege," answered Lancelot, +"I beg it may not displease you if I answer that +you have better cause to love me and mine than +most knights, for none have done you such service +as we have at many times and in many places. +Often have I myself rescued you from deadly peril, +when you were hard pressed by your foes; and it +has ever been my joy to please you, and my lord +Gawaine as well, in jousts and tournaments, and in +set battles, both on horse and on foot. I wish not +to boast of my deeds, yet you all know well that +I never met a knight but that I was able to stand +against him, and have always done my duty like +a man. I have been matched with good knights, +such as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, whom I +loved for their valor and honesty. And I take God +to witness, that I was never angry with or jealous +of any good knight whom I saw active to win honor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +and was ever glad at heart when I found a knight +who was able to endure me on horseback or on foot. +Sir Carados of the dolorous tower was a noble +knight and a man of mighty strength, and this +you know full well, Sir Gawaine, since he pulled +you from your horse, and bound you before him on +his saddle. Yet I rescued you from him, and slew +him before your eyes. In like manner I found his +brother, Sir Turquine, leading your brother, Sir +Gaheris, bound on his saddle, and slew him, and +rescued your brother, as also three-score and four +of King Arthur's knights whom he held in prison. +Never met I with as strong and hard-fighting knights +as Sir Carados and Sir Turquine, and I fought +with them to the uttermost for the sake of you and +your brother. It seems to me, Sir Gawaine, that +you ought to bear in mind this good service I did +for you in the past. If I might but have your +good will in return, I would trust to God to have +my lord Arthur's kindly grace."</p> + +<p>"The king may do as he will," said Gawaine; +"but while I live I shall never be in accord with +you. I cannot forget that you have killed three +of my brothers, two of them treacherously and +pitilessly, for they wore no armor against you, and +refused to bear any."</p> + +<p>"Would to heaven they had been armed, for then +they would now be alive," said Lancelot. "I tell +you this, Sir Gawaine, that I love none of my own +kinsmen as I did your brother, Sir Gareth, and +would far rather have slain myself than him. Never +while I live shall I cease to mourn his death, not +alone for your bitter sorrow and anger, but for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> +other causes which concern myself. One is, that +it was I who made him a knight; another is, that +he loved me above all other knights; a third is, +that he was ever noble, true, courteous, and gentle. +I never would have slain, or even hurt, either +Gareth or Gaheris by my will; and sad at heart am +I that this fatal chance has robbed me of your +love and made undying war between us, and has +caused my noble lord and king to be my mortal foe. +May Jesus forgive me for this cruel chance, which +the fates have laid upon me. In reparation for this +sad misfortune, I shall freely offer, if it will +please the king's good grace, and yours, my lord +Gawaine, to do penance in this wise. I shall start +from Sandwich, and go in my shirt, barefoot, and +at every ten miles' end I shall found a religious +house, of what order you wish, where shall be sung +and read day and night psalms and masses for the +repose of Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris. This I +shall perform from Sandwich to Carlisle. This, Sir +Gawaine, seems to me fairer, holier, and better for +their souls than that you and the king should make +war upon me; for little good to any is likely to +come from it."</p> + +<p>Then the knights and ladies there wept as though +they were distracted, and the tears fell hot on King +Arthur's cheeks. But no shadow of softness came +to Gawaine's stern face.</p> + +<p>"The king, as I have said, may do as it pleases +him," he answered, "but I shall never forgive you +for the murder of my brothers. If my uncle, King +Arthur, accords with you, he shall lose my service, +for I hold you false both to the king and me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>"The man lives not that can make that good," +cried Lancelot. "If you charge me thus, I am ready +to answer you with spear and sword since words +you disdain."</p> + +<p>"That cannot be at this time," said Gawaine. +"You are here under the king's safe-conduct, and +so must depart. If it were not for the pope's +command and the king's given word, I should do +battle with you, body to body, and prove upon +you that you have been false both to the king and +to me. In this land you shall not abide more than +fifteen days, for I give you open warning that your +safe-conduct lasts only for that time. In this the +king and we all were agreed before you came hither. +Only for this you would now find that my words +are ready to be backed up with deeds. And this +you shall find wheresoever I shall meet you hereafter."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot sighed, and tears fell upon his +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Alas, most Christian realm," he said, "that I +have loved above all other realms, and most Christian +king, whom I have worshipped next to my +God. From both I am banished, without cause or +warrant. Truly I am sorry that I ever came into +this land, to be thus causelessly and shamefully +treated, after my long service here. So is it ever +with fortune, whose wheel is so changeable that +there is no constant abiding; and this may be proved +by the old chronicles of noble Hector of Troy, and +Troilus, and Alexander the mighty conqueror, and +many more. When they were highest they quickly +became lowest; and thus has it fared with me. No<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> +living men have brought more honor and glory to +the Round Table than I and my kindred, and yet +we stand banished from the land which owes us such +worthy service. As for you, Gawaine, I can live +upon my native lands as well as any knight here. +And if you, redoubted king, shall seek me there in +hostile array, I must endure you as well as I may. +If you come thither, Gawaine, see that you charge +me not with treason or felony, for if you do, it +will scarcely end with words."</p> + +<p>"Do your worst," cried Gawaine, hotly. "And +get you gone from here as fast as you can. We +shall soon come after, and tumble your strongest +castle upon your head."</p> + +<p>"That shall not need," said Lancelot. "You +may find me ready to meet you in open field."</p> + +<p>"There have been words enough," said Gawaine. +"Deliver the queen and take yourself away."</p> + +<p>"If I had looked for so short a reception I would +have thought twice before coming," answered Lancelot, +proudly. "If the queen had been as dear +to me as you would make her, I durst have kept +her from the best fellowship of knights under +heaven."</p> + +<p>Then he turned to Guenever and said, in full +hearing of the king and all there,—</p> + +<p>"Madam, now I must depart from you and this +noble fellowship forever. Since it is so, I beseech +you to pray for me. And if you be slandered by +any false tongues, send me word, my lady, and +if one knight's hands may deliver you by battle, +I shall deliver you."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot kissed the queen, and said openly +to all present,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span>"Now let me see who there is in this place that +dare say Queen Guenever is not true unto my lord +King Arthur! Let him speak who dare speak."</p> + +<p>He looked proudly around the hall, from right +to left, but no voice came in answer. Then he +took the queen by the hand and led her to the +king, and delivered her to his royal hand. This +done, Lancelot turned and walked from the hall +with haughty stride; and there was neither duke, +earl, nor king, baron nor knight, lady or maiden, +that wept not at the sorrowful parting, except Sir +Gawaine. And when Lancelot took his horse to +ride out of Carlisle there was sobbing and weeping +from all the people who had gathered in the streets +to see him depart. And so he took his way to Joyous +Gard, which ever after he called Dolorous Gard. +And thus departed Sir Lancelot du Lake from the +court of King Arthur forever.</p> + +<p>He now called his fellowship about him, and +asked them what they would do.</p> + +<p>"Whatever you will," they answered with one +voice.</p> + +<p>"Then, my brave and faithful friends, we must +leave this realm. It is sore to me to be banished, +and had I not dreaded shame, the lady Guenever +should never have left me."</p> + +<p>"If you stay in this land we shall not fail you," +said his knights. "If you depart hence we shall +go with you."</p> + +<p>"My fair lords, I thank you heartily," answered +Lancelot, with much feeling. "If you come with +me to my realm beyond the sea, I shall divide my +lands among you, till I have as little as any of you.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +I care for only enough to live upon, and trust to +maintain you in knightly honor."</p> + +<p>"So let it be," they rejoined. "Here, now that +the fellowship of the Round Table is broken, there +will be no more peace, but only strife and turmoil. +You were the stay of Arthur's court, Sir +Lancelot. With you gone, all quiet and harmony +will depart."</p> + +<p>"You praise me too highly, gentlemen. I did +my duty; but not I alone. Yet I fear, when we +are gone, we will soon hear of wars and rebellions, +from those who dared not raise their heads when +we were all together. Mordred I fear above all. +He is envious and ambitious, and if King Arthur +shall trust him I dread me greatly he will find him +a stinging serpent."</p> + +<p>Then, soon after, they left Joyous Gard, and +shipped at Cardiff to pass beyond the seas to Lancelot's +realm of Benwick. Some men, indeed, call +it Bayonne, and some call it Beume, the land +whence comes the wine of Beume. Yet to say sooth, +Lancelot and his nephews were lords of all France, +and had there a host of towns and castles, and +many people at their command.</p> + +<p>There went with him a hundred proven knights, +whom he rewarded as he had promised. For he +shortly called a parliament, where he crowned Lionel +king of France. Bors he made king of the realm +of King Claudas; and Hector de Maris, King of +Benwick and Guienne; while his other knights were +made dukes and earls, till all were nobly provided +for.</p> + +<p>Thus Lancelot rewarded his faithful friends. +And he furnished and provisioned his towns and +castles, and gathered the men of war of the realm, +for he felt well assured that Gawaine would not +rest till he had brought King Arthur against him +in martial array.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h4>THE WAR BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LANCELOT.</h4> + + +<p>What Lancelot had feared came quickly to pass. +For so unrelenting was Gawaine's enmity, and so +strong his influence over the king, that Arthur, +at his persistent instigation, got together a great +army, to the number of sixty thousand, and had +shipping made ready to carry them over the sea.</p> + +<p>Then he made Sir Mordred chief ruler of all +England during his absence, and put Queen +Guenever under his care, little dreaming of what +fatal results would follow this unwise choice.</p> + +<p>These preparations made, Arthur passed the sea +with his host, and landed in Lancelot's realm, +where, through the revengeful spirit of Gawaine, +they burnt and wasted all that they overran.</p> + +<p>When word of this was brought to Lancelot and +his knights, Sir Bors thus broke out in anger,—</p> + +<p>"My lord Sir Lancelot, it is a shame to let them +thus destroy this fair realm of France. You may +well be assured that, however long you forbear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +your foes, they will do you no favor if you fall +into their hands."</p> + +<p>Then said Sir Lionel, who was wary and wise, +"My lord Sir Lancelot, this is my counsel. Let +us keep to our strong-walled towns till the invaders +suffer from hunger and cold, and blow upon their +nails for warmth. Then we may freshly set upon +them, and shred them down like sheep in a field."</p> + +<p>"Such a course would disgrace us all," said King +Bagdemagus to Lancelot. "Your over-courtesy has +caused all the trouble we now have. If we let +Gawaine work his will, he will bring our power +to naught, while we hide like rabbits in our holes."</p> + +<p>"So say I," broke in Sir Galihud. "There are +knights here who come of kings' blood, and that +will not long be content to droop behind walls. Give +us leave to meet them in the field, and we shall +deal with them in such fashion that they will curse +the time they came into this country."</p> + +<p>Then spoke seven brethren of North Wales, men +of such prowess that one might seek through seven +lands before he could find seven such knights,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot," they said together, "let us ride +out with Sir Galihud, for it has never been our +wont to cower in towns and castles."</p> + +<p>"My fair lords," replied Lancelot to them all, +"I am loath to ride out with my knights and shed +Christian blood. And my lands, after all the wars +they have endured, are too bare long to sustain +this invading host. It is the part of wisdom, therefore, +for the time to keep to our walls, and meanwhile +I will send a messenger to King Arthur and +offer him a treaty of peace."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>Then he sent a damsel to the king, and a dwarf +with her, with a message, bidding Arthur to quit +making war upon his lands, and offering him fair +terms of accommodation. The damsel rode to +the hostile camp on a palfry, while the dwarf ran +by her side. When she came near to King Arthur's +pavilion she alighted, and there was met by a gentle +knight, Sir Lucan the butler, who said,—</p> + +<p>"Fair damsel, come you from Sir Lancelot du +Lake?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," she replied, "I am come hither with +a message from him to my lord the king."</p> + +<p>"Alas, that it should be needed!" said Sir Lucan. +"My lord Arthur would soon be in accord with +Lancelot but for Gawaine, who has more influence +over him than all his knights besides, and will not +suffer him to think of peace and friendship. I +pray to God, damsel, that you speed well in your +errand, for all that are about the king, except Sir +Gawaine, wish well to Lancelot above all knights +living."</p> + +<p>With these words he led the damsel to the king's +pavilion. There Arthur, who had been advised +of her coming, sat with Gawaine to hear her message. +When she had told her errand the king was +so moved that tears ran from his eyes, and all +the lords were ready to advise him to make peace +with Lancelot. But Gawaine, who sat with lowering +brow, now broke out in hot speech,—</p> + +<p>"My lord, my uncle, what will you do? Will +you turn again after having come so far? All +the world will speak villany of you."</p> + +<p>"I do not deem it wise to refuse his fair<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> +proffers," said the king. "Yet since I am come so +far on this journey, I leave it to you to give the +damsel her answer."</p> + +<p>"Then tell Sir Lancelot," said Gawaine to the +damsel, "that he wastes his labor now to sue to +my uncle. If he wished peace he should have +sought it sooner. Now it is too late. Tell him, +also, that I, Sir Gawaine, promise him, by the faith +I owe to God and to knighthood, never to leave +him in peace till he have slain me or I him."</p> + +<p>This word the damsel brought back to Lancelot, +where he stood among his knights, and sad of +heart he was to hear it.</p> + +<p>"Why do you grieve?" said the knights. "If +war they want, let them have it to their fill. Let +us meet them in the field."</p> + +<p>"Never before was I so loath to do battle," said +Lancelot. "I would rather flee from King Arthur +than fight him. Be ruled by me, noble sirs. When +I must defend myself, then I will; but haste will +make fresh sorrow."</p> + +<p>Then the knights held their peace, and that +night took their rest. But in the morning, when +they looked abroad, they saw a hostile host around +the city of Benwick, pressing it so closely that ladders +were already set up against the walls. The +defenders of the town flocked in haste to the walls +and threw down the ladders, and hot strife began.</p> + +<p>Forth now rode Sir Gawaine on a strong steed, +and with a great spear in his hand, and when he +came before the chief gate he called out loudly,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot, where art thou? Or what proud +knight is here that dare break a spear with me?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>Hearing this challenge, Sir Bors hastily made +ready, and rode from the city to the encounter. +But Gawaine smote him from his horse, and would +have slain him had he not been rescued. Then +Lionel, his brother, rode out to revenge him; but +he, too, was sorely wounded, and so borne into the +town.</p> + +<p>And thus, day after day, came Gawaine with +his challenge, and not a day passed but some +knight fell before his spear. And for half a year +the siege continued, and there was much slaughter +on both sides.</p> + +<p>At length came a day when Gawaine again +appeared before the gates, armed at all points, +and loudly cried,—</p> + +<p>"Where art thou now, thou false traitor, Sir +Lancelot? Why hidest thou within walls and holes +like a coward? Come forth, traitor, that I may revenge +on thy body the death of my three brothers?"</p> + +<p>Then said Lancelot's knights to their leader,—</p> + +<p>"Now, Sir Lancelot, you must fight, or you are +shamed forever. It is time for you to stir, for you +have slept over long and we suffered over much."</p> + +<p>"Defend myself I must, since he charges me +with treason," said Lancelot. "His words cut +deeply, and I must fight or be held recreant," and +with stern countenance he bade the attendants to +saddle his strongest horse and bring his arms to +the gate tower. Then from this tower he called +to the king, who stood below,—</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur," he said, "sad am I, for your +sake, that thus you press upon me. Had I been +revengeful I might have met you in open field, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +there made your boldest knights full tame; but +I have forborne you half a year, and given you +and Gawaine free way. It is much against my will +to fight with any of your blood, but since he accuses +me of treason I am driven to it like a beast +brought to bay."</p> + +<p>"If you dare do battle," cried Gawaine, "leave +your babbling and come out. Nothing will give +deeper joy to my heart, for I have waited long +for this hour."</p> + +<p>At this Lancelot mounted and rode out, and a +host of knights followed him from the city, while +from the king's army a throng of knights pressed +to the front. But covenant was made that none +should come near the two warriors till one was +dead or had yielded, and the knights drew back, +leaving a broad open space for the combatants.</p> + +<p>Gawaine and Lancelot now rode far apart, and +wheeled their horses till they faced each other. +Thus they stood in grim silence and energy till the +signal for the onset was given, when, like iron +statues come to life, they plunged their spurs in +the flanks of their chargers and dashed at furious +speed across the plain. A minute passed, and they +met in the middle with a shock like thunder, but +the knights were so strong and their spears so +great, that the horses could not endure the buffets, +and fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>In a moment both knights had leaped clear of +their saddles, drawn their swords, and brought +their shields before them. And now began a fierce +and terrible affray, for they stood and hewed at +each other with might and main, till blood burst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> +in many places through the joints of their armor.</p> + +<p>But Gawaine had a gift that a holy man had +given him, that every day in the year, from nine +o'clock till noon, his strength should increase till +it became threefold. And he took good care to fight +all his battles during these hours, whereby he gained +great honor.</p> + +<p>None knew of this gift but King Arthur, and +as Lancelot felt the strength of his antagonist +constantly increasing, he wondered greatly, and +began to fear that he would be overcome. It +seemed to him that he had a fiend, and no earthly +man, before him, and for three hours he traced and +traversed, and covered himself with his shield, +scarcely able to stand against the brunt of Gawaine's +mighty blows. At this all men marvelled, for never +before had they beheld Lancelot so sorely driven +to defence.</p> + +<p>But when the hour of noon had passed, the magic +might of Gawaine suddenly left him, and he had +now only his own strength. This Lancelot felt, +and he drew himself up and pressed on his foe, +saying,—</p> + +<p>"You have had your day, Gawaine; now it is +my turn. Defend yourself, for I have many a +grievous buffet to repay."</p> + +<p>Then he redoubled his strokes, and at length +gave Gawaine such a blow on the helmet that he +fell to the earth. Lancelot now withdrew a step.</p> + +<p>"Why do you withdraw?" cried Gawaine, bitterly. +"Turn, thou traitor, and slay me; for if I +recover you shall fight with me again."</p> + +<p>"It is not my way, Sir Gawaine, to strike a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +fallen knight. When you want to fight again you +shall not find me lacking."</p> + +<p>Then he turned and went with his knights into +the city, while Gawaine was borne from the field +to one of the king's pavilions, where leeches were +brought to attend him.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said the king, "that ever this unhappy +war began, for Sir Lancelot ever forbeareth me, +and my kin also, and that is well seen in his sparing +my nephew Gawaine this day."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur fell sick from sorrow for the hurt +of his nephew and regret for the war. The siege +was kept up, but with little energy, and both sides +rested from their toils.</p> + +<p>Three weeks passed before Gawaine regained his +strength; but as soon as he was able to ride he +armed again, mounted his horse, and rode to the +gate of Benwick, where he loudly repeated his challenge +to Lancelot as a traitor and recreant knight.</p> + +<p>"You got the best of me by mischance at our +last battle," he said, "but if you dare come into +the field this day I will make amends, and lay you +as low as you laid me."</p> + +<p>"Defend me from such a fate," said Lancelot, +"for if you should get me into such a strait my +days were done. But since you in this unknightly +fashion charge me with treason, I warrant you shall +have both hands full before you gain your end."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot armed and rode out, and the battle +began as before, with a circle of armed knights +surrounding. But in this onset Gawaine's spear +broke into a hundred pieces in his hand, while +Lancelot struck him with such might that his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +horse's feet were raised, and horse and rider toppled +to the earth.</p> + +<p>"Alight, traitor knight!" cried Gawaine, drawing +his sword. "If a horse has failed me, think +not that a king and queen's son shall fail thee."</p> + +<p>Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and the +battle went on as before, Gawaine's strength increasing +hour by hour. But Lancelot, feeling this, +warily kept his strength and his wind, keeping +under cover of his shield, and tracing and traversing +back and forth, to break the strength and courage +of his foe.</p> + +<p>As for Gawaine, he put forth all his might and +power to destroy Lancelot, and for three hours +pressed him so fiercely that he could barely defend +himself. But when noon passed, and Lancelot felt +Gawaine's strength again decline, he said,—</p> + +<p>"I have proved you twice, Sir Gawaine. By +this magic trick of your strength increasing you +have deceived many a valiant knight. You have +done your worst; now you shall see of what metal +I am made."</p> + +<p>Then he attacked him fiercely, and Gawaine +defended himself with all his power; but at length +there fell such a heavy blow on his helmet and on +the old wound, that he sank to the earth in a +swoon. When he came to himself again, he struck +feebly at Lancelot as he lay, and cried spitefully,—</p> + +<p>"Thou false traitor, I am not yet slain. Come +near me, and do this battle to the uttermost."</p> + +<p>"I shall do no more than I have done," said +Lancelot. "When I see you on your feet again I +shall stand ready to fight you to the bitter end. +But to smite a wounded and prostrate man!—God +defend me from such a shame."</p> + +<p>And he turned and went towards the city, while +Gawaine with spiteful malice called him traitor, +and vowed he would never cease to fight with him +till one of them was dead.</p> + +<p>A month now passed away, during which Gawaine +lay sick of his wound. As he slowly recovered, +the old battle-hunger for Lancelot's blood +returned to his heart, and he impatiently awaited +the day when he could again take the field. But +before this day arrived, news came from England +that put a sudden end to the war; tidings of such +threatening aspect that King Arthur was forced +to return in all haste to his own realm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h4>THE STING OF THE VIPER.</h4> + + +<p>Disastrous, indeed, were the news from England. +King Arthur had made the fatal mistake +of placing a villain and dastard in charge of his +realm, for Mordred had taken advantage of his +absence to turn traitor, and seek to seize the crown +and sceptre of England as his own.</p> + +<p>News moved but slowly from over seas in those +days, and Mordred, with treasonable craft, had +letters written as though they came from abroad,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +which said that King Arthur had been slain in +battle with Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Having spread this lie far and wide, he called +the lords together to London in parliament, and +so managed that they voted him king. Then he +was crowned at Canterbury, and held a feast for +fifteen days, after which he went to Winchester, +where Guenever was, and publicly declared that +he would wed his uncle's widow.</p> + +<p>When word of this came to Guenever she grew +heavy at heart, for she hated the traitor to her +soul's depth. But she was in his power, and was +forced to hide her secret hate. She therefore +seemed to consent to his will, and desired permission +to go to London, where she might buy all +things that were necessary for the wedding. She +spoke so fairly that he trusted her, and gave her +leave to make the journey.</p> + +<p>But no sooner had she reached London than she +took possession of the Tower, and with all haste +supplied it with provisions and garrisoned it with +men, and so held it as a fortress, many knights +holding with her against the usurper.</p> + +<p>Mordred soon learned that he had been beguiled +by the queen, and, moved to fury, he hastened +to London, where he besieged the Tower, assailing +it vigorously with great engines of war. But +Guenever held out stoutly against him, and neither +by fair speech nor foul could he induce her to +trust herself into his hands again.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Tower_Pg_324" id="Tower_Pg_324"></a><img src="images/p324.jpg" width="500" height="296" alt="THE TOWER OF LONDON." title="THE TOWER OF LONDON." /> +<span class="caption">THE TOWER OF LONDON.</span> +</div> + +<p>There now came to Mordred the bishop of Canterbury, +who said,—</p> + +<p>"Sir, what would you do? Would you displease<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +God and shame knighthood by wedding the wife +of your uncle, who has been to you as a father? +Cease this vile purpose, I command you, or I shall +curse you with book, and bell, and candle, and +bring upon your head the vengeance of the church."</p> + +<p>"Do your worst, sir priest," said Mordred, angrily. +"I defy you."</p> + +<p>"I shall do what I ought; be sure of that. You +noise about that the lord Arthur is slain, no word +of which I believe. You seek with a lie to make +mischief in this land. Beware, lest your vile work +recoil upon yourself."</p> + +<p>"Peace, thou false priest," cried Mordred. +"Chafe me no more, or I shall order that thy head +be stricken off."</p> + +<p>Finding that words were useless, the bishop +departed, and, as he had threatened, laid the curse +of the church on Mordred. Roused to rage by +this, the usurper sought him to slay him, and he +fled in all haste to Glastonbury, where he took +refuge as a hermit in a chapel. But well he knew +that war was at hand, and that the rightful king +would soon strike for the throne.</p> + +<p>Despite the anathema of the church, Mordred +continued his efforts to get Guenever into his +power; but she held firmly to the Tower, repelling +all his assaults, and declaring openly that she would +rather kill herself than marry such a wretch. Soon +afterwards he was forced to raise the siege, for word +came to him by secret messengers that Arthur had +heard of his treason, and was coming home with +his whole host to revenge himself on the usurper +of his crown.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>When Mordred heard this he made strenuous +efforts to gather a large army, and many lords +joined him with their people, saying that with +Arthur there had been nothing but war and strife, +but that with Mordred they hoped for peace and +a quiet life. Thus was evil said of the good King +Arthur when he was away from the land, and that +by many who owed to him their honors and estates. +Mordred was thus quickly able to draw with +a great host to Dover, where he had heard that +Arthur would land, for he hoped to defeat and slay +him before he could get firm footing on England's +soil.</p> + +<p>Not long had he been there when a great fleet +of ships, galleys, and carracks appeared upon the +sea, bearing the king's army back to their native +realm. On the beach stood Mordred's host, drawn +up to prevent the landing of the king's army. As +the boats came to the shore, laden with noble men-of-arms, +a fierce struggle ensued, in which many +a knight was slain, while full many a bold baron +was laid low on both sides. But so courageous +was the king, and so fierce the onset of his knights, +that the opposing host could not hinder the landing +of his army. And when they had gained a +footing on the land, they set on Mordred with such +fury that he and all his host were driven back and +forced to fly, leaving Arthur master of the field.</p> + +<p>After the battle, the king ordered that the dead +should be buried and the wounded cared for. Among +the latter Sir Gawaine was found lying in a great +boat, where he had been felled with a deadly wound +in the bitter strife. On hearing this direful news,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> +Arthur hastened to him and took him in his arms, +with great show of grief and pain.</p> + +<p>"In you and in Lancelot I had my highest joy," +moaned the king. "Now I have lost you both, and +all my earthly happiness is gone."</p> + +<p>"My death is at hand," said Gawaine, "and I +owe it all to my own hate and bitterness for I am +smitten on the old wound that Lancelot gave me, +and feel that I must die. Had he but been with +you this unhappy war would never have begun. +Of all this I am the cause, and have but received +my deserts. Therefore I pray you, dear uncle, let +me have paper, pen, and ink, that I may write to +Sir Lancelot with my own hand."</p> + +<p>These were brought him, and Gawaine wrote a +moving and tender letter to Lancelot, blaming +himself severely for his hardness of heart.</p> + +<p>In this wise it ran,—</p> + +<p>"Unto Sir Lancelot, flower of all noble knights, +I, Sir Gawaine, son of King Lot of Orkney, and +sister's son unto the noble King Arthur, send +greeting; and also these sad tidings, that on the +tenth day of May I was smitten on the old wound +which you gave me at Benwick, and thus through +this wound have I come to my death. And I +would have all the world know that I, Sir Gawaine, +Knight of the Round Table, have met with +death not through your ill-will, but from my own +seeking; therefore I beseech you to come in all +haste to this realm, to which you have heretofore +done such honor. I earnestly pray you, Sir Lancelot, +for all the love that ever was betwixt us, make +no tarrying, but come over the sea in all haste, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +thou mayest with thy noble knights rescue that +royal king who made thee knight, for he is hard +bested with a false traitor, my own half-brother, +Sir Mordred, who has had himself crowned king, +and would have wedded Queen Guenever had she +not taken refuge in the Tower of London. We +put him to flight on our landing, on the tenth day of +May, but he still holds against us with a great host. +Therefore, I pray you to come, for I am within +two hours of my death; and I beg that you will +visit my tomb, and pray some prayer, more or less, +for my soul."</p> + +<p>When Sir Gawaine had finished this letter he +wept bitter tears of sorrow and remorse, and Arthur +wept beside him till they both swooned, the +one from grief, the other from pain. When they +recovered, the king had the rites of the church +administered to the dying knight, who then prayed +him to send in haste for Lancelot, and to cherish +him above all other knights, as his best friend +and ally.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, at the hour of noon, Gawaine yielded +up his spirit. And the king had him interred in +Dover castle, where men to this day may see his +skull, with the wound thereon that Lancelot gave +him in battle.</p> + +<p>Word was now brought to King Arthur that +Mordred had pitched a new camp on Barham Down. +Thither in all haste he led his army, and there a +second great battle was fought, with much loss on +both sides. But at the end Arthur's party stood +best, and Mordred fled, with all his host, to Canterbury.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>This second victory changed the feeling of the +country, and many people who had held aloof +joined the king's army, saying that Mordred was +a traitor and usurper. When the dead had been +buried and the wounded cared for, Arthur marched +with his host to the sea-shore, westward towards +Salisbury. Here a challenge passed between him +and Mordred, in which they agreed to meet on a +down beside Salisbury, on the day after Trinity +Sunday, and there fight out their quarrel.</p> + +<p>Mordred now made haste to recruit his army, +raising many men about London, for the people +of that section of the country held largely with +him, and particularly those who were friendly to +Lancelot. When the time fixed came near, the +two armies drew together and camped on Salisbury +Down.</p> + +<p>And so the days passed till came the night of +Trinity Sunday, when the king dreamed a strange +dream, for it seemed to him that he sat in a chair +that was fastened to a wheel, and was covered +with the richest cloth of gold that could be made. +But far beneath him he beheld a hideous black +pool, in which were all manner of serpents, and +vile worms, foul and horrible. Suddenly the wheel +seemed to turn, and he fell among the serpents, +which seized upon his limbs.</p> + +<p>Awakening in fright, he loudly cried, "Help!" +and knights and squires came crowding in alarm +into his chamber; but he was so amazed that he +knew not where he was nor what he said.</p> + +<p>Then he fell again into a half slumber, in which +Gawaine seemed to come to him attended by a +number of fair ladies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>"Fair nephew," asked the king, "who are these +ladies?"</p> + +<p>"They are those for whom I did battle during +my life," answered Gawaine. "God has sent them +and me to warn you of your coming death, for if +you fight with Mordred to-morrow as you have +agreed, you will both be slain, and most of your +people. Therefore I am here to warn you not +to fight to-morrow, but to treat with the traitor, +and make him large and fair promises, so as to gain +a month's delay. Within that time Lancelot and +his knights will come, and Mordred the usurper cannot +hold against you both."</p> + +<p>This said, Gawaine and the ladies vanished. +Then Arthur waked, and sent messengers in haste +to bring his lords and bishops to council. When +they had come he told them his dream, and they +counselled him by all means to be guided by it. +Lucan the butler, and his brother Sir Bevidere, +with two bishops, were therefore sent to treat with +Mordred, and make him large promises for a month's +truce.</p> + +<p>The commissioners sought Mordred's camp and +held a long conference with him. At the end he +agreed to meet King Arthur on the plain between +the hosts, each to bring but fourteen persons with +him, and there consult on the treaty.</p> + +<p>"I am glad that this is accomplished," said the +king, when word of the compact was brought him.</p> + +<p>But when he was ready to start for the place +of conference, with the fourteen chosen men, he +said to his knights,—</p> + +<p>"Be wary and watchful, for I trust not Mordred.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> +If you see any sword drawn, come fiercely +forward, and slay the villain and his guard."</p> + +<p>Mordred gave the same warning to his lords, +for he had equal mistrust of Arthur, whom he +feared and doubted.</p> + +<p>The two leaders, with their chosen followers, +now advanced and met between the hosts. But +by a fatal chance, as the king and his opponent +were in consultation, an adder came from a heath +bush and stung a knight on the foot. Feeling the +wound he drew his sword in thoughtless haste to +kill the venomous serpent. But the instant the +hosts on both sides saw that sword flash in the air +all was uproar and tumult. On both sides trumpets +and horns were blown, harness rattled and +clanked, and the flash of spear-heads and sword-blades +gleamed in the sunlight, while like two +mighty waves of war the great hosts broke from +their stations and rushed together across the plain.</p> + +<p>Then Arthur sprang to his horse, exclaiming, +"Alas! this unhappy day!" and rode to his party; +and Mordred did likewise.</p> + +<p>No hand nor voice could stay the advancing hosts, +and in a moment there began the most doleful battle +ever seen in Christian land. For there was rushing +and riding, foining and striking, and deadly +clamor, and fearful strife. Many a grim word was +there spoken, and many a deadly stroke dealt. Many +times King Arthur rode through Mordred's host, +and knightly were the deeds of his hands. And +Mordred fought with knightly valor and zeal.</p> + +<p>Thus went on the deadly fray all day long, +without pause or stint, till noble knights lay like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +fallen leaves upon the bloody ground. And when +nightfall was at hand they still fought with desperate +valor, though by that time full a hundred +thousand men lay dead upon the down.</p> + +<p>Then the heart of Arthur grew full of warlike +fury, to see so many of his people slain. And +when the sun was near its setting, he leaned upon +his crimson sword, and looked about him with +eyes that seemed to weep blood. For of all his +mighty host of knights but two remained alive, +Sir Lucan the butler, and his brother Sir Bevidere; +and both of these were sorely wounded.</p> + +<p>"God's mercy!" cried the king, "where are all +my noble knights? Alas! that I have lived to see +this doleful day! Now, indeed, am I come to my +end. But would to God I knew where to find that +traitor, Mordred, who has caused all this mischief."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, his eyes fell on Mordred, who stood +leaning upon his sword amid a great heap of slain, +for his host had been slaughtered to a man.</p> + +<p>"Give me my spear," cried Arthur, wrathfully, +to Sir Lucan. "Yonder stands the traitor who has +wrought this dire woe."</p> + +<p>"Let him be," said Lucan. "He is unhappy +enough. Remember, my good lord, your last night's +dream, and what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told +you. For God's sake make an end of this fray. +Blessed be God, we have won the field; for here +are three of us alive, while Mordred stands alone +among his dead. If you leave off now, the wicked +day of destiny will pass and life remain to you. +Your time for revenge will come hereafter."</p> + +<p>"Betide me life, betide me death," cried the king,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> +"this fray must end here. Now that I see him +yonder alone, he shall never escape my hands. +One or both of us shall die."</p> + +<p>"Then God speed the just cause," said Bevidere.</p> + +<p>With no word more Arthur took his spear in +both hands, and ran furiously at Mordred, crying,—</p> + +<p>"Traitor, now has thy day of death come!"</p> + +<p>When Mordred heard him, he raised his dripping +sword and ran to meet the king. Thus they +met in mid-field, and King Arthur smote Mordred +under the shield, the spear piercing his body more +than a fathom.</p> + +<p>Mordred felt that he had his death-wound, but +with a last impulse of fury in his felon soul he +thrust himself, with all his strength, up to the bur +of King Arthur's spear. Then wielding his sword +with both hands, he struck the king so dread a blow +on the side of the head that the trenchant blade +cut through the helmet and deep into the skull.</p> + +<p>With this last and fatal stroke Mordred fell stark +dead to the ground. And Arthur sank in a swoon +to the earth, where he lay like one dead.</p> + +<p>Thus sadly and direfully ended that dreadful +war, with which came to a close the flower of the +days of chivalry, and the glorious and never-to-be +equalled fellowship of the Round Table, with +all the mighty deeds of prowess and marvels of +adventure that to it belonged. For of those noble +knights, except Sir Lancelot and his kindred, only +two lived, Sir Lucan the butler, and Sir Bevidere +his brother, and of these two Sir Lucan was wounded +unto death; and with them the illustrious King +Arthur, whose chivalrous soul had so long sustained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> +this noble order of knighthood, lay bleeding piteously +upon that direful field of blood.</p> + +<p>Sir Lucan and Bevidere, with bitter tears of sorrow, +lifted their helpless king between them, and +with great labor led him from that place of slaughter +till they reached a small chapel near the sea-shore. +Here, as the night drew on, the sound of +many voices came to them, as if the dead had risen +and were astir on the blood-stained field.</p> + +<p>"What noise is this, Sir Lucan?" said the king. +"Go, gentle friend, and tell me what it means."</p> + +<p>Lucan went, and by the moonlight saw a throng +of pillagers, who robbed the dead bodies of money +and jewels, killing for their riches those knights +who were not quite dead. When he brought this +news back to Arthur, the king's sad heart came +near to breaking.</p> + +<p>"Alas! Lancelot," he said, "how have I missed +you this day. Alas! that I ever turned against +you, for had you been here this fatal end could +never have been, nor those noble warriors left to +be the prey of the wolves and jackals of the battle-field. +Sorely have I erred and sadly have I been +repaid for my error. But now, alas, it is too late +for regret or amendment, for the fellowship of +the Round Table is at an end, and Arthur the king +shall reign no more."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h4>THE PASSING OF ARTHUR.</h4> + + +<p>When morning dawned, after that day of fate, +Lucan and Bevidere took up the king between +them, and sought to bear him to the sea-shore, as +he bade them do. But in the lifting the king +swooned, and Lucan fell prostrate, the blood gushing +anew from his wound.</p> + +<p>Arthur lay long like one dead, and when he +came to himself again he saw Lucan lifeless at +his feet, with foam upon his lips, and the ground +around him deeply stained with his blood.</p> + +<p>"Alas! this is a heavy sight to see," he said. +"He sought to help me when he stood most in +need of help. He would not complain though his +heart broke, and has given his life for mine. May +Jesus have mercy on his soul."</p> + +<p>Bevidere stood beside him, weeping bitterly for +the death of his brother.</p> + +<p>"Weep and mourn no more," said the king. "It +will not now avail. Could I live, the death of Sir +Lucan would grieve me evermore. But my time +goeth fast, and there is that to do for which but +few moments remain."</p> + +<p>Then he closed his eyes for a time, like one who +sees visions; and when he looked again there was +that in his face which Bevidere could not fathom +and his eyes were deep with meaning unrevealed.</p> + +<p>"Now, my lord Bevidere," said the king, "the +end is at hand. Take thou my good sword Excalibur,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> +and go with it to yonder water-side. When +thou comest there, I charge thee throw it as far as +thou canst into the water; then come again and +tell me what thing thou seest."</p> + +<p>"Trust me, my lord and king, your command +shall be obeyed," said Bevidere.</p> + +<p>So he took the sword and departed to the water-side. +But as his eyes fell upon the noble weapon, +whose pommel and haft were all of precious stones, +a feeling of greed came upon him and he said to +himself,—</p> + +<p>"If I throw this rich sword into the water, no +good can come of it, but only harm and loss. Had +I not better keep it for myself?"</p> + +<p>Moved by this thought, he hid Excalibur under +a tree, and returned to the king, whom he told that +he had thrown the sword into the water.</p> + +<p>"What saw you there?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I saw nothing but the rippling waves."</p> + +<p>"Then you speak untruly," said the king. "You +have not thrown the sword as I bade you. Go again, +and obey my command, as you are to me dear and +true. Spare not, but throw it in afar."</p> + +<p>Bevidere thereupon went again, and took the +sword in his hand. But the rich jewels so glittered +in the sun that his greed came back more strongly +than before, and he deemed it a sin to throw into +the sea that noble blade. So he hid the sword again, +and returned to the king with his former tale.</p> + +<p>"What sawest thou there?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I saw nothing but the waves that broke on +the beach, and heard only the roar of the surf."</p> + +<p>"Ah, traitor! false and untrue art thou!" cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> +the king. "Thou hast betrayed me twice. Who +would have thought that thou, whom I held dear, +and who art named a noble knight, would betray +his king for the jewels of a sword? Go again, for +thy long delay puts me in a great jeopardy of my +life. If now you do not as I have bidden, beware +of me hereafter, for dead or alive I will have revenge +upon you. Would you, Sir Bevidere, for a +shining blade, bring death and ruin to your king?"</p> + +<p>Then Bevidere, heart-full of shame, hastened +away, and took the sword, turning his eyes manfully +away from its jewelled hilt. Binding the +girdle around it, with all the might of his arm he +hurled the blade far out over the waves.</p> + +<p>Then came a marvel. For as he followed the +sword with his eyes, he saw a hand and arm rise +above the waves to meet the blade. The hand +caught it by the hilt, and brandished it thrice in +the air, and then vanished with it into the water.</p> + +<p>Bevidere, much wondering, hurried back to the +king, and told him what he had seen.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sir Bevidere, you have done as I bade +you," said Arthur. "But much precious time have +you lost. Help me hence, in God's name, for I +fear that I have tarried over-long."</p> + +<p>Then Bevidere took the king on his back and +bore him to the water-side, and lo! there he saw +another strange thing.</p> + +<p>For close by the shore lay a little barge, which +he had not seen before, and in it sat many fair +ladies, among whom were three queens, who wore +black hoods, and wept with bitter sorrow when +they saw King Arthur.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span>"Now help me into the barge," said the king.</p> + +<p>This Sir Bevidere did as gently as he could. +And the three queens received the dying monarch +with deep mourning, and had him laid between +them, with his head on the lap of her who sat in +the centre.</p> + +<p>"Alas! dear brother, why have you tarried so +long from me?" said this queen. "Much harm I +fear from this sad wound."</p> + +<p>And so they rowed from the land, while Bevidere +stood on the shore sadly watching the barge +go from him.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my lord Arthur," he cried, "what shall +become of me, now that you go from me and leave +me here alone among my enemies?"</p> + +<p>"Comfort thyself," said the king, "and do what +thou mayest, for in me can no man henceforth +put his trust. I go into the vale of Avilion, to a +happy summer island far over the sea, where I +shall be healed of my grievous wound. But when +I shall come again no voice may tell. Mayhap I +shall never come, but dwell forever in that sunny +vale. If you never hear more of me, pray for my +soul."</p> + +<p>Then again the queens and the ladies wept and +moaned, and the barge moved swiftly over the +long waves and afar to sea, while Bevidere stood +and watched it till it became a black speck on the +waters. Then it vanished and was seen no more, +and the lonely watcher cast himself upon the beach, +weeping like one who has lost all life's happiness.</p> + +<p>But when night came near he turned and went +wearily away, heavy with the weight of death that +lay upon his soul, for he alone remained of yesterday's +mighty hosts. All that night he journeyed +through a great forest, and in the morning he found +himself between two hoary cliffs, with a chapel and +a hermitage in the glen that lay between.</p> + +<p>In this hermitage he found the holy man who +had been archbishop of Canterbury, and who had +come hither to escape Mordred's rage. With him +Bevidere stayed till he was cured of his wounds, +and afterwards he put on poor clothes, and served +the hermit full lowly in fasting and prayers.</p> + +<p>But as for the three queens who went with Arthur +to the island of Avilion, the chronicles say that +they were Morgan le Fay his sister, the queen of +Northgalis, and the queen of the Waste Lands. +And with them was Nimue, the lady of the lake. +All were skilled in magic, but whither they bore +King Arthur, or where lies the magical isle of +Avilion, or if he shall come again, all this no man +can say. These are of the secrets that time alone +can tell, and we only know that his coming is not +yet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h4>THE DEATH OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER.</h4> + + +<p>When word was brought to Lancelot du Lake +that Mordred had usurped the throne of England, +had besieged Guenever in the Tower of London, +and had sought to prevent Arthur from landing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> +at Dover, his soul was moved to wrath and sorrow. +And still more was he moved by the letter +of Sir Gawaine, with its pitiful self-reproach and +earnest wistfulness.</p> + +<p>"Is it a time for mourning?" said Sir Bors to +Lancelot. "My counsel is that you cross at once +to England, visit Gawaine's tomb, as he requests, +and then revenge my lord Arthur and my lady +Guenever on this base traitor, Mordred."</p> + +<p>"It is well advised," said Lancelot. "To England +we must go in all haste."</p> + +<p>Then ships and galleys were made ready with +the greatest despatch, for Lancelot and his host to +pass over to England. And in good time he landed +at Dover, having with him seven kings and a mighty +host of men.</p> + +<p>But when he asked the people of Dover the news +of the country, his heart was filled with dismay +to hear of the great battle on Salisbury Downs, +where a hundred thousand men had died in a day, +and of the death of Arthur the king.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said Lancelot, "this is the heaviest +tidings that ever mortal ears heard. Would that +I had been advised in good time. Nothing now +remains to do. I have come too late. Fair sirs, +I pray you to show me the tomb of Sir Gawaine."</p> + +<p>Then they brought him into the castle of Dover, +and showed him the tomb. Lancelot fell on his +knees before it, and wept, and prayed heartily for +the soul of him that lay within. And that night +he made a funeral feast, to which all who came had +flesh, fish, wine, and ale, and every man and woman +was given twelve pence. With his own hand he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +dealt them money in a mourning gown; and ever +he wept, and prayed for the soul of Sir Gawaine.</p> + +<p>In the morning, all the priests and clerks of the +country round gathered, at his request, and sang +a requiem mass before the tomb. And Lancelot +offered a hundred pounds, and each of the seven +kings forty pounds, and a thousand knights offered +one pound each, this going on from morning till +night. And Lancelot lay two nights on the tomb +in prayer and weeping.</p> + +<p>On the third day he called about him the kings, +dukes, earls, barons, and knights of his train, and +said to them,—</p> + +<p>"My fair lords, I thank you all for coming into +this country with me; but we have come too late, +and that I shall mourn while I live. But since it +is so, I shall myself ride and seek my lady Queen +Guenever, for men say that she has fled from London, +and become a nun, and that she lives in deep +penance, and in fasting, prayers, and almsgiving, +and is sick almost unto death. Therefore, I pray +you, await me here, and if I come not again within +fifteen days, then take ship and return to your own +country."</p> + +<p>"Is it wise for you to ride in this realm?" said +Sir Bors. "Few friends will you find here now."</p> + +<p>"Be that as it may," said Lancelot, "I shall go +on my journey. Keep you still here, for no man +nor child shall go with me."</p> + +<p>No boot was it to strive with him, and he departed +and rode westerly, on a seven or eight +days' journey, asking of all people as he went. At +last he came to the nunnery where was Queen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> +Guenever, who saw him as she walked in the cloister, +and swooned away, so that her ladies had work +enough to keep her from falling. When she could +speak, she said,—</p> + +<p>"Ye marvel why I am so held. Truly, it is for +the sight of yonder knight. Bid him come hither, +I pray you."</p> + +<p>And when Sir Lancelot had come, she said to him +with sweet and sad visage,—</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot, through our love has all this happened, +and through it my noble lord has come to +his death. As for me, I am in a way to get my +soul's health. Therefore, I pray you heartily, for +all the love that ever was between us, that you see +me no more in the visage; but turn to thy kingdom +again, and keep well thy realm from war and wrack. +So well have I loved you that my heart will not +serve me to see you, for through you and me is the +flower of kings and knights destroyed. Therefore, +Sir Lancelot, go to thy realm, and take there a wife, +and live with her in joy and bliss; and I beseech +you heartily to pray to God for me, that I may +amend my mis-living."</p> + +<p>"Nay, madam, I shall never take a wife," said +Lancelot. "Never shall I be false to you; but +the same lot you have chosen that shall I choose."</p> + +<p>"If you will do so, I pray that you may," said +the queen. "Yet I cannot believe but that you will +turn to the world again."</p> + +<p>"Madam," he earnestly replied, "in the quest of +the Sangreal I would have forsaken the world but +for the service of your lord. If I had done so +then with all my heart, I had passed all the knights<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +on the quest except Galahad, my son. And had +I now found you disposed to earthly joys, I would +have begged you to come into my realm. But since +I find you turned to heavenly hopes, I, too, shall +take to penance, and pray while my life lasts, if I +can find any hermit, either gray or white, who will +receive me. Wherefore, madam, I pray you kiss +me, and never more shall my lips touch woman's."</p> + +<p>"Nay," said the queen, "that shall I never do. +But take you my blessing, and leave me."</p> + +<p>Then they parted. But hard of heart would he +have been who had not wept to see their grief; for +there was lamentation as deep as though they had +been wounded with spears. The ladies bore the +queen to her chamber, and Lancelot took his horse +and rode all that day and all that night in a forest, +weeping.</p> + +<p>At last he became aware of a hermitage and a +chapel that stood between two cliffs, and then he +heard a little bell ring to mass, so he rode thither +and alighted, and heard mass.</p> + +<p>He that sang mass was the archbishop of Canterbury, +and with him was Sir Bevidere. After the +mass they conversed together, and when Bevidere +had told all his lamentable tale, Lancelot's heart +almost broke with sorrow. He flung his arms +abroad, crying,—</p> + +<p>"Alas! who may trust this world?"</p> + +<p>Then he kneeled, and prayed the bishop to shrive +and absolve him, beseeching that he might accept +him as his brother in the faith. To this the bishop +gladly consented, and he put a religious habit on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> +Lancelot, who served God there night and day with +prayers and fastings.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the army remained at Dover. But +Lionel with fifteen lords rode to London to seek +Lancelot. There he was assailed by Mordred's +friends, and slain with many of his lords. Then +Sir Bors bade the kings, with their followers, to +return to France. But he, with others of Lancelot's +kindred, set out to ride over all England in +search of their lost leader.</p> + +<p>At length Bors came by chance to the chapel +where Lancelot was. As he rode by he heard the +sound of a little bell that rang to mass, and thereupon +alighted and entered the chapel. But when +he saw Lancelot and Bevidere in hermits' clothing +his surprise was great, and he prayed for the privilege +to put on the same suit. Afterwards other +knights joined them, so that there were seven in all.</p> + +<p>There they remained in penance for six years, +and afterwards Sir Lancelot took the habit of a +priest, and for a twelvemonth he sang mass. But +at length came a night when he had a vision that +bade him to seek Almesbury, where he would find +Guenever dead. Thrice that night was the vision +repeated, and Lancelot rose before day and told +the hermit of what he had dreamed.</p> + +<p>"It is from God," said the hermit. "See that +you make ready, and disobey not the warning."</p> + +<p>So, in the early morn, Lancelot and his fellows +set out on foot from Glastonbury to Almesbury, +which is little more than thirty miles. But they +were two days on the road, for they were weak +and feeble with long penance. And when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> +reached the nunnery they found that Guenever +had died but half an hour before.</p> + +<p>The ladies told Lancelot that the queen had +said,—</p> + +<p>"Hither cometh Lancelot as fast as he may to +fetch my corpse. But I beseech Almighty God +that I may never behold him again with my mortal +eyes."</p> + +<p>This, said the ladies, was her prayer for two days, +till she died. When Lancelot looked upon her dead +face he wept not greatly, but sighed. And he said +all the service for the dead himself, and in the +morning he sang mass.</p> + +<p>Then was the corpse placed in a horse-bier, and +so taken to Glastonbury with a hundred torches +ever burning about it, and Lancelot and his fellows +on foot beside it, singing and reading many a holy +orison, and burning frankincense about the corpse.</p> + +<p>When the chapel had been reached, and services +said by the hermit archbishop, the queen's corpse +was wrapped in cered cloth of Raines, thirty-fold, +and afterwards was put in a web of lead, and then +in a coffin of marble.</p> + +<p>But when the corpse of her whom he had so +long loved was put in the earth, Lancelot swooned +with grief, and lay long like one dead, till the +hermit came and aroused him, and said,—</p> + +<p>"You are to blame for such unmeasured grief. +You displease God thereby."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="Abbey_Pg_345" id="Abbey_Pg_345"></a><img src="images/p345.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Copyright by F. Frith and Co. Ltd., London, England. +THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY." title="THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY." /> +<span class="caption2">Copyright by F. Frith and Co. Ltd., London, England.<br /></span> +<span class="caption">THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I trust not," Lancelot replied, "for my sorrow +is too deep ever to cease. When I remember how +greatly I am to blame for the death of this noble +King Arthur and Queen Guenever, my heart sinks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +within me, and I feel that I shall never know a +moment's joy again."</p> + +<p>Thereafter he sickened and pined away, for the +bishop nor any of his fellows could make him eat +nor drink but very little, but day and night he +prayed, and wasted away, and ever lay grovelling +on the tomb of the queen.</p> + +<p>So, within six weeks afterwards, Lancelot fell +sick and lay in his bed. Then he sent for the bishop +and all his fellows, and said with sad voice: "Sir +Bishop, I pray you give me all the rites that belong +to a Christian man, for my end is at hand."</p> + +<p>"This is but heaviness of your blood," replied +the bishop. "You shall be well amended, I hope, +through God's grace, by to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"In heaven, mayhap, but not on earth," said +Lancelot. "So give me the rites of the church, +and after my death, I beg you to take my body +to Joyous Gard, for there I have vowed that I would +be buried."</p> + +<p>When they had heard this, and saw that he was +indeed near his end, there was such weeping and +wringing of hands among his fellows that they could +hardly help the bishop in the holy offices of the +church. But that night, after the midnight hour, +as the bishop lay asleep, he fell into such a hearty +laugh of joy that they all came to him in haste, +and asked him what ailed him.</p> + +<p>"Why did you wake me?" he cried. "I was +never in my life so happy and merry."</p> + +<p>"Wherefore?" asked Sir Bors.</p> + +<p>"Truly, here was Sir Lancelot with me, with +more angels than I ever saw men together; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> +I saw the angels bear him to heaven, and the gates +of heaven opened to him."</p> + +<p>"This is but the vexation of a dream," said Sir +Bors. "Lancelot may yet mend."</p> + +<p>"Go to his bed," said the hermit, "and you shall +find if my dream has meaning."</p> + +<p>This they hastened to do, and there lay Lancelot +dead, but with a smile on his lips, and the +sweetest savor about him they ever had known.</p> + +<p>Great was the grief that followed, for never +earthly man was mourned as was Lancelot. In the +morning, after the bishop had made a requiem +mass, he and his fellows put the corpse of the noble +knight into the same horse-bier that had borne +Guenever, and the queen's corpse with it, and they +were taken together to Joyous Gard, with such state +and ceremony as befitted those of royal blood.</p> + +<p>And there all the services of the church were +sung and read, while the face of Lancelot lay open +for people to see; for such was then the custom of +the land. When the services were over they were +buried in one tomb, for so great had been their love +during life that all men said they should not be +divided in death.</p> + +<p>During these events, Sir Constantine, the noble +son of Sir Cador of Cornwall, had been chosen king +of England in Arthur's place, and a worthy monarch +he proved, ruling the realm worshipfully and long.</p> + +<p>After Lancelot's death the new king sent for +the bishop of Canterbury, and restored him to his +archbishopric; but Sir Bevidere remained a hermit +at Glastonbury to his life's end.</p> + +<p>King Constantine also desired the kindred of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> +Lancelot to remain in his realm; but this they +would not do, but returned to their own country. +Four of them, Sir Bors, Sir Hector, Sir Blamor, +and Sir Bleoberis, went to the Holy Land, where +they fought long and stoutly against the Saracens. +And there they died upon a Good Friday, for God's +sake.</p> + +<p>And so ends the book of the life and death of +King Arthur and his noble Knights of the Round +Table, who were an hundred and fifty when they +were all together. Let us pray that God was merciful +to them all.</p> + +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p>1. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected as follows;</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 12 - Added missing punctuation "?" (might champion?)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 188 - Added missing punctuation "." (and he did all.)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 270 - Added missing endquote ("This I say,")</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 316 - Removed extra enquote (what will you do?)</p> + + +<p>2. Spelling corrections based upon correct spelling of the word elsewhere in the text:</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 39 - "grevious" to "grievous" (4) (grievous cry that)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 50 - "you" to "your" ("Knight, hold your hand.")</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 83 - "Dinaden" to "Dinadan" (92) (Gareth and Dinadan also)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 94 - "seaside" to "sea-side" (8) (castle by the sea-side,)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 127 - "law" to "lay" (as he lay there asleep)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 143 - "Badgemagus" to "Bagdemagus" (11) (said Bagdemagus)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 159 - "Percival" to "Percivale" (94) (Percivale had returned)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 166 - "dressel" to "dressed" (old man dressed in a)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 189 - "this" to "his" (to his surprise and joy)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 202 - "Nacien" to "Nancien" (3) (once by Nancien)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 220 - "seem" to "seen" (and seen what you highly)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 238 - "befel" to "befell" (5) (it befell that Nimue)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 281 - "Turquin" to "Turquine" (2) (by Sir Turquine?)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 289 - "Tristam's" to "Tristram's" (313) (and Tristram's sake)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 298 - "wil" to "will" (361) (if you will receive)</p> + +<p class="indent">Pg. 299 - "dishoner" to "dishonor" (12) (naught to her dishonor.)</p> + + +<p>3. Words where both versions appear in this text and have been retained.</p> + +<p class="indent">"threescore" (2) and "three-score"</p> + +<p class="indent">"King Astlabor" (p. 87) and "King Astlobar" (p. 90)</p> + + +<p>4. Known English Archaic words used in this text:</p> + +<p class="indent">"emprise" (prowess/daring)</p> + +<p class="indent">"guerdon" (reward)</p> + +<p class="indent">"halidom" (a thing considered holy)</p> + +<p class="indent">"leman" (sweetheart)</p> + +<p class="indent">"lief" (dear)</p> + +<p class="indent">"woful" (3) (now woeful)</p> + +<p class="indent">"villanous" (6) and villany (3) (now var. of villian* (10))</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL 14 (OF 15) *** + +***** This file should be named 32292-h.htm or 32292-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/9/32292/ + +Produced by Christine Aldridge and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15) + The Romance of Reality + +Author: Charles Morris + +Release Date: May 8, 2010 [EBook #32292] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL 14 (OF 15) *** + + + + +Produced by Christine Aldridge and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. + +2. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected. + +3. A complete list of spelling corrections and notations is located at + the end of this text. + + + + + _Edition d'Elite_ + + + Historical Tales + + The Romance of Reality + + By + + CHARLES MORRIS + + + _Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," "Tales + from the Dramatists," etc._ + + + IN FIFTEEN VOLUMES + + Volume XIV + + + King Arthur + + 2 + + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + + PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON + + + Copyright, 1891, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + Copyright, 1904, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + Copyright, 1908, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + +[Illustration: CONWAY CASTLE.] + + + + + CONTENTS TO VOLUME II. + + + BOOK VIII. + + TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE AT JOYOUS GARD. + + CHAPTER. PAGE. + + I.--THE TREACHERY OF KING MARK 9 + + II.--HOW TRISTRAM BEFOOLED DINADAN 23 + + III.--ON THE ROAD TO LONAZEP 36 + + IV.--HOW PALAMIDES FARED AT THE RED CITY 46 + + V.--THE TOURNAMENT AT LONAZEP 55 + + VI.--THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT 70 + + VII.--THE WOES OF TWO LOVERS 83 + + VIII.--THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES 92 + + + BOOK IX. + + THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL. + + I.--THE ENCHANTED CASTLE OF KING PELLAM 117 + + II.--THE MARVEL OF THE FLOATING SWORD 125 + + III.--HOW GALAHAD GOT HIS SHIELD 141 + + IV.--THE TEMPTATION OF SIR PERCIVALE 155 + + V.--THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS 173 + + VI.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAGIC SHIP 195 + + VII.--HOW LANCELOT SAW THE SANGREAL 207 + + VIII.--THE DEEDS OF THE THREE CHOSEN KNIGHTS 217 + + + BOOK X. + + THE LOVE OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER. + + I.--THE POISONING OF SIR PATRISE 226 + + II.--THE LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT 239 + + III.--HOW ELAINE DIED FOR LOVE 251 + + IV.--THE CHEVALIER OF THE CART 260 + + + BOOK XI. + + THE HAND OF DESTINY. + + I.--THE TRAPPING OF THE LION 280 + + II.--THE RESCUE OF THE QUEEN 288 + + III.--THE RETURN OF GUENEVER 297 + + IV.--THE WAR BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LANCELOT 314 + + V.--THE STING OF THE VIPER 323 + + VI.--THE PASSING OF ARTHUR 335 + + VII.--THE DEATH OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER 339 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + KING ARTHUR. VOL. II. + + PAGE + + CONWAY CASTLE _Frontispiece._ + + ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL 10 + + THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR 16 + + MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM 24 + + THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM 42 + + SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD 55 + + THE DEPARTURE 93 + + ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL 118 + + JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA 134 + + OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD 144 + + SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS 153 + + AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL 183 + + THE MAGIC SHIP 198 + + SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL 217 + + SALISBURY CATHEDRAL 225 + + "YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH," SAID SIR BERNARD 241 + + ELAINE 259 + + SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER 287 + + THE TOWER OF LONDON 324 + + THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY 345 + + * * * * * + + + + + KING ARTHUR + + AND THE + + KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. + + + + + BOOK VIII. + + TRISTRAM AND ISOLDE AT JOYOUS GARD + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TREACHERY OF KING MARK. + + +The story of Tristram's valorous deeds, and of the high honor in which +he was held at Camelot, in good time came to Cornwall, where it filled +King Mark's soul with revengeful fury, and stirred the heart of La Belle +Isolde to the warmest love. The coward king, indeed, in his jealous +hatred of his nephew, set out in disguise for England, with murderous +designs against Tristram should an opportunity occur. + +Many things happened to him there, and he was brought into deep +disgrace, but the story of his adventures may be passed over in brief +review, lest the reader should find it wearisome. + +Not far had he ridden on English soil before he met with Dinadan, who, +in his jesting humor, soon played him a merry trick. For he arrayed +Dagonet, the king's fool, in a suit of armor, which he made Mark believe +was Lancelot's. Thus prepared, Dagonet rode to meet him and challenged +him to a joust. But King Mark, on seeing what he fancied was Lancelot's +shield, turned and fled at headlong speed, followed by the fool and his +comrades with hunting cries and laughter till the forest rang with the +noise. + +Escaping at length from this merry chase, the trembling dastard made his +way to Camelot, where he hoped some chance would arise to aid him in his +murderous designs on Tristram. But a knight of his own train, named Sir +Amant, had arrived there before him, and accused him of treason to the +king, without telling who he was. + +"This is a charge that must be settled by wager of battle," said King +Arthur. "The quarrel is between you; you must decide it with sword and +spear." + +In the battle that followed, Sir Amant, by unlucky fortune, was run +through, and fell from his horse with a mortal wound. + +"Heaven has decided in my favor," cried King Mark. "But here I shall no +longer stay, for it does not seem a safe harbor for honest knights." + +He thereupon rode away, fearing that Dinadan would reveal his name. Yet +not far had he gone before Lancelot came in furious haste after him. + +[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL.] + +"Turn again, thou recreant king and knight," he loudly called. "To +Arthur's court you must return, whether it is your will or not. We know +you, villain. Sir Amant has told your name and purpose; and, by my +faith, I am strongly moved to kill you on the spot." + +"Fair sir," asked King Mark, "what is your name?" + +"My name is Lancelot du Lake. Defend yourself, dog and dastard." + +On hearing this dreaded name, and seeing Lancelot riding upon him with +spear in rest, King Mark tumbled like a sack of grain from his saddle to +the earth, crying in terror, "I yield me, Sir Lancelot! I yield me!" and +begging piteously for mercy. + +"Thou villain!" thundered Lancelot, "I would give much to deal thee one +buffet for the love of Tristram and Isolde. Mount, dog, and follow me." + +Mark hastened to obey, and was thus brought like a slave back to +Arthur's court, where he made such prayers and promises that in the end +the king forgave him, but only on condition that he would enter into +accord with Tristram, and remove from him the sentence of banishment. +All this King Mark volubly promised and swore to abide by, though a +false heart underlay his fair words. But Tristram gladly accepted the +proffered truce with his old enemy, for his heart burned with desire to +see his lady love again. + +Soon afterwards Dinadan, with Dagonet and his companions, came to court, +and great was the laughter and jesting at King Mark when they told the +story of his flight from Arthur's fool. + +"This is all very well for you stay-at-homes," cried Mark; "but even a +fool in Lancelot's armor is not to be played with. As it was, Dagonet +paid for his masquerade, for he met a knight who brought him like a log +to the ground, and all these laughing fellows with him." + +"Who was that?" asked King Arthur. + +"I can tell you," said Dinadan. "It was Sir Palamides. I followed him +through the forest, and a lively time we had in company." + +"Aha! then you have had adventures." + +"Rare ones. We met a knight before Morgan le Fay's castle. You know the +custom there, to let no knight pass without a hard fight for it. This +stranger made havoc with the custom, for he overthrew ten of your +sister's knights, and killed some of them. He afterwards tilted with +Palamides for offering to help him, and gave that doughty fellow a sore +wound." + +"Who was this mighty champion? Not Lancelot or Tristram?" asked the +king, looking around. + +"On our faith we had no hand in it," they both answered. + +"It was the knight next to them in renown," answered Dinadan. + +"Lamorak of Wales?" + +"No less. And, my faith, a sturdy fellow he is. I left him and Palamides +the best of friends." + +"I hope, then, to see the pair of them at next week's tournament," said +the king. + +Alas for Lamorak! Better for him far had he kept away from that +tournament. His gallant career was near its end, for treachery and +hatred were soon to seal his fate. This sorrowful story it is now our +sad duty to tell. + +Lamorak had long loved Margause, the queen of Orkney, Arthur's sister +and the mother of Gawaine and his brethren. For this they hated him, and +with treacherous intent invited their mother to a castle near Camelot, +as a lure to her lover. Soon after the tournament, at which Lamorak won +the prize of valor, and redoubled the hatred of Gawaine and his brothers +by overcoming them in the fray, word was brought to the victorious +knight that Margause was near at hand and wished to see him. + +With a lover's ardor, he hastened to the castle where she was, but, as +they sat in the queen's apartment in conversation, the door was suddenly +flung open, and Gaheris, one of the murderous brethren, burst in, full +armed and with a naked sword in his hand. Rushing in fury on the +unsuspecting lovers, with one dreadful blow he struck off his mother's +head, crimsoning Lamorak with her blood. He next assailed Lamorak, who, +being unarmed, was forced to fly for his life, and barely escaped. + +The tidings of this dread affair filled the land with dismay, and many +of the good knights of Arthur's court threatened reprisal. Arthur +himself was full of wrath at the death of his sister. Yet those were +days when law ruled not, but force was master, and retribution only came +from the strong hand and the ready sword. This was Lamorak's quarrel, +and the king, though he vowed to protect him from his foes, declared +that the good knight of Wales must seek retribution with his own hand. + +He gained death, alas! instead of revenge, for his foes proved too +vigilant for him, and overcame him by vile treachery. Watching his +movements, they lay in ambush for him at a difficult place, and as he +was passing, unsuspicious of danger, they set suddenly upon him, slew +his horse, and assailed him on foot. + +Gawaine, Mordred, and Gaheris formed this ambush, for the noble-minded +Gareth had refused to take part in their murderous plot; and with +desperate fury they assaulted the noble Welsh knight, who, for three +hours, defended himself against their utmost strength. But at the last +Mordred dealt him a death-blow from behind, and when he fell in death +the three murders hewed him with their swords till scarce a trace of the +human form was left. + +Thus perished one of the noblest of Arthur's knights, and thus was done +one of the most villanous deeds of blood ever known in those days of +chivalrous war. + +Before the death of Lamorak another event happened at Arthur's court +which must here be told, for it was marvellous in itself, and had in it +the promise of wondrous future deeds. + +One day there came to the court at Camelot a knight attended by a young +squire. When he had disarmed he went to the king and asked him to give +the honor of knighthood to his squire. + +"What claim has he to it?" asked the king. "Of what lineage is he?" + +"He is the youngest son of King Pellinore, and brother to Sir Lamorak. +He is my brother also; for my name is Aglavale, and I am of the same +descent." + +"What is his name?" + +"Percivale." + +"Then for my love of Lamorak, and the love I bore your father, he shall +be made a knight to-morrow." + +So when the morrow dawned, the king ordered that the youth should be +brought into the great hall, and there he knighted him, dealing him the +accolade with his good sword Excalibur. + +And so the day passed on till the dinner-hour, when the king seated +himself at the head of the table, while down its sides were many knights +of prowess and renown. Percivale, the new-made knight, was given a seat +among the squires and the untried knights, who sat at the lower end of +the great dining-table. + +But in the midst of their dinner an event of great strangeness occurred. +For there came into the hall one of the queen's maidens, who was of high +birth, but who had been born dumb, and in all her life had spoken no +word. Straight across the hall she walked, while all gazed at her in +mute surprise, till she came to where Percivale sat. Then she took him +by the hand, and spoke in a voice that rang through the hall with the +clearness of a trumpet,-- + +"Arise, Sir Percivale, thou noble knight and warrior of God's own +choosing. Arise and come with me." + +He rose in deep surprise, while all the others sat in dumb wonder at +this miracle. To the Round Table she led him, and to the right side of +the seat perilous, in which no knight had hitherto dared to sit. + +"Fair knight, take here your seat;" she said. "This seat belongs to you, +and to none other, and shall be yours until a greater than you shall +come." + +This said, she departed and asked for a priest. Then was she confessed +and given the sacrament, and forthwith died. But the king and all his +court gazed with wonder on Sir Percivale, and asked themselves what all +this meant, and for what great career God had picked out this youthful +knight, for such a miracle no man there had ever seen before. + +Meanwhile, King Mark had gone back to Cornwall, and with him went Sir +Tristram, at King Arthur's request, though not till Arthur had made the +Cornish king swear on Holy Scripture to do his guest no harm, but hold +him in honor and esteem. + +Lancelot, however, was full of dread and anger when he heard what had +occurred, and he told King Mark plainly that if he did mischief to Sir +Tristram he would slay him with his own hands. + +"Bear this well in mind, sir king," he said, "for I have a way of +keeping my word." + +"I have sworn before King Arthur to treat him honorably," answered Mark. +"I, too, have a way of keeping my word." + +"A way, I doubt not," said Lancelot, scornfully; "but not my way. Your +reputation for truth needs mending. And all men know for what you came +into this country. Therefore, take heed what you do." + +[Illustration: Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1897 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR.] + +Then Mark and Tristram departed, and soon after they reached Cornwall a +damsel was sent to Camelot with news of their safe arrival, and bearing +letters from Tristram to Arthur and Lancelot. These they answered and +sent the damsel back, the burden of Lancelot's letter being, "Beware of +King Fox, for his ways are ways of wiles." + +They also sent letters to King Mark, threatening him if he should do +aught to Tristram's injury. These letters worked harm only, for they +roused the evil spirit in the Cornish king's soul, stirring him up to +anger and thirst for revenge. He thereupon wrote to Arthur, bidding him +to meddle with his own concerns, and to take heed to his wife and his +knights, which would give him work enough to do. As for Sir Tristram, he +said that he held him to be his mortal enemy. + +He wrote also to Queen Guenever, his letter being full of shameful +charges of illicit relations with Sir Lancelot, and dishonor to her +lord, the king. Full of wrath at these vile charges, Guenever took the +letter to Lancelot, who was half beside himself with anger on reading +it. + +"You cannot get at him to make him eat his words," said Dinadan, whom +Lancelot took into his confidence. "And if you seek to bring him to +terms with pen and ink, you will find that his villany will get the +better of your honesty. Yet there are other ways of dealing with +cowardly curs. Leave him to me; I will make him wince. I will write a +mocking lay of King Mark and his doings, and will send a harper to sing +it before him at his court. When this noble king has heard my song I +fancy he will admit that there are other ways of gaining revenge besides +writing scurrilous letters." + +A stinging lay, indeed, was that which Dinadan composed. When done he +taught it to a harper named Eliot, who in his turn taught it to other +harpers, and these, by the orders of Arthur and Lancelot, went into +Wales and Cornwall to sing it everywhere. + +Meanwhile King Mark's crown had been in great danger. For his country +had been invaded by an army from Session, led by a noted warrior named +Elias, who drove the forces of Cornwall from the field and besieged the +king in his castle of Tintagil. And now Tristram came nobly to the +rescue. At the head of the Cornish forces he drove back the besiegers +with heavy loss, and challenged Elias to a single combat to end the war. +The challenge was accepted, and a long and furious combat followed, but +in the end Elias was slain, and the remnant of his army forced to +surrender. + +This great service added to the seeming accord between Tristram and the +king, but in his heart Mark nursed all his old bitterness, and hated him +the more that he had helped him. His secret fury soon found occasion to +flame to the surface. For at the feast which was given in honor of the +victory, Eliot, the harper, appeared, and sang before the king and his +lords the lay that Dinadan had made. + +This was so full of ridicule and scorn of King Mark that he leaped from +his seat in a fury of wrath before the harper had half finished. + +"Thou villanous twanger of strings!" he cried. "What hound sent you into +this land to insult me with your scurrilous songs?" + +"I am a minstrel," said Eliot, "and must obey the orders of my lord. +Sir Dinadan made this song, if you would know, and bade me sing it +here." + +"That jesting fool!" cried Mark, in wrath. "As for you, fellow, you +shall go free through minstrels' license. But if you lose any time in +getting out of this country you may find that Cornish air is not good +for you." + +The harper took this advice and hastened away, bearing letters from +Tristram to Lancelot and Dinadan. But King Mark turned the weight of his +anger against Tristram, whom he believed had instigated this insult, +with the design to set all the nobles of his own court laughing at him. +And well he knew that the villanous lay would be sung throughout the +land, and that he would be made the jest of all the kingdom. + +"They have their sport now," he said. "Mine will come. Tristram of +Lyonesse shall pay dearly for this insult. And all that hold with him +shall learn that King Mark of Cornwall is no child's bauble to be played +with." + +The evil-minded king was not long in putting his project in execution. +At a tournament which was held soon afterwards Tristram was badly +wounded, and King Mark, with great show of sorrow, had him borne to a +castle near by, where he took him under his own care as nurse and leech. + +Here he gave him a sleeping draught, and had him borne while slumbering +to another castle, where he was placed in a strong prison cell, under +the charge of stern keepers. + +The disappearance of Tristram made a great stir in the kingdom. La Belle +Isolde, fearing treachery, went to a faithful knight named Sir Sadok, +and begged him to try and discover what had become of the missing +knight. Sadok set himself diligently to work; and soon learned that +Tristram was held captive in the castle of Lyonesse. Then he went to +Dinas, the seneschal, and others, and told them what had been done, at +which they broke into open rebellion against King Mark, and took +possession of all the towns and castles in the country of Lyonesse, +filling them with their followers. + +But while the rebellious army was preparing to march on Tintagil, and +force King Mark to set free his prisoner, Tristram was delivered by the +young knight Sir Percivale, who had come thither in search of +adventures, and had heard of King Mark's base deed. Great was the joy +between these noble knights, and Tristram said,-- + +"Will you abide in these marches, Sir Percivale? If so, I will keep you +company." + +"Nay, dear friend, I cannot tarry here. Duty calls me into Wales." + +But before leaving Cornwall he went to King Mark, told him what he had +done, and threatened him with the revenge of all honorable knights if he +sought again to injure his noble nephew. + +"What would you have me do?" asked the king. "Shall I harbor a man who +openly makes love to my wife and queen?" + +"Is there any shame in a nephew showing an open affection for his +uncle's wife?" asked Percivale. "No man will dare say that so noble a +warrior as Sir Tristram would go beyond the borders of sinless love, or +will dare accuse the virtuous lady La Belle Isolde of lack of chastity. +You have let jealousy run away with your wisdom, King Mark." + +So saying, he departed; but his words had little effect on King Mark's +mind. No sooner had Percivale gone than he began new devices to gratify +his hatred of his nephew. He sent word to Dinas, the seneschal, under +oath, that he intended to go to the Pope and join the war against the +infidel Saracens, which he looked upon as a nobler service than that of +raising the people against their lawful king. + +So earnest were his professions that Dinas believed him and dismissed +his forces, but no sooner was this done than King Mark set aside his +oath and had Tristram again privately seized and imprisoned. + +This new outrage filled the whole realm with tumult and rebellious +feeling. La Belle Isolde was at first thrown into the deepest grief, and +then her heart swelled high with resolution to live no longer with the +dastard who called her wife. Tristram at the same time privately sent +her a letter, advising her to leave the court of her villanous lord, and +offering to go with her to Arthur's realm, if she would have a vessel +privately made ready. + +The queen thereupon had an interview with Dinas and Sadok, and begged +them to seize and imprison the king, since she was resolved to escape +from his power. + +Furious at the fox-like treachery of the king, these knights did as +requested, for they formed a plot by which Mark was privately seized, +and they imprisoned him secretly in a strong dungeon. At the same time +Tristram was delivered, and soon sailed openly away from Cornwall with +La Belle Isolde, gladly shaking the dust of that realm of treachery from +his feet. + +In due time the vessel touched shore in King Arthur's dominions, and +gladly throbbed the heart of the long-unhappy queen as her feet touched +that free and friendly soil. As for Tristram, never was lover fuller of +joy, and life seemed to him to have just begun. + +Not long had they landed when a knightly chance brought Lancelot into +their company. Warm indeed was the greeting of those two noble +companions, and glad the welcome which Lancelot gave Isolde to English +soil. + +"You have done well," he said, "to fly from that wolf's den. There is no +noble knight in the world but hates King Mark and will honor you for +leaving his palace of vile devices. Come with me, you shall be housed at +my expense." + +Then he rode with them to his own castle of Joyous Gard, a noble +stronghold which he had won with his own hands. A royal castle it was, +garnished and provided with a richness which no king or queen could +surpass. Here Lancelot bade them use everything as their own, and +charged all his people to love and honor them as they would himself. + +"Joyous Gard is yours as long as you will honor it by making it your +home," he said. "As for me, I can have no greater joy than to know that +my castle is so nobly tenanted, and that Tristram of Lyonesse and Queen +Isolde are my honored guests." + +Leaving them, Lancelot rode to Camelot, where he told Arthur and +Guenever of what had happened, much to their joy and delight. + +"By my crown," cried Arthur, joyfully, "the coming of Tristram and +Isolde to my realm is no everyday event, and is worthy of the highest +honor. We must signalize it with a noble tournament." + +Then he gave orders that a stately passage-at-arms should be held on +May-day at the castle of Lonazep, which was near Joyous Gard. And word +was sent far and near that the knights of his own realm of Logris, with +those of Cornwall and North Wales, would be pitted against those of the +rest of England, of Ireland and Scotland, and of lands beyond the seas. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW TRISTRAM BEFOOLED DINADAN. + + +Never were two happier lovers than Tristram and Isolde at Joyous Gard. +Their days were spent in feasting and merriment, Isolde's heart +overflowing with joy to be free from the jealousy of her ill-tempered +spouse, and Tristram's to have his lady love to himself, far from +treacherous plots and murderous devices. + +Every day Tristram went hunting, for at that time men say he was the +best courser at the chase in the world, and the rarest blower of the +horn among all lovers of sport. From him, it is said, came all the +terms of hunting and hawking, the distinction between beasts of the +chase and vermin, all methods of dealing with hounds and with game, and +all the blasts of the chase and the recall, so that they who delight in +huntsmen's sport will have cause to the world's end to love Sir Tristram +and pray for his soul's repose. + +Yet Isolde at length grew anxious for his welfare, and said,-- + +"I marvel that you ride so much to the chase unarmed. This is a country +not well known to you, and one that contains many false knights, while +King Mark may lay some plot for your destruction. I pray you, my dear +love, to take more heed to your safety." + +This advice seemed timely, and thereafter Tristram rode in armor to the +chase, and followed by men who bore his shield and spear. One day, a +little before the month of May, he followed a hart eagerly, but as the +animal led him by a cool woodland spring, he alighted to quench his +thirst in the gurgling waters. + +Here, by chance, he met with Dinadan, who had come into that country in +search of him. Some words of greeting passed between them, after which +Dinadan asked him his name, telling his own. This confidence Tristram +declined to return, whereupon Dinadan burst out in anger. + +[Illustration: MARRIAGE OF SIR TRISTRAM.] + +"You value your name highly, sir knight," he said. "Do you design to +ride everywhere under a mask? Such a foolish knight as you I saw but +lately lying by a well. He seemed like one asleep, and no word could be +got from him, yet all the time he grinned like a fool. The fellow was +either an idiot or a lover, I know not which." + +"And are not you a lover?" asked Tristram. + +"Marry, my wit has saved me from that craft." + +"That is not well said," answered Tristram. "A knight who disdains love +is but half a man, and not half a warrior." + +"I am ready to stand by my creed," retorted Dinadan. "As for you, +sirrah, you shall tell me your name, or do battle with me." + +"You will not get my name by a threat, I promise you that," said +Tristram. "I shall not fight till I am in the mood; and when I do, you +may get more than you bargain for." + +"I fear you not, coward," said Dinadan. + +"If you are so full of valor, here is your man," said Tristram, pointing +to a knight who rode along the forest aisle towards them. "He looks +ready for a joust." + +"On my life, it is the same dull-plate knave I saw lying by the well, +neither sleeping nor waking," said Dinadan. + +"This is not the first time I have seen that covered shield of azure," +said Tristram. "This knight is Sir Epinegris, the son of the king of +Northumberland, than whom the land holds no more ardent lover, for his +heart is gone utterly out to the fair daughter of the king of Wales. +Now, if you care to find whether a lover or a non-lover is the better +knight, here is your opportunity." + +"I shall teach him to grin to more purpose," said Dinadan. "Stand by and +you shall see." + +Then, as the lover approached, he cried,-- + +"Halt, sir knight, and make ready to joust, as is the custom with errant +knights." + +"Let it be so, if you will," answered Epinegris. "Since it is the custom +of you knight-errant to make a man joust whether he will or no, I am +your man." + +"Make ready, then, for here is for you." + +Then they spurred their horses and rode together at full speed, Dinadan +breaking his spear, while Epinegris struck him so shrewd a blow that he +rolled upon the earth. + +"How now?" cried Tristram. "It seems to me that the lover has best +sped." + +"Will you play the coward?" queried Dinadan. "Or will you, like a good +knight, revenge me?" + +"I am not in the mood," answered Tristram. "Take your horse, Sir +Dinadan, and let us get away from here, where hard blows are more +plentiful than soft beds." + +"Defend me from such fellowship as yours!" roared Dinadan. "Take your +way and I will take mine. We fit not well together." + +"I might give you news of Sir Tristram." + +"Sir Tristram, if he be wise, will seek better company. I can do without +your news, as I have had to do without your help," and he rode on in +high dudgeon. + +"Farewell, then," cried Tristram, laughing. "It may happen we shall soon +meet again." + +Tristram rode back in much amusement to Joyous Gard, but on coming near +he heard in the neighboring town a great outcry. + +"What means this noise?" he asked. + +"Sir," he was told, "a knight of the castle has just been slain by two +strangers, and for no other cause than saying that Sir Lancelot was a +better knight than Sir Gawaine." + +"Who would dispute that?" said Tristram. "It is a small cause for the +death of a good man, that he stands for his lord's fame." + +"But what remedy have we?" said the towns-men. "If Lancelot had been +here, these fellows would soon have been called to a reckoning. But, +alas, he is away." + +"I may do something in his service," answered Tristram. "If I take his +place, I must defend his followers." + +Thereupon he sent for his shield and spear, and rode in pursuit of the +two knights, whom he overtook before they had gone far. + +"Turn, sir dastards," he cried, "and amend your misdeeds." + +"What amends wish you?" asked one of the knights. "We are ready with +spear and sword to make good whatever we have done." + +He rode against Tristram, but was met so sturdily in mid career that he +was thrust over his horse's tail. Then the other rode against him, and +was served in the same rough manner. + +They rose as quickly as they could, drew their swords, and challenged +him to battle on foot. + +"You shall tell me your names," he said, sternly. "I warn you that if it +comes to sword-play you will find more than your match. Yet you may have +that in your lineage which will keep you from my hands, however much you +deserve punishment for your evil deeds." + +"As for our names, we dread not to tell them. We are Agravaine and +Gaheris, brothers to the good knight Gawaine, and nephews of King +Arthur." + +"For Arthur's sake, then, I must let you pass unscathed. Yet it is a +crying shame that men of such good blood as you should play the part of +murderers. You slew among you a better knight than the best of your kin, +Lamorak de Galis, and I would to God I had been by at that time." + +"You would have gone the same road," said Gaheris. + +"Not without more knights to do it than you had in your murderous crew." + +With these words he turned from them and rode back towards Joyous Gard. +When he had gone they regained their horses, and feeling themselves safe +in the saddle their courage returned. + +"Let us pursue this boaster," they said, "and see if he fares so much +better than Lamorak." + +They did so, and when they came near Tristram, who was jogging slowly +along, Agravaine cried,-- + +"Turn, traitor knight!" + +"Traitor in your teeth!" cried Tristram, in a rage. "I let you off too +cheaply, it seems." And drawing his sword, he turned upon Agravaine and +smote him so fiercely on the helm that he fell swooning from his horse, +with a dangerous wound. + +Then he turned to Gaheris and dealt him a blow that in like manner +tumbled him from his saddle to the earth. This done, Tristram turned and +rode into the castle, leaving them like dead men in the road. + +Here he told La Belle Isolde of his several adventures. When he spoke +of Dinadan, she asked,-- + +"Was it not he that made the song about King Mark?" + +"The same," answered Tristram. "He is the greatest jester at Arthur's +court, but a good knight withal, and I know no man whom I like better as +a comrade." + +"Why did you not bring him with you?" + +"No need of that. He is seeking me through this country, and there is no +fear that he will give up the search lightly." + +As they spoke, a servant came and told Tristram that a knight-errant had +entered the town, and described the device on his shield. + +"That is our man now," said Tristram. "That is Dinadan. Send for him, +Isolde, and you shall hear the merriest knight and the maddest talker +that you ever spoke with. I pray you to make him heartily welcome, for +he is a cherished friend of mine." + +Then Isolde sent into the town with a message to Dinadan, begging that +he would come to the castle and rest a while there, at a lady's wish. + +"That will I, with a good will," answered Dinadan. "I were but a churl +else." + +He hastened to mount and ride to the castle, and here he was shown to a +chamber where he laid aside his armor. Then he was brought into the +presence of La Belle Isolde, who courteously bade him welcome. + +"Whence, come you, and what name do you bear?" she asked. + +"Madam," he answered, "I am from King Arthur's court, and am one of the +small fry of Round Table Knights. My name is Dinadan." + +"And why came you hither?" + +"I am seeking my old friend and comrade, Sir Tristram, who I am told has +made his way to this country." + +"That I cannot answer for," said Isolde. "He may and he may not be here. +Sir Tristram will be found where love leads him." + +"I warrant me that. Your true lover has no will of his own, but is led +like an ox, with a ring in his nose. I marvel what juice of folly gets +into the pates of these lovers to make them so mad about the women." + +"Why, sir," said Isolde, "can it be that you are a knight and no lover? +I fancy that there can be no true man-of-arms who seeks not by his deeds +to win the smiles of the fair." + +"They who care to be fed on smiles are welcome to them, but I am not +made of that fashion," answered Dinadan. "The joy of love is too short, +and the sorrow thereof too long, to please my fancy." + +"Say you so? Yet near here but to-day was the good knight Sir Bleoberis, +he who fought with three knights at once for a maiden's sake, and won +her before the king of Northumberland." + +"I know him for a worthy fellow," said Dinadan, "as are all of +Lancelot's kindred. Yet he has crotchets in his head, like all that +crew." + +"Now, I pray you," said Isolde, "will you not do me the grace to fight +for my love with three knights that have done me great wrong? As you +are a knight of King Arthur's, you can never say me nay in such a duty." + +"Can I not?" cried Dinadan. "This much I will say, madam, that you are +as fair a sample of womankind as ever I saw, and much more beautiful +than is my lady Queen Guenever. And yet, heaven defend me, I will not +fight for you against three knights; and would not, were you Helen of +Troy herself." + +At these words, and the odd grimace which he made, La Belle Isolde burst +into a merry peal of laughter, and broke out with,-- + +"I know you better than you fancy, Sir Dinadan. And well you keep up +your credit of being a merry fellow. You are very welcome to my castle, +good sir." + +They had much more of gameful conversation together, and Dinadan was +treated with all honor, and slept serenely at the castle that night. But +Tristram took good care to keep out of his sight. + +Early the next day Tristram armed himself and prepared to ride away, +saying to the Lady Isolde that he would contrive to meet with Dinadan, +and would ride with him to Lonazep, where the tournament was to be held. +He promised also to make arrangements to provide her with a good place +from which to see the passage-at-arms. Then he departed, accompanied by +two squires, who bore his shield and a brace of great and long spears. + +Shortly afterwards Dinadan left the castle, bidding a merry adieu to the +lady, and rode so briskly forward that he soon overtook Tristram. He +knew him at sight for his yesterday's comrade, and made a sour grimace +at beholding him. + +"So," he said, "here again is my easy-going friend, who wears his armor +for a holiday parade. You shall not get off so lightly to-day, fellow. +You shall joust with me, despite your head." + +"Faith, I am not eager," said Tristram, "but a wilful man will have his +way; so let us have it over, if fight we must." + +Then they rode at each other, and Dinadan broke a spear on Tristram's +shield, but Tristram purposely missed him. + +Dinadan now bade him draw his sword. + +"Not I," he answered. "What makes you so warlike? I am not in the humor +to fight." + +"You shame all knights by your cowardice." + +"So far as that goes, it troubles me little," said Tristram. "Suppose, +my good sir, you take me under your protection. Though I bear arms I +shall gladly accept the patronage of so worthy a knight as you." + +"The devil deliver me of you!" cried Dinadan. "You are a fellow of +goodly build, and sit your horse like a warrior; but heaven knows if you +have blood or water in your veins. What do you propose to do with those +great spears that your squire carries?" + +"I shall give them to some good knight at the tournament. If you prove +the best there, you are welcome to them." + +As they thus conversed they saw a knight-errant in the road before them, +who sat with spear in rest as if eager to joust. + +"Come," said Tristram, "since you are so anxious for a fight, yonder is +your man." + +"Shame betide you for a dastard," cried Dinadan. "Fight him yourself. +You can't get more than a fall." + +"Not so. That knight seems a shrewish fellow. It will need a stronger +hand than mine to manage him." + +"Good faith, then, here's to teach you a lesson," said Dinadan, and he +rode fiercely against the other knight, with the unlucky result that he +was thrust from his horse, and fell headlong to the earth. + +"What did I tell you?" said Tristram. "You had better have taken a +lesson from my prudence, and let that good fellow alone." + +"The fiends take you, coward!" cried Dinadan, as he started to his feet +and drew his sword. "Come, sir knight, you are my better on horseback, +let us have it out on foot." + +"Shall it be in love or in anger?" said the other. + +"Let it be in love. I am saving all my anger for this do-nothing who +came with me." + +"Then I pray you to tell me your name." + +"Folks call me Dinadan." + +"Ah, and I am your comrade Gareth. I will not fight with an old friend +like Dinadan." + +"Nor I with you, by my faith!" cried Dinadan, seizing Gareth's hand and +giving it a warm pressure. "Beaumains is safe from my spear. Here is a +chap now, if you want to try your skill; but if you can get him to fight +you must first learn the art of converting a coward into a man of +valor." + +Tristram laughed quietly at this, and bided his time. Nor was there long +to wait, for just then a well-armed knight rode up, on a sturdy horse, +and put his spear in rest as he approached. + +"Now, my good sirs," said Tristram, "choose between yourselves which +will joust with yonder knight; for I warn you that I will keep clear of +him." + +"Faith, you had better," said Gareth. "Leave him to me." + +And he rode against the knight but with such ill-fortune that he was +thrust over his horse's croup. + +"It is your turn now," said Tristram to Dinadan. "Honor requires that +you should avenge your comrade Gareth." + +"Honor does, eh? Then reason does not, and I always weigh reason against +honor. He has overturned a much bigger fellow than I, and with your kind +permission I will not stir up that hornet." + +"Aha, friend Dinadan, your heart fails you after all your boasting. Very +well, you shall see what the coward can do. Make ready, sir knight." + +Then Tristram rode against the victorious knight, and dealt him so +shrewd a buffet that he was thrust from his horse. + +Dinadan looked at this in amazement. Was this the fellow that professed +cowardice and begged protection? "The cunning rogue," he said to +himself, "has been making game of me. The rascal! where has he learned +the art of turning my weapons on myself?" + +The dismounted knight rose to his feet in anger, and drawing his sword, +challenged Tristram to a fight on foot. + +"First, tell me your name?" asked Tristram. + +"My name is Palamides." + +"And what knight hate you most?" + +"I hate Sir Tristram to the death. If we meet, one of us must die." + +"You need not go far to seek him. I am Tristram de Lyonesse. Now do your +worst." + +At this Dinadan started, and struck his hand sturdily on his knee, like +one who has had a shock of surprise. Nor was Palamides less astonished, +and he stood before Tristram like one in a sudden revulsion of feeling. + +"I pray you, Sir Tristram," he said, "to forgive my ill-will and my +unkind words. You are a noble knight and worthy of the love of all +honorable warriors. I repent my truculent temper towards you, and, if I +live, will rather do you service than assail you." + +"I know your valor well," answered Tristram, "and that it is anything +but fear makes you speak so. Therefore I thank you much for your kind +words. But if you have any shreds of ill-will towards me I am ready to +give you satisfaction." + +"My wits have been astray," answered Palamides. "There is no just reason +why we should be at odds, and I am ready to do you knightly service in +all things you may command." + +"I take you at your word," cried Tristram, as he grasped Palamides by +the hand. "I have never been your enemy, and know none whom I would +rather have as a friend." + +"Would you?" cried Dinadan. "And would have me as your fool, mayhap? By +my knightly faith, you have made a sweet butt of me! I came into this +country for your sake, and by the advice of Sir Lancelot, though he +would not tell me where to find you. By Jove's ears, I never thought to +find you masquerading as a milk-brained coward." + +"He could have told you," said Tristram, "for I abode within his own +castle. As for my little sport, friend Dinadan, I cry you mercy." + +"Faith, it is but one of my own jests, turned against me," said Dinadan, +with a merry laugh. "I am pinked with my own dart. I forgive you, old +comrade; but I vow I did not know you had such a jolly humor." + +"It comes to one in your company," said Tristram, laughing. "The disease +is catching." + +And so the four knights rode gayly onward, conversing much as they went, +and laying their plans for the tournament. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ON THE ROAD TO LONAZEP. + + +The four knights rode onward in company until they came in sight of the +castle of Lonazep, where they saw striking preparations for the +tournament. For not less than four hundred tents and pavilions covered +the plain outside the great circle of the lists, and war-horses and +knights in armor were there in hundreds. + +"Truly," said Tristram, "this is the royalest show that I ever saw." + +"You forget," answered Palamides. "It had its equal at the Castle of +Maidens, where you won the prize." + +"And in that tournament which Galahalt of the Long Isles held in Surluse +there was as great a gathering," said Dinadan. + +"I was not there; who won the prize?" asked Tristram. + +"Lancelot du Lake, and the next after him was the noble knight Lamorak +de Galis." + +"A noble fellow, indeed, I never met his better, save Sir Lancelot. His +murder was shameful, and were they not the nephews of my lord Arthur +that slew him, by my faith they should die the death. And this without +prejudice to you, Sir Gareth." + +"Say what you will on that point; I am with you," answered Gareth. +"Though my own brothers did that bloody work, I hold not with them. None +of them love me, as you well know, and I have left their company as +murderers. Had I been by when Lamorak was killed there might have been +another tale to tell." + +"Truly that is well said of you," rejoined Tristram. "I would rather +have been there than to have all the gold between here and Rome." + +"And I also," said Palamides. "It is a burning disgrace to the Round +Table fellowship that such a knight should have been ambushed and slain +on his way from a passage-at-arms where he had won the prize of valor." + +"Out on such treason!" cried Tristram. "The tale of it makes my blood +run cold." + +"And mine as well," said Gareth. "I can never love or respect my +brothers again for that ruthless deed." + +"Yet to speak of it is useless," said Palamides. "His life is gone; we +cannot bring it back again." + +"There lies the pity," said Dinadan. "No matter how good and noble a man +may be, when he stops breathing all else stops with him. By good luck, +though, the same rule holds with villains and cowards. As for Gawaine +and his brothers, except you, Sir Gareth, they hate the best knights of +the Round Table, and Lancelot and his kindred above all. Only that +Lancelot is well aware of this, they might draw him into as deadly a +trap as they drew poor Lamorak." + +"Come, come, remember that Gareth is their brother," said Palamides. +"Let us change the subject. Here is this tournament,--what part shall we +play here? My advice is that we four hold together against all that may +assail us." + +"That is not my counsel," said Tristram. "By their pavilions we may +count on some four hundred knights, and doubtless many of them worthy +ones. If we play the game of four against all comers we are likely to +find ourselves borne down by numbers. Many good knights have lost the +game by taking too great odds. Manhood is of little avail if it be not +tempered by wisdom. If you think it best we may try it, and see what we +can do in company, but, as a rule, I prefer to fight for my own hand." + +As they thus talked they rode away from Lonazep, and in due time came to +the banks of the Humber, where they were surprised by a loud and +grievous cry that seemed full of doleful meaning. Looking over the +waters they saw approaching before the wind a vessel richly draped with +red silk. Not long had they waited when it came to the shore, at a point +close by where they stood. + +Seeing this strange thing and hearing the doleful cries which came from +the vessel, the knights gave their horses in care of their squires, and +approached on foot, Tristram boarding the vessel. When he reached the +deck he saw there a bed with rich silken coverings, on which lay a dead +knight, armed save the head, which was crimsoned with blood. And through +great gaps in his armor deadly wounds could be seen. + +"What means this?" said Tristram. "How came this knight by his death?" + +As he spoke he saw that a letter lay in the dead knight's hand. + +"Master mariners," he asked of those on board the vessel, "what does +this strange thing signify?" + +"Sir knight," they answered, "by the letter which the dead knight bears +you may learn how and for what cause he was slain, and what name he +bore. Yet first heed well this warning: No man must take and read that +letter unless he be a knight of proved valor, and faithfully promises to +revenge the murder of this good warrior." + +"There be those among us able to revenge him," answered Tristram. "And +if he shall prove to have been foully treated his death shall not go +unredressed." + +Therewith he took the letter from the knight's hand and opened it. Thus +it read,-- + +"I, Hermance, king and lord of the Red City, request of all +knights-errant and all noble knights of Arthur's court, that they find +one knight who will fight for my sake with two false brethren, whom I +brought up from nothingness and who have feloniously and treacherously +slain me. And it is my will and desire that the valiant knight who +avenges my death shall become lord of my Red City and all my castles." + +"Sir," said the mariners, "the king and knight that lies here dead was a +man of great virtue and noble prowess, and one who loved all +knights-errant, and, above all, those of King Arthur's court." + +"It is a piteous case, truly," said Tristram. "I would fain take the +enterprise in hand myself, but that I have made a solemn promise to take +part in this great tournament. It was for my sake in especial that my +lord Arthur made it, and I cannot in honor and courtesy fail to attend +it. Therefore I am not free to undertake any adventure which may keep me +from the lists." + +"I pray you, dear sir," said Palamides, who had followed Tristram into +the vessel, "to put this enterprise into my hands. I promise to achieve +it worthily or to die in the effort." + +"Be it so," said Tristram. "You may go if you will. But first I wish +your promise to return so as to be with me at the tournament this day +week, if possible." + +"That promise I freely give. If I be alive and unhurt, and my task be +not too arduous and long, I shall be with you by that day." + +This said, Tristram left the vessel, leaving Palamides in it, and he, +with Gareth and Dinadan, stood watching it as the mariners hoisted its +sails and it glided swiftly away over long Humber. Not till it was out +of sight did they return to their horses, and look about them. + +As they did so they beheld near them a knight, who came up unarmed save +a sword, and saluted them with all courtesy. + +"Fair sirs," he said, "I pray you, as knights-errant, to come and see my +castle, and take such fare as you may find there. This I heartily +request." + +"That shall we willingly do, and thank you for your courtesy," they +answered, and rode with him to his castle, which was near by. + +Here they entered a richly-furnished hall, and, having laid off their +armor, took their seats at a well-laden table. But when the host saw +Tristram's face, he knew him, and first grew pale and then angry of +countenance. + +"Sir, mine host," said Tristram, on seeing this threatening aspect, +"what is wrong with you, I pray?" + +"I know you, Tristram de Lyonesse," answered the knight, hotly. "You +slew my brother. Honor demands that I shall not seek revenge here, but I +give you warning that I will kill you when I meet you outside my +castle." + +"I have no knowledge of you or your brother," answered Tristram. "But no +man can say that I ever killed any one except in fair and open fight. If +I have done as you say I stand ready to make what amends are in my +power." + +"I desire no amends," rejoined the knight. "But I warn you to keep from +me." + +Tristram at this rose from the table and asked for his arms, his +companions following him. Seeking their horses they rode away, but they +had not gone far from the castle when Dinadan saw a knight following +them, who was well armed, but bore no shield. + +"Take care of yourself, Sir Tristram," he said. "Yonder comes our host +to call you to account." + +"Then I must abide him as I may," answered Tristram. + +Soon the knight came up, and, loudly bidding Tristram to be on his +guard, he rode furiously upon him with couched spear. But his valor went +beyond his strength, for he was hurled over his horse's croup. + +Not content with this, he rose, mounted again, and driving his horse at +full speed upon Tristram, struck him two hard blows on the helm. + +"Sir knight," said Tristram, "I pray you leave off this sport. I do not +care to harm you after having just eaten at your table, but beg you not +to try my patience too far." + +The furious assailant would not cease, however, and continued his +assaults until Tristram was provoked to anger. In the end he returned +the knight a blow with the full strength of his mighty arm, so fierce a +buffet, indeed, that the blood burst out from the breathing holes of his +helm, and he fell to the earth and lay there like one dead. + +[Illustration: THE ASSAULT OF SIR TRISTRAM.] + +"I hope I have not killed him," said Tristram. "I did not think to +strike the man so hard a blow, but I am not a log to stand at rest and +let him whet his sword on." + +Leaving the fallen knight to the care of his squire, they rode on; but +not far had they gone when they saw coming towards them two well-armed +and well-horsed knights, each with a good following of servants. One of +these was Berrant le Apres, he who was called the king with the hundred +knights, and the other Sir Segwarides, both men of might and renown. + +When they came up the king looked at Dinadan, who, through sport, had +put on Tristram's helmet. This he recognized as one he had seen before +with the queen of Northgalis, whom he loved. She had given it to La +Belle Isolde, and she to Tristram. + +"Sir knight," asked Berrant, "whence had you that helm?" + +"Not from you, I fancy. What have you to say to it?" + +"That I will have a tilt with you, for the love of her who once owned +it. Therefore, defend yourself." + +So they drew asunder, and rode at each other with all the speed of their +horses. But Dinadan, good knight as he was, was no match for the tough +and hardy warrior before him, and was sent, horse and all, to the +ground. + +"I fancy I have something to say about the helmet now," said Berrant, +grimly. "Go take it off him, and keep it," he ordered his servant. + +"What will you do?" cried Tristram. "Hands off, fellow. Touch not that +helm." + +"To what intent do you meddle, sir knight?" demanded Berrant. + +"To this intent, that the helm is mine. Nor will you get it from me till +you buy it at a dearer price." + +"Do you mean that as a challenge?" asked Berrant. "Be it so, then; make +ready." + +Together they rode with all speed, but with a change of fortune, for +Berrant found himself thrust over the tail of his horse. In a moment he +was on his feet, sprang briskly to his saddle, and, riding in anger upon +Tristram, struck at him fiercely with his sword. + +Tristram was not taken unawares, but in an instant had his sword in +hand. A fierce combat followed, for the king with the hundred knights +was a warrior of tough sinews and tried valor, but at the last he +received such a buffet on the helm that he fell forward on his horse's +neck, stunned and helpless. + +"By my faith, that helmet has proved unlucky for two of us," said +Dinadan. "It brought me a tumble, and now, sir king, you owe it a +buzzing head-piece." + +"Who will joust with me?" asked Segwarides. + +"It is your right," said Gareth to Dinadan, "but I pray you let me have +it." + +"You are heartily welcome to it. One tumble a day is enough for my weak +appetite," answered Dinadan. "I make you a free present of the +opportunity." + +"That is no fair exchange," said Tristram. "The joust is yours by +right." + +"But not by choice," rejoined Dinadan. "Good faith, sir bruiser, I have +lived long enough to know when I have had my share, and that is a +lesson it would pay many of you battle-hungry knights to learn." + +Then Gareth and Segwarides rode together, the result being that Gareth +and his horse went in a heap to the earth. + +"Now," said Tristram, "the joust is yours." + +"But the appetite is lacking," said Dinadan. "I have even less stomach +for it than before." + +"Then will I try him." + +With these words Tristram challenged Segwarides, who received a sore +fall in the joust that followed. Then the three knights rode on, leaving +their late antagonists the worse in heart and limb for the encounter. + +They continued their ride till they reached Joyous Gard. Here Gareth +courteously declined to enter the castle, but Tristram would not hear of +his departure, and made him alight and enter as his guest. So they +disarmed and had good cheer, with La Belle Isolde as their hostess. + +But Dinadan, when he came into the presence of Isolde, roundly cursed +the hour that he had been persuaded to wear Tristram's helm, and told +her of how he had been mocked by his comrade knight. + +Much laughing and jesting at Dinadan followed, but this was a game in +which he was quite able to hold his own, however he might lack with +sword and spear. For Arthur's court held no other so witty of tongue and +merry of heart. And thus in jest and feast they passed the hours happily +away. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HOW PALAMIDES FARED AT THE RED CITY. + + +Leaving Tristram and his companions to their merry talk in Joyous Gard, +we must now return to Palamides. The ship into which he had entered +sailed far along the Humber, until in time it reached the open sea. It +continued its course through the sea-waves till it came to a part of the +coast where stood a stately castle. + +All day and night they had sailed, and it was now early in the morning, +before day-dawn. Palamides was sound asleep in the vessel's cabin when +the mariners came to call him. + +"Sir knight," they said, "you must arise. We have reached a castle, +which you must enter." + +"I am at your command," he replied. + +Rising, he armed himself quickly, and then blew a loud call upon a horn +which the mariners gave him. + +At the ringing music of that bugle-blast the sleeping castle seemed to +stir into life. Soon many eyes could be seen looking from the windows, +and ere long the walls were crowded with knights, who called to +Palamides as with one voice, "Welcome, fair sir, to this castle." + +The day had now fully dawned, and Palamides entered the castle, where a +crowd of knights came to greet him, and led him to a stately +dining-hall, where an abundant breakfast awaited him. But as he ate he +heard much lamentation, and saw many whose eyes were wet with tears. + +"What means this?" he asked. "I love not such sorrow, and would fain +know what gives rise to it." + +"We mourn here daily," answered a knight named Sir Ebel, "and for this +cause. We had a king named Hermance, who was lord of the Red City, and +in every way a noble and generous monarch. And he loved nothing in the +world so much as the knights-errant of King Arthur's court, together +with the sports of jousting, hunting, and all knightly diversions. A +king so kind of heart as he was never before known in this country, and +we shall ever be filled with sorrow for his loss. Yet he acted unwisely, +and is himself at fault for his death." + +"Tell me how he was slain and by whom," asked Palamides. + +"In this wise it came to pass," answered Ebel. "He brought up, in pure +charity, two children, who are now strong knights. And to them he gave +all his trust and confidence, in default of those of his own blood. +These two men governed him completely, and, through him, his lands and +people, for they took the best of care that none of his kindred should +come into power. He was so free and trustful, and they so politic and +deceitful, that they ruled him as though they were the kings and he the +subject. When the lords of our king's blood saw that he had fallen into +this dotage they left the court in disgust, and sought their livelihood +elsewhere. This it proved not wise to do, for when these villains found +that all the king's kindred had left the realm they schemed to have more +power still; for, as the old saw says, 'Give a churl rule in part, and +he will not be content till he has it all.' It is the instinct of the +base-born to destroy gentlemen-born, if the power be put in their hands, +and all rulers should take warning by the fate of King Hermance. In the +end our king, by the advice of these traitors, rode into the forest here +by, to chase the red deer. When he had become warm from the hunt he +alighted to drink at a woodland spring, and, while he was bent over the +water, one of these villains thrust him through the body with a spear. +They then fled from the spot, thinking he was dead. Shortly after they +had gone, fortune brought me to the spot, where I found my lord still +alive, but mortally hurt, and learned from him his story. Knowing that +we had no knights able to revenge him on his murderers, I had him +brought to the water, and put into the ship alive, and the letter which +he bore in his hand I wrote from his own words. Then he died, and, as he +had ordered, the ship set sail up the Humber, bound for the realm of +Logris, where it was hoped that some valiant Knight of the Round Table +would take this adventure on himself." + +"Truly your doleful tale grieves me sorely," said Palamides. "I saw the +letter you speak of. It was read to me by one of the best knights upon +the earth, and it is by his command I am here. I came to revenge your +king, and I shall never be at ease till I meet with and punish his +murderers." + +"You have my hearty thanks and best wishes," said Ebel. "Since you +accept this adventure, you must enter the ship again, and sail forward +till you reach the Delectable Isle, which is near by the Red City. We +shall await here your return. If you speed well this castle is yours. +King Hermance built it for the two traitors, but we hold it against +them, and they threaten us sorely unless we yield it." + +"Look that you keep it, whatsoever may come to me," said Palamides. "For +if fortune decides that I am to be slain in this quest, I trust that one +of the best knights in the world will come to revenge me; either +Tristram de Lyonesse or Lancelot du Lake." + +Then Palamides entered the ship and sailed away towards the Red City. +But as he came near it, and landed on the coast, another ship touched +shore near by, from which came a goodly knight, with his shield on his +shoulder and his hand on his sword. + +"Sir knight, what seek you here?" he asked Palamides. "If you have come +to revenge King Hermance you must yield this quest to me, for it was +mine before it was yours, and I shall yield it to no man." + +"You speak like a true knight," said Palamides. "But when the letter was +taken from the dead king's hand there was nothing known of any champion +for him, and so I promised to revenge him. And this I must and shall do, +lest I win shame instead of honor." + +"You have right on your side," said the knight. "What I propose is this. +I will fight with you; and he who proves the better knight shall have +the quest." + +"That fits with my fancy," said Palamides; "for from what I hear no +second-rate champion can watch this pair of villains." + +With this they advanced their shields and drew their swords, and began a +stern and well-contested combat. For more than an hour the fight between +them continued, but at the end of this time Palamides seemed stronger +and better-winded than at the beginning, and he finally dealt his +opponent a blow that brought him to his knees. Then the discomfited +combatant cried out,-- + +"Knight, hold your hand." + +Palamides let fall his sword at this request. + +"You are the better of us two, and more worthy of this battle," said the +knight. "But fain would I know your name." + +"My name is Palamides. I am a Knight of the Round Table, and one well +known in Arthur's realm." + +"In good faith it is, and much beyond that realm," answered the knight. +"I know only three living men besides yourself who are fitted for this +task, and they are Lancelot, Tristram, and my cousin Lamorak. As for me, +my name is Hermind, and I am brother to the murdered King Hermance." + +"I shall do my best to revenge your brother," said Palamides. "If I am +slain, I commend you to Lancelot or Tristram. As for Lamorak, he will +never strike blow again." + +"Alas, what mean you?" + +"That he has been murdered--waylaid and slain treacherously by Gawaine +and his brothers, except Sir Gareth, the best of them all." And he told +the story of the death of Lamorak, much to the grief and indignation of +his hearer. + +Then Palamides took ship again, and sailed on till he came to the +Delectable Isle. Meanwhile Hermind made all haste to the Red City, where +he told of the arrival of the famous knight Palamides and of his combat +with him. The people were filled with joy at these tidings, and quickly +sent a messenger to the two brethren, bidding them to make ready, as a +knight had come who would fight them both. The messenger found them at a +castle near by, and delivered his message. + +"Who is this champion?" they asked. "Is it Lancelot or any of his +blood?" + +"No." + +"If it were, we would not fight. But we care for no one else." + +"It is a good knight though, Sir Palamides, a Saracen by birth, and +still unchristened." + +"He had best have been christened before he came here, for it will be +too late when we have done with him. Let him know that we will be at the +Red City in two days, and will give him all the fighting he is likely to +want for the rest of his life." + +When Palamides came to the city he was received with the greatest joy, +and the more so when the people saw what a handsome and well-built man +he was, neither too young nor too old, with clean and powerful limbs, +and no defect of body. + +At the time appointed there came to the city the two brethren, Helius +and Helake by name, both of them strong and valiant men, of great +prowess in war, false as they were at heart. And with them they brought +forty knights, to guard them against any treachery from the Red City, +for they knew well that it was filled with their enemies. + +The lists had already been prepared, and at the appointed hour Palamides +entered full armed, and confronted his antagonists boldly. + +"Are you the two brethren Helius and Helake, who slew your king by +treason?" he asked. + +"We are the men who slew King Hermance," they replied. "And bear in +mind, Sir Saracen, we are able to stand by our deeds, and will handle +you so before you depart that you will wish you had been christened +before you came so far." + +"I trust to God I shall die a better Christian than either of you," +Palamides replied. "And you had best kill me if you get the chance, for +I vow not to spare you." + +As he spoke the trumpet sounded, and, reining back their horses, they +rode against each other with terrific speed. Palamides directed his +spear against Helake, and struck him so mighty a blow that the spear +pierced through his shield and hauberk, and for a fathom's length +through his breast, hurling him dead to the earth. As for Helius, he +held up his spear in pride and presumption, and rode by Palamides +without touching him. + +But when he saw his brother stretched in death on the earth his +assurance changed to doubt, and rage drove the pride from his heart. +"Help thyself, villain!" he cried, and rushed upon Palamides before he +could prepare to encounter him, striking him a blow with his spear that +bore him from his saddle to the earth. Then he forced his horse over +him backward and forward before the dismounted champion could regain his +feet. + +As he came again, the fallen knight reached up and caught the horse by +the bridle, dragging himself by its aid to his feet. Then, as the animal +reared, he pressed so strongly upon it that it toppled backward to the +ground, the rider barely saving himself from being crushed beneath his +fallen horse. But he was on his feet in an instant, and, sword in hand, +struck Palamides a blow on the helm that brought him down to one knee. + +Before he could repeat the blow the gallant Saracen was on his feet and +had drawn his trenchant blade, with which he attacked his antagonist in +turn. A fierce and deadly combat succeeded, the two knights hurtling +together like two wild boars, now both hurled grovelling to the earth, +now on foot again and hewing at each other with the strength of giants. + +Thus for two hours they fought, without time for rest or a moment's +space to recover breath. At the end of that time Palamides grew faint +and weary from the violence of his efforts, but Helius seemed as strong +as ever, and redoubling his strokes he drove back the Saracen knight +step by step, over all the field. At this the people of the city were +filled with fear, while the party of Helius shouted with triumph. + +"Alas!" cried the citizens, "that this noble knight should be slain for +our king's sake." + +While they thus bewailed his threatened fate and the seeming victory of +their tyrant, Helius showered so many vigorous blows on his weakened +foe that it was a wonder he kept his feet. But when he saw how the +common people wept for him his heart was filled with a sense of shame, +while a glow of fury burned like fire in his veins. + +"Fie on you for a dastard, Palamides!" he said to himself. "Why hang you +your head so like a whipped hound?" + +Then, with a new spirit burning hotly within him, and fresh strength +animating his limbs, he lifted his drooping shield and turned on Helius +with lion-like fury, smiting him a vigorous blow on the helm, which he +followed quickly by others. This violent onset was too much for the +strained strength of the false knight, and he retreated in dismay, while +the sword of Palamides fell with ever more and more might. At length +came so mighty a blow that he was hurled like a log to the earth. The +victorious Saracen gave him no time to recover, but sprang upon him like +a fury, tore the helm from his head, and with a final stroke smote the +head from his body. + +Then he rose and stood leaning upon his sword, hardly able to bear +himself on his feet, while from all the people of the city went up loud +shouts of joy and congratulation. + +"Palamides, the conqueror! Palamides, our deliverer! Palamides, our +king!" they shouted, while one adorned his brows with a wreath of +laurel, and others tore off his armor and applied ointments to his +bleeding limbs. + +"Fair friends, your crown is not for me," he said. "I have delivered you +from your tyrants, but you must choose some other king, as I am under +promise to return with all speed to my lord King Arthur at the castle of +Lonazep." + +This decision filled them with grief, but they brought him to the city +and treated him with all the honor which they could bestow upon him. And +as he persisted in his refusal of the crown, they proffered him a third +part of their goods if he would remain with them. All this he declined, +and in a short time departed, bearing with him a thousand good wishes +and prayers for success and fortune. + +He was received with like joy and congratulation at the castle, Sir Ebel +warmly pressing him to change his decision and remain as their king. To +this Palamides would by no means consent, and after a day's stay he took +ship again, and sailed up the Humber to the castle of Lonazep. + +[Illustration: SIR TRISTRAM AT JOYOUS GARD.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE TOURNAMENT AT LONAZEP. + + +When Palamides learned that Tristram was not at Lonazep, he tarried not +there, but crossed the Humber, and sought him at Joyous Gard. Here he +found lodgings in the town, and word was quickly brought to Tristram +that a knight-errant had come. + +"What manner of man is he? and what sign does he bear?" he asked. + +The messenger described his armor and appearance. + +"That is Palamides," said Dinadan. "The brave fellow is already back, +and victorious, I doubt not." + +"It looks that way, indeed. Go and bid him welcome to Joyous Gard," said +Tristram. + +So Dinadan went to Palamides, and joyfully greeted him, listening +eagerly to the story of his exploits, and congratulating him on his +signal success. He remained with him that night, and in the morning they +were visited by Tristram and Gareth before they had arisen. + +Many were the warm congratulations which Tristram gave Palamides on his +noble achievement, and after they had breakfasted he invited him to ride +into the fields and woods, that they might repose under the cool shelter +of the forest. Here they alighted by a refreshing spring, and as they +sat conversing an armed knight came riding towards them. + +"Who are those knights that are lodged in Joyous Gard?" he asked. + +"That I cannot say," answered Tristram. + +"At any rate you can tell me who you are. You are not knights-errant, I +fancy, since you ride unarmed." + +"Whether we be or no, we prefer not to tell our names." + +"You are not courteous, sir knight, and this is the way I pay +discourtesy," said the stranger. "Guard yourself, or you shall die by +my hands." + +Then, spear in hand, he rode on Sir Tristram, with brutal intent to run +him through. But Palamides sprang up hastily, and smote the knight's +horse so fierce a blow with his clinched fist that horse and man fell +together to the earth. He then drew his sword to slay him. + +"Let the dog go," said Tristram. "He is but a fool, and it were a shame +to slay him for his folly. Take the fellow's spear from him, though. It +is a weapon he has not learned the use of." + +The knight rose groaning, and when he had regained his saddle he again +requested their names. + +"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse, and this knight's name is Palamides. +Would you know more?" + +"No, by my faith!" cried the other, and, hastily putting spurs to his +horse, he rode away as fast as the animal would carry him. + +Hardly had he gone when a knight, who bore a bended shield of azure, +came riding up at a furious gallop. + +"My fair sirs," he asked, "has a knight passed here bearing a shield +with a case of red over it?" + +"Yes. We but now had some trouble with such a fellow. Who is he?" + +"And you let him escape? That was ill-advised, fair sirs. He is the +falsest rogue and the greatest foe to knights-errant living. His name is +Breuse Sans Pite." + +"And I had him under my sword!" cried Palamides. "Fool I was to let him +go." + +"If I overtake him there will be another story to tell," answered the +knight, as he spurred onward on the track of the fugitive. + +Then the four friends mounted and rode leisurely back towards Joyous +Gard, much conversing as they went. When they reached the castle +Palamides wished not to enter, but Tristram insisted on it, and, taking +him by the hand, led him in. + +When Palamides saw La Belle Isolde, whom he had not met for years, but +for whom his love burned as warmly as ever, he was so ravished with joy +that he could scarcely speak. And when they were at dinner he could not +eat a morsel, but sat like a dumb man, scarcely venturing to raise his +eyes to Isolde's lovely countenance. + +Poorly he slept that night, and with many dreams of her he loved. When +morning broke they all prepared to ride to Lonazep. Tristram took with +him three squires, and Queen Isolde had three gentlewomen, all attired +with great richness. These, with the other knights and their squires, +and valets to bear their shields and spears, formed their train. + +Not far had they gone before they saw on the road before them a group of +knights. Chief of these was the knight Galihodin, who was attended by +twenty companions. + +"Fair fellows," said Galihodin, "yonder come four knights escorting a +richly-attired lady. What say you? shall we take her from them?" + +"That is not the best counsel," said one. + +"At any rate, it is my counsel," answered Galihodin. "We shall show them +that we have the right of the road." And he sent a squire to them, +asking them if they would joust, or else lose their lady. + +"We are but four," said Tristram. "Tell your lord to come with three of +his comrades, and win her if he can." + +"Let me have this joust," said Palamides. "I will undertake them all +four." + +"As you will," said Tristram. "Go tell your lord that this one knight +will encounter him and any three of his fellows." + +The squire departed with his challenge, and in a trice Galihodin came +riding forward spear in rest. Palamides encountered him in mid career, +and smote him so hard a blow that he had a terrible fall to the earth, +and his horse with him. His three comrades were served in the same +summary manner, while Palamides still bore an unbroken spear. At this +unlooked-for result six knights rode out from the opposite party with +purpose of revenge on the victor. + +"Hold your hands," cried Galihodin. "Let not one of you touch this noble +knight, who has proved himself a man of worth. And I doubt if the whole +of you could handle him." + +When Palamides saw that the field was yielded to him he rode back to Sir +Tristram. + +"Well and worshipfully have you done," said Tristram. "No man could have +surpassed you." + +Onward they rode again, and in a little while after met four knights in +the highway, with spears in rest. These were Gawaine and three +companions. This joust also Tristram gave to Palamides, and he served +these four as he had served the others, leaving them all unhorsed in +the road. For the presence of La Belle Isolde gave the strength of ten +men to the arm of her lover, the Saracen. + +They now continued their route without molestation, and in good time +reached the spot where Tristram had ordered his pavilions to be set up. +Here were now many more pavilions than they had seen on their previous +visit, and a great array of knights, who had been gathering for many +days, for far and wide had spread the news of the great tournament. + +Leaving Palamides and Gareth at the pavilions with Queen Isolde, +Tristram and Dinadan rode to Lonazep to learn what was afoot, Tristram +riding on the Saracen knight's white horse. As they came into the castle +the sound of a great bugle-blast met their ears, and many knights +crowded forward. + +"What means the blast?" asked Tristram. + +"Sir," answered a knight, "it comes from the party who hold against King +Arthur at this tournament. These are the kings of Ireland, of Surluse, +of Listinoise, of Northumberland, of North Wales, and of other +countries. They are calling a council to decide how they shall be +governed in the lists." + +Tristram thereupon followed them to their council, and listened to the +debate. He then sought his horse again, and rode by where King Arthur +stood surrounded by a press of knights. Among those were Galihodin and +Gawaine, who said to the king: "That knight in the green harness, with +the white horse, is a man of might, whoever he be. To-day he overthrew +us both, with six of our fellows." + +"Who can he be?" said the king, and he called Tristram to him, and +requested to know his name. + +"I beg pardon, my liege lord," answered Tristram, "and pray that you +will hold me excused from revealing my name at this time," and he turned +his horse and rode away. + +"Go after him, Sir Griflet," said the king. "Tell him that I wish to +speak with him apart." + +Griflet rode to Tristram and told him the king's wish, and the two +returned in company. + +"Fair sir," said the king, "what is the cause that you withhold your +name?" + +"I have an excellent reason, but beg that you will not press me for it." + +"With which party do you hold?" + +"Truly, my lord, that I cannot say. Where my heart draws or my fancy +bids I will go. To-morrow you shall see which side I take. To-day I know +not myself." + +Leaving the king, he rode back to where his pavilions were set. When the +morning dawned he and his three companions armed themselves all in green +and rode to the lists. Here young knights had begun to joust, and, +seeing this, Gareth asked leave of Tristram to break a spear. + +"Go in and do your best if you care to play with beginners," said +Tristram, laughing. + +But Gareth found himself encountered by a nephew of the king with the +hundred knights, who had some of his uncle's tough fibre, and both got +ugly falls, and lay on the ground till they were helped up by their +friends. Then Tristram and Palamides rode with Gareth back to the +pavilions, where they removed their helmets. When Isolde saw Gareth all +bruised in the face, she asked him what ailed him. + +"Madam, I had a hard buffet, and gave another, but none of my fellows +would rescue me." + +"Only unproved knights are yet in the field," said Palamides. "The man +that met you, though, was a strong and well-trained knight, Sir Selises +by name, so you have no dishonor. Rest here and get yourself in +condition for to-morrow's work." + +"I shall not fail you if I can bestride my horse," said Gareth. + +"What party is it best for us to join to-morrow?" asked Tristram. + +"Against King Arthur, is my advice," said Palamides. "Lancelot and many +other good men will be on his side, and the more men of prowess we meet +the more honor we will win." + +"Well and knightly spoken," said Tristram. "Hard blows is what we court. +Your counsel is well given." + +"So think we all," said the others. + +On the morrow, when day had broken, they arrayed themselves in green +trappings, with shields and spears of green, while Isolde and her three +damsels wore dresses of the same color. For the ladies Tristram found +seats in a bay window of a priory which overlooked the field, and from +which they could see all that took place. This done, they rode straight +to the party of the king of Scots. + +When Arthur saw this he asked Lancelot who were these knights and the +queenly lady who came with them. + +"That I cannot say for certain. Yet if Tristram and Palamides be in this +country then it is they and La Belle Isolde." + +Then Arthur turned to Kay and said,-- + +"Go to the hall and see how many Knights of the Round Table are missing, +and bring me word." + +Kay did so, and found by the roll of knights that ten were +wanting,--Tristram, Dinadan, and eight others. + +"Then I dare say," remarked Arthur, "that some of these are here to-day +against us." + +The tournament began with a combat in which two knights, cousins to +Gawaine, named Sir Edward and Sir Sadok, rode against the king of Scots +and the king of North Wales and overthrew them both. This Palamides saw, +and in return he spurred upon these victorious knights and hurled both +of them from their saddles. + +"What knight is that in green?" asked Arthur. "He is a mighty jouster." + +"You will see him do better yet," said Gawaine. "It was he that unhorsed +me and seven others two days ago." + +As they stood talking Tristram rode into the lists on a black horse, and +within a few minutes he smote down four knights of Orkney, while Gareth +and Dinadan each unhorsed a good knight. + +"Yonder is another fellow of marvellous arm," said Arthur; "that green +knight on the black horse." + +"He has not begun his work yet," said Gawaine. "It is plain that he is +no common man." + +And so it proved, for Sir Tristram pushed fiercely into the press, +rescued the two kings who had been unhorsed, and did such mighty work +among the opposing party that all who saw him marvelled to behold one +man do so many valiant deeds. Nor was the career of Palamides less +marvellous to the spectators. + +King Arthur, who watched them both with admiring eyes, likened Tristram +to a furious lion, and Palamides to a maddened leopard, and Gareth and +Dinadan, who seconded them strongly, to eager wolves. So fiercely did +Tristram rage, indeed, among the knights of Orkney that at length they +withdrew from the field, as no longer able to face him. + +Then loud went up the cry of the heralds and the common people,-- + +"The green knight has beaten all Orkney!" And the heralds took account +that not less than fifty knights had been smitten down by the four +champions in green. + +"This will not do," said Arthur. "Our party will be overmatched if these +fellows rage on at such a rate. Come, Lancelot, you and Hector and +Bleoberis must try your hands, and I will make a fourth." + +"Let it be so," answered Lancelot. "Let me take him on the black horse, +and Bleoberis him on the white. Hector shall match him on the gray +horse" (Sir Gareth). + +"And I," said Arthur, "will face the knight on the grizzled steed" (Sir +Dinadan). + +With this conversation they armed and rode to the lists. Here Lancelot +rode against Tristram and smote him so hard a blow that horse and man +went to the earth, while his three companions met with the same ill +fortune from their new antagonists. + +This disaster raised a cry throughout the lists: "The green knights are +down! Rescue the green knights! Let them not be held prisoners!" For the +understanding was that any unhorsed knight not rescued by his own +strength or by his fellows should be held as prisoner. + +Then the king of North Wales rode straight to Tristram, and sprang from +his horse, crying,-- + +"Noble knight, I know not of what country you are, but beg you to take +my horse, for you have proved yourself worthier to bestride it than I +am." + +"Many thanks," said Tristram. "I shall try and do you as welcome a turn. +Keep near us, and I may soon win you another horse." + +Then he sprang to the saddle, and meeting with King Arthur struck him so +fierce a sword-blow on the helm that he had no power to keep his saddle. + +"Here is the horse promised you," cried Tristram to the king of North +Wales, who was quickly remounted on King Arthur's horse. + +Then came a hot contest around the king, one party seeking to mount him +again and the other to hold him prisoner. Palamides thrust himself, on +foot, into the press, striking such mighty blows to the right and left +that the whole throng were borne back before him. At the same time +Tristram rode into the thickest of the throng of knights and cut a way +through them, hurling many of them to the earth. + +This done, he left the lists and rode to his pavilion, where he changed +his horse and armor; he who had gone forth as a green knight coming back +to the fray as a red one. + +When Queen Isolde saw that Tristram was unhorsed, and lost sight of him +in the press, she wept greatly, fearing that some harm had come to him. +But when he rode back she knew him in an instant, despite his red +disguise, and her heart swelled anew with joy as she saw him with one +spear smite down five knights. Lancelot, too, now knew him, and withdrew +from the lists lest he should encounter him again. + +All this time Tristram's three friends had not been able to regain their +saddles, but now he drove back the press and helped them again to horse, +and, though they knew him not in his new array, they aided him with all +their knightly prowess. + +When Isolde, at her window, saw what havoc her chosen knight was making, +she leaned eagerly forth and laughed and smiled in delight. This +Palamides saw, and the vision of her lovely and smiling countenance +filled his soul so deeply with love's rejoicing that there seemed to +flow into him the strength and spirit of ten men, and, with a shout of +knightly challenge, he pressed forward, smiting down with spear and +sword every man he encountered. For his heart was so enamoured by the +vision of that charming face that Tristram or Lancelot would then have +had much ado to stand before him. + +"Truly Palamides is a noble warrior," said Tristram, when he beheld +this. "I never saw him do such deeds as he has done this day, nor heard +of his showing such prowess." + +"It is his day," said Dinadan, simply. But to himself he said, "If you +knew for whose love he does these valorous deeds, you would soon be in +the field against him." + +"It is a crying pity that so brave a knight should be a pagan," said +Tristram. + +"It is my fancy," said Dinadan to himself, "that you may thank Queen +Isolde for what you have seen; if she had not been here to-day that +shouting throng would not be giving Palamides the palm of the tourney." + +At this juncture Lancelot came again into the field, and hearing the +outcry in favor of Palamides he set his spear in rest and spurred upon +him. Palamides, seeing this, and having no spear, coolly awaited +Lancelot, and as he came up smote his spear in two with a sword-stroke. +Then he rushed upon him and struck his horse so hard a blow in the neck +that the animal fell, bearing his rider to the ground. + +Loud and fierce was the outcry then: "Palamides the Saracen has smitten +Sir Lancelot's horse! It is an unknightly deed!" + +And Hector de Maris, seeing his brother Lancelot thus unfairly +dismounted, rushed upon Palamides in a rage, and bore him from his horse +with a mighty spear-thrust. + +"Take heed to yourself, sirrah," cried Lancelot, springing towards him +sword in hand. "You have done me a sorry deed, and by my knightly honor +I will repay you for it." + +"I humbly beg your pardon, noble sir," answered Palamides. "I have done +so much this day that I have no power or strength left to withstand you. +Forgive me my hasty and uncourteous deed, and I promise to be your +knight while I live." + +"You have done marvellously well indeed," said Lancelot. "I understand +well what power moves you. Love is a mighty mistress, and if she I love +were here to-day you should not bear away the honor of the field, though +you have nobly won it. Beware that Tristram discovers not your love, or +you may repent it. But I have no quarrel with you, and will not seek to +take from you the honor of the day." + +So Lancelot suffered Palamides to depart, and mounted his own horse +again, despite twenty knights who sought to hinder him. Lancelot, +Tristram, and Palamides did many more noble deeds before that day's end, +and so great became the medley at length that the field seemed a dense +mass of rearing and plunging horses and struggling knights. + +At length Arthur bade the heralds to blow to lodging and the fray ended. +And since Palamides had been in the field from first to last, without +once withdrawing, and had done so many, noble and valiant deeds, the +honor and the prize for the day were unanimously voted him, a judgment +which Arthur and the kings of his counsel unanimously confirmed. + +But when Palamides came to understand that the red knight who had +rescued him was Sir Tristram his heart was glad, for all but Dinadan +fancied he had been taken prisoner. Much was the talk upon the events of +the day, and great the wonder of king and knights at the remarkable +valor of the Saracen knight. + +"And yet I well know," said Lancelot, "that there was a better knight +there than he. And take my word for it, this will be proved before the +tournament ends." + +This also thought Dinadan, and he rallied his friend Tristram with +satirical tongue. + +"What the fiend has ailed you to-day?" he asked. "Palamides grew in +strength from first to last, but you have been like a man asleep, or a +coward knight." + +"I was never called coward before," said Tristram, hotly. "The only fall +I got was from Lancelot, and him I hold as my better, and for that +matter the better of any man alive." + +But Dinadan kept up his railing accusations till the growing anger of +Tristram warned him to desist. Yet this was all from friendship, not +from spite, for he wished to stir up his friend to do his best in the +lists the coming day, and not permit the Saracen again to carry off the +prize. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. + + +When the next morning dawned, Tristram, Palamides, and Gareth, with La +Belle Isolde and her ladies, all arrayed as before in green, took horse +at an early hour, and rode into the fresh forest. But Dinadan was left +still asleep in bed. As they passed the castle at a little distance, it +chanced that King Arthur and Lancelot saw them from an upper window. + +"Yonder rideth the fairest lady of the world," said Lancelot, "always +excepting your queen, Guenever." + +"Who is it?" asked Arthur. + +"It is La Belle Isolde, Cornwall's queen and Tristram's lady-love." + +"By my troth, I should like to see her closer," said the king. "Let us +arm and mount, and ride after them." + +This they did, and in a short time were on the track of the gay +cavalcade they had seen. + +"Let us not be too hasty," warned Lancelot. "There are some knights who +resent being intruded on abruptly; particularly if in the company of +ladies." + +"As for that, we must take our chances," said Arthur. "If they feel +aggrieved I cannot help it, for I am bent on seeing Queen Isolde." + +Seeing Tristram and his companions just in advance, Arthur rode briskly +up and saluted Isolde courteously, saying, "God save you, fair lady." + +"Thanks for your courtesy, sir knight," she replied. + +Then Arthur looked upon her charming countenance, freshened by the +morning air, and thought in his mind that Lancelot had spoken but the +truth, and that no more beautiful lady lived. But at this moment +Palamides rode up. + +"Sir knight, what seek you here?" he asked. "It is uncourteous to come +on a lady so suddenly. Your intrusion is not to our liking, and I bid +you to withdraw." + +Arthur paid no heed to these words, but continued to gaze upon Isolde, +as one stricken with admiration. Seeing this, Palamides flamed into +anger, and spurred fiercely upon the king, with spear in rest, smiting +him from his horse. + +"Here is an awkward business," said Lancelot to himself. "If I ride down +Palamides I shall have Tristram on me; and the pair of them would be too +much for me. This comes from too head-strong a will. But whether I live +or die I must stand by my lord and king." Then riding forward, he called +to Palamides, "Keep thee from me!" + +Fierce was the onset with which they met, but it ended in Lancelot's +favor, for Palamides was flung from his saddle and had a hard fall. + +When Tristram saw this he called to Lancelot, "Be on your guard, sir +knight. You have unhorsed my comrade, and must joust with me." + +"I have no dread of that," said Lancelot; "and yet I did but avenge my +lord, who was unhorsed unwarily and unknightly. You have no cause for +displeasure; for no honorable knight could stand by and see his friend +ill-treated." + +Tristram now felt sure that it was Lancelot who spoke, and that it was +King Arthur whom Palamides had unhorsed. He therefore laid aside his +spear and helped Palamides again to his saddle, while Lancelot did the +same for the king. + +"That deed of thine was not knightly nor courteous," said Tristram, +sternly to Palamides, after the others had departed. "I cannot see any +harm in a knight accosting a lady gently and courteously; nor am I +pleased to have you play such masteries before my lady. If I deem her +insulted, I am quite able myself to protect her. And if I am not +mistaken, it was King Arthur you assailed so rudely, and the other was +Lancelot du Lake. You may yet have to pay for your violence." + +"I cannot think," said Palamides, "that the great Arthur would ride thus +secretly arrayed as a poor knight-errant." + +"Then you know him not," said Tristram. "No knight living is fonder of +adventure. King Arthur is always ready to take his part as an errant +knight, nor does he bear malice against those who may overthrow him when +in disguise. I tell you, Palamides, that our king is the true model of +knightly honor, and that the best of us might learn from him." + +"If it were he I am sorry," said Palamides. "I may have been over-hasty. +But a thing that is done cannot be undone, and I must abide the +consequences." + +Then Tristram sent Isolde to her lodging in the priory, from which she +might behold the tournament, and made ready to enter the lists. + +Fierce was the shock of the first encounter of the knights, and the +three champions in green began the day with many deeds of might. + +"How feel you?" asked Tristram of Palamides. "Are you able to repeat +yesterday's work?" + +"Hardly," was the reply. "I am weary and sore yet from my hard labors." + +"I am sorry for that, as I shall miss your aid." + +"Trust not to me," answered Palamides. "I have not much work left in +me." + +"Then I must depend on you," said Tristram to Gareth. "We two should be +able to make our mark. Keep near me and rescue me if I get in trouble, +and I will do the same for you." + +"I shall not fail you," was the reply. + +Leaving them, Palamides rode off by himself, and, pushing into the +thickest press of the men of Orkney, did such deeds of arms that +Tristram looked on in amazement. + +"Is that his soreness and weariness?" he asked. "I fancy he is weary of +my company, and wishes to win all the honor to his own hand." + +"That is what Dinadan meant yesterday when he called you coward," said +Gareth. "He but wished to stir you to anger so that Palamides should not +rob you of credit." + +"By my faith, if Palamides bears me ill will and envy I shall show him +what a knight of Cornwall can do. He has gained the acclamations of the +crowd already. He has left our company and we owe him no courtesy. You +shall see me rob him of his honors." + +Then Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, and laid about him +with such might that all eyes were turned upon him, and men began to +say, "There is a greater than Palamides come into the field." + +"Is it not as I told you?" said Lancelot to Arthur. "I said you would +this day see the Saracen distanced." + +"It is true enough," answered Arthur. "Palamides has not such strength +of arm." + +"It is Tristram himself you look upon." + +"That I can well believe," said Arthur. "Such knights as he do not grow +like mushrooms in every field." + +The noise from the other part of the lists now drew the attention of +Palamides, and when he saw what puissant deeds his late comrade was +doing he wept for spite, for he saw that the honor of that day was not +for him. + +Seeing to what straits their party was put, Arthur and Lancelot and many +other knights now armed and rode into the field, and by their aid so +changed the tide of victory that the other side was driven quite back, +until Tristram and Gareth stood alone, bravely abiding all who came upon +them. But Lancelot and his kinsmen kept purposely away from them. + +"See," said Lancelot to Arthur, "how Palamides hovers yonder like one in +a dream, sick, I fancy, from envy of Tristram." + +"Then he is but a fool," said the king. "He is not and never was the +match of Tristram. I am glad to see the fellow repaid for the way he +served me this morning." + +As they stood thus conversing, Tristram withdrew quietly from the lists, +his going noted only by Isolde and Palamides, who kept their eyes upon +him. He rode back to his pavilions, where he found Dinadan still asleep, +his slumbers not broken by all the uproar of the tournament. + +"As I am a living man, here is a lusty sleeper," cried Tristram. "Wake, +Dinadan. The day is half spent and the field half won, and here you are +still a-bed." + +At this Dinadan sprang hastily up and rubbed his eyes. + +"I dreamt of wars and jousts," he said. "And, i' faith, I like that way +the best, for one gets all the good of the fight and is safe from sore +limbs and aching bones. But what's to do?" + +"Get on your harness and ride with me to the field. You will find +something there to waken you up." + +Dinadan, as he armed, noted Tristram's battered shield, and remarked,-- + +"I slept both well and wisely, it seems. If I had been there I must have +followed you, from shame if not from courage. And by the looks of your +shield I would have been worse battered than I was yesterday. Why did +you not let me sleep out the balance of it, friend Tristram?" + +"A truce with your jests. Come, we must to the field again." + +"How now, is there a new deal in the game? Yesterday you did but dream; +to-day you seem awake." + +Meanwhile Tristram had changed his armor, and now was attired all in +black. + +"You have more fight in you than you had yesterday, that is sure," said +Dinadan. "Did I stir up your sleeping spirit?" + +"It may be so," said Tristram, smiling. "Keep well up to me, and I shall +make you a highway through the press. If you see me overmatched, do what +you can to aid me." + +When ready they took their horses and rode back to the lists, where +Isolde and Palamides noted their entrance. When the Saracen saw that +Tristram was disguised, a new fancy came into his scheming brain. +Leaving the lists, he rode to where a knight sat sorely wounded under a +tree outside. Him he prayed for an exchange of armor, saying that his +own was too well known in the field, and that he wished for a disguise. + +"That is very true," said the knight, as he recognized the green armor. +"You have made your array somewhat too well known. You are welcome to my +arms, if they will be of use to you. They will gain more credit in your +hands than they have won in mine." + +Palamides thereupon exchanged armor with him, and, taking his shield, +which shone like silver, rode into the field. He now joined the party of +King Arthur, and rode spitefully against Tristram, who had just struck +down three knights. They met with such force that both spears splintered +to their hands, though neither lost his seat. Then they dashed eagerly +together with drawn swords and fought with the courage and fury of two +lions. But Tristram wondered much what knight this was that faced him +so valiantly, and grew angry as he felt that he was wasting in this +single combat the strength he wished to treasure up for the day's work. + +La Belle Isolde, who had watched Palamides from her window, had seen him +change his armor with the wounded knight. And when his treacherous +purpose came to her mind she wept so heartily and was so deeply +disturbed that she swooned away. + +At this juncture in the fray Lancelot rode again into the field, and +when the knights of Arthur's party saw him the cry went up. "Return, +return, here comes Sir Lancelot du Lake!" + +And some said to him, "Sir Lancelot, yonder knight in the black harness +is your man. He is the best of our opponents, and has nearly overcome +the good knight with the silver shield." + +At this Lancelot rode between the combatants, and cried to Palamides,-- + +"Let me have this battle; you need repose." + +Palamides knew Lancelot, and readily gave way, hoping through his mighty +aid to gain revenge upon his rival. Then Lancelot fell upon Tristram, +and, unknowing who he was, dealt him blows that would have stunned a +less hardy fighter. Tristram returned them but feebly, for he knew well +with whom he fought. And Isolde, who saw it all, was half out of her +mind with grief. + +Dinadan now told Gareth who the knight in black armor was, and said, +"Lancelot will get the better of him, for one is weary and the other +fresh, and Tristram is not fighting with his old vim. Let us to his +aid." + +"I am with you," said Gareth. "Yonder fellow with the silver shield is +waiting to fall on Tristram, if he can to advantage. It is our business +to give our friend what help we can." + +Then they rode in, and Gareth struck Lancelot a sword-blow that made his +head swim, while Dinadan followed with a spear-thrust that bore horse +and man together to the earth. + +"Why do you this?" cried Tristram, angrily. "It is not a knightly act, +and does not that good knight any dishonor. I was quite his match +without you." + +Then Palamides came to Lancelot's aid, and a close medley of fighting +began, in which Dinadan was unhorsed and Tristram pulled Palamides from +his saddle, and fell with him. Dinadan now sprang up and caught +Tristram's horse by the bridle, calling out, with purpose to end the +fight,-- + +"My lord Sir Tristram, take your horse." + +"What is this?" cried Lancelot. "What have I done? Sir Tristram, why +came you here disguised? Surely I would not have drawn sword on you, had +I known you." + +"Sir," said Tristram, "this is not the first honor you have done me." + +Then they mounted their horses again, while the people on one side gave +Lancelot the honor of the fray, and those on the other side gave it to +Tristram. + +"The honor is not mine," said Lancelot. "He has been longer in the +field, and has smitten down many more knights; so I give my voice for +Sir Tristram, and pray to all my lords and fellows to do the same." + +This was the verdict of the judges, and the prize of that day's tourney +was by all voted to the noble Sir Tristram. + +Then the trumpets blew to lodging, and the knights left the field, while +Queen Isolde was conducted to her pavilion. But her heart burned hot +with wrath against Palamides, all whose treachery she had seen. As +Tristram rode forward with Gareth and Dinadan, Palamides joined them, +still disguised. + +"Sir knight," said Tristram, "you are not of our party, and your company +is not welcome. So begone." + +"Not I," he answered. "One of the best knights in the world bade me keep +fellowship with you, and till he relieve me from that service I must +obey him." + +"Ha, Palamides, I know you now!" said Tristram. "But, by my faith, I did +not know you before, for I deemed you a worthy knight and not a traitor. +I could have handled you well enough, but you brought Lancelot to your +aid against me." + +"Are you my lord, Sir Tristram?" said Palamides, in a tone of surprise. + +"That you know, well enough." + +"How should I know it any more than you knew me? I deemed you the king +of Ireland, for you bear his arms." + +"I won them in battle, from his champion Sir Marhaus," said Tristram. + +"Sir," answered Palamides, "I fancied you had joined Lancelot's party, +and that caused me to turn to the same side." + +"If that be so, I forgive you," said Tristram. + +But when they reached the pavilion and had disarmed and washed, and were +come to table, Isolde grew red with wrath on seeing Palamides. + +"You traitor and felon!" she cried, "how dare you thrust yourself into +this goodly company? You know not how falsely he has treated you, my +lord Tristram. I saw it all. He watched you when you rode to your tent +and donned the black armor. Then he changed armor with a wounded knight +and rode back and wilfully changed sides, and drew sword upon you. I saw +it all, my lord, and I impeach him of treason." + +"Madam," said Palamides, calmly, "you may say what you will. I cannot in +courtesy deny you. Yet by my knighthood I declare I knew not Sir +Tristram." + +"I will take your excuse," said Tristram, "though it seems a lame one. +You spared me little in the field, but all that I have pardoned." + +At this, Isolde held down her head in despite and said no more. + +While they were still at table two knights rode to the pavilions, and +entered in full armor. + +"Fair sirs," said Tristram, "is this courtesy, to come upon us thus +armed at our meal?" + +"We come with no ill intent," said one, "but as your friends, Sir +Tristram." + +"I am come," said the other, "to greet you as a friend and comrade, and +my companion is eager to see and welcome La Belle Isolde." + +"Then remove your helms, that I may see what guests I have." + +"That we do, willingly." + +No sooner were their helmets off than Tristram sprang hastily to his +feet. + +"Madam, arise," he cried; "this is none less than my lord King Arthur; +and this my very dear friend Sir Lancelot." + +Then the king and queen kissed, and Lancelot and Tristram warmly +embraced, while deep joy filled all hearts there. At the request of +Isolde the visitors removed their armor and joined them at their meal. + +"Many is the day that I have longed to see you," said Arthur to Isolde, +"for much praise have I heard of you, and not without warrant. For a +nobler match for beauty and valor than you and Sir Tristram the world +does not hold." + +"We thank you heartily," replied Tristram and Isolde. "Such praise from +King Arthur is the highest honor that men's lips could give." + +Then they talked of other things, but mainly of the tournament. + +"Why were you against us?" asked Arthur. "You are a Knight of the Round +Table, and have fought to-day against your own." + +"Here is Dinadan, and your own nephew Gareth. You must blame them for +that," said Tristram, smiling. + +"You may lay all the blame on my shoulders, if Tristram wishes it," said +Gareth. + +"Not on mine, then," said Dinadan. "Mine are only broad enough to carry +my own sins. It was this unhappy Tristram brought us to the tournament, +and I owe to him a whole body full of aches and pains as it is, without +taking any of his sins in my sack, to boot." + +At this the king and Lancelot laughed heartily, and the more so at the +sour grimace with which Dinadan ended. + +"What knight was he with the shield of silver that held you so short?" +asked Arthur. + +"Here he sits," said Tristram. + +"What! was it Palamides?" + +"None less than he," said Isolde. + +"That was not a courteous action." + +"Sir," said Palamides, "Tristram was so disguised that I knew him not." + +"That may well be," said Lancelot, "for I knew him no better." + +"However it be, we are friends again," said Tristram, "and I hope will +continue so." + +And so the evening passed, till the time came for Arthur and Lancelot to +take their leave. + +That night Palamides slept not for the pain and envy that burned in his +heart. But when his friends entered his chamber in the morning they +found him fast asleep, with his cheeks stained with tears. + +"Say nothing," said Tristram. "The poor fellow has been deeply wounded +by the rebuke that I and Isolde gave him. Lay no heavier load upon his +heart." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE WOES OF TWO LOVERS. + + +Early on the third morning of the tournament the knights of Tristram's +party were up and armed, they now being all arrayed in red, as was also +Isolde and her maidens. And rare was the show they made as they rode +gayly to the priory, where they left Isolde and her maidens to occupy +their proper seats. As the knights turned thence towards the field they +heard three loud bugle-blasts, and saw the throng of armed knights press +eagerly forward, while already from the listed space came the thunder of +hoofs and the cries of combatants. + +Into the field they rode, Palamides in advance, and such havoc did he +make in the opposing ranks that shouts of approval went up from all the +seats. But Tristram now rode forward at the full speed of his great +war-horse, hurled Kay the seneschal from his saddle, smote down three +other knights with the same spear, and then, drawing his sword, laid +about him like a roused giant. + +Quickly changed the cry from Palamides. "O Tristram! O Tristram!" +shouted the throng of spectators, and the deeds of this new champion +threw those of the former victor into the shade. + +Gareth and Dinadan also nobly aided the two champions, rousing the +admiration of Arthur and Lancelot by their gallantry, and the four +knightly comrades soon cleared a wide space in the ranks before them. + +"Come," said Arthur, "we must to the rescue, or our side will be driven +from the field before the day is an hour old. See how the others crowd +in on Tristram's steps, like wolves to the prey." + +Then he and Lancelot hastily armed and sought the field, where they +quickly fought their way into the thickest press of the tumult. +Tristram, not knowing them, rode upon them and thrust King Arthur from +his horse, and when Lancelot rushed to his rescue he was surrounded with +such an eager host that he was pulled from his saddle to the ground. + +Seeing this, the kings of Ireland and Scotland, with their knights, +rushed forward to take Lancelot and Arthur prisoners. But they counted +without their host, for the dismounted knights laid about them like +angry lions, driving back all who came near them. Of all that passed in +that hot turmoil it were too much to say. Many a knight there did deeds +of great prowess, and Arthur and Lancelot being mounted again, strewed +the earth with fallen knights, Lancelot that day unhorsing thirty +warriors. Yet the other side held so firmly together that, with all +their ardent labor, Arthur and his party were overmatched. + +At this juncture, Tristram turned to his companions and said,-- + +"My good comrades, I begin to fancy that we are to-day on the wrong +side. King Arthur's party is overborne more by numbers than valor, for I +must say I never saw so few men do so well. It would be a shame for us, +who are Knights of the Round Table, to see our lord Arthur and our good +comrade Lancelot dishonored. I am in the humor to change sides, and help +our king and liege lord." + +"We are with you in that," cried Gareth and Dinadan. "We have been +fighting against the grain these three days." + +"Do as you will," said Palamides. "I shall not change my hand in the +midst of the fray." + +"As you will," said Tristram. "You are your own master. Speed well in +your way, and we will do our best in ours." + +Then he, Gareth, and Dinadan drew out of the press and rode round to +Arthur's side, where they lent such noble aid that the fortune of the +field quickly changed, and the opposing party began to give ground. As +for Palamides, King Arthur struck him so fierce a blow that he was +hurled from his horse, while Tristram and Lancelot unhorsed all before +them. Such havoc did they make, indeed, that the party of the opposing +kings was soon in full flight from the field, bearing Palamides, who +wept for rage and grief, with them. + +Then rarely sounded the trumpets, and loudly shouted the spectators, +while the names of Tristram and Lancelot were in every mouth, some +voting one the prize, some the other. But neither of these good comrades +would have it alone, so that in the end it was divided between them. + +When evening drew near, and the knights had all withdrawn to their +pavilions, Palamides rode up to that of Sir Tristram, in company with +the kings of Wales and Scotland. Here he drew up his horse, praying his +companions to wait a while while he spoke to the knight within. Then he +cried loudly at the entrance,-- + +"Where are you, Tristram of Lyonesse?" + +"Is that you, Palamides?" answered the knight. "Will you not dismount +and join us?" + +"I seek better company, sir traitor," cried Palamides, in tones that +trembled with fury. "I hate you now as much as I once esteemed you, and +bear this in mind, if it were daylight as it is night, I would slay you +with my own hands. You shall die yet for this day's deeds." + +"You blame me wrongly, Palamides," said Tristram, mildly. "If you had +done as I advised you would have won honor instead of disgrace. Why come +you here seeking to lay your own fault on me? Since you give me such +broad warning, I shall be well on my guard against you." + +"Well you may, sir dastard, for I love you not," and, fiercely spurring +his horse, the hot-blooded Saracen joined his kingly companions. + +When the next day dawned the festive array which had long spread bustle +and splendor round Lonazep broke up, and knights and ladies rode off in +all directions through the land, to carry far and wide the story of the +wondrous deeds of valor that had been performed at the great tournament. +Tristram and his two comrades, with Hector de Maris and Bleoberis, +escorted La Belle Isolde to Joyous Gard, where for seven days the guests +were nobly entertained, with all the sports and mirthfulness that could +be devised. King Arthur and his knights drew back to Camelot, and +Palamides rode onward with the two kings, his heart torn with mingled +sorrow and despair. Not alone was he in grief for his disgrace in the +field, under the eyes of her he loved, but was full as sorrowful for the +hot words he had spoken in his wrath to Tristram, who had been so kind +and gentle to him that his heart was torn to think how falsely and +treacherously he had requited him. + +His kingly companions would have had him stay with them, but he could +not be persuaded, so the king of Ireland presented him with a noble +courser, and the king of Scotland with valuable gifts, and he rode his +way, still plunged in a grief that was almost despair. Noon brought him +to a forest fountain, beside which lay a wounded knight, who sighed so +mournfully that the very leaves on the trees seemed to sigh in echo. + +"Why mourn you so, fair knight?" asked Palamides, mildly. "Or if you +care not to tell, at least let me lie beside you and join my moans to +yours, for I dare say I have a hundredfold deeper cause for grief, and +we may ease our hearts by mutual complaints." + +"What is your name, gentle sir?" + +"Such as I am, for better or worse, men call me Palamides, son to King +Astlabor." + +"Noble sir, it solaces me much to meet you. I am Epinegris, son to the +king of Northumberland. Now repose you on this mossy bank and let us +tell our woes, and so ease somewhat our sad hearts." + +Then Palamides dismounted and laid himself beside the wounded knight. + +"This is my source of woe," he said. "I love the fairest queen that ever +drew breath, La Belle Isolde, Cornwall's queen." + +"That is sheer folly," said Epinegris, "for she loves none but Tristram +de Lyonesse." + +"Know I it not? I have been in their company this month, daily reaping +sorrow. And now I have lost the fellowship of Tristram and the love of +Isolde forever, through my envy and jealousy, and never more shall a +glad thought enter my sorrowful heart." + +"Did she ever show you signs of love?" + +"Never. She hated me, I fear. And the last day we met she gave me such a +rebuke that I will never recover from it:--yet well I deserved it by my +unknightly acts. Many great deeds have I done for her love, yet never +shall I win a smile from her eyes." + +"Deep is your grief, indeed," said Epinegris, with a heart-breaking +sigh, "yet it is but a jest to my sorrow. For my lady loved me, and I +won her with my hands. But, alas! this day I have lost her and am left +here to moan. I took her from an earl and two knights that were with +her; but as we sat here this day, telling each other of our loves, there +came an errant knight, named Helior de Preuse, and challenged me to +fight for my lady. You see what followed. He wounded me so that he left +me for dead and took my lady with him. So my sorrow is deepest, for I +have rejoiced in my love, and you never have. To have and lose is far +worse than never to own." + +"That is true," said Palamides. "But yet I have the deepest cause for +grief, for your love is not hopeless, like mine. And I shall prove this, +for if I can find this Helior he shall be made to yield you your lady, +unless he prove able to deal with me as he has with you." + +Then he helped Epinegris on his horse and led him to a hermitage near +by, where he left him under the care of the holy hermit. Here Palamides +stayed not long, but walked out under the shadow of the green leaves, to +be a while alone with his woes. But not far had he gone before he saw +near him a knight, who bore a shield that he had seen Hector de Maris +wear. With him were ten other knights, who sheltered themselves from the +noontide heat under the green leaves. + +As they stood there another knight came by whose shield was green, with +a white lion in its midst, and who led a lady on a palfrey. As he came +up, the knight who bore Sir Hector's shield rode fiercely after him, and +bade him turn and defend his lady. + +"That I must, in knightly duty," cried the other. + +Then the two knights rode together with such might that horses and men +together were hurled to the earth. Drawing their swords, they now fought +sturdily for the space of an hour. In the end the knight of the white +lion was stricken to the earth and forced to beg for his life. + +Palamides stood under the leaves, watching this combat till it came to +its end. Then he went to the lady, whom he believed to be her whom he +had promised to rescue. Taking her gently by the hand, he asked her if +she knew a knight named Epinegris. + +"Alas! that ever I did," she sadly replied. "For his sake I have lost my +liberty, and for mine he has lost his life." + +"Not so badly as that," said Palamides. "He is at yonder hermitage. I +will take you to him." + +"Then he lives!" she cried in joy. "You fill my heart with gladness." + +But not many steps had Palamides led her before the victorious knight +cried out in tones of fierce anger,-- + +"Loose the lady, sirrah! Whither take you her?" + +"Whither I will?" answered Palamides. + +"You speak largely, sir knave," cried the knight. "Do you fancy you can +rob me of my prize so lightly? Think it not, sirrah; were you as good a +knight as Lancelot or Tristram or Palamides, you should not have that +lady without winning her at a dearer rate than I did." + +"If fight it is, I am ready for you," answered Palamides. "I promised to +bring this lady to her lover from whom yonder knight stole her, and it +will need more swords than one to make me break my word." + +"We shall see if that be so," said the other, attacking him so fiercely +that Palamides had much ado to protect himself. They fought for so long +a time that Palamides marvelled much who this knight could be that +withstood him so sturdily after his late hard battle. + +"Knight," he said, at length, "you fight like a hero. I would know your +name." + +"You shall have it for yours in return." + +"I agree to that." + +"Then, sir, my name is Safere. I am son of King Astlobar, and brother to +Palamides and Segwarides." + +"Then heaven defend me for having fought you, for I am your brother +Palamides." + +At these words Safere fell upon his knees and begged his brother's +pardon; and then they unlaced their helms and kissed each other with +tears of joy. + +As they stood thus, Epinegris advanced towards them, for he had heard +the sounds of fighting, and, wounded as he was, he came to help +Palamides if he should stand in need. + +Palamides, seeing him approach, took the lady by the hand and led her to +him, and they embraced so tenderly that all hearts there were touched. + +"Fair knight and lady," said Safere, "it would be a cruel pity to part +you, and I pray heaven to send you joy of each other." + +"You have my sincere thanks," said Epinegris. "And deeper thanks has Sir +Palamides for what he has done for me this day. My castle is near by; +will you not ride there with me as a safeguard?" + +"That we gladly will," they said, and when Epinegris had got his horse +they rode with him and the lady to the castle, where they were nobly +received and treated with the highest honor. They had such good cheer +and such enjoyment as they had rarely before known. And never burned the +flame of love more warmly than that between Epinegris and his rescued +lady. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RIVALRY OF TRISTRAM AND PALAMIDES. + + +When morning again dawned over the forest and the smiling fields that +surrounded the castle of Epinegris, the two brothers rode out, taking +with them the blessings and prayers for good fortune of those they left +behind. But had they known into what deadly peril they ventured they +would not for days have left those hospitable gates. + +For they rode on hour by hour, until afternoon came, and then found +themselves in front of a noble manor-house from which came to their ears +doleful sounds of woe and lamentation. + +"What means this woful noise? Shall we enter and see?" said Safere. + +"Willingly," answered Palamides. + +Leaving their horses at the gates, they entered the court-yard, where +they saw an old man tremblingly fumbling his beads. But when they came +within the hall they beheld many men weeping and lamenting. + +"Fair sirs, why make you such a moaning?" asked Palamides. + +"We weep for our lord, who is slain," they dolefully replied. + +But one of the knights observed the new-comers closely, and said +secretly to his fellows,-- + +"Know you not this man? Fortune has thrown into our hands the knight who +slew our lord at Lonazep. That tall fellow is Palamides. Let him not go +as easily as he came." + +Hearing this, most of them quietly withdrew and armed themselves, and +then came suddenly upon their visitors to the number of threescore, +crying,-- + +"Defend yourself, if you can, Sir Palamides. We know you for the +murderer of our lord, and it is our duty to revenge him. Die you shall, +though you had the might of a giant." + +Palamides and his brother, finding themselves in this desperate strait, +set themselves back to back in the midst of their assailants, and fought +like very giants, keeping their ground for two hours, though they were +attacked by twenty knights and forty gentlemen and yeomen. But strength +cannot hold out forever against odds, and at the end they were forced to +yield, and were locked up in a strong prison. + +Within three days thereafter a court of twelve knights sat upon the +charge against them, and found Sir Palamides guilty of their lord's +death. + +Sir Safere, who was adjudged not guilty, was given his liberty, and +bidden to depart from the castle. He parted with his brother in the +deepest woe. + +"Dear brother, grieve not so greatly," said Palamides. "If die I must, I +shall meet death bravely. But had I dreamed of such a doom as this, they +should never have taken me alive." + +[Illustration: Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE DEPARTURE.] + +Then Safere departed in untold sorrow, though not without hope of rescue +if he could raise a force to storm the castle. This he had no chance to +do, for on the next morning Palamides was sent under an escort of twelve +knights to the father of the dead knight, who dwelt in a strong castle +by the sea-side, named Pelownes, where it had been decided that the +sentence should be put into execution. + +Palamides was placed on a sorry old steed with his feet bound beneath +it, and, surrounded by the guard of twelve armed knights, was taken +towards the place of death. + +But through the favor of fortune their route lay by the castle of Joyous +Gard, and here they were seen by one who knew Palamides, and who asked +him whither he was borne. + +"To my death," he answered, "for the slaying of a knight at the +tournament. Had I not left Sir Tristram this would not have happened to +me. I pray you, recommended me to your lord and to my lady Isolde, and +beg them to forgive me my trespasses against them. And also to my lord +King Arthur, and to all my fellows of the Round Table." + +When the yeoman heard this he rode in all haste to Joyous Gard, where he +told Tristram of what he had seen and heard. + +"To his death, you say?" cried Tristram. "And for an accident of the +tournament? Why, I and twenty others might be served in the same manner. +I have reason to be angry with Palamides, but he shall not die the death +of a dog if I can rescue him." + +This said, he armed in all haste, and taking two squires with him, he +rode at a fast gallop towards the castle of Pelownes, hoping to overtake +the party before they could pass its gates. + +But fortune had decreed that the prisoner should be otherwise rescued. +For as the guard of knights rode on their way they passed by a well +where Lancelot had alighted to drink of the refreshing waters. + +When he saw the cavalcade approach he put on his helmet and stood +watching them as they passed. But his heart swelled with anger when he +saw Palamides disarmed and bound in their midst, and seemingly led to +his death. + +"What means this?" he cried. "What has this knight done that deserves a +shameful death? Whatever it be, I cannot suffer him to be foully dealt +with." + +Then he mounted and rode after the twelve knights, soon overtaking them. + +"Sir knights," he said, "whither take you that gentleman? To ride thus +bound is not befitting for a man of his metal." + +At this the guard of knights turned their horses and faced Lancelot. + +"We counsel you not to meddle with us," they said, sternly. "This man +has deserved death, and to death he is adjudged." + +"I tell you, sirs, it shall not be. He is too good a knight to die a +shameful death. Defend yourselves, then, for I will try my one hand +against your twelve, and rescue him or die in the effort." + +The knights of the guard now put their spears in rest, and Lancelot rode +upon them with such fury that the foremost and three of those behind him +were hurled to the ground before his spear broke. Then he drew his sword +and laid about him so shrewdly that in a little time the whole twelve of +them were stretched upon the earth, most of them being sorely wounded. +Lancelot now cut the bonds of Palamides, mounted him upon the best of +their horses, and rode back with him towards Joyous Gard. + +As they went forward they saw Sir Tristram approaching. Lancelot knew +him at sight, but was himself unknown, because he bore a golden shield +which neither Tristram nor Palamides recognized. He therefore mystified +them for a time, and declined to enter Joyous Gard on the plea that he +had other pressing business on hand. But when strongly entreated, he at +length consented, and entered the castle with them. + +Great was their surprise and joy when he had unhelmed, to find that they +had their host for guest. Tristram took him in his arms, and so did +Isolde, while Palamides kneeled before him and thanked him for his life. +When Lancelot saw this he took him by the hand and made him rise. + +"Good sirs," he said, "could I, or any knight of worship in this land, +hesitate to rescue from an ignoble death such a knight as Palamides? Had +there been fifty instead of twelve, I fear I should have braved them +all." + +Much joy was there in Joyous Gard at the visit of the lord of the +castle, but Lancelot stayed there but four days. Palamides, however, +remained for two months and more, his love and grief growing deeper, +till he faded away to a shadow of himself. + +One day, at the end of this time, he wandered far into the neighboring +forest, and here by chance saw the reflection of his face in a clear +pool. The wasted visage disturbed and affrighted him. + +"What does this mean?" he asked himself. "Am I, who was called one of +the handsomest knights in the world, wasted to such a frightful figure? +I must leave this life, for it is idle to grieve myself to death for +that which I can never possess." + +Then he threw himself beside the well, and from the fulness of his heart +began to make a song about La Belle Isolde and himself, a rhyme made up +of music, love, and grief. + +As chance would have it, Tristram had ridden into the forest that day in +chase of the hart. And as he rode up and down under the green leaves the +summer air brought to his ears the sound of a voice singing loud and +clear. He rode softly towards the sound, for he deemed that some +knight-errant lay there solacing himself with song. + +When he came nigh he tied his horse to a tree and advanced on foot. Then +he became aware that the singer was his guest Palamides, and that his +song was about La Belle Isolde, a doleful and piteous, yet marvellously +well-made song, which the singer sang loudly and in a clear voice. +Tristram stood listening till he had heard it from beginning to end. But +at the last his anger grew so high that he needed to restrain himself +from slaying the singer where he lay. + +Remembering that Palamides was unarmed, he resisted this impulse, and +advanced slowly towards him. + +"Sir Palamides," he said, in a gentle voice, "I have heard your song, +and learned your treason to your host. If it were not for the shame of +an unknightly act I would deal you here the meed you have earned. How +will you acquit yourself of treachery?" + +"Thus will I," said Palamides, springing to his feet in his surprise. +"As for Queen Isolde, you may know well that I love her above all other +ladies in the world. I loved her before you ever saw her, as you know, +and have never ceased nor shall ever cease to love her. What honor I +have won is due for the most part to my love of her. Yet never for a +moment has she returned my love, and I have been her knight without +guerdon. Therefore I dread not death, for I had as lief die as live." + +"Well have you uttered your treason," said Tristram. + +"No treason is it," said Palamides. "Love is free to all men, and I have +a right to love any lady I will. If she return it not, no man is harmed. +Such wrong as is done I have suffered, not you, for your love is +returned and mine has brought me but pain. Yet I shall continue to love +La Belle Isolde to the end of my days as deeply as you can." + +That there was reason in these words Tristram could not but have seen, +had not anger blinded his wisdom. + +"None shall love my lady but myself," he cried, in passion. "And for +what you have said I challenge you to battle to the uttermost." + +"I can never fight in a better quarrel," said Palamides. "And if you +slay me I can never die by a nobler hand. Since I cannot hope for favor +from La Belle Isolde, I have as good will to die as to live." + +"Then set a day in which we shall do battle in this cause." + +"Let it be fifteen days hence. And let the place be in the meadow under +Joyous Gard." + +"Why so long a time?" demanded Tristram. "To-morrow will suit me +better." + +"It is because I am meagre and weak, and have fallen away to a shadow +through hopeless love. I must rest until I get my strength again before +I can face so doughty a knight." + +"So let it be, then," said Tristram. "Yet once before you broke a +promise to meet me in battle at the grave near Camelot." + +"What could I do?" rejoined Palamides. "I was in prison, and could not +keep my word." + +"If you had done so, there would have been no need of a fight now," said +Tristram, as he strode haughtily away. + +Then Palamides took his horse and rode to Arthur's court, where he did +his utmost to rest and regain strength. When the appointed time +approached he returned, attended by four knights and four +sergeant-at-arms. + +Meanwhile Tristram spent his time at the chase. And by evil fortune, +about three days before the time of battle, a wild arrow shot by an +archer at a hart struck him in the thigh and wounded him so deeply that +he could scarcely return to Joyous Gard. + +Great was his heaviness of heart, and neither man nor woman could bring +him cheer, for it was now impossible to keep his word with his rival; +and his heart grew full of the fancy that Palamides himself had shot +that arrow, so as to prevent him doing battle on the appointed day. But +this no knight about Tristram would believe. + +When the fifteenth day came Palamides appeared at the place fixed, with +the knights and sergeants whom he had brought with him to bear record of +the battle. One sergeant bore his helm, a second his spear, and a third +his shield. And for two hours he rested in the field, awaiting the +approach of his antagonist. + +Then, seeing that Tristram failed to come, he sent a squire to Joyous +Gard to remind him of his challenge. When Tristram heard of this message +he had the squire brought to his chamber, and showed him his wound. + +"Tell Sir Palamides," he said, "that were I able to come he would not +need to send for me, and that I had rather be whole to-day than have all +King Arthur's gold. Tell him, moreover, that as soon as I am able I +shall seek him throughout the land, as I am a true knight; and when I +find him he shall have his fill of battle." + +This message the squire brought to his master, who heard it with much +secret satisfaction. + +"I would have had hard handling of him, and very likely have been +vanquished," he said, "for he has not his equal in battle, unless it be +Sir Lancelot. So I am well content to give up the fight." + +A month passed before Tristram was well. Then he took his horse and rode +from country to country in search of Palamides, having many strange +adventures by the way, but nowhere could he meet or hear of his rival +in love. But during his search Tristram did so many valiant deeds that +his fame for the time quite overtopped that of Lancelot, so much so that +Lancelot's kinsmen in their anger would have waylaid and slain the +valiant warrior. + +For this jealousy Lancelot sternly rebuked them, saying,-- + +"Bear it well in mind, that if any of you does any harm to Sir Tristram, +that man shall I slay with my own hands. To murder a man like this for +his noble deeds! Out upon such base designs! Far rather should you +worship him for his valor and royal prowess." + +And so time went on for the space of two years, during which Tristram +sought in vain for his rival. + +At the end of that time he came home to Joyous Gard from one of his +journeys of adventure, and there was told by La Belle Isolde of a great +feast to be held at the court on the coming day of Pentecost, which she +counselled him strongly to attend. + +Much debate passed between him and his lady-love on this subject, for he +was loth to go without her, and she cared not to go. In the end he +declared that he would obey her wishes, but would ride thither unarmed, +save for his sword and spear. + +This he did, and though she in her loving anxiety sent after him four +knights, he sent them back within half a mile. Yet he soon had reason to +repent his rashness. For hardly had he gone a mile farther when he came +upon a wounded knight, who told him he owed his hurt to Sir Palamides. +What to do now, Tristram knew not. Near by was the foe he had so long +sought in vain, and he was unarmed. Should he ride back for his armor, +or go on as he was? + +While he stood thinking, Palamides appeared, and knew him at sight. + +"Well met, Sir Tristram!" he cried. "I have heard much of your search +for me. You have found me now, and we shall not part till we have +settled our old scores." + +"As for that," answered Tristram, "no Christian can boast that I ever +fled from him, nor shall a Saracen make this boast, even if I be +unarmed." + +Then he put his horse to the gallop and rode on Palamides with such fury +that his spear broke into a hundred pieces. Throwing it away, he drew +his sword and struck Palamides six great strokes upon the helm, while +the Saracen stood unresisting, and wondering at the folly and madness of +his foe. Then Tristram cried out in fury,-- + +"Coward knight, why stand you thus idly? You dare not do battle with me, +for doubt not but I can endure all your strength and malice." + +"You know well, Sir Tristram," answered Palamides, "that I cannot in +honor strike at your unarmed head. If I should slay you thus, shame +would be my lot. As for your valor and hardiness, those I shall never +question." + +"You speak well," answered Tristram. + +"Tell me this," continued Palamides. "Were I here naked of armor, and +you full armed as I am, what would you do?" + +"I shall not answer from fear, but from truthfulness. I would bid you +depart, as I could not have ado with you." + +"No more can I with you," said Palamides, "therefore ride on your way." + +"I shall ride or abide as I may choose," said Tristram. "But tell me +this, Palamides: how is it that so good a knight as you refuses to be +christened, as your brothers have long been?" + +"I cannot become a Christian till a vow I made years ago is fulfilled. I +believe fully in Jesus Christ and His mild mother Mary; but there is one +battle yet I must fight, and when that is done I will be baptized with a +good will." + +"If that is the battle with me," said Tristram, "you shall not long wait +for it. For God defend that through my fault you should continue a +Saracen. Yonder is a knight whom you have hurt. Help me to put on his +armor and I will aid you to fulfil your vow." + +So they rode together to the wounded knight, who was seated on a bank. +Tristram saluted him, and he weakly returned the salute. + +"Will you tell me your name, sir knight?" asked Tristram. + +"I am Sir Galleron of Galway, and a Knight of the Round Table." + +"I am sorry for your hurts, and beg you to lend me your armor, for I am +unarmed, and would do battle with this knight who wounded you." + +"You shall have it with a good will. But you must beware, for this is no +common knight." + +"I know him well," answered Tristram, "and have an old quarrel with +him." + +"Will you kindly tell me your name?" + +"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse." + +"Then it was idle to warn you. Well I know your renown and worship; and +Sir Palamides is likely to have no light task." + +Tristram now took off the armor of the wounded knight, who, as well as +he could, helped him to put it on himself. This accomplished, Tristram +mounted his horse and took in his hand Sir Galleron's spear. + +Riding to where Palamides stood waiting, he bade him make ready. In a +minute more the two strong knights came hurtling together like two +lions. Each smote the other in the centre of the shield, but Palamides's +spear broke, while that of Tristram overturned the horse of Palamides. +In a moment the unhorsed knight had sprung to his feet and drawn his +sword, while Tristram alighted, tied his horse to a tree, and advanced +to the fray. + +The combat that succeeded was a hard and well-fought one, as only it +could be between two such knights. For more than two hours it continued, +Tristram often bringing Palamides to his knees by his mighty strokes, +while Palamides cut through Tristram's shield and wounded him. Then, in +a fury of anger, Tristram rushed upon his rival and hurled him to the +earth. But in an instant the agile Saracen was on his feet again, +fighting with all his old strength and skill. And so the combat went on, +hour by hour, and, hard as Tristram fought, Palamides stood as nobly to +his work, and gave him stroke for stroke. + +But, as fortune willed, in the end a fierce blow struck the sword from +Palamides's hand, nor dare he stoop for it, for fear of being slain. So +he stood moveless, regarding it with a sorrowful heart. + +"Now," said Tristram, "I have you at advantage, as you had me this day. +But it shall never be said that Tristram de Lyonesse killed a weaponless +knight. Therefore take your sword, and let us make an end of this +battle." + +"As for that, I am willing to end it now," said Palamides. "I have no +wish to fight longer. Nor can I think that my offence is such that we +may not be friends. All I have done is to love La Belle Isolde. You will +not say that I have done her aught of dishonor by holding that she is +peerless among ladies, or by the valor which love for her has given me. +As for such offence as I have given you, I have atoned for it this day, +and no one can say that I have not held my own like a man. But this I +will affirm, that I never before fought with a man of your might. +Therefore I beg you to forgive me for all wrongs which I have done you, +and as my vow is now fulfilled, I stand ready to go with you to the +nearest church, there to be confessed, and to receive baptism as a true +and earnest Christian knight." + +"I gladly forgive you all you have done against me," said Tristram; "the +more so that you have done it rather from love than from hatred. It +fills my heart with joy to be the means of bringing the valiant +Palamides into the Church of Christ, and hereafter I shall hold you +among my best friends. Within a mile from here is the suffragan of +Carlisle, who will gladly give you the sacrament of baptism; and all +Christendom must rejoice to gain so noble a convert." + +Then they took their horses and helped Galleron to his, and rode to the +church, where Tristram told the suffragan the purpose of their coming. +Proud to bring into the fold of the church so notable a convert, the +suffragan filled a great vessel with water, and hallowed it. This done, +he confessed and baptized Sir Palamides, while Tristram and Galleron +stood as his godfathers. + +Afterwards the three knights rode to Camelot, much to the joy of the +king and queen, who gladly welcomed Tristram to their court, and were no +less glad to learn that the valiant Palamides had become a Christian, +and that the long rivalry between him and Tristram was at an end. The +great feast of Pentecost that followed was the merriest that had ever +been held at Arthur's court, and the merriest that ever would be, for +the breath of coming woe and trouble was in the air, and the time was +near at hand in which that worthy fellowship of noble knights was +destined to break up in dire disaster. + +But first of all the tide of disaster came upon Tristram the brave and +Isolde the fair, as we must now relate. The chronicles tell the story at +length, but the record of treachery and crime had always best be short, +and so we shall make that of King Mark, the murderer. + +Many years before the time to which we have now come, King Mark's +treachery had filled Cornwall with mischief and all the land with +horror, through a deed of frightful crime. And in thus wise it came +about. Cornwall had been invaded by a host of Saracens, but before they +could do any mischief, Prince Baldwin, King Mark's brother, attacked +them, burned their ships, and utterly destroyed them. Furious at heart +that his brother should win such honor, while he lay cowering with fear +in his castle, Mark invited him to Tintagil, with his wife and child. +There suddenly charging him with treason for attacking the Saracens +without orders, he stabbed him to the heart, and would have slain his +wife and child as well had not the lady Anglides fled for life with her +child. + +Mark sent after them an old knight named Sir Sadok, with orders to bring +them back to Tintagil. But he suffered them to escape, and brought back +to the king a false tale that he had drowned the boy. + +Many years now passed by, during which Baldwin's son, Alexander the +orphan, grew up to be a youth large of limb and strong of arm. In due +time he was made a knight, whereupon Anglides produced the bloody +doublet and shirt of her murdered husband, which she had carefully +preserved, and laid upon the young knight the duty of revenging his +father's death. The story of the crime had been diligently kept from +him, but he now accepted this heavy charge with alacrity, and vowed +solemnly to devote his life to the duty of revenging his murdered +father. + +News of all this was quickly brought to King Mark, by a false knight who +hoped to win favor by turning informer. + +"By my halidom," cried Mark, "whom can I trust? I fancied the young +viper was dead years ago. That false hound, Sadok, let him escape. As I +am a living man, he shall pay the penalty of his treason." + +Seizing a sword, he burst furiously from the chamber, and rushed madly +through the castle in search of the knight who had deceived him. When +Sadok saw him coming, with fury in his face, he guessed what had +happened, and drew his own sword in haste. + +"King Mark," he cried, "beware how you come nigh me. I saved the life of +Alexander, and glory in it, for you slew his father cowardly and +treacherously. And it is my hope and prayer that the youth may have the +strength and spirit to revenge the good Prince Baldwin on his murderer." + +"What, traitor! What, dog! Do you dare rail thus at me?" cried the king, +and in a voice of fury he bade four knights of his following to slay the +traitor. + +These knights drew their swords and advanced in a body on Sadok; but he +got the wall of them, and fought so shrewdly that he killed the whole +four in King Mark's presence. + +Then, shaking his clinched fist at the king, he said,-- + +"I would add your false body to the heap, but that I leave you for +Alexander's revenge." + +This said, he took horse and rode briskly away, and in all his court +Mark could not find a knight willing to pursue him, for all that held +with the king feared the old knight's sturdy arm. + +King Mark now finding his wrath of no avail, set himself to devising +some scheme of treachery by which the danger that threatened him might +be removed. In the end he made a compact with Morgan le Fay and the +queen of Northgalis, both false sorceresses, in which they agreed to +fill the land with ladies that were enchantresses, and with false +knights like Malgrim and Breuse Sans Pite, so that the young knight +Alexander le Orphelin should be surrounded with magic and treachery, and +without doubt be taken prisoner or slain. + +Soon after his knighting, Alexander set out for King Arthur's court, and +on the way there had many adventures, in which he proved himself a +knight of great valor and skill. Among these was a mighty battle with +the false knight Malgrim, whom in the end he killed. + +But now Morgan le Fay sought to entrap him by her false devices. She +gave him a sleeping draught, and had him taken in a horse-litter to a +castle of hers named La Belle Regard. + +Here she cured him of his wounds by healing salves, but not until he had +promised that he would not set foot beyond the boundaries of that castle +for a twelvemonth and a day. When he had recovered, Alexander chafed +bitterly at his confinement, for he felt sure that the pledge had been +exacted from him to save King Mark from his vow of revenge. Yet his word +held him close prisoner. + +As one day he wandered through the halls of the castle, like a young +lion in a cage,--now heavy and sad, now burning with desire for +action,--there came to him a damsel who was cousin to Morgan le Fay, and +to whom the castle of La Belle Regard by right belonged. + +"Sir knight," she said to him, "I find you doleful of aspect; yet I bear +tidings that should make you merry!" + +"I pray you tell them to me," he answered. "I am here now a prisoner by +promise, but must say that time hangs very heavy on my hands." + +"You are more of a prisoner than you deem," she replied. "My cousin, +Morgan le Fay, keeps you here for purposes of her own which you will +scarcely find to your liking." + +"I fancy she keeps me here through an understanding with King Mark," he +rejoined. "I have no faith in her, but I cannot break my word of honor." + +"Truly, fair sir," she said, "I pity your unhappy lot, and have a plan +in mind through which you may escape from this durance without loss of +honor." + +"Do that and I shall owe you my life's service," he answered, warmly. +"Tell me, dear lady, by what means I can be freed." + +"This I may justly say, that this castle of right belongs to me. I have +been unjustly deprived of it, and in right and honor you are my +prisoner, not Morgan's. I have an uncle who is a powerful nobleman, the +Earl of Pase, and who hates Morgan le Fay above all persons. I shall +send to him, and pray him for my sake to destroy this castle, which +harbors only evil customs. He will come at my wish and set fire to the +building throughout. As for you, I shall get you out at a private +postern, and there have your horse and armor ready." + +"Truly, fair maiden, you are as wise as you are beautiful," he answered, +in eager accents. "Release me from imprisonment to Morgan and I will +hold myself your prisoner for life." + +Then she sent to her uncle the earl, and bade him come and burn that +haunt of mischief,--a design which he already had in mind. + +When the appointed day came the Earl of Pase sought the castle with four +hundred knights, and set fire to it in all parts, ceasing not his +efforts till there was not a stone left standing of the once proud +stronghold. + +But Alexander was not willing to take this as a release from his vow, +but stationed himself within the limits of the space where had stood the +castle of La Belle Regard, and made it known far and wide that he would +hold that ground against all comers for a twelvemonth and a day. + +Word of this knightly challenge soon came to Arthur's court, where was +then a lady of famous beauty and great estate, known as Alice la Belle +Pilgrim, daughter of Duke Ansirus, called the pilgrim, since he went on +a pilgrimage to Jerusalem every third year. + +When this fair maiden heard of Alexander's challenge, she went into the +great hall of Camelot and proclaimed in the hearing of all the knights +that whoever should overcome the champion of La Belle Regard should wed +her and be lord of all her lands. + +This done, she went to La Belle Regard, where she set up her pavilion +beside the piece of earth held by the young knight. And as the weeks +passed by there came from all directions knights who had heard of +Alexander's challenge and Alice's offer, and many a hard battle was +fought. Yet from them all Alexander came as victor. + +But the more he triumphed over his knightly foes the deeper he fell +captive to his fair neighbor, for whom he grew to feel so deep a love +that it almost robbed him of his wits. Nor was his love unrequited, for +his valor and youthful beauty had filled her heart with as ardent a +passion for him in return, and she prayed as warmly for his victory in +every combat as though he had been her chosen champion. + +And so time passed on, varied by fighting and love-making, till one day, +after Alexander had unhorsed two knights, there came to him the lady to +whom he owed the burning of the castle, who told Alice the whole story +of what had then occurred. + +"You worked wisely and well," answered Alice. "Sir Alexander, indeed, +has not gained much more freedom, except it be freedom to fight. But +that is more his fault than yours." + +"Have I not?" exclaimed the young knight. "I have gained freedom to love +also; for which I am ever beholden to this fair damsel." + +At this Alice turned away with a rosy blush, while the maiden stood +regarding them with merry smiles. + +"I have, by right, the first claim on you, Sir Alexander," she said. +"But if this fair lady wants you, I should be sorry to stand in love's +light. I yield my claim in her favor." + +As they thus conversed in merry mood, three knights rode up, who +challenged Alexander to joust for the proffered prize of the hand and +estate of Alice la Belle Pilgrim. But the three of them got such falls +that they lost all desire to wed the lady, and, like all knights whom +Alexander overcame, they were made to swear to wear no arms for a +twelvemonth and a day. + +Yet love may bring weakness as well as strength, as the young lover was +to find to his cost. For there came a day in which, as he stood looking +from his pavilion, he saw the lady Alice on horseback outside, and so +charming did she appear in his eyes that his love for her became almost +a frenzy. So enamoured was he that all thought of life and its doings +fled from his brain, and he grew like one demented. + +While he was in this state of love-lorn blindness the false-hearted +knight Sir Mordred rode up with purpose to joust. But when he saw that +the youthful champion was besotted with admiration of his lady, and had +no eyes or mind for aught beside, he thought to make a jest of him, and, +taking his horse by the bridle, led him here and there, designing to +bring the lover to shame by withdrawing him from the place he had sworn +to defend. + +When the damsel of the castle saw this, and found that no words of hers +would rouse Alexander from his blind folly, she burned with indignation, +and bethought her of a sharper means of bringing him back to his lost +senses. + +So she put on her armor and took a sword in her hand, and, mounting a +horse, rode upon him with the fury of a knight, giving him such a buffet +on the helm that he thought that fire flew from his eyes. + +When the besotted lover felt this stroke he came of a sudden to his +wits, and felt for his sword. But the damsel fled to the pavilion and +Mordred to the forest, so that Alexander was left raging there, with no +foe to repay for that stinging blow. + +When he came to understand how the false knight would have shamed him, +his heart burned with wrath that Sir Mordred had escaped his hands. But +the two ladies had many a jest upon him for the knightly stroke which +the damsel had given him on the helm. + +"Good faith," she said, "I knew not how else to bring back his strayed +wits. I fancy I would have given him some shrewd work to do if I had +chosen to stand against him. These men think that none but they can wear +armor and wield swords. I took pity on your champion, Alice, or it might +have gone hard with him," and she laughed so merrily that they could not +but join her in her mirth. + +After that nearly every day Alexander jousted with knights of honor and +renown, but of them all not one was able to put him to the worse, and he +held his ground to the twelvemonth's end, proving himself a knight of +the noblest prowess. + +When the year had reached its end and his pledge was fully kept, he +departed from that place with Alice la Belle Pilgrim, who afterwards +became his loving wife, and they lived together with great joy and +happiness in her country of Benoye. + +But though he let love set aside for the time his vow of revenge on King +Mark, he did not forget the duty that lay before him, nor did that +evil-minded king rest at ease under the knowledge that an avenger was in +the land. Many a false scheme he devised to keep Alexander from his +court, and in the end his treacherous plots proved successful, for the +young knight was murdered by some of King Mark's emissaries, with his +father's death still unrevenged. + +But vengeance sleeps not, and destiny had decided that the false-hearted +king should yet die in retribution for the murder of Prince Baldwin. +Alexander left a son, who was named Bellengerus le Beuse, and who grew +up to become a valiant and renowned knight. He it was who avenged the +slaughter of Prince Baldwin, and also of Sir Tristram, for this noble +knight was also slain by the felonious king, as we must now tell. + +Through the good services of King Arthur and Queen Guenever, after +Tristram and Isolde had long dwelt at Joyous Gard, peace was made +between them and King Mark, and they returned to Tintagil, where for a +long time all went on in seeming friendship and harmony. + +But the false king nursed the demon of jealousy deep within his breast, +and bided his time for revenge. At length, on a day when Tristram, +dreaming not of danger, sat harping before La Belle Isolde, the +treacherous king rushed suddenly upon him with a naked sword in his hand +and struck him dead at her feet. + +Retribution for this vile deed came quickly, for Bellengerus was at +Tintagil Castle at the time, brought there by thirst of vengeance, and +with a heart filled with double fury by the news of this dastardly deed, +he rushed upon King Mark as he stood in the midst of his knights and +courtiers, and struck him to the heart with his father's avenging +blade. + +Then, aided by Dinas, Fergus, and others of Tristram's friends, he +turned upon Andred and the remainder of King Mark's satellites, and when +the work of blood was done not one of these false-hearted knights +remained alive, and the court of Cornwall was purged of the villany +which had long reigned there supreme. + +But La Belle Isolde loved Tristram with too deep a love to survive his +death, and she fell swooning upon the cross above his tomb and there +sobbed out her life; and she was buried by his side, that those who had +been so united in life should not be parted in death. + +Great was the grief and pity aroused throughout England, and through all +lands where knighthood was held in honor, by this distressful event, for +never before had two such faithful lovers breathed mortal air. And long +thereafter lovers made pilgrimages to their tomb, where many prayed +fervently for a draught from that magic goblet from which Tristram and +Isolde drank, and whose wine of love forever after ran so warmly in +their veins. + + + + + BOOK IX. + + THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ENCHANTED CASTLE OF KING PELLAM. + + +After many years had come and gone, and all at the court of Arthur the +king had grown older and wiser, there came to pass a series of +adventures more marvellous than had ever been known upon the earth +before, and of a nobler kind than mere tourneyings and joustings, being +no less than the quest of the holy vessel named the Sangreal, in which +was kept a portion of the blood of our blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ. + +And through this quest much disaster came upon the land, and the noble +fellowship of the Round Table was broken up and destroyed, for many went +in search of the holy vessel who had lived evil lives, and of these few +came back, but most of them died deaths of violence. + +This sacred talisman--the Sangreal--had been brought to England +centuries before by Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of our Saviour, and +had passed down from him to his descendant, King Pellam, of Listengeise, +him whom Balin struck the dolorous stroke, and who was destined to lie +in misery and pain until he should be healed of his wound by the winner +of the holy vessel. + +But to tell how this perilous quest began we must go long years back and +relate a story of strange adventures and marvellous deliverances. + +For it had happened that during a feast of Whitsuntide Lancelot du Lake +left Arthur's court at Camelot and rode afar in search of adventures. +And after a long journey, in which many strange things came to pass, he +arrived at Listengeise, the land of King Pellam. Here he rescued the +king's fair daughter, Elaine, from a dismal enchantment, under which she +had long lain through the wiles of Morgan le Fay and the queen of +Northgalis, who hated her bitterly from her renown for beauty. + +After the rescue of the lady, Lancelot fought with and killed a mighty +serpent that haunted a tomb near by, and had done much harm in the land. +Then there came to him a dignified and noble baron, who thanked him +heartily in the name of the king, and invited him to a repast in the +castle hall. + +But as they sat at table a wonderful thing took place. For in at the +open window of the hall there flew a dove, which bore in its mouth what +seemed a little censer of gold. And from this censer came such a rich +and penetrating perfume as if all the spicery of the world had been +there, while upon the table suddenly appeared the most delicious of +meats and drinks. Then came in a damsel, young and beautiful, who bore +in her hands a vessel of gold, before which all who were there kneeled +and prayed devoutly. + +[Illustration: ON THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.] + +"What may all this mean?" asked Lancelot in deep surprise. + +"It has been granted you to see the most precious and wonderful thing in +the world," answered the noble baron. "For you have been permitted to +gaze upon the holy Sangreal. In the time to come all Arthur's knights +shall take part in a quest for this precious talisman, and great shall +be the woe therefrom, for through that quest the Round Table fellowship +shall be broken up and many of its noble knights destroyed." + +But all that passed in that land is too much for us to tell. We shall +say only that the fair Elaine came to love Lancelot dearly, but he gave +her no love in return, for all the affection of his heart was centred +upon Queen Guenever. Yet King Pellam so desired that Lancelot should wed +his fair daughter that in the end he used enchantment, and brought him +to make her his wife when under a magic spell, the deluded knight +fancying that it was Guenever whom he had wedded. + +This delusion last not long, and when the deceived spouse came to his +senses and learned how he had been dealt with, he broke away like a +madman, and, gaining his horse, rode wildly through the land. And every +knight-errant who dared to joust with him was made to suffer from the +fury that burned in his blood. + +Long afterwards, as chance and adventure brought about, there came to +King Pellam's castle Sir Bors de Ganis, Lancelot's nephew. He was gladly +received, and treated with all the good cheer and honor which the castle +could afford. And as he sat at his repast with, the castle lords, there +came in, as it had come to Lancelot, the dove with the censer, at which +the air was filled with the richest perfume, and the table covered with +the most delicious viands. Then entered the maiden with the holy grail, +and all fell to their prayers. + +"Truly," said Bors, "this is a strange place, and a land full of +marvels." + +"This I will say," answered the noble baron who sat in the king's chair, +"that of the knights who come here few see the holy vessel, and fewer go +away with any honor. Gawaine, the good knight, was here but lately; but +he saw not what your eyes have beheld, and he left here in shame. None +but those of a worshipful life and who love God devoutly can behold this +marvel, or sleep in this castle without coming to harm." + +"I am in quest of adventures," said Bors, "and shall lie in your castle +this night, come what will. Men call me honest and virtuous, and I stand +ready to dare all perils the castle may hold." + +"I counsel you not," said the baron. "You will hardly escape without +harm and shame." + +"Let come what will come, I am ready." + +"Then I advise you to confess, and go to your chamber with a clean soul, +for you will be sorely tried." + +"Let it be so. Your counsel is wise." + +After Sir Bors had been confessed and received absolution, he was led +into a fair large chamber, around which were many doors, while a bed of +royal richness stood in the middle of the floor. Here he was left alone, +and threw himself on the bed in his armor, deeming it wise to be +prepared for all that might come. + +Not long had he lain there with open eyes and alert wits, when the room +was all at once brilliantly lighted up, though whence the light came he +could not tell. And suddenly a great and long spear, whose point burnt +like a taper, shot across the chamber without hand to guide it, and +struck him in the shoulder so fierce a blow that his armor was pierced, +and he received a wound, a hand's-breadth in depth, which pained him +bitterly. + +Quickly afterwards an armed knight strode in, with shield on shoulder +and sword in hand, who cried in a harsh voice,-- + +"Arise, sir knight, and fight with me." + +"I shall not fail you," said Bors, hot with the pain of his wound. "I am +sorely hurt, but I have vowed boldly to dare aught that might come to +me. If that burning spear came from your hand you shall pay dearly for +it." + +With these words he sprang from the bed and attacked the intruder, and a +hard and stern battle began, which lasted long. At the end the intruding +knight was driven backward to a chamber door, through which he passed, +leaving Bors master of the floor. + +But hardly had he rested a minute when the defeated knight returned, as +fresh as at the start, and attacked Bors with renewed strength. Again +the battle went on fiercely. But when Bors saw his antagonist once more +retreating towards the chamber door, he cried out,-- + +"Not so, my good fellow. You played that trick on me once; you shall +not again. Back and defend yourself. If you defeat me it shall be by +strength, not by magic." And he stationed himself before the door, and +drove back his opponent with such fury, that in a moment more he hurled +him to the floor. + +"Yield, or you die!" he cried, setting his foot on the fallen knight's +head. + +"I yield," came the answer. + +"What is your name?" + +"I am Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches." + +"Then, Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches, take yourself away. And if +you have any of your fellows behind yonder door, bid them to keep out of +this room, for I came here to sleep, not to fight. At Whitsunday next, +present yourself at King Arthur's court, and tell him that you have come +thither as a prisoner of Sir Bors of the sharp sword." + +This, Sir Pedivere swore to do, and left his conqueror to what rest he +could get. But this was little, for enchantment surrounded the daring +knight. The room suddenly became full of frightful noises and alive with +peril. Whence they came he knew not, whether through doors or windows, +but a flight of arrows and of crossbow bolts filled the air, whistling +shrewdly past his ears, while many of them fell upon him and pierced his +flesh through the open places in his armor. + +"Who can sleep in such a den of witchcraft as this?" he cried, in a +rage, springing from the bed. As he did so one of the doors opened, and +a great lion leaped fiercely in, with a hideous roar. + +"It is better to fight a lion that one can see, than arrows which nobody +shoots," cried Bors, and he rushed without hesitation on the dangerous +animal. + +Sharp was the fight that followed, but of short duration. The lion +sprang wildly upon him, and tore the shield from his arm, while the +sharp claws rent his flesh. But the knight retorted with a sweeping +stroke that cut off the frightful beast's head, and stretched its tawny +body lifeless on the floor. + +Then Bors walked to the window to see whither the arrows had come, and +as he looked into the castle court he beheld a wondrous sight. For +before his eyes stood a dragon, huge and horrible of aspect, in whose +forehead were letters of gold which seemed to him to form King Arthur's +emblem. And as he gazed there leaped into the court an old and mighty +leopard, which sprang upon the dragon and engaged in desperate battle +with the huge monster. + +At last the dragon spit out of its mouth a hundred of what seemed small +dragons, and these quickly leaped upon the frightful beast and rent it +to fragments. Then all the animals disappeared, and an old man came into +the court, around whose neck two adders wreathed their folds. In his +hand was a harp, upon which he played, while he sang an old song telling +how Joseph of Arimathea came to that land. When his song was ended he +said to Sir Bors,-- + +"Go from this land, sir knight, for you shall have no more adventures +here. You have played your part well and nobly, and shall do still +better hereafter, for wondrous things are reserved for you." + +Then Bors saw a dove of whitest plumage fly across the court with a +golden censer in its mouth, from which seemed to stream the most +delicious perfumes. And the tempest which had raged in the sky suddenly +ceased, while from the rent clouds the full moon poured down its white +light to the earth. + +Next there came into the court four children who bore four tapers, and +an old man in their midst with a censer in one hand a spear in the +other, and that spear was called the spear of vengeance. + +"Go to your cousin, Sir Lancelot," said the old man, "and tell him what +you have seen, and that if he had been as clean of sin as he should be, +the adventure which all this signifies would have been his. Tell him, +moreover, that though in worldly adventures he passes all others in +manhood and prowess, there are many his betters in spiritual worth, and +that what you have seen and done this night he was not deemed worthy +of." + +Then Bors saw four meanly-dressed gentlewomen pass through his chamber, +and enter an apartment beyond which was lit up with a light like that of +midsummer. Here they knelt before an altar of silver with four pillars, +where also kneeled a man in the dress of a bishop. And as the knight +looked upward he beheld a naked sword hovering over his head, whose +blade shone like silver, yielding a flashing light that blinded him as +he gazed. As he stood thus sightless, he heard a voice which said,-- + +"Go hence, Sir Bors, for as yet thou art not worthy to be in this +place." + +Then the door of that chamber closed, and he went backward to his bed, +where he lay and slept undisturbed till morning dawned. But when the +regent of King Pellam learned what had happened to his guest in the +night, and how he had escaped the perils of the enchanted chamber, he +greeted him joyfully, and said,-- + +"You are the first that ever endured so well that chamber's mysteries. +And more has been shown to your eyes than any others have seen. Go home, +worthy knight. You are chosen for great deeds in the time to come." + +Sir Bors thereupon took his horse and rode away, thinking long and +deeply on all that had happened to him. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MARVEL OF THE FLOATING SWORD. + + +Many and strange were the events that followed those we have just +related, and great trouble and woe came therefrom. For when Sir Bors +returned to Camelot and told the story of the wedding of Lancelot and +Elaine, much was the secret talk and great the scandal. And when the +news came to Guenever's ears she flamed with wrath. + +Not long afterwards, Lancelot returned, still half frenzied with the +deception that had been practised upon him. When Guenever saw him she +accused him bitterly of being a traitor to love, and harshly bade him +leave the court, and never come again within her sight. + +This bitter reviling turned Lancelot's frenzy to a sudden madness. With +distracted brain he leaped from a window into a garden, and ran like a +wild man through wood and brake, heedless that his clothes were torn and +his flesh rent with thorns and briers. Thus hotly burns despised love in +the human heart and brain, and thus it may turn the strongest senses +away and bring madness to the clearest mind. + +On learning what had passed, Bors and Hector went to the queen, and +accused her harshly of the great wrong she had done to the noble +Lancelot. But she was already torn with remorse, and she knelt before +these noble knights, begging their forgiveness, and praying them +pitifully to seek Lancelot and bring him back to the court. + +Months passed and Lancelot returned not, nor could he be found, though +he was sought through many lands. For he kept afar from cities and +courts, and roamed through wilds and wastes, where he had many +adventures in his madness, and did strange and wild things. + +For two years he wandered hither and thither in frenzy, until at length +he came to King Pellam's city of Corbin, and to the castle where dwelt +the fair Elaine. Here he was given shelter in a little outhouse, with +straw to sleep on, while every day they threw him meat and set him +drink, for none would venture near a madman of such savage aspect. + +But one day as he slept, Elaine chanced to behold him, and knew him at +once for Lancelot. Telling a trusty baron of her discovery, she had the +distracted knight borne still sleeping into a tower chamber in which was +kept the holy vessel, the Sangreal, concealed from all eyes save those +of persons of saintly life. Lancelot was laid near this, and when all +had left the chamber a man of sanctity entered and uncovered the vessel. +Such was its holy influence that it wrought marvellously upon the +distracted knight as he lay there asleep and the madness passed away +from his brain. When he woke he was himself again, as whole a man in +mind and body as any that stood upon the earth. For so healing was the +virtue of that precious vessel that it not only drove the cloud of +madness from his mind, but gave him back all his old might and +comeliness of body. + +Then, ashamed of his frenzy, and anxious not to be known, Lancelot +assumed the name of the Chevalier Mal Fet, or the knight who has +trespassed, and took up his abode with Elaine and many knights and +ladies at a castle given him by King Pellam. This stood on an island in +the midst of a deep and clear lake, which Lancelot named the Joyous +Isle. And now, filled again with martial fervor, he made it known far +and wide that he would joust with any knights that came that way, and +that any one who should put him to the worst would receive as a prize a +jewel of worth and a jerfalcon. + +But none won the prize, though very many noble knights jousted with the +Chevalier Mal Fet. + +Last of all came Percivale and Hector, who had been long in search of +Lancelot. Learning the challenge, Percivale jousted with Lancelot, and +afterwards they fought with swords. So long and even was their combat, +that a length both paused for breath. And now Percivale, wondering who +this sturdy knight could be, told his name, and asked for his in return. +At this, Lancelot threw away his weapon, and took his late opponent in +his arms, crying out that he was Lancelot du Lake. + +Glad was the meeting between these old friends and comrades, and richly +were the new-comers entertained in the castle. But in the end they +persuaded Lancelot to go with them to Camelot, and the disconsolate +Elaine was left to return, with her knights and ladies, to her father's +castle. + +After these events years came and went, until many summers and winters +had passed over England's fair isle, and age had begun to lay its hand +on those who had been young, while those who had been children grew up +and became knights and ladies. Then came at length the time fixed by +destiny for the adventure of the Sangreal. And thus this adventure +began. + +When again approached the vigil of Pentecost, and all the fellowship of +the Round Table had come to Camelot, and the tables were set to dine, +there rode into the great hall a gentlewoman of noble aspect, whose +horse was white with sweat and foam. + +She saluted Lancelot and begged him to go with her, though whither and +for what purpose she would not say. Stirred by his love of adventure, he +armed and rode with her, and before the day's end reached an abbey of +nuns in a secluded valley. Here, as he stood conversing with the abbess, +there came in to him twelve nuns, bringing with them a youth who had not +yet reached manhood, but was large and powerful of frame, and as +handsome of face as any man he had ever seen. + +"Sir," said the ladies, with weeping eyes, "we bring you this child, +whom we have long nourished, and pray you to make him a knight; for +there is no worthier man from whom he can receive the order of +knighthood, and we hold him worthy of your sword." + +Lancelot looked long at the young squire, and saw that he was seemly, +and demure as a dove, and of wonderful beauty of form and features, and +his heart went out with great love for the beautiful youth. + +"What is his name?" asked Lancelot. + +"We call him Galahad." + +"Comes this desire from himself?" + +"It does," said they all. + +"From whom has he sprung?" + +"His mother is dead. His father is a full noble knight, as you shall +soon learn." + +"Then he shall be knighted by my hand to-morrow at the morning services, +for truly he seems worthy of it." + +That night, Lancelot's cousins, Bors and Lionel, stopped at the abbey, +and spent there a cheery evening with their noble kinsman. At early morn +of the next day he gave the accolade to the youth, pronouncing him +knight, and bidding Bors and Lionel to stand as his godfathers in the +order of knighthood. + +"And may God make you a good man and a noble knight," he said. "Beauty +you have now, equal to any I have ever seen, and strength and courage I +doubt not; if you bear with these a noble heart and an earnest mind you +have the best treasures that God can confer or man possess." + +Then, when they had broken their fast, Lancelot said to the demure and +modest young knight,-- + +"Fair sir, will you come with me to the court of King Arthur?" + +"I humbly beg your pardon," said Galahad, "but I cannot come at this +time. Trust me to follow soon." + +Then Lancelot and his cousins left the abbey and rode to Camelot, where +they arrived before the hour of the feast. In the great hall were many +noble knights, some of them strangers, who walked about the Round Table, +reading the names in letters of gold in the several seats, and saying,-- + +"Here sits Gawaine, here Lancelot, here Percivale," and so with the +others. + +At length they came to the seat perilous, in which no man but Percivale +had hitherto dared to sit, and which he no longer occupied. To their +deep surprise they found there newly written in letters of gold these +words,-- + +"Four hundred and fifty-four winters after the passion of our Lord Jesus +Christ, the knight shall come for whom this seat is held by destiny." + +"What marvellous thing is this?" cried all who saw it. "Here is a +miracle." + +"In the name of God, what means it?" cried Lancelot. "Percivale long +since had warning to leave that seat. Who shall fill it to-day, for this +is the feast of Pentecost of the four hundred and fifty-fourth year. The +year and day have come, but where and who is the man? I advise that +these letters be hidden, till he come for whom this seat is +pre-ordained." + +Then it was ordered that the writing should be covered with a cloth of +silk; and the king bade his guests to hasten to dinner, and forget for +the time being what they had seen. + +"Sir," said Kay, the steward, "if you go to table now you will break +your old custom, not to sit at dinner on this day till you have seen or +heard of some adventure." + +"Very true," said the king. "I had forgotten my custom through this +strange event." + +As they stood thus speaking, there came hastily into the court a squire, +whose eyes were big with wonder. + +"Sire, I bring you marvellous tidings," he cried to the king. + +"What are they?" demanded Arthur. + +"As I stood but now by the river, I saw floating on its waters a great +square stone, and above this stood the hilt of a sword, whose blade was +thrust deeply into the stone." + +"A stone that floats!" said the king. "That is strange, indeed. I must +see this marvel." + +Then he, followed by all the knights, went to the river, and saw there +that the squire had spoken truly; for a great stone that seemed of red +marble floated like wood on the water, and thrust deeply into it was a +rich sword, in whose pommel were many jewels of price. As they looked in +wonder the stone whirled inward on an eddy and came aground at their +feet. And now they saw that the precious stones were set in letters of +gold, which none there could read. But there was a man at the court +learned in strange tongues, and he being sent for, read these with ease, +and thus interpreted them,-- + +"Never shall the hand of man draw me from this stone until he comes by +whose side I am to hang; and he shall be the best knight in the world." + +"Lay your hand on this sword and draw it," said the king to Lancelot. +"To you it surely belongs; for you are the best knight in the world." + +"Best of hand, mayhap, but not of heart and life," said Lancelot, +soberly. "Certes, sir, that sword is not for me, nor have I the +hardiness to set hand thereto. I had a vision in my last night's sleep, +and this it told me: that he who seeks to draw that sword, and fails +therein, shall in time receive from it a wound which shall be very long +in healing. And this more I learned, that this same day, and with the +drawing of that sword, shall begin the marvellous quest of the holy +vessel, the Sangreal. For fate has destined that this precious amulet +shall be sought throughout the world; and to him who finds it the +greatest of earth's honors shall come." + +The king and all the knights heard these words with wonder, for Lancelot +spoke like one inspired. Then Arthur turned to Gawaine. + +"Fair nephew," he said, "try you this task for my love." + +"Saving your good grace," said Gawaine, "that I shall not do." + +"Then, sir, seek to draw the sword at my command." + +"Your command I must obey," said Gawaine, "yet I dread to meddle with +magic." + +Then he took the sword by the handle, and pulled with all his might, but +he could not stir it. + +"I thank you," said the king, "for the trial, even if you have failed." + +"My lord Gawaine," said Lancelot, "bear well in mind, this sword shall +touch you so sore that you would give the best castle in this kingdom +not to have set your hand thereto." + +"It may be," answered Gawaine. "Yet I could not disobey the command of +the king." + +Then the king turned to Percivale, and asked him for his love to try the +task. + +"Gladly will I," he said, "if only to bear Gawaine fellowship." + +But pull as strongly as he would, the sword yielded not to his hand. And +there were more there so hardy as to disregard Lancelot's warning and +seek to draw the sword, but to no hand would it yield. + +"Try no more," said Kay to the king. "You have seen your marvel, and now +may, with a good appetite, go to your dinner." + +This advice seemed timely to the king, and all went to the court, where +the knights took their seats at the Round Table, and were served by +young men lately made knights. When they had been fully served, every +seat being filled save the seat perilous, another marvellous thing +happened. For suddenly all the doors and windows of the hall shut of +themselves. Yet the room was not greatly darkened, and men looked into +one another's faces with abashed and frightened visages. + +"Fair fellows and lords," said the king, "this is a day of strange +events. And I doubt if we shall not see greater before night comes, for +it seems a day set aside by the fates." + +As he spoke, there came into the hall an ancient man, clothed all in +white, but no knight knew through which door he had entered. By the hand +he led a young knight, clad in red armor, but without sword or shield, +an empty scabbard hanging by his side. + +"Peace be with you, fair lords," said the old man. Then he turned to +King Arthur, and said,-- + +"Sir, I bring with me a young knight who is of kingly lineage, and of +the kindred of Joseph of Arimathea. By his hand many strange marvels are +destined to be accomplished." + +The king heard these words with close attention, and answered +graciously,-- + +"Sir, you are right welcome here, and the young knight you bring." + +Then the old man removed the youth's armor, and put upon him a coat of +red sendal and a mantle that was furred with ermine. And Lancelot saw +that the young man was he whom he had knighted that morning at the +abbey. + +[Illustration: JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.] + +But the chief wonder of the day was now to appear. For the old man said +to his young companion,-- + +"Sir, follow me." He led him around the table till they came to the seat +perilous, beside which sat Lancelot. Here the old man lifted up the +silken cloth, and lo! the letters which had been covered were gone, and +new letters of gold were visible, which read,-- + +"This is the seat of Galahad, the high prince." + +"Sir," said the old man, "this seat is yours. Long has it waited your +coming." + +And he seated him therein, while all the circle of knights looked on in +wonder. Now for the first time the young knight spoke. + +"Dear sir," he said, "you may now depart, for you have done well what +you were commanded to do. Recommend me to my grandsire, King Pellam, and +say to him that I will come and see him as soon as I may." + +With this the old man departed. Outside there waited twenty noble +squires, who mounted when he came, and rode away with him. The Knights +of the Round Table marvelled greatly at all this, and the more so on +seeing that he who occupied that chair of peril was one so tender of +age, and a youth whom no one knew, nor whence he came; but to one +another they privately said,-- + +"This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved; for none ever sat +there before but Percivale, and he was not long deemed worthy to occupy +that seat." + +The talk of this strange event quickly passed through the palace, and +came to the queen, who heard it with wonder. Those who brought word +said that the youth resembled Sir Lancelot. + +"I must see this strange thing," she said, and, followed by her ladies, +she entered the hall. + +"It is Sir Lancelot in youth again," she cried, on looking the young +knight in the face. "Fair sir, tell me truly, what father had you, and +what mother." + +"King Pellam is my grandsire," answered Galahad, "and Elaine was my +mother. As for my father, I know him not." + +"Then do I," cried the queen, "for he sits beside you. Sir Lancelot is +your father. You are son unto the noblest knight that ever wore sword." + +At these words Lancelot rose up in haste, for he had not dreamed of what +was to come; and he clasped the youth in his arms and kissed his fair +young face with a love that overflowed his heart. + +"My son!" he said. "Can it be? Greatly, indeed, have I felt drawn unto +you." + +"And my heart went out to you, dear father," said Galahad, "from the +moment I looked upon your noble face." + +The sight of this affecting meeting filled all hearts there with joy, +and the king warmly congratulated Lancelot on having found so worthy a +son; "for to him, I dare avow," he said, "is destined that great +achievement of the Sangreal of which you have this day told us." + +Then Arthur took Galahad by the hand, and said,-- + +"Come with me, young sir," and led him from the palace to the river to +show him the marvel of the stone. After them followed the knights, and +the queen and ladies of the court, all full of hope of greater wonders +yet to come. + +"Sir," said the king, "that sword floated hither this day. Many knights +of great prowess have tried to draw it and failed." + +"That is no marvel," said Galahad. "The sword is not theirs, but mine. +And since I knew it awaited me I have brought no sword; but its +scabbard, as you may see, hangs by my side." + +Then he laid his hand upon the sword, and, while all eyes opened wide +with wonder, drew it from the stone as easily as if it came from the +water only, and thrust it into the scabbard, saying to the king,-- + +"It fits there better than in a floating stone." + +"God has sent it you," said the king. "And I doubt not he will send you +a shield in as marvellous a manner." + +"This is the sword that at one time belonged to Balin le Savage," said +Galahad, "and with which he killed his brother Balan, in that terrible +joust which happened many years ago. The scabbard I wear was Balin's +scabbard, and it was Merlin who put the sword into that stone, saying +that no hand should draw it but that of Lancelot, or his son Galahad. +Nor can any man have forgotten the dolorous stroke which Balin dealt my +grandfather King Pellam, of which he is not yet healed, nor shall be +till I heal him. So has Merlin prophesied." + +As they talked thus a lady on a white palfrey was seen riding down the +river side to where they stood. Reaching the group, she saluted the +king and queen, and asked if Sir Lancelot were there. + +"I am here, fair lady," he answered. + +"Sad is it," she said, while tears flowed from her eyes, "that all your +great renown is changed since this day's dawn." + +"Damsel, why say you this?" + +"Until to-day you were the best knight in the world," she answered. "But +he who should say this now would speak falsely, for there has come a +better than you. And this is proved by the adventure of the sword to +which you dared not set your hand. Remember well what I have said." + +"As touches that," rejoined Lancelot, "I never had the pride of being +the best knight in the world, nor do I envy my son if any worship has +passed from me to him." + +"Yet you were the greatest; and still are among sinful men," she +persisted. "And, sir king," she said to Arthur, "this more I am bid to +say, from the holy lips of Nancien the hermit, that to you shall fall +to-day the greatest of honors; for this day the Sangreal shall appear in +your palace, and feed you and all your fellowship of the Round Table!" + +With these words she turned her palfrey and rode away as she had come, +leaving all who had heard her lost in wonder and admiration. + +When they had a little got over their wonder at what they had seen, the +king gave orders that the stone should be taken from the water, saying +that he would have it set up as a monument of those strange events. + +"And as it may be long before you all come together here again, I should +like to have you joust in the meadow of Camelot, by way of honor to this +day." + +Thus he spoke; but his real purpose was to see Galahad proved, for he +feared that if he once left the court it might be long before he should +see him again. Then the knights put on their armor and rode to the +meadow in a gallant cavalcade. Galahad also, at the earnest request of +the king, put on armor, but he would take no shield, though the king and +Lancelot prayed him to do so. The most he would consent to do was to +take a spear. + +But noble work he did that day, meeting all men who cared to break +spears with him, so that by the end of the joust he had thrown down many +good Knights of the Round Table. Only two of them, Lancelot and +Percivale, were able to keep their seats against the vigorous onset of +the strong young knight. + +When the jousting was at an end, the king and knights went back to +Camelot, where they attended even-song at the great minster. Thence they +proceeded to the palace hall, where all took their seats at the table +for supper. + +But as they sat eating, there came outside a terrible crash of thunder, +and a wind arose that seemed as if it would rend the great hall from its +foundations. In the midst of this blast the hall was lighted by a sudden +gleam seven times brighter than the midday light, in whose glare the +knights sat dumb, none daring to speak. But each looked at the others, +and it seemed to each that his fellows were fairer of visage than he +had ever seen them before. + +Then the storm and the glare passed away as suddenly as they had come, +and there entered the hall the holy grail. None there saw it, for it was +covered with white samite, but the hall was filled with the rarest +odors, and each knight saw on the table before him the meats and drinks +that he loved best in the world. + +When the holy vessel had passed through the hall, it suddenly vanished, +none knew how. And not till then dared any man speak. + +"Certes," said the king, "we ought to thank God devoutly for what he has +shown us this day." + +"We have enjoyed the richest of perfumes, and have before us the rarest +of food," said Gawaine; "and we have but one thing to regret, that the +sacred vessel was so preciously covered that no eye might behold it. But +this miracle has filled my soul with the warmest desire to see this holy +thing, and I therefore vow that to-morrow, without delay, I shall set +out in quest of the Sangreal, and shall not return hither till I have +seen it more openly, if it take me a twelvemonth or more. If I fail in +the end, I shall return as one who is not worthy to behold the holy +vessel." + +On hearing these words the other knights arose as one man, and repeated +the vow which Gawaine had made. + +Upon this, King Arthur sprang to his feet in deep displeasure, for there +came to his mind like a vision a host of evil consequences from this +inconsiderate vow. + +"You are over-hasty, Gawaine," he said, sharply, "and have done me a +lifelong evil with your vow. For you have bereft me of the fairest +fellowship that ever came together in this world. When my knights depart +hence on that difficult search, well I know that they will never all +meet again in this world, for many shall die in the quest. Therefore it +distresses me deeply, for I have loved them as I loved my life, and I +would rather have my soul depart from my body than to lose their noble +fellowship. Long have we dwelt together in sorrow and in joy, but I fear +our happy days are at an end, and that trouble and suffering await us in +the time to come. What God wills must be, but my heart is sore at the +thought of it." + +And men who looked upon the king could see tears of distress and grief +flowing from his eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW GALAHAD GOT HIS SHIELD. + + +When morning came the knights made ready for their departure, amid the +tears and lamentations of ladies, and with the deep sorrow of the king +and queen. For there were a hundred and fifty of them in all, comprising +the whole fellowship of the Table Round, and King Arthur had deep reason +for his fear that he would never gather all these gallant knights round +his festal board again. And so they mounted and rode through the streets +of Camelot, where was weeping of rich and poor, and the king turned away +and could not speak for grief, while Queen Guenever hid herself in her +chamber, to be alone with her bitter sorrow at the going of Lancelot. + +Onward they rode in company until they came to a castle and town that +were named Vagon. There they stopped and were well entertained by the +lord of the castle, who was a man of great hospitality. But when morning +came it was decided between them that they should separate, each taking +his own course, so that the Sangreal might be sought in all quarters. +This they did with much sorrow and many fervent farewells, each knight +taking the way that he liked the best, and riding alone and afar on his +perilous quest. + +First must we follow the young knight Galahad, who still rode without a +shield, and who passed onward for four days without an adventure. Near +eventide of the fourth day he came to a white abbey, where he was +received with great respect, and led to a chamber that he might lay off +his armor. And here, to his surprise, he met with two of the goodly +company from which he had lately parted, Sir Uwaine and King Bagdemagus. + +"Sirs," said Galahad, "what adventure brought you hither?" + +"We are told," they replied, "that within this place is a shield of +perilous significance. For he who bears it about his neck runs deep risk +of being slain within three days, or maimed forever. Yet," said +Bagdemagus, "I shall bear it to-morrow and try my fortune." + +"In the name of God, try it," said Galahad. "Yet truly you take a great +risk." + +"If I fail therein, you shall take the adventure. I am sure you will not +fail." + +"I agree to that," said Galahad. "I have ridden far enough without a +shield." + +Then they went to supper, and afterwards to sleep. When morning came +Bagdemagus asked of the abbot where the magic shield was, and a monk led +him behind an altar where hung a shield as white as snow, but with a red +cross in its centre. + +"I hope you are well advised of what you do," said the monk. "No knight, +unless he be the worthiest in the world, can safely bear this shield." + +"I know well that I am not the best of knights," said Bagdemagus; "and +yet I shall wear it and dare the danger." + +Then he took it out of the monastery, and said to Galahad,-- + +"If it please you, await me here till you learn how I shall speed." + +"I shall await tidings," said Galahad. + +Bagdemagus now rode forward with a squire, that he might send back +tidings of his good or ill fortune, and passed onward for two miles, +when he found himself in a valley before a hermitage. Here he saw a +stalwart knight in white armor, horse and all, who, in seeing the +red-cross shield, rode upon him at the full speed of his charger. +Bagdemagus put his spear in rest and rode to meet him, but his spear +broke on the white knight, while he was wounded in the right shoulder +and borne from his horse, the treacherous shield refusing to cover him. +Then the victor knight alighted and took the white shield from him, +saying,-- + +"Sir knight, you have acted with more folly than wisdom, for you should +have known that only he who has no peer living can safely bear this +shield." + +Then he went to the squire who had come with King Bagdemagus, and +said,-- + +"Bear this shield to the good knight Sir Galahad, whom you left in the +abbey, and greet him from me." + +"What shall I tell him is your name?" + +"Take no heed of my name. That is not for you to know, nor for any +earthly man. Content yourself with telling Sir Galahad that this shield +is for him, and for no other man to wear. And may God aid him to bear it +worthily and worshipfully." + +But the squire went first to Bagdemagus and asked him if he were +seriously wounded. + +"Forsooth, I am," he said. "I shall scarce escape from death." + +The squire then conveyed him in great pain to the hermitage, and left +him in care of the hermit. And as the chronicle tells, he lay there +long, and barely escaped with life. + +[Illustration: Copyright 1895 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1896 by Curtis and Cameron. + +OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD.] + +"Sir Galahad," said the squire, when he had returned to the abbey, "King +Bagdemagus has paid dearly for his venture. He lies at a hermitage +sorely wounded. As for you, the knight that overthrew him sends you +greeting, and bids you to bear this shield, through which marvellous +adventures shall come to you." + +"Then blessed be God and fortune," said Galahad. + +He now resumed his arms and mounted his horse, hanging the white shield +about his neck and commending himself to God. Uwaine offered to bear him +company, but this was not to be. + +"Sir knight," said Galahad, "I thank you for your offer, but I must go +alone, save that this squire shall bear me fellowship." + +With these words the youthful knight rode away, and soon came to where +the white knight abode by the hermitage. They saluted each other +courteously, and fell into a conversation in which the white knight told +Galahad the story of the magical shield. + +"In the far past time," he said, "soon after Joseph of Arimathea took +down the body of our Lord from the holy cross, and bore it from +Jerusalem to a city named Sarras, there was a king of Sarras named +Evelake, who was then at war with the Saracens. This king, through the +teachings of Joseph, was converted from the old law to the new, and for +him this shield was made, in the name of Him who died on the cross. +Afterwards, when Evelake was in battle, the shield was covered with a +cloth, which was only removed in times of deadly peril, and then his +enemies saw the figure of a man on the cross, before which they fell +back discomfited. At times the cross of the shield would vanish away, +and at times stand out clear and bright; and such was its virtue that a +soldier whose hand was stricken off was made whole again by touching +the cross. The time came at length when Joseph left Palestine and +journeyed westward, and King Evelake with him, till they came to Great +Britain, where all the people had been pagans, but were then converted +to the Christian faith. Soon afterwards Joseph sickened and came near to +death, and while he lay in his bed he bade Evelake bring him the shield, +and on it he traced a red cross with his own blood. Then he said to +Evelake, 'No man hereafter shall bear this shield but he shall repent +it, until Galahad, the last of my lineage, shall come to seek it, and +with it he shall do marvellous deeds.' 'Where shall the shield await his +coming?' asked Evelake. 'You shall leave it in the abbey where Nancien +the hermit shall lie after his death, and thither the knight Galahad +shall come for it soon after he receives the order of knighthood.' This +is the story of the shield, and this day has the prediction been +fulfilled. Wear the shield worthily and well, young knight, for much +glory and renown shall come to you through it. You are in God's hands; +to God commend yourself." + +With these words the white knight vanished away, and in the place where +he had stood was seen but empty air. + +Then the squire, who had heard these words, alighted and kneeled at +Galahad's feet, praying that he would make him a knight. + +"That I shall consider," said Galahad. "But now let us return to the +abbey." + +Here Galahad drove away a fiend that had long dwelt in a tomb near by, +where it made such noise that none could venture near it. But the +virtue of the shield protected him from all harm from this evil shape, +which was forced to depart. + +When morning came, he asked the young squire his name. + +"Sir," he answered, "men call me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of the +king of Denmark." + +"Then, fair sir, since you come of kings and queens, I shall make you a +knight; and look you that knighthood sit well on you, for you should be +a mirror of chivalry." + +"That shall I seek to be," said Melias. + +Then Galahad gave him the accolade as he kneeled before him, and bade +him rise a knight. + +"Now, dear sir," said Melias, "since you have done me this high honor, +it is but right that you grant me my first request, so that it be in +reason." + +"You speak justly," said Galahad. + +"I beg, then, that you let me ride with you in the quest of the Sangreal +till some adventure shall part us." + +"That I grant willingly." + +Armor was now brought to Melias, and when it had been girded upon him he +and Galahad rode away, and passed onward all that week without an +adventure. But on the Monday next, as they set out from an abbey, they +came to where a cross marked a parting of the road. On the cross was +written,-- + +"Ye knights-errant, that ride in quest of adventures, here lie two ways. +He that takes the right-hand road shall not leave it again, if he be a +good man and a worthy knight. He that takes the left-hand shall not +lightly win fortune, for his strength and endurance will be soon tried." + +"If you will suffer me to take the left-hand road I should like it +greatly," said Melias. "My strength and skill need trial." + +"It were better not. I fancy that I only should face the danger that +there confronts us." + +"Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have this adventure." + +"Take it, then, in God's name," said Galahad; "and do your duty +worthily." + +So Melias rode forward and soon found himself in a forest, through which +he passed for two days, seeing there neither man, woman, nor child. Then +he came from the forest into a broad meadow, where stood a lodge built +of green boughs. And in that lodge was a chair, on which lay a crown of +gold wrought with rich and subtle skill. Also there were cloths spread +upon the earth, upon which delicious meats were laid. + +Melias beheld all this and thought it marvellous. He felt no hunger, but +the crown of gold roused his covetousness, and he took it up and rode +away with it. But not far had he ridden when a knight came after him, +who said,-- + +"Sir knight, why have you taken that crown? It is not yours; therefore +defend yourself." + +Then Melias blessed himself, and said,-- + +"Fair Lord of Heaven, help and save thy new made knight." + +Then they rode together at full speed, but Melias's prayer availed him +naught, for the spear-head of the other went through his hauberk, and +wounded him so deeply in the left side that he fell to the earth like a +dead man. Then the victor knight took the crown and rode away. + +But with wise forethought Galahad had followed Melias, and now rode into +the valley, where he found him in peril of death. + +"Ah, Melias!" he cried, "better for you had you taken the other way. Who +has done you this harm?" + +"For God's love, let me not die in this place!" said Melias in reply. +"Bear me to some abbey near by, where I may be confessed and have the +rites of the church." + +"It shall be done," said Galahad. "But where is he who has wounded you?" + +The reply came from the edge of the forest, where Galahad heard a voice +cry in stirring tones,-- + +"Knight, defend yourself from me." + +"Beware, sir," warned Melias. "He it is that has left me thus." + +"Sir knight," said Galahad, "come on at your peril." + +Then they rode together as fast as their horses could run, and Galahad +drove his spear through the shoulder of his opponent, hurling him from +his horse. But in his fall the spear broke. Then, before the young +knight could turn, another knight rode from under the leaves and broke +his spear upon him. + +At this treacherous act Galahad drew his sword in wrath, and with a keen +blow smote off the left arm of his antagonist, whom he pursued into the +forest. + +He soon returned, however, and took up Melias gently, for the truncheon +of the spear was in his body, and bore him on his horse in his arms to +an abbey near at hand. Here the wounded knight was unarmed and laid upon +a bed, where the rites of the church were administered to him. + +"Sir Galahad," he then said, "let death come when it will, I am at peace +with God." And he drew the truncheon of the spear from his body, and +swooned away. + +But an old monk who stood there, and who was a skilful leech, examined +the wound, and said, "He need not die. By the grace of God I hope to +heal him of this wound within seven weeks." + +This gladdened Galahad, and he remained at the abbey three days to see +how Melias should fare. Then he asked him how it stood with him. + +"I feel now as if I may live," he answered. + +"God be thanked for that," said Galahad. "Now must I depart, for I have +much to do, and the quest of the Sangreal will not permit long leisure +and delay." + +"Sir," said the monk, "it is for his sin this knight is so bitterly +wounded. He took on him the high order of knighthood without clean +confession, which was a sinful thing to do. As for the two ways to which +you came, the way on the right betokens the highway of righteousness, +and the way on the left, which he chose, betokens that of sinners and +infidels. And when the devil saw his presumption in taking the quest of +the Sangreal without being worthy of it, he caused his overthrow. And +when he took the crown of gold he sinned in covetousness and theft. As +for you, Sir Galahad, the two knights with whom you fought signify the +two deadly sins which abide in Sir Melias. But they could not withstand +you, for you are without deadly sin." + +"God send I may keep so," said Galahad. "Now must I depart. I pray you +do your utmost for this knight." + +"My Lord Galahad," said Melias, "I shall get well, and shall seek you as +soon as I can ride." + +"God grant you speedy health," said Galahad, and he left the room and +sought his horse, and rode away alone. + +After he had ridden for days in various directions, it chanced that he +departed from a place called Abblasoure, where he had heard no mass, as +was his daily custom. But ere the day was old, he came to a mountain, on +which he found a ruined chapel, and here he kneeled before the altar, +and besought God's counsel. And as he prayed he heard a voice that said, +"Go now, thou adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and do away +with the wicked customs which there are kept." + +When Galahad heard this he took his horse and rode away, full of +gladness that he might thus serve God. And not long nor far had he +ridden before he saw in a valley before him a strong castle, with high +towers and battlements and deep ditches; and beside it ran a broad +river, named the Severn. + +Here he met an aged man, whom he saluted, and asked the castle's name. + +"It is the Castle of Maidens," said the old man. + +"Then it is a cursed castle, and an abode of sin," said Galahad. "All +pity is wanting within those walls, and evil and hardness of heart there +have their abode." + +"Then, sir knight, you would do well to turn and leave it." + +"That shall I not," said Galahad. "I have come here to punish the +evil-doers that there abide." + +Leaving the old man, he rode forward, and soon met with seven fair +maidens, who said to him,-- + +"Sir knight, you ride in folly, for you have the water to pass." + +"And why should I not pass the water?" asked Galahad. + +He continued his ride, and next met a squire, who said,-- + +"Sir knight, I bring you defiance from the knights in the castle, who +forbid you to go farther till they learn your purpose." + +"You may tell it to them, if you will. I come to destroy the wicked +customs of this castle." + +"Sir, if you abide by that, you will have enough to do." + +"Go now and bear them my answer." + +Then the squire returned to the castle, from which there soon after rode +seven knights, in full armor. When they saw Galahad they cried,-- + +"Knight, be on your guard, for you have come to your death." + +"What!" asked Galahad, "will you all assail me at once?" + +"That shall we; so defend yourself." + +Then Galahad rode against them and smote the foremost such a blow that +he nearly broke his neck. The others rode on him together, each +striking his shield with might. But their spears broke and he still held +his seat. + +He now drew his sword, and set upon them with such energy that, many as +they were, he put them all to flight, chasing them until they entered +the castle, and following them within its walls till they fled from the +castle by another gate. + +Galahad was now met by an old man, clad in religious costume, who said +to him,-- + +"Sir, here are the keys of the castle." + +Then the victor ordered that all the gates should be thrown open, and in +the streets of the neighboring town were crowds of people, crying +gladly,-- + +"Sir knight, you are heartily welcome. Long have we waited for the +deliverance which you bring us." + +And a gentlewoman came, who said to him,-- + +"These knights are fled, but they will come again. Therefore, sir, I +counsel you to send for all the knights that hold their lands of this +castle, and make them swear to restore the old customs, and do away with +the evil practices which these villanous knights have fostered." + +"That is good counsel," said Galahad. + +Then she brought him a horn of ivory, richly adorned with gold, and +said,-- + +"Blow this horn loudly. It will be heard two miles and more from the +castle, and all that hear it will come." + +[Illustration: Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron. + +SIR GALAHAD FIGHTING THE SEVEN SINS.] + +Galahad took the horn, and blew so loud a blast that the very trees +shook therewith. Then he seated himself and waited to see what would +come from the summons. As he sat there a priest came to him and said,-- + +"Sir knight, for seven years these brethren have held the castle, whose +lord, Duke Lianor, they killed, and held his daughter prisoner; and by +force they have kept all the knights of the castle under their power, +and have acted as tyrants, robbing the common people of all they had, +and taking tribute and demanding service from all the country round. +Seven years ago the duke's daughter said to them, 'You shall not hold +this castle for many years, for by one knight you shall be overcome.' +'Say you so,' they replied. 'Then shall never knight or lady pass this +castle, but all that come shall stay or lose their heads, till comes +that knight of whom you prophesy.' Therefore this is called the Maidens' +Castle, since its tyrants have so long made war upon maidens." + +"Is the duke's daughter still here?" + +"No; she died three days after the castle was taken. But her younger +sister and many other ladies are held prisoners." + +Soon afterwards the knights of the country began to flock in, in +response to the bugle-call, and glad were they to find what had +occurred. Galahad made them do homage and fealty to the duke's daughter, +which they did with great willingness of heart. + +And when the next day dawned great news was brought in, for a messenger +came to Galahad and told him that the seven felon brothers had been met +by Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, and all slain. + +"So ends their rule and power," said Galahad, fervently. "It is well +done, and well are all here delivered." + +Then he commended them to God, and took his armor and horse, and rode +away amid the prayers of those he had delivered. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE TEMPTATION OF SIR PERCIVALE. + + +Many adventures had the other knights that set out in search of the +Sangreal, and much reproof did many of them receive for the evil lives +they had led; but all this we cannot stop to tell, but must confine +ourselves to the deeds of a few only. As for Sir Gawaine, he parted from +Gareth and Uwaine after they had slain the seven wicked knights of the +Castle of Maidens, and rode from Whitsuntide to Michaelmas without an +adventure. Then came a day in which he met Sir Hector de Maris, and glad +were both at the meeting. + +"Truly," said Gawaine, "I am growing weary of this quest." + +"And I as well," said Hector. "And of the twenty knights I have met from +time to time, they all complain as we do." + +"Have you met with Lancelot?" + +"No, nor with Percivale, Bors, or Galahad. I can learn nothing of these +four." + +"They are well able to take care of themselves," said Gawaine. "And if +they fail to find the Sangreal, it is waste of time for the rest of us +to seek it, for outside of them there is little virtue in the Round +Table fellowship." + +Afterwards these two knights went far in company, and had strange dreams +and visions, the meaning of which was expounded to them by the hermit +Nancien. This holy man also reproved Gawaine severely for his evil life, +and bade both him and his companion to give up the search for the +Sangreal, as that high achievement was not for hands like theirs. + +Soon after they met an armed knight in the road, who proffered to joust +with them. Gawaine accepted the challenge, and rode against this unknown +opponent, dealing him so severe a blow that he was hurled from his horse +with a mortal wound. But when they had removed his helmet, what was +their horror to find that it was their friend and comrade, Uwaine. + +"Alas!" cried Gawaine, "that such a fatal misadventure should have +befallen me! I would sooner have died myself." + +"Thus ends my quest of the Sangreal," said Uwaine. "And thus will end +that of many a noble knight. Dear friends, commend me to King Arthur, +and to my fellows of the Round Table, and sometimes think of me for old +brotherhood's sake." + +And he died in their arms, leaving them plunged in the deepest grief, +from which they were long in recovering. + +Meanwhile Lancelot and Percivale rode far in company, and many things +happened to them. While journeying through a strange region they met an +unknown knight, whom they challenged to joust. But the event turned out +little to their satisfaction, for Lancelot was hurled to the ground, +horse and man, and Percivale received so fierce a sword-blow that he +would have been slain had not the sword swerved. + +Then the victor knight rode rapidly away, leaving them to recover as +they best could. But a recluse near whose hut this encounter had taken +place told them that the victor was Sir Galahad. On learning this they +pursued him at all speed, but in vain. + +Percivale now turned back to question the recluse further, but Lancelot +kept on, passing through waste and forest till he came to a stone cross +at the parting of two ways. + +Near by was a ruined chapel, with broken door, and other signs of waste +and decay, if it had been long deserted. But when he looked within he +saw to his great surprise a high altar richly dressed with cloth of +white silk, on which stood a lofty candelabra of silver which bore six +great candles, all lighted. + +Lancelot sought to enter the chapel, but try as he would he could not +pass the broken door, nor find entrance elsewhere. Some invisible power +seemed to stand between him and admission to that sacred place. + +Then, out of heart at this ill success, he took off his helm and sword, +relieved his horse of saddle and bridle, and lay down to sleep before +the cross. Night came upon him as he lay there, and with the night came +strange visions. + +For as he lay but half asleep he saw a sick knight brought thither in a +litter. This knight prayed earnestly for aid in his affliction, and as +he did so Lancelot saw the silver candlestick come from the chapel to +the cross, and after it a table of silver on which was the holy grail. +The sick knight crawled painfully to it on his hands and knees, and +raised himself so as to touch and kiss the sacred vessel. No sooner had +he done so than he grew whole and sound, with all his pain and sickness +gone, and rose to his feet with his former strength and vigor. + +"Lord, I thank thee deeply," he said; "for through thy infinite grace I +am healed of my affliction." + +Then the holy vessel returned to the chapel, and Lancelot strove hard to +rise and follow it. But his limbs were powerless, and he lay like one +chained to the ground. + +He now fell into deep slumber, and waked not till near morning. And as +he raised himself and sat on the ground he heard a voice in the air, +that seemed to come from no earthly lips. + +"Sir Lancelot," it said, "more hard than is the stone, more bitter than +the wood, more bare than the barren fig-tree, arise and go from hence, +and withdraw thyself from this holy place." + +Lancelot arose with a heavy heart, for the sense of these words sank +deeply within him. But when he sought his horse and helm and sword he +found they were gone, for they had been taken by the knight whose +healing he had seen. + +Deeply depressed and unhappy at this misfortune, he left the cross on +foot, and wandered onward till he came to a hermitage on a high hill. + +Here he told the hermit what had happened to him, and confessed all the +evil deeds of his life, saying that he had resolved to be a different +man from what he had been, and to live a higher life than that of doing +deeds of arms that men might applaud. + +Then the holy man gave him absolution, with injunctions of penance, and +prayed that he would abide with him all that day. This Lancelot did, +talking much with him upon his sins, and repenting sincerely the worldly +life he had led. + +Meanwhile Percivale had returned to the recluse, and questioned her as +to how he should find Galahad. + +"That I cannot surely tell," she said. "Ride hence to a castle which is +called Goothe, where he has a cousin-german. If he can give you no +tidings, then ride straight to the castle Carbonek, where the maimed +king lies, and there you shall hear sure tidings of him." + +Percivale, leaving her, rode onward till eventide, and as he looked +around him for shelter he heard a clock strike loud and clear. He now +perceived before him a mansion, with lofty walls and deep ditches. Here +he knocked loudly, and was let in without delay. + +After laying off his armor, he was led to the supper hall, where he was +well served, and afterwards spent the night in comfort. When morning +dawned he entered the chapel for the mass, and found there a priest +ready at the altar. On the right side was a pew closed with iron, and +behind the altar a rich bed, covered with cloth of silk and gold. On +this bed lay a person with covered visage, so that he could not tell if +it were man or woman. + +After the service was over the occupant of the bed sat up and threw back +the covering, and then Percivale saw that it was a man of very great +age, on whose head was a crown of gold. But his shoulders and body to +the middle were unclad, and were covered with wounds, as were also his +arms and face. + +To all seeming he might have been three hundred years of age, for so +venerable a face Percivale had never gazed upon, and as he sat up he +prayed fervently, with joined hands. When the mass was over the priest +bore the sacrament to the sick king. And when he had used it, he took +off his crown and commanded it to be set on the altar. Then he lay down +again. + +Percivale now asked one of the attendants who this venerable man was. + +"You have heard of Joseph of Arimathea," was the reply, "and how he came +into this land to convert the heathen. With him came a king named +Evelake, whom he had converted in the city of Sarras, in Palestine. This +king afterwards had an earnest desire to be where the Sangreal was, and +on one occasion he ventured so nigh it that God was displeased with him, +and struck him almost blind. Then King Evelake prayed for mercy and +pardon, and begged that he might not die until he who was to achieve the +Sangreal should come, that he might see him and kiss him. There +answered him a voice that said: 'Thy prayers are heard; thou shalt not +die till he has kissed thee. And when he comes thy eyes shall be opened +to see clearly, and thy wounds shall be healed; but not until then.' So +King Evelake has lived in this mansion for three hundred winters, +waiting for the coming of the knight who shall heal him. Now, sir, will +you tell me what knight you are, and if you are of the Round Table +fellowship?" + +"That am I, and my name is Percivale de Galis." + +On hearing this the good man welcomed Percivale warmly, and pressed him +to remain. But the knight replied that he could not, for his duty led +him onward. + +Percivale now left the chapel, and, arming himself, he took his horse +and rode onward. And that day more strange things happened to him than +we have space to tell. Not far had he ridden when he met twenty +men-at-arms, who bore on a bier a dead knight. On learning that he was +from King Arthur's court, they assailed him fiercely, killed his horse, +and would have slain him; but when he was at the worst strait a knight +in red armor came hastily to his rescue, and rode fiercely on the +assailants. + +He attacked these, indeed, with such fury that many of them were soon +stretched on the ground; while the others fled into a thick forest, +whither they were hotly pursued by their assailant. + +On seeing him thus ride away, Percivale was deeply grieved, for he well +knew his rescuer was Galahad, and he had no horse to follow him. + +He went forward as fast as he could on foot, and had not gone far when +he met a yeoman riding on a hackney, and leading a great war-horse, +blacker than any bear. + +Percivale begged that he would lend him this horse, that he might +overtake a knight before him. But this the yeoman refused, saying that +the owner of the horse would slay him if he should do so. + +Not long afterwards, as Percivale sat woebegone beneath a tree, an armed +knight came riding past on the black horse, pursued by the yeoman, who +called him robber, and moaned bitterly that his master would kill him +for the loss of his charge. + +"Lend me your hackney," said Percivale; "I may get you your horse +again." + +This the yeoman gladly did, and Percivale pursued the robber knight, +loudly bidding him to stand and deliver. + +The knight at this turned and rode fiercely upon him, but directed his +spear against the horse instead of the rider, striking it in the breast, +so that it fell to the earth. + +He now rode away, without heeding Percivale's angry demand that he +should stop and fight it out on foot. When the dismounted knight found +that his antagonist would not turn, he was so filled with chagrin that +he threw away his helm and sword, and raved like one out of his wits. +Thus he continued till night came on, when he lay down exhausted and +fell into a deep slumber. + +Near the midnight hour he suddenly awakened, and saw in the road before +him a woman, who said,-- + +"Sir Percivale, what do you here?" + +"I do neither good nor ill," he replied. + +"You need a horse," she said. "If you will promise to do my will when I +shall summon you, I will lend you mine. You will find him no common +one." + +"I promise that," cried Percivale. "I would do much for a horse just +now." + +"Wait, then; I shall fetch you the noblest animal you ever bestrode." + +She departed, but quickly came again, leading a horse of midnight +blackness, and richly apparelled for knightly service. + +Percivale looked at it with admiration. He had not hoped for so great +and noble a steed as this. Thanking her warmly, he sprang to his feet, +leaped to the saddle, and put spurs to the horse, from whose nostrils +fire seemed to glare. + +Away went the black horse under the moonlight, making such marvellous +strides that it seemed to leave the earth behind it in its magical +progress. With such wondrous speed did it go that in an hour it had made +a four days' journey. Then it came to the brink of a great body of +water, whose waves foamed and leaped boisterously against the shore. + +When Percivale saw the heaving waves, which stretched far away under the +moonlight, he drew with all his force upon the rein; but the fiendish +brute which he rode heeded not his hand, but bore him madly to the +brink. Fear and doubt now filled the knight's mind, and with a hasty +impulse he made the sign of the cross. At this the beast roared loudly +in rage, while flame a foot long poured from its nostrils, and with a +wild rear it shook off its rider, and plunged madly into the wild +billows. And the showering drops which fell upon Percivale from the +plunge burnt like sparks of fire. + +"God be thanked that I am here alive," cried the knight, fervently. "I +have ridden the foul fiend in the image of a horse, and barely have I +escaped perdition." + +Then he commended himself to God, and prayed earnestly to the Lord to +save him from all such perils and temptations. He continued in prayer +all the remainder of that night until the next day dawned upon the +earth. + +When sunrise came he looked needfully about him, anxious to learn +whither he had been borne by the unholy brute. To his surprise and alarm +he found himself in a wild waste, which was closed in on one side by the +sea, and on the other by a range of rough and high mountains, impassable +to human feet; a land that seemed without food or shelter, and the +lurking-place of wild beasts. + +He trembled with fear on seeing this, and went forward with doubtful +steps. Not far had he gone before he saw a strange thing, for a great +serpent passed near him, bearing a young lion by the neck. Fiercely +after it came a great lion, roaring with rage, and fell upon the +serpent, which turned in defence, so that a mighty battle was waged +before the knight. + +"By my faith," he cried, "the lion is the most natural beast of the two, +and it fights for its young. The lion it is my duty to help." + +He drew his sword with these words and struck the serpent so fierce a +stroke that it fell dead. Then he turned his shield against the lion, +but as the latter made no show of fighting him, but fawned upon him with +every mark of joy and gratitude, he cast down his shield and removed his +helm, and sat there stroking the neck and shoulders of the beast. + +Until noon he comforted himself with the fellowship of the lion. Then it +took up its whelp and bore it away, leaving Percivale alone. But he was +not unhappy, for he believed fervently in God, and prayed with all +earnestness that he might be saved from unholy things, and chosen as a +champion of right and truth. + +When night came, Percivale, to his joy, saw the lion coming towards him. +It crouched at his feet like a spaniel, and all that night the lion and +the knight slept in company, his head being pillowed on the shoulder of +the beast. + +But during the night a strange dream came to him. He seemed to see two +women, one of whom was young, and rode upon a lion, and the other was +old, and sat upon a gliding serpent. And the younger spoke to him as +follows,-- + +"Sir Percivale," she said, "my lord salutes you, and sends a warning to +you to make ready, for to-morrow you will have to fight with the +strongest champion in the world. And if overcome you will be shamed to +the world's end." + +"Who is your lord?" he asked. + +"The greatest lord in all the world," she said; and then suddenly +vanished. + +Then came the lady upon the serpent, and said,-- + +"Sir Percivale, I have done you no harm, and yet you have worked me +injury." + +"What have I done? I have been always heedful to offend no lady." + +"I have long nourished here a great serpent, and yesterday you killed it +for seeking its prey. Why did you this? The lion was not in your care." + +"I aided the lion because it was a nobler beast than the serpent. In +that I did nothing against you." + +"You did me a great wrong, and in return for this injury I demand that +you become my man." + +"That shall I never be," he answered. + +"Beware, then, proud knight, who pride yourself on your piety. You have +robbed me of that which I loved; take heed that I catch you not +unawares, or mine you shall be, body and soul." + +With these words she departed, and Percivale finished his sleep without +further vision. In the morning, when he awoke, he felt feeble. And as he +rose and blessed himself he saw not far off in the sea a ship that +sailed towards him. As it came near he perceived it to be covered within +and without with white samite, while on the deck stood an old man +dressed in a surplice like a priest. + +"Sir," said Percivale, "you are welcome." + +"God keep you," said the old man; "whence come you?" + +"I am of King Arthur's court, and a Knight of the Round Table, and am in +quest of the Sangreal. But here I find myself in a wilderness, with no +hope of escape." + +"Doubt not, if you be a true knight." + +"Who are you?" asked Percivale. + +"I have come hither from a strange country to comfort you," said the old +man. + +"Then, sir, can you tell me what my dream signifies?" and Percivale +related what had befallen him. + +"That can I," said the old man. "She that rode on the lion betokens the +new law of holy church, and she came through love, to warn you of the +great battle that is before you." + +"With whom shall I fight?" asked Percivale. + +"With the strongest champion of the world, and if you fail in the fight +you shall not escape with the loss of a limb, but shall be shamed to the +world's end. As for her that rode on the serpent, she betokens the old +law. Heed her not. The serpent you slew betokens the devil that you rode +hither, and whom you overcame by the sign of the cross. Yield not to her +or any of her kindred, or worse will befall you." + +Then the ship turned and sailed away, leaving Percivale again alone. But +when he went up the rocks he found there the lion, which he stroked and +made joyful fellowship with. + +And thus time went on till midday. Then Percivale saw a ship approaching +with such speed as if all the winds in the world had driven it. On it +kept till it reached land at the beach below him. He hurried hopefully +to meet it, and saw that it was covered with black silk, while on the +deck stood a lady of great beauty, who was dressed in the richest +apparel. + +"What brought you into this wilderness?" she cried to the knight. "Here +you are likely to die of hunger, for no man may cross yonder rocks and +escape." + +"I serve the best master in the world," said Percivale. "He will not +suffer harm to come to me." + +"Sir Percivale," said she, "know you who I am?" + +"Who taught you my name?" he answered. + +"I know you better than you deem," she replied, laughing. "This much I +may tell you, that not long since I was in the waste forest, where I saw +the red knight with the white shield." + +"Ah! is that so? Fain would I meet with him." + +"I shall bring you to him; but only on covenant that you will come to my +aid when I summon you." + +"If it be in reason and uprightness, you may trust me," he replied. + +"I saw him," she continued, "chase two knights into the stream that is +called Mortaise, and follow them into the water. But they passed over, +and his horse was drowned, and only by his great strength he got safe to +land again." + +"That I am very glad to hear. It would have been a sad day had that good +knight been drowned." + +"You look pale and thin," she remarked. "Have you eaten lately?" + +"Not these three days," he answered. "Yet I spoke of late with a good +man, whose words refreshed me as if I had partaken of rich viands." + +"Ah, sir knight," she said, "beware of that old man. I know him better +than you. He is a false enchanter, who seeks your harm. If you heed his +words shame will be your lot, and you will die on this rock and be +devoured by wild beasts. I am here to help you in your need, for I am +not content to see so good a knight come to harm and disgrace." + +"Who are you," asked Percivale, "that proffer me so great a kindness?" + +"Once I was the richest woman in the world," she answered. "Now I am +disinherited and in want." + +"Then I pity you greatly. Who is it that has disinherited you?" + +"I dwelt with the greatest man in the world," she answered, "and to him +I owe my beauty,--a beauty of which I was, alas! too proud. Then I said +that which offended him deeply, and he drove me away from him, and +robbed me of my heritage, and has never since had pity for me nor for my +friends. Since this has happened I have done my best to wean his men +from him, and many of them now cling to me, and I and they war against +him day and night. I know no good knight, nor good man, but that I +strive to win him to my side, and all such I repay well for their +services. For he against whom I wage war is strong, and I need all the +aid to be had. Therefore, since I know you for a valiant knight, I +beseech you to help me. A fellow of the Round Table cannot, under his +vow, fail any woman that is disinherited, and that seeks his aid." + +"That is true, indeed," said Percivale, "and I shall do all I can for +you." + +"You have my earnest thanks," she said. + +Then, as the weather was hot, she called some of her attendants, and +bade them bring a pavilion and set it up on the gravel near the +sea-line. + +"Sir knight," she said, "I pray you to rest here in the heat of the day, +while my attendants prepare food for you." + +He thanked her and laid aside his helm and shield, and fell asleep +within the pavilion, where he slumbered long. When he awoke he asked her +if the food was ready. + +"Yes," she answered; "I have worked while you slumbered." + +Then a table was set within the pavilion, and covered with a rich array +of meats and drinks, of which Percivale ate with great appetite, while +the lady sat opposite him with a very gracious aspect. The wine he drank +was the strongest that had ever passed his lips, and its strength soon +got into his veins and heated his brain. + +The lady now smiled graciously upon him, and it seemed to him that he +had never beheld so fair a creature. Her beauty so worked upon his +heated blood, indeed, that he proffered her his love, and prayed +earnestly for hers in return. + +When she saw his loving ardor, and that the wine worked like fire in his +blood, she said, with a smile of witchery,-- + +"Sir Percivale, if I become yours, you must become mine. I shall not +grant you my love unless you swear that henceforth you will be my true +servant, and do nothing but what I shall command. Will you thus bind +yourself, as you are a true knight?" + +"That will I, fair lady, by the faith of my body." + +"Then this I will say, that of all the knights in the world you are he +whom I most love. And you may seal upon my lips the compact we have +made." + +But when Percivale came towards her, to claim the proffered kiss, which +she offered with such bewitching grace, by chance or through God's aid +he saw his sword, which lay on the ground at his feet, and in its pommel +a red cross, with the sign of the crucifix therein. Then came to his +mind the promise he had made to the old man, and his knightly vows, and +with a pious impulse he raised his hand and made the sign of the cross +on his forehead, the while his eyes were fixed on the lovely face of the +tempter before him. + +As he did so her smile changed to a look of deadly hate, and the +loveliness of her face to a hideous aspect, while in the same moment the +pavilion fell as before a great wind, and then vanished in smoke and +cloud. + +Over the sea the wind rose and roared, and as he looked he saw the ship +battling with heaving waves, while the water seemed to burn behind it. +On the deck stood the lady, who cried,-- + +"Sir Percivale, you have betrayed me! Beware, proud knight, I shall have +my revenge." Then the ship drove out to sea, and vanished from his +sight. + +But in a passion of remorse Percivale snatched up the sword that lay +before him, and crying, "Since my flesh has been my master I will punish +it," he drove the naked blade through his thigh, till the blood spouted +out like a fountain. + +"Wretch that I am, how nearly was I lost!" he cried, in a torment of +conscience. "Fair sweet Father, Jesus Christ my Lord, let me not be +shamed, as I would now have been but for thy good grace. Take this wound +in recompense for what I have done against thee, and forgive me my deep +transgression, I humbly pray thee." + +But as he lay moaning and bleeding the wild winds went down and the sea +grew smooth, while he saw coming from the Orient the ship with the good +man, on board, on beholding whom he fell into a swoon. + +When he awoke he found that his wound had been dressed and the bleeding +stopped. Beside him sat the good man, who asked him,-- + +"How hast thou done since I departed?" + +"Weakly and wickedly enough," he answered. "A witch beguiled me, and I +nearly fell a victim to her wiles." + +"Knew you her not?" + +"Only that I deem the foul fiend sent her here to shame me." + +"Worse than that, good knight. Your victory is greater than you deem. +That seeming woman who deceived you was no less an adversary than the +master-fiend of hell, who has power over all the lesser devils, and, had +you yielded you had been lost forever. For this is the mighty champion +against whom you were forwarned; he who was once the brightest angel of +heaven, and was driven out by our Lord Christ for his sins, and thus +lost his heritage. But that the grace of God was on your side you would +have fallen before this champion of evil. Take this, Sir Percivale, as a +warning and an example." + +With these words the good man vanished away. Then the mariners carried +the wounded knight on board their ship, and set sail, bearing him +rapidly away from that scene of temptation and victory. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS. + + +When Sir Bors parted from his companions, on the quest of the Sangreal, +not far had he gone when he met a religious man riding on an ass, whom +he courteously saluted. + +"Who are you?" asked the good man. + +"I am one of those knights who have set out in quest of the Sangreal," +said Bors. "I would fain have your counsel in this high duty, for great +honor shall come to him who succeeds therein." + +"That is true," said the good man. "He that wins the Sangreal will be +counted the best knight and the purest soul among men. None can hope to +attain it except through cleanness of spirit." + +Then they rode together till they came to a hermitage. Here Bors went +into the chapel with his companion, and confessed to him, and ate bread +and drank water with him. + +"Now," said the good man, "I charge you that you take no other food than +bread and water till you sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be." + +"To that I agree. But how know you that I shall ever sit there?" + +"I know it, let that suffice; but few of your comrades shall have that +honor." + +"All that God sends me will be welcome," said Bors. + +"Also, instead of a shirt, and in token of chastisement, you shall wear +this garment," and the good man produced a scarlet coat, which Bors +promised to wear next his skin till the Sangreal should be won. + +Then, after further wholesome advice, he resumed his armor and departed. +He had gone but a little way from the hermitage when he passed a tree +that was little more than an old and leafless trunk, and on one of its +boughs he saw a great bird, surrounded by young that were nearly dead +with hunger. As, he continued to look at this strange sight, the bird +smote itself in the breast with its sharp beak, and bled till it died +among its young. Then the young birds fed on their mother's blood, and +were revived thereby. + +This to Bors seemed full of deep significance, and he pondered deeply +upon it as he rode onward. By even-song he found himself near a strong +and high tower, where he asked shelter for the night, and was hospitably +welcomed. + +When he had disarmed he was led to a richly furnished apartment, where +he found a young and fair lady, who welcomed him gladly to her tower, +and invited him to take supper with her. + +The table was set with rich meats and many dainties, but Bors forgot not +the hermit's charge, and bade an attendant to bring him water. In this +he sopped bread and ate it. + +"How is this?" asked the lady in surprise. "Like you not my meat?" + +"Truly I do, madam; yet I may eat no other food this day." + +Then the lady was silent, for she feared to displease him by +questioning. After supper, while they sat talking, a squire came, who +said,-- + +"Madam, you know well what is set for to-morrow. You must provide a +champion to fight in your quarrel against Pridam le Noire, or your +sister will have this castle and all your lands." + +"I know that," she said, with a deep sigh. "May God save me from being +robbed, for I see no earthly aid." + +Her sorrow touched Bors, who asked,-- + +"What means this, madam?" + +"Sir," she said, "I shall tell you. There was formerly a king named +Aniause, who owned all these lands. By chance he loved my sister, who is +much older than I,--and much wickeder also, I fear. He gave her this +land to govern; but she brought into it many evil customs, and caused +the death of many of his kinsmen. When the king saw how vilely she +governed, he drove her away, and put me over this district. But he is +now dead, and she is making war on me, and has destroyed many of my +men, and turned others from me, so that I have little left but this +tower, and the few men that guard it. Even this she now threatens to +take from me, unless I can find a knight to fight her champion, who will +appear before my gates to-morrow." + +"Is it so?" said Bors. "Who is this Pridam le Noire?" + +"He is the most stalwart knight in this country, and has no equal among +us." + +"Madam," said Bors, "you have given me shelter; in return I shall aid +you as far as I can in your trouble. You may send word that you have +found a knight who will fight with this Pridam the Black, in God's +quarrel and yours." + +"Then may God's blessing rest upon you," she cried, gladly. And word was +sent out that she had found a champion who would take on himself her +quarrel. + +That evening she did what lay in her power to make Bors welcome, and +sent him at bedtime to a chamber whose bed was soft as down, and spread +with silken coverings. + +But in no bed would he rest, but laid himself on the floor, as he had +vowed to do till he found the Sangreal. + +As he lay there asleep there came to him a vision. He seemed to see two +birds, one white as a swan, the other of smaller size, and shaped like a +raven, with plumage of inky blackness. The white bird came to him and +said, "If thou wilt give me meat and serve me, I shall give thee all the +riches of the world, and make thee as fair and white as I am." Then the +white bird departed, and the black bird came and said, "I beg that you +will serve me to-morrow, and hold me in no despite; for this I tell you, +that my blackness will avail you more than the other's whiteness." And +this bird, too, departed. + +But his dream continued, and he seemed to come to a great place, that +looked like a chapel. Here he saw on the left side a chair, which was +worm-eaten and feeble. And on the right hand were two flowers of the +shape of a lily, and one would have taken the whiteness from the other +but that a good man separated them, and would not let them touch. And +out of each came many flowers and plentiful fruit. Then the good man +said, "Would not he act with great folly that should let these two +flowers perish to succor the rotten tree, and keep it from falling?" +"Sir," said the dreamer, "it seems to me that the flower is of more +value than the wood." "Then take heed that you never choose the false +for the true." + +With this Bors awoke, and made the sign of the cross on his forehead, +and then rose and dressed. When he had come to the lady she saluted him, +and led him to a chapel, where they heard the morning service. Quickly +afterwards there came a company of knights that the lady had sent for, +to lead her champion to battle. After he had armed, she begged him to +take some strengthening food. + +"Nay, madam," he answered, "that I shall not do till I have fought this +battle, in which I ask but God's grace to aid me." + +This said, he sprang upon his horse, and set out with the knights and +men, closely followed by the lady and her train. They soon came to where +the other party were encamped, and with them the lady of their choice. + +"Madam," said the lady of the tower, "you have done me great wrong to +take from me the lands which King Aniause gave me. And I am sorry that +there should be any battle." + +"You shall not choose," said the other, "unless you withdraw your knight +and yield the tower." + +"That I shall not do. You have robbed me enough already." + +Then was the trumpet sounded, and proclamation was made that whichever +champion won the battle, the lady for whom he fought should enjoy all +the land. This done, the two champions drew aside, and faced each other +grimly in their armor of proof. + +But when the sound for the onset was blown they put spurs to their +steeds, which rushed together like two lions, and the knights struck +each other with such force that their spears flew to pieces and both +fell to the earth. + +They quickly rose and drew their swords, and hewed at each other like +two woodmen, so that soon each was sorely wounded and bleeding +profusely. Bors quickly found that he had a sturdier antagonist than he +expected, for Pridam was a strong and hardy fighter, who stood up +lustily to his work, and gave his opponent many a sturdy blow. + +Bors, perceiving this, took a new course, and played with his antagonist +till he saw that he was growing weary with his hard work. Then he +advanced upon him fiercely, and drove him step by step backward, till +in the end Pridam fell. Bors now leaped upon him and pulled so strongly +upon his helm as to rend it from his head. Then he struck him with the +flat of his sword upon the cheek, and bade him yield, or he would kill +him. + +"For God's love, slay me not!" cried the knight. "I yield me to thy +mercy. I shall swear never to war against thy lady, but be henceforth +her friend and protector." + +With this assurance, Bors let him live; while the covetous old lady fled +in fear, followed by all her knights. The victorious champion now called +to him all those who held lands in that estate, and threatened to +destroy them unless they would do the lady such service as belonged to +their holdings. This they swore to do, and there and then paid homage to +the lady, who thus came to her own again through the mighty prowess of +Sir Bors de Ganis. + +Not until the country was well in peace did he take his leave, refusing +the offers of wealth which the grateful lady pressed upon him, and +receiving her warm thanks with a humility that well became him. + +Hardly would she let him go; but at length he bade her farewell, and +rode away from her tears and thanks. On he journeyed for all that day, +and till midday of the next, when he found himself in a forest, where a +strange adventure befell him. + +For at the parting of two ways he met two knights who had taken prisoner +his brother Lionel, whom they had bound all naked upon a hackney, while +they beat him with thorns till the blood flowed from every part of his +body. Yet so great of heart was he that no word came from his lips, and +he made no sign of pain. + +Bors, seeing this, was on the point of rushing to his rescue, when he +beheld on the other side a knight who held as prisoner a fair lady, whom +he was taking into the thickest part of the forest to hide her from +those who sought her. And as they went she cried in a lamentable +voice,-- + +"Saint Mary, rescue me! Holy mother, succor your maid!" + +When she saw Bors she cried out to him grievously for aid and rescue. + +"By the faith you owe to the high order of knighthood, and for the noble +King Arthur's sake, who I suppose made you knight, help me, gracious +sir, and suffer me not to come to shame through this felon knight!" + +On hearing this appeal the distracted knight knew not what to do. On one +side his brother in danger of his life; on the other a maiden in peril +of her honor. + +"If I rescue not my brother he will be slain; and that I would not have +for the earth. Yet if I help not the maiden, I am recreant to my vows of +knighthood, and to my duty to the high order of chivalry." + +Tears ran from his eyes as he stood in cruel perplexity. Then, with a +knightly resolution, he cried,-- + +"Fair sweet Lord Jesus, whose liegeman I am, keep Lionel my brother +that these knights slay him not; since for your service, and for Mary's +sake, I must succor this maid." + +Then he turned to the knight who had the damsel, and loudly cried,-- + +"Sir knight, take your hands from that maiden and set her free, or you +are a dead man." + +On hearing this the knight released the maiden as bidden, but drew his +sword, as he had no spear, and rode fiercely at the rescuer. Bors met +him with couched spear, and struck him so hard a blow as to pierce his +shield and his hauberk on the left shoulder, beating him down to the +earth. On pulling out the spear the wounded knight swooned. + +"You are delivered from this felon. Can I help you further?" said Bors +to the maiden. + +"I beg you to take me to the place whence he carried me away." + +"That shall I do as my duty." + +Then he seated her on the knight's horse, and conducted her back towards +her home. + +"You have done nobly, sir knight," she said. "If you had not rescued me, +five hundred men might have died for this. The knight you wounded is my +cousin, who yesterday stole me away from my father's house, no one +mistrusting him. But if you had not overcome him, there would soon have +been others on his track." + +Even as she spoke there came a troop of twelve knights riding briskly +forward in search of her. When they found her delivered their joy was +great, and they thanked Bors profusely, begging him to accompany them +to her father, who was a great lord, and would welcome him with +gladness. + +"That I cannot do," said Bors, "much as I should like to; for I have +another matter of high importance before me. I can but say, then, +farewell, and God be with you and this fair maiden." + +So saying, he turned and rode briskly away, followed by their earnest +thanks. Reaching the point where he had seen Lionel in custody, he took +the trail of the horses, and followed them far by their hoof-marks in +the road. Then he overtook a religious man, who was mounted on a strong +horse, blacker than a berry. + +"Sir knight," he asked, "what seek you?" + +"I seek my brother," he replied, "who came this way beaten by two +knights." + +"Then seek no further, but be strong of heart, for I have sad tidings +for you. Your brother is dead." + +He then led Bors to a clump of bushes, in which lay a newly slain body, +which seemed to be that of Lionel. Seeing this, Bors broke into such +grief that he fell to the earth in a swoon, and long lay there. When he +recovered he said, sadly,-- + +"Dear brother, I would have rescued you had not a higher duty called me. +But since we are thus parted, joy shall never again enter my desolate +heart. I can now but say, be He whom I have taken for my master my help +and comfort." + +Thus grieving, he took up the body in his arms, and put it upon his +saddle-bow. Then he said to his companion,-- + +"Can you tell me of some chapel, where I may bury this body?" + +"Come with me. There is one near by." + +[Illustration: AN OLD AND HALF-RUINED CHAPEL.] + +They rode forward till they came in sight of a tower, beside which was +an old and half-ruined chapel. Here they alighted, and placed the corpse +in a tomb of marble. + +"We will leave him here," said the good man, "and seek shelter for the +night. To-morrow we will return and perform the services for the dead." + +"Are you a priest?" asked Bors. + +"Yes," he answered. + +"Then you may be able to interpret a dream that came to me last night." + +Thereupon he told his dream of the birds, and that of the flowers. + +"I can interpret the vision of the birds now," said the priest. "The +rest must wait till later. The white bird is the emblem of a rich and +fair lady, who loves you deeply, and will die for love if you pity her +not. I counsel you, therefore, not to refuse her, for this I shall tell +you, that if you return not her love, your cousin Lancelot, the best of +knights, shall die. Men will call you a man-slayer, both of your brother +Lionel and your cousin Lancelot, since you might have saved them both +easily if you would. You rescued a maiden who was naught to you, and let +your brother perish. Which, think you, was your greater duty?" + +"I did what I thought my duty," said Bors. + +"At any rate, bear this in mind, you will be in sad fault if you suffer +your cousin Lancelot to die for an idle scruple." + +"I should be sad, indeed," said Bors. "Rather would I die ten times over +than see my cousin Lancelot perish through fault of mine." + +"The choice lies in your hand," said the priest. "It is for you to +decide." + +As he spoke they came in front of a fair-showing tower and manor-house, +where were knights and ladies, who welcomed Bors warmly. When he was +disarmed there was brought him a mantle furred with ermine. Then he was +led to the company of knights and ladies, who received him so gladly, +and did so much to make his stay pleasant, that all thoughts of his +brother Lionel and of the danger of Lancelot were driven from his mind. + +As they stood in gay converse there came out of a chamber a lady whom +Bors had not before seen, and whose beauty was such that he felt he had +never beheld so lovely a face, while her dress was richer than Queen +Guenever had ever worn. + +"Here, Sir Bors," said those present, "is the lady to whom we all owe +service. Richer and fairer lady the world holds not, and she loves you +above all other knights, and will have no knight but you." + +On hearing this, Bors stood abashed. This, then, he thought, was the +white bird of his dream. Her love he must return or lose Lancelot,--so +fate had spoken. + +As he stood deeply thinking, the lady came up and saluted him, taking +his hand in hers, and bidding him sit beside her, while her deep eyes +rested upon him with looks that made his soul tremble. Never had he +gazed into such eyes before. + +Then she spoke of many things, luring him into pleasant conversation, in +which he forgot his fears, and began to take delight in her presence. At +the end she told him how deeply and how long she had loved him, and +begged him to return her love, saying that she could make him richer +than ever was man of his age. + +These words brought back all his trouble of soul. How to answer the lady +he knew not, for his vow of chastity was too deep to be lightly broken. + +"Alas!" she said, "must I plead for your love in vain?" + +"Madam," said Bors, "I cannot think of earthly ties and delights while +my brother lies dead, and awaits the rites of the Church." + +"I have loved you long," she repeated, "both for your beauty of body and +soul, and the high renown you have achieved. Now that chance has brought +you to my home, think not ill of me if I let you not go without telling +my love, and beseeching you to return it." + +"That I cannot do," said Bors. + +At these words she fell into the deepest sorrow, while tears flowed from +her beautiful eyes. + +"You will kill me by your coldness," she bewailed. Then she took him by +the hand and bade him look upon her. "Am I not fair and lovely, and +worthy the love of the best of knights? Alas! since you will not love +me, you shall see me die of despair before your eyes." + +"That I do not fear to see," he replied. + +"You shall see it within this hour," she said, sadly. + +Then she left him, and, taking with her twelve of her ladies, mounted to +the highest battlement of the tower, while Bors was led to the +court-yard below. + +"Ah, Sir Bors, gentle knight, have pity on us!" cried one of the ladies. +"We shall all die if you are cruel to our lady, for she vows that she +and all of us shall fall from this tower if you disdain her proffered +love." + +Bors looked up, and his heart melted with pity, to see so many fair +faces looking beseechingly down upon him, while tears seemed to rain +from their eyes. Yet he was steadfast of heart, for he felt that he +could not lose his soul to save their lives, and his vow of chastity in +the quest of the Sangreal was not to be broken for the delights of +earthly love. + +As he stood, some of the maidens flung themselves from the tower, and +lay dead and bleeding at his feet, while above he saw the fair face of +the lady looking down, as she stood balanced on the battlement, like a +fair leaf that the next wind would sweep to certain death. + +"God help me and guide me!" cried Bors in horror. "What shall I do? Here +earthly endurance is too weak; I must put my trust in heaven." And he +made the sign of the cross on his forehead and his breast. + +Then came a marvel indeed. A roar was heard as if thunder had rent the +sky, and a cry as if all the fiends of hell were about him. For the +moment he closed his eyes, stunned by the uproar. When he opened them +again all had gone,--the tower, the lady, the knights, and the chapel +where he had placed his brother's body,--and he stood in the road, armed +and mounted, while only a broad, empty plain spread before him. + +Then he held up his hands to heaven and cried fervently: "Father and +Creator, from what have I escaped! It is the foul fiend in the likeness +of a beautiful woman who has tempted me. Only the sign of the holy cross +has saved me from perdition." + +Putting spurs to his horse he rode furiously away, burning with anxiety +to get from that accursed place, and deeply glad at his escape. As he +proceeded a loud clock-bell sounded to the right, and turning thither he +came to a high wall, over which he saw the pinnacles of an abbey. + +Here he asked shelter for the night, and was received with a warm +welcome, for those within deemed he was one of the knights that sought +the Sangreal. When morning came he heard mass, and then the abbot came +and bade him good-morning. A conversation followed, in which he told the +abbot all that had happened to him, and begged his interpretation +thereof. + +"Truly you are strong in the service of the Lord," said the abbot, "and +are held for great deeds. Thus I interpret your adventures and visions. +The great fowl that fed its young with its own blood is an emblem of +Christ, who shed his blood for the good of mankind. And the bare tree on +which it sat signifies the world, which of itself is barren and without +fruit. Also King Aniause betokens Jesus Christ, and the lady for whom +you took the battle the new law of Holy Church; while the older lady is +the emblem of the old law and the fiend, which forever war against the +Church. + +"By the black bird also was emblemed the Holy Church, which saith, 'I +am black but he is fair.' The white bird represented the fiend, which, +like hypocrisy, is white without and foul within. As for the rotten +chair and the white lilies, the first was thy brother Lionel, who is a +murderer and an untrue knight; while the lilies were the knight and the +lady. The one drew near to the other to dishonor her, but you forced +them to part. And you would have been in great peril had you, for the +rescue of a rotten tree, suffered those two flowers to perish; for if +they had sinned together they had both been damned. + +"The seeming man of religion, who blamed you for leaving your brother to +rescue a lady, was the foul fiend himself. Your brother was not slain, +as he made it appear, but is still alive. For the corpse, and the +chapel, and the tower were all devices of the evil one, and the lady who +offered her love was the fiend himself in that showing. He knew you were +tender-hearted, and he did all. Much you may thank God that you +withstood his temptation, and that until now you have come through all +your adventures pure and unblemished." + +This gladdened the heart of the virtuous knight, and a warm hope of +winning the Sangreal arose in his soul. Much more passed between them, +and when Bors rode forth it was with the fervent blessing of the holy +abbot. + +On the morning of the second day Bors saw before him a castle that rose +in a green valley, and met with a yeoman, whom he stopped and asked what +was going on in that country. + +"Sir knight," he answered, "there is to be held a great tournament +before that castle." + +"By what people?" asked Bors. + +"The Earl of Plains," was the answer, "leads one party, and the nephew +of the Lady of Hervin the other." + +With this the yeoman rode on, and Bors kept on his course, thinking he +might meet Lionel or some other of his old comrades at the tournament. +At length he turned aside to a hermitage that stood at the entrance to +the forest. And to his surprise and joy he saw his brother Lionel +sitting armed at the chapel door, waiting there to take part in the +tournament the next morning. + +Springing from his horse, Bors ran up gladly, crying, "Dear brother, +happy is this meeting!" + +"Come not near me!" cried Lionel, leaping to his feet in a burst of +fury. "False recreant, you left me in peril of death to help a yelping +woman, and by my knightly vow you shall pay dearly for it. Keep from me, +traitor, and defend yourself. You or I shall die for this." + +On seeing his brother in such wrath Bors kneeled beseechingly before +him, holding up his hands, and praying for pardon and forgiveness. + +"Never!" said Lionel. "I vow to God to punish you for your treachery. +You have lived long enough for a dog and traitor." + +Then he strode wrathfully away, and came back soon, mounted and with +spear in hand. + +"Bors de Ganis," he cried, "defend yourself, for I hold you as a felon +and traitor, and the untruest knight that ever came from so worthy a +house as ours. Mount and fight. If you will not, I will run on you as +you stand there on foot. The shame shall be mine and the harm yours; but +of that shame I reck naught." + +When Bors saw that he must fight with his brother or die he knew not +what to do. Again he kneeled and begged forgiveness, in view of the love +that ought to be between brothers. + +But the fiend that sought his overthrow had put such fury into Lionel's +heart that nothing could turn him from his wrathful purpose. And when he +saw that Bors would not mount, he spurred his horse upon him and rode +over him, hurting him so with his horse's hoofs that he swooned with the +pain. Then Lionel sprang from his horse and rushed upon him sword in +hand to strike off his head. + +At this critical moment the hermit, who was a man of great age, came +running out, and threw himself protectingly on the fallen knight. + +"Gentle sir," he cried to Lionel, "have mercy on me and on thy brother, +who is one of the worthiest knights in the world. If you slay him, you +will lose your soul." + +"Sir priest," said Lionel, sternly, "if you leave not I shall slay you, +and him after you." + +"Slay me if you will, but spare your brother, for my death would not do +half so much harm as his." + +"Have it, then, meddler, if you will!" cried Lionel, and he struck the +hermit a blow with his sword that stretched him dead on the ground. + +Then, with unquenched anger, he tore loose the lacings of his brother's +helmet, and would have killed him on the spot but for a fortunate +chance. + +As it happened, Colgrevance, a fellow of the Round Table, rode up at +that moment, and wondered when he saw the hermit dead, and Lionel about +to slay his brother, whom he greatly loved. + +Leaping hastily to the ground, he caught the furious knight by the +shoulders and drew him strongly backward. + +"What would you do?" he cried. "Madman, would you kill your brother, the +worthiest knight of our brotherhood? And are you so lost to honor as to +slay any knight thus lying insensible?" + +"Will you hinder me?" asked Lionel, turning in rage. "Back, sirrah, or I +shall slay you first and him afterwards." + +"Why seek you to slay him?" + +"He has richly deserved it, and die he shall, whoever says the +contrary." + +Then he ran upon Bors and raised his sword to strike him on the head. +But Colgrevance pushed between them and thrust him fiercely backward. + +"Off, you murderer!" he cried. "If you are so hot for blood you must +have mine first." + +"Who are you?" demanded Lionel. + +"I am Colgrevance, one of your fellows. Round Table Knights should be +brothers, not foes, but I would challenge King Arthur himself in this +quarrel." + +"Defend yourself, meddler," cried Lionel, rushing upon him and striking +him fiercely on the helm with his sword. + +"That shall I," rejoined Colgrevance, attacking him in turn. + +Then a hot battle began, for Colgrevance was a good knight, and defended +himself manfully. + +While the fight went on Bors recovered his senses, and saw with a sad +heart Colgrevance defending him against his brother. He strove to rise +and part them, but his hurts were such that he could not stand on his +feet. And thus he sat watching the combat till he saw that Colgrevance +had the worst, for Lionel had wounded him sorely, and he had lost so +much blood that he could barely stand. + +At this juncture he saw Bors, who sat watching them in deep anguish. + +"Bors," he cried, "I am fighting to succor you. Will you sit there and +see me perish?" + +"You both shall die," cried Lionel, furiously. "You shall pay the +penalty of your meddling, and he of his treason." + +Hearing this, Bors rose with aching limbs, and painfully put on his +helm. Colgrevance again called to him in anguish,-- + +"Help me, Bors! I can stand no longer. Will you let me die without +lifting your hand?" + +At this moment Lionel smote the helm from his head, and then with +another fierce blow stretched him dead and bleeding upon the earth. + +This murderous deed done, he ran on Bors with the passion of a fiend, +and dealt him a blow that made him stoop. + +"For God's love leave me!" cried Bors. "If I slay you or you me, we will +both be dead of that sin." + +"May God never help me if I take mercy on you, if I have the better +hand," cried Lionel, in reply. + +Then Bors drew his sword, though his eyes were wet with tears. + +"Fair brother," he said, "God knows my heart. You have done evil enough +this day, in slaying a holy priest and one of our own brotherhood of +knights. I fear you not, but I dread the wrath of God, for this is an +unnatural battle which you force upon me. May God have mercy upon me, +since I must defend my life against my brother." + +Saying this, Bors raised his sword and advanced upon Lionel, who stood +before him with the wrath of a fury. + +Then would have been a most unholy battle, had not God come to the +rescue. For as they thus stood defiant a voice came to them from the +air, which said,-- + +"Flee, Bors, and touch him not, for if you do, you will surely slay +him." + +And between them descended a cloud that gleamed like fire, and from +which issued a marvellous flame that burned both their shields to a +cinder. They were both so affrighted that they fell to the earth, and +lay there long in a swoon. + +When they came to themselves Bors saw that his brother had received no +harm. For this he thanked God, for he feared that heaven's vengeance had +fallen upon him. Then came the voice again. + +"Bors," it said, "go hence, and bear thy brother company no longer. Take +thy way to the sea where Percivale awaiteth thee." + +"Forgive me, brother," said Bors, "for what I have done against you." + +"God has forgiven you, and I must," said Lionel. "It was the foul fiend +that filled my soul with fury, and much harm has come of it." + +Then Bors rode away, leaving Lionel in the company of those whom he had +slain, and took the most direct road towards the sea. + +At length he came to an abbey that was near the water-side. And at +midnight as he rested there he was roused from his sleep by a voice, +that bade him leave his bed and ride onward. + +He started up at this, and made the sign of the cross on his forehead; +then took his harness and horse, and rode out at a broken place in the +abbey wall. An hour or so brought him to the water-side, and on the +strand there lay awaiting him a ship all covered with white samite. Bors +alighted, and leaving his horse on the stand entered the ship, +commending himself to Christ's fostering care. + +Hardly had he done so before the sails spread, as of themselves, and the +vessel set out to sea so fast that it seemed to fly. But it was still +dark night, and he saw no one about him. So he lay down and slept till +day. + +When he awaked he saw a knight lying in the middle of the deck, all +armed but the helm. A glance told him that it was Percivale de Galis, +and he sprang towards him with joy. But Percivale drew back, asking him +who he was. + +"Know you me not?" asked Bors. + +"I do not. But I marvel how you came hither, unless brought by our Lord +himself." + +Then Bors took off his helm and smiled. Great was Percivale's joy when +he recognized him, and long did they converse in gladness, telling each +other their adventures and temptations. + +And so they went far over the sea, the ship taking them they knew not +whither, yet each comforted the other, and daily they prayed for God's +grace. + +"Now, that we two are together," said Percivale, "we lack nothing but +Galahad, the best of knights." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE MAGIC SHIP. + + +After Galahad had rescued Percivale from the twenty knights, he rode +into a vast forest, through which he journeyed for many days, meeting +there many strange adventures. Then fortune took him past a castle where +a tournament was in progress, and where the men of the castle had so +much the worse of it that they were driven back to their gates, and some +of them slain. Seeing this, Galahad rode to the aid of the weaker party, +and did marvellous deeds of arms, soon aiding them to drive back their +foes. + +As it happened, Gawaine and Hector de Maris were with the outer party, +and when they beheld the white shield with the red cross, they said to +one another,-- + +"That hewer of helms and shields is Galahad, none less. We should be +fools to meet him face to face." + +Yet Gawaine did not escape, for Galahad came at full career upon him, +and gave him such a blow that his helm was cleft, and so would his head +have been but that the sword slanted, and cut the shoulder of his horse +deeply. + +Seeing Gawaine thus dealt with, Hector drew back, not deeming it wise to +meet such a champion, nor the part of nature to fight with his nephew. +Galahad continued his onset till he had beaten down all the knights +opposed to him. Then, seeing that none would face him, he turned and +rode away as he had come, none knowing whither he, who had come upon +them with the suddenness of a thunder-clap, had gone. + +"Lancelot du Lake told no less than the truth," declared Gawaine, +bitterly, "when he said that, for seeking to draw the sword from the +stone, I would get a sore wound from that same blade. In faith, I would +not for the best castle in the world have had such a buffet." + +"Your quest is done, it seems," said Hector. + +"As for that, it was done before. You can still seek the Sangreal if you +will, but I shall seek my bed; and I fear I shall stay there much longer +than I care to." + +Then he was borne into the castle, where a leech was found for him, +while Hector remained with him, vowing he would not leave till his +comrade was well. + +Meanwhile Galahad rode on, leaving many a groan and more than one sore +head behind him, and at night reached a hermitage near the castle of +Carbonek. Here he was welcomed by the hermit; but late at night, when +they were asleep, a loud knock came on the door, which roused the host. +Going to see who knocked at that untimely hour, he found a lady at the +door, who said,-- + +"Ulfin, rouse the knight who is with you. I must speak with him." + +This he did, and Galahad went to the door, and asked her what she +wished. + +"Galahad," she replied, "I am sent here to seek you. You must arm and +mount your horse at once, and follow me. Within three days I shall bring +you to the greatest adventure that ever knight met." + +Without further question Galahad obeyed, and, having commended himself +to God, he bade his fair guide to lead, and he would follow wherever she +wished. + +Onward they rode during the remainder of the night and the next day, +till they came to a castle not far from the sea, where Galahad was +warmly welcomed, for the damsel who guided him had been sent by the lady +of that castle. + +"Madam," said the damsel, "shall he stay here all night?" + +"No," she replied; "only until he has dined, and has slept a little. He +must ride on until destiny is accomplished." + +So at early nightfall Galahad was called and helped to arm by +torchlight. Then he and the damsel again took horse, and rode on at +speed till they suddenly found themselves at the ocean's brink, with the +waves breaking at their feet. And here lay a ship covered with white +samite, from which manly voices cried,-- + +"Welcome, Sir Galahad. We have long awaited you. Come on board." + +"What means this?" asked Galahad of the damsel. "Who are they that +call?" + +"No others than your friends and comrades, Sir Bors and Sir Percivale. +Here you must leave your horse, and I mine, and both of us enter the +ship, for so God commands." + +This they did, taking their saddles and bridles with them, and making on +them the sign of the cross. When they had entered the ship the two +knights received them with great joy. And as they stood greeting each +other the wind suddenly rose and drove the ship from the land, forcing +it through the waves at a marvellous speed. + +"Whence comes this ship?" asked Galahad. + +Then Bors and Percivale told him of their adventures and temptations, +and by what miracles they had been brought on board that vessel. + +"Truly," said Galahad, "God has aided you marvellously. As for me, had +it not been for the lady who led me, I should never have found you." + +"If Lancelot, your father, were but here," said Bors, "then it would +seem to me that we had all that heart could wish." + +"That may not be," answered Galahad, "unless by the pleasure of our +Lord." + +As they conversed the ship suddenly ran between two rocks, where it held +fast, but where they could not land for the raging of the sea. But just +before them lay another ship, which they could reach without danger. + +[Illustration: Copyright 1901 by E. A. Abbey; from a Copely print +copyright 1902 by Curtis and Cameron. + +THE MAGIC SHIP.] + +"Thither we must go," said the lady, "and there we shall find strange +things, for such is the Lord's will." + +At this they approached the ship, and saw that it was richly provided, +but without man or woman on board. And on its bow there was written in +large letters,-- + +"You who shall enter this ship, take heed of your belief: for I am +Faith, and bid you beware. If you fail I shall not help you. He who +enters here must be of pure heart and earnest trust." + +They stood looking earnestly at one another after having read these +words. + +"Percivale," said the lady, "know you who I am?" + +"I do not," he replied. "Have I ever seen you before?" + +"Know, then, that I am your sister, the daughter of King Pellinore. I +love no man on earth as I do you. I warn you, therefore, not to enter +this ship unless you have perfect belief in our Lord Jesus Christ, for +if your faith fails you aught here you shall perish." + +"Fair sister," he replied, "happy am I, indeed, to know you. As for the +ship, I shall not fail to enter it. If I prove an untrue knight or a +misbeliever, then let me perish." + +As they spoke, Galahad blessed himself and entered the ship, and after +him came the lady, and then Bors and Percivale. On reaching the deck +they found it so marvellously fair and rich that they stood in wonder. +In the midst of the ship was a noble bed; and when Galahad went thither +he found on it a crown of silk. Below this lay a sword, half drawn from +its scabbard, the pommel being of stone of many colors. The scales of +the haft were of the ribs of two beasts. One beast was a serpent, known +in Calidone as the serpent of the fiend; and its bone had the magic +virtue that the hand which touched it should never be weary or hurt. The +other beast was a fish, that haunted the flood of Euphrates, its name +Ertanax; its bone had the virtue that he who handled it should not think +on the joys and sorrows of his past life, but only of that which he then +beheld. And no man could grasp this sword but the one who passed all +others in might and virtue. + +"In the name of God," said Percivale, "I shall seek to handle it." + +But in vain he tried, he could not grasp the magic hilt. No more could +Bors, who attempted it in his turn. Then Galahad approached, and as he +did so saw written on the sword in letters like blood, "He who draweth +me has peril to endure. His body shall meet with shame, for he shall be +wounded to the death." + +"By my faith, the risk is too great," said Galahad. "I shall not set my +hand to so fatal a blade." + +"That you must," said the lady. "The drawing of this sword is forbidden +to all men, save you. No one can draw back from that which destiny +commands." + +Then she told a marvellous story of that strange blade. + +"When this ship arrived in the realm of England," she said, "there was +deadly war between King Labor and King Hurlame, who was a christened +Saracen. Here they fought one day by the sea-side, and Hurlame was +defeated and his men slain. Then he fled into this ship, drew the sword +which he saw here, and with one stroke smote King Labor and his horse in +twain. But a fatal stroke it proved, for with it there came harm and +pestilence to all this realm. Neither corn nor grass would grow, fruit +failed to ripen, the waters held no fish, and men named this the waste +land of the two marches. Nor did King Hurlame escape. When he saw the +strange carving of the sword, a craving came into his mind to possess +the scabbard. Entering the ship for that purpose, he thrust the sword +into the sheath; but no sooner had he done so than he fell dead beside +the bed. And there his body lay till a maiden entered the ship and cast +it out, for no man could be found hardy enough to set foot on that fatal +deck." + +The three knights on hearing this looked earnestly at the scabbard, +which seemed to them made of serpent's skin, while on it was writing in +letters of gold and silver. But the girdle was poor and mean, and ill +suited to so rich a sword. The writing was to this effect: "He who shall +wield me must be hardy of nature. Nor shall he ever be shamed while he +is girt with this girdle; which must never be put away except by the +hands of a maiden and a king's daughter. And she, if she shall ever +cease to be a maid, shall die the most villanous death that woman ever +endured." + +"Turn the sword," said Percivale, "that we may see what is on the other +side." + +On doing so they found it red as blood, with coal-black letters, which +said: "He that shall praise me most shall find me most to fail him in +time of great need; and to whom I should be most fair shall I prove most +foul. Thus is it ordained." + +Then Percivale's sister told them the history of the sword, which was a +very strange and admirable thing to hear. More than once had it been +drawn in modern times; once by Nancien, who afterwards became a hermit, +and in whose hands the sword fell in half, and sorely wounded him in the +foot. Afterwards it was drawn by King Pellam, and it was for this +boldness that he was destined to be deeply wounded by the spear with +which Balin afterwards struck him. + +The knights now observed the bed more closely, and saw that above its +head there hung two swords. With them were three strange spindles, one +of which was white as snow, one red as blood, and one as green as +emerald. As they gazed at them with curious wonder, the damsel told a +strange story of the surprising things they had gazed upon. And thus her +story ran. + +When mother Eve gathered the fruit for which Adam and she were put out +of Paradise, she took with her the bough on which the apple grew. As it +kept fair and green, and she had no coffer in which to keep it, she +thrust it in the earth, where, by God's will, it took root, and soon +grew to a great tree, whose branches and leaves were as white as milk. +But afterwards, at the time of Abel's birth, it became grass-green. It +was under this tree that Cain slew Abel, and then it quickly lost its +green color, and grew red as blood. So it lived and thrived, and was in +full life when Solomon, the wise king, came to the throne. + +It came to pass that, as Solomon studied over many things, and, above +all, despised women in his heart and in his writings, a voice came which +told him that of his line would be born the Virgin Mary, the purest and +noblest of human kind, and that afterwards would come a man, the last of +his blood, as pure in mind as a young maiden, and as good a knight as +Joshua of Israel. This revelation he told to his wife, who had +questioned him as to the reason of his deep study. + +"Sir," she said, "since this knight is to come, it is our duty to +prepare for him. Therefore, I shall first have made a ship of the best +and most durable wood that man may find." + +This was done by Solomon's command. When the ship was built and ready to +sail, she made a covering for it of cloth of silk, of such quality that +no weather could rot it. And in the midst she placed a great bed, of +marvellously rich workmanship, and covered with silk of the finest +texture. + +"Now, my dear lord," she said to Solomon, "since this last knight of +your lineage is to pass in valor and renown all other knights that have +been before or shall come after him, therefore I counsel you to go into +the Temple of the Lord, where is the sword of the great King David, your +father, which is of magic temper and virtue. Take off the pommel of this +sword and make one of precious stones, skilfully wrought. And make a +hilt and sheath of great richness and beauty. As for the girdle, leave +that to me to provide." + +Solomon did as she advised, and she took the sword and laid it in the +bed; but when he looked at it he grew angry, for the girdle was meanly +made of hemp. + +"I have nothing," she said, "fit to make a girdle worthy of such a +sword. But when the time comes a maiden will change this for a girdle +worthy of him that is to wear it." + +This done, she went with a carpenter to the tree under which Abel was +slain. + +"Carve me from this tree as much wood as will make me a spindle," she +said. + +"Ah, madam," said he, "I dare not cut the tree which our first mother +planted." + +"Do as you are bidden," she ordered. "Dare not disobey me." + +But as he began to cut the tree drops of blood flowed out. Then he would +have fled, but she made him cut sufficient to form a spindle. Next she +went to the green and the white trees, which had grown from the roots of +the other, and bade him cut as much from each of these. From this wood +were three spindles wrought, which she hung up at the head of the bed. + +"You have done marvellously well," said Solomon, on seeing this. +"Wonderful things, I deem, shall come of all this, more than you +yourself dream of." + +"Some of these things you shall soon know," she answered. + +That night Solomon lay near the ship, and as he slept he dreamed. There +came from heaven, as it seemed to him, a great company of angels, who +alighted in the ship, and took water that was brought by an angel in a +vessel of silver, and sprinkled it everywhere. Then the angel came to +the sword and drew letters on the hilt, and on the ship's bow he wrote, +"You who shall enter this ship take heed of your belief," and further as +the knights had read. When Solomon had read these words he drew back, +and dared not enter, and there soon arose a wind which drove the ship +far to sea, so that it was quickly lost to sight. Then a low voice said, +"Solomon, the last knight of thy lineage shall rest in this bed." With +this Solomon waked, and lo! the ship was gone. + +This was the story that the fair damsel, Percivale's sister, told to the +knights, as they stood curiously surveying the bed and the spindles. +Then one of them lifted a cloth that lay on the deck, and under it found +a purse, in which was a written paper, telling the same strange story +they had just heard. + +"The sword is here," said Galahad; "but where shall be found the maiden +who is to make the new girdle?" + +"You need not seek far," said Percivale's sister. "By God's leave, I +have been chosen to make that girdle, and have it here." + +Then she opened a box which she had brought with her, and took from it a +girdle that was richly wrought with golden threads and studded with +precious stones, while its buckle was of polished gold. + +"Lo, lords and knights," she said, "here is the destined girdle. The +greater part of it was made of my hair, which I loved dearly when I was +a woman of the world. When I knew that I was set aside for this high +purpose, I cut off my hair and wrought this girdle in God's name." + +"Well have you done!" cried Bors. "Without you we would have learned +nothing of this high emprise." + +Then the noble maiden removed the mean girdle from the sword, and put +upon it the rich one she had brought, which became it wonderfully. + +"By what name shall we call this sword?" they now asked her. + +"Its name is," she answered, "the sword with the strange girdle; and +that of the sheath is, mover of blood. But no man with blood in him +shall ever see the part of the sheath that was made of the tree of +life." + +Then she took the sword and girded it about Galahad, fastening the +golden buckle about his waist. + +"Now reck I not though I die," she said, "for I hold that I am one of +the world's blessed maidens, since it has been given to me to arm the +worthiest knight in the world." + +After this they left the magic ship at her bidding, and entered the one +in which they had come. And immediately there rose a great wind which +blew their vessel from between the rocks, and carried it afar over the +sea. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HOW LANCELOT SAW THE SANGREAL. + + +The ship that bore the three knights and the maiden came ashore at +length near a castle in Scotland, where they landed. From here they +journeyed far, while many were their adventures, all of which tried +their virtue and belonged to the quest of the Sangreal. In them all the +sword with the strange girdle proved of such marvellous worth that no +men, were they a hundred in number, could stand before it. + +Finally they came to a castle which had the strange custom that every +maiden who passed that way should yield a dish full of blood. When they +asked the reason of this dreadful custom, they were told,-- + +"There is in this castle a lady to whom the domain belongs, and who has +lain for years sick of a malady which no leech can cure. And a wise man +has said that she can only be cured if she have a dish full of blood +from a pure virgin and a king's daughter, with which to anoint her." + +"Fair knights," said Percivale's sister, "I alone can aid the sick lady, +who must die otherwise." + +"If you bleed as they demand, you may die," said Galahad. "Is not your +life worth more than hers?" + +"This I answer," said she. "If I yield not my blood there will be mortal +war between you and the knights of the castle to-morrow, and many men +must die that one woman may not bleed. If I die to heal the sick lady I +shall gain renown and do God's will, and surely one harm is better than +many. That you will fight for me to the death, I know, but wherefore +should you?" + +Say what they would, she held to her will, and the next morning bade the +people of the castle bring forth the sick lady. She lay in great pain +and suffering, and bent her eyes pleadingly on the devoted maiden. + +Then Percivale's sister bared her arm, and bade them bleed her. This +they did till a silver dish was filled with her life blood. Then she +blessed the lady, and said,-- + +"Madam, I have given my life for yours; for God's love, pray for me!" +and she fell in a swoon. + +Galahad and his fellows hastened to stanch the blood, but it was too +late, her life was ebbing fast. + +"Fair brother Percivale," she said, "death is upon me. But before I die +I have this to tell you. It is written that I shall not be buried in +this country. When I am dead, seek you the sea-shore near by, and put my +body in a boat, and let it go where fortune bears it. But when you three +arrive at the city of Sarras, in Palestine, which you will in God's good +time, you shall find me arrived there before you. There bury me in +consecrated soil. This further I may say, that there the holy Grail +shall be achieved, and there shall Galahad die and be buried in the same +place." + +And as they stood there weeping beside her a voice came to them, +saying,-- + +"Lords and comrades, to-morrow at sunrise you three must depart, each +taking his own way, and you shall not meet again till adventure bring +you to the maimed king." + +After that all was done as had been foreseen and desired. The maiden +died, and the same day the sick lady was healed, through the virtue of +her blood. Then Percivale wrote a letter telling who she was and what +things she had done. This he put in her right hand, and laid her body in +a vessel that was covered with black silk. The wind now arose and drove +it far from the land, while all stood watching it till it was out of +sight. + +Then they returned towards the castle. But suddenly a tempest of wind, +thunder, and rain broke from the sky, so furious that the very earth +seemed to be torn up. And as they looked they saw the turrets of the +castle and part of its walls totter and fall, and in a moment come +crashing in ruin to the earth. + +That night they slept in a chapel, and in the morning rode to the +castle, to see how it had fared in the storm. But when they reached it +they found it in ruins, while of all that had dwelt there not one was +left alive. All of them, man and woman alike, had fallen victims to the +vengeance of God. And they heard a voice that said,-- + +"This vengeance is for the shedding of maidens' blood." + +But at the end of the chapel was a church-yard in which were threescore +tombs, over which it seemed no tempest had passed. And in these lay all +the maidens who had shed their blood and died martyrs for the sick +lady's sake. On these were their names and lineage, and all were of +royal blood, and twelve of them kings' daughters. + +The knights turned away, marvelling much at what they had seen and +heard. + +"Here we must part," said Galahad. "Let us pray that we may soon meet +again." + +Then they kissed each other, and wept at the parting, and each rode his +own way into the forest before them. + +But we must now leave them and return to Lancelot, whom we left sorely +repentant of his sins. After he departed from the hermitage he rode +through many lands and had divers adventures, and in the end came to the +sea-shore, beside which he lay down and slept. + +In his slumber, words came to his ear, saying, "Lancelot, rise and take +thine armor, and enter into the first ship that thou shalt find." On +hearing these words he started up, and saw that all about him was +strangely clear, the skies giving out a light like that of midday. Then +he blessed himself, and took his arms, and advanced to the strand, where +he saw a ship without sails or oars. This he entered, as he had been +bidden, and when he was within it his heart was filled with such joy as +he had never before known. + +Naught had he ever thought of or desired but what seemed come to him +now, and in his gladness he returned thanks fervently to the Lord. + +"I know not what has happened to me," he said, "but such joy as I feel I +never dreamed the human heart could hold." + +Then he lay down and slept on the ship's deck, and when he woke the +night had passed and it was broad day. + +And in the ship he found a bed, whereon lay a dead lady, with a letter +in her right hand which Lancelot read. From this he learned that the +fair corpse was that of Percivale's sister, together with many of the +strange things that had happened to her and the chosen knights. + +For a month or more Lancelot abode in this ship, driven about the seas, +and sustained by no food, but by the grace of the Holy Ghost, for he +prayed fervently for God's aid night and morning. + +At length came a night when the ship touched the shore. Here he landed, +being somewhat weary of the deck. And as he stood on the strand he heard +a horse approach, and soon one rode by that seemed a knight. + +When he came to the ship he checked his horse and alighted. Then, taking +the saddle and bridle from the horse, he turned it free and entered the +ship. Lancelot, in surprise, drew near. + +"Fair knight," he said, "I know not who you are or why you come. But +since you seek passage on my ship you are welcome." + +The other saluted him in turn, and asked,-- + +"What is your name? I pray you, tell me, for my heart warms strangely +towards you." + +"My name is Lancelot du Lake." + +"Then are we well met indeed. You are my father." + +"Ah! then you are Galahad?" + +"Yes, truly," and as he spoke he took off his helm, and kneeled, and +asked his blessing. + +Joyful indeed was that meeting, and gladly there father and son +communed, telling each other all that had happened to them since they +left the court. When Galahad saw the dead maiden he knew her well, and +told his father the story of the sword, at which he marvelled greatly. + +"Truly, Galahad," he said, "I never heard of aught so strange, and can +well believe you were born for wondrous deeds." + +Afterwards for nearly half a year the father and son dwelt together +within that ship, serving God day and night with prayer and praise. Now +they touched on peopled shores, and now on desert islands where only +wild beasts abode, and perilous and strange adventures they met. But +these we shall not tell, since they had naught to do with the Sangreal. + +But at length came a Monday morning when the ship touched shore at the +edge of a forest, before a cross, where they saw a knight armed all in +white, and leading a white horse. He saluted them courteously, and +said,-- + +"Galahad, you have been long enough with your father. You must now leave +the ship, and take this horse, and ride whither destiny shall lead you +in the quest of the Sangreal." + +Hearing this command, Galahad kissed his father, and bade him farewell, +saying,-- + +"Dear father, I know not if we shall ever meet again." + +"Then I bid you," said Lancelot, "to pray to the great Father that He +hold me in His service." + +There came in answer a mysterious voice that spoke these words,-- + +"Think each to do well; for you shall never see each other till the +dreadful day of doom." + +This voice of destiny affected them greatly, and they bade each other a +tearful farewell, Lancelot begging again the prayers of his son in his +behalf. Then Galahad mounted the white horse and rode into the forest, +while a wind arose which blew the ship from shore, and for a month drove +it up and down the seas. + +But at length came a night when it touched shore on the rear side of a +fair and stately castle. Brightly shone the moon, and Lancelot saw an +open postern in which stood on guard two great lions. As he looked he +heard a voice. + +"Lancelot," it said, "leave this ship and enter the castle. There shalt +thou see a part of that which thou desirest." + +Lancelot at this armed himself and went to the gate, where the lions +rose rampant against him. With an instinct of fear he drew his sword, +but at that instant appeared a dwarf, who struck him on the arm so +sharply that the sword fell from his hand. + +"Oh, man of evil hope and weak belief," came the mysterious voice, +"trust you more in your armor than in your Maker? Does He who brought +you here need a sword for your protection?" + +"Truly am I reproved," said Lancelot. "Happy am I to be held the Lord's +ward and servant." + +He took up his sword and put it in the sheath, then made a cross on his +forehead, and advanced to the lions, which raged and showed their teeth +as if ready to rend him in pieces. Yet with a bold step and tranquil +mien he passed between them unhurt, and entered the castle. + +Through it he went, room by room, passage by passage, for every door +stood wide and no living being met him as he advanced. Finally he came +to a chamber whose door was closed, and which yielded not to his hand +when he sought to open it. He tried again with all his force, but the +door resisted his strength. + +Then he listened, and heard a voice that sang more sweetly than he had +ever heard. And the words seemed to him to be, "Joy and honor be to the +Father of Heaven!" + +Lancelot no longer sought to open the door, but kneeled before it, +feeling in his heart that the Sangreal was within that chamber. + +"Sweet Father Jesus," he prayed, "if ever I did aught in thy service, in +pity forgive me my sins, and show me something of that which I seek." + +As he prayed the door opened without hands, and from the room came a +light brighter than if all the torches of the world had been there. He +rose in joy to enter, but the voice spoke sternly in his ear,-- + +"Forbear, Lancelot, and seek not to enter here. If you enter, you shall +repent it dearly." + +Then he drew back hastily, and looked into the chamber, where he saw a +table of silver, on which was the holy vessel covered with red samite, +with angels about it, one of which held a burning candle of wax, and one +a cross. And before the holy vessel stood a priest, who seemed to be +serving the mass. In front of the priest appeared to be three men, two +of whom put the youngest between the priest's hands, who held him up +high as if to show him. Yet so heavy seemed the figure that the priest +appeared ready to fall with weakness, and with a sudden impulse Lancelot +rushed into the room, crying, "Fair Lord Jesus, hold it no sin that I +help the good man, who seems in utmost need." + +But as he rashly entered and came towards the table of silver, a breath +that seemed half fire smote him so hotly in the face that he fell +heavily to the earth, and lay like one bereft of all his senses. Then +many hands seemed to take him up, and bear him without the door, where +he lay to all seeming dead. + +When morning dawned he was found there by the people of the castle, who +marvelled how he got there, and could not be sure if he were dead or +alive. But they laid him in a bed, and watched him closely, for days +passed without signs of life or death. At length, on the twenty-fifth +day, he gave a deep sigh, and opened his eyes, and gazed in wonder on +the people about him. + +"Why have you wakened me?" he cried. "Why left you me not to my blessed +visions?" + +"What have you seen?" they asked, eagerly. + +"Such marvels as no tongue can tell nor ear understand," he said. "And +more had I seen but that my son was here before me. For God's love, +gentlemen, tell me where I am." + +"Sir, you are in the castle of Carbonek." + +"I thank God of His great mercy for what I have seen," he said. "Now +may I leave the quest of the Sangreal, for more of it shall I never see, +and few men living shall see so much." + +These words said, he arose and dressed in new clothing that they brought +him, and stood in his old strength and beauty before the people. + +"Sir Lancelot!" they cried, "is it you?" + +"Truly so," he answered. + +Then word was brought to King Pellam, the maimed king, who now dwelt in +that castle, that the knight who had lain so long between death and life +was Lancelot. Glad was the king to hear this, and he bade them bring +Lancelot to him. + +"Long has my daughter Elaine been dead," he said. "But happy she lived +in having been loved by you, and in the grace of her noble son Galahad." + +"I was but cold to her," answered Lancelot, "for she was a lovable lady. +But in truth I have been held from love and life's delights, for my fate +has not been my own to control." + +For four days he abode at the castle, and then took his armor and horse, +saying that now his quest of the Sangreal was done, and duty bade him +return to Camelot. + +Back through many realms he rode, and in time came to the abbey where +Galahad had won the white shield. Here he spent the night, and the next +day rode into Camelot, where he was received with untold joy by Arthur +and the queen. + +For of the Knights of the Round Table who had set out on that perilous +quest more than half had perished, and small was the tale of that +gallant fellowship that could now be mustered. So the coming of +Lancelot filled all hearts with joy. + +Great was the marvel of the king when Lancelot told him of what he had +seen and done, and of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale, and Bors. + +"God send that they were all here again," said the king. + +"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "One of them shall come again, but +two you shall never see." + +[Illustration: From the painting by George Frederick Watts. + +SIR GALAHAD'S QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DEEDS OF THE THREE CHOSEN KNIGHTS. + + +After Galahad left the ship and his father Lancelot, he rode far and had +many adventures, righting many wrongs and achieving many marvels. Among +these he came to the abbey where was the ancient King Evelake, who had +laid blind three hundred years, as we have elsewhere told. + +The old king knew well that his deliverance had come, and begged to be +embraced by the pious youth. No sooner had he been clasped in his arms +than his sight returned, and his flesh grew whole and young. + +"Now, sweet Saviour, my destiny is fulfilled; receive thou my soul," he +prayed. + +As he said these words the soul left his body, and the miracle of his +fate was achieved. + +Many days after this Galahad met Percivale, and soon the two came upon +Bors, as he rode out of a great forest, that extended many days' journey +through the land. + +And so they rode in glad companionship, with many a tale of marvel to +tell, till in time they came to the castle of Carbonek, where they were +gladly received, for those in the castle knew that the quest of the +Sangreal was now wellnigh achieved. + +When evening approached, and the table for supper was set, the +mysterious voice that so often had guided these knights spoke again. + +"They that are not worthy to sit at the table of Jesus Christ arise," it +said; "for now shall the worthiest be fed." + +Then all arose save Eliazar, the son of King Pellam, and a maid who was +his niece, and the three knights. But as they sat at supper nine other +knights, in full armor, entered at the hall door, and took off their +helmets and armor, and said to Galahad,-- + +"Sir, we have come far and in haste to be with you at this table, where +the holy meat shall be served." + +"If you are worthy, you are welcome," said Galahad. "Whence come you?" + +Three of them answered that they were from Gaul, three from Ireland, and +three from Denmark, and that they had come thither at the bidding of the +strange voice. + +So they all sat at table. But ere they began to eat, four gentlewomen +bore into the hall a bed, whereon lay a man sick, with a crown of gold +on his head. Setting him down, they went away. + +"Galahad, holy knight, you are welcome," said he who lay in the bed, +raising his head feebly. "Long have I waited your coming, in pain and +anguish, since Balin, the good knight, struck me the dolorous stroke. To +you I look for aid and release from my long suffering." + +Then spoke the voice again: "There be those here who are not in the +quest of the Sangreal; let them depart." And the son and niece of the +king rose and left the room. + +Then there came suddenly four angels, and a man who bore a cross and +wore the dress of a bishop, whom the angels placed in a chair before the +silver table of the Sangreal. In his forehead were letters which said, +"This is Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom." + +Next opened the chamber door, and angels entered, two bearing wax +candles, the third a towel, and the fourth a spear that bled, the blood +drops falling into a silver vessel which he held in his other hand. The +candles were set on the table, the towel spread upon the vessel, and the +spear set upright on this. + +The bishop then said mass, at which other strange signs were seen; for a +figure like a child, with a face that shone like flame, entered into the +bread of the sacrament. Then the bishop kissed Galahad, and bade him +kiss his fellows. This done, he said,-- + +"Servants of Jesus Christ, ye shall here be fed on such meats as never +knights tasted;" and with these words he vanished. + +But as they knelt in prayer before the table, they saw come out of the +holy vessel a man who bore all the signs of the passion of Jesus Christ. +And he took up the vessel and bore it to Galahad and to the other +knights, who kneeled to receive the sacrament; and so sweet was it that +their hearts marvelled and were filled with joy. + +"Now have you tasted of Christ's own food," he said, "and seen what you +highly and holily desired. But more openly shall you see it in the city +of Sarras, in the spiritual place. Therefore you must go hence, for this +night the holy vessel will leave this realm, and will never more be seen +here. To-morrow you three shall go to the sea, where a ship awaits you; +and you must take with you the sword with the strange girdle." + +"Shall not these good knights go also?" asked Galahad. + +"Not so. They have seen all that is fitting to them. As for you, two of +you shall die in my service, and the third shall return and tell what he +has seen." + +Then he gave them his blessing, and vanished from out their midst. + +When they had somewhat recovered from the weight of these marvels, +Galahad went to the spear that lay on the table, and touched the blood +with his fingers, and with it anointed the wounds of the maimed king. +And at this touch he started up whole and strong, thanking God fervently +for his healing. + +But he went not into the world again, but to a monastery of white monks, +where he became a man of holy renown. + +At midnight came a voice to the nine knights, which said,-- + +"My sons, and not my chieftains; my friends, and not my warriors; go ye +hence, and do well what comes to you, in my service." + +"Lord," they replied, "wilt thou vouchsafe also to call us thy sinners? +Thy servants we shall be henceforth." + +And they arose, armed, and departed, bidding a solemn adieu to the three +knights. When morning dawned these three rose also, and rode till they +came to the sea. Here awaited them the ship wherein they had found the +sword and the three magic spindles, and to their wonder and delight they +beheld in its midst the table of silver and the Sangreal, which was +covered with red samite. + +It was a joyous company that sailed over the sea in that magical ship, +and at the wish of his comrades Galahad slept in the bed where the sword +had lain, and Bors and Percivale on the deck beside him. + +And so they went by day and by night, and at length came to the city of +Sarras. Here, as they would have landed, they saw beside them, just come +to shore, the ship that bore the corpse of Percivale's sister, and this +as fair and as fresh as when first placed within it. + +Then they took up the silver table and bore it to the city, at whose +gate sat an old and crooked cripple. + +"Come hither, and help us carry this heavy thing," said Galahad. + +"How shall I do that? I have not gone for ten years without crutches." + +"No matter for that. Show your good will by trying." + +Then the cripple rose and took hold, and in that instant he was whole +and strong, and helped them bear the table to the palace. This done, +they returned, and bore to the palace the corpse of Percivale's sister, +which they placed in a rich tomb, suited to a king's daughter. + +Meanwhile the report had spread through the city that a cripple had been +made whole by three strange knights, and people flocked to see them. + +When the king of the city saw and heard all this, he came to the knights +and asked them who they were, and what it was they had brought into his +realm. + +Galahad answered him, telling of the marvel of the Sangreal, and of +God's power and grace therein. + +But the king, Estorause, a tyrant in will and a pagan in faith, heard +this with wrath and unbelief, and ordered the knights to be put in +prison as spies and felons. + +For a whole year they lay thus in prison, yet were always kept whole and +in good spirits; for the holy Sangreal came to them in their dungeons, +and filled their souls with joy. When the year ended, Estorause grew +sick unto death, and in remorse sent for the imprisoned knights, whose +pardon and forgiveness he fervently begged. This they gave him, and he +straightway died. + +His death threw the city into dismay, for he had left no successor to +the throne. But as the lords sat in council there came a voice that +bade them choose the youngest of the three knights for their king. This +mysterious behest was told to the citizens, and with one acclaim they +hailed it as God's will, and demanded Galahad as their king. + +Thereupon he became king of Sarras, though it was not his wish; but he +felt it to be God's command. And when he came to the throne he had +constructed a chest of gold and precious stones, in which was placed the +table of silver with the holy vessel, and before this the three knights +kneeled and prayed daily with fervent zeal. + +And so time rolled on till came the day that was the anniversary of that +in which Galahad had taken the crown. On this morning he rose betimes, +and before the holy vessel he saw a man dressed like a bishop, while +round about him was a great fellowship of angels. + +"Come forth, thou servant of Jesus Christ, and thou shalt see what thou +hast so much desired," said the bishop. + +Then Galahad began to tremble, his flesh quaking in the presence of +things spiritual. And he held his hands up towards heaven, saying,-- + +"Lord, I thank thee, for now my desire is fulfilled. And if it be thy +will that I should come to thee, I wish no longer to live." + +"I am Joseph of Arimathea," said the strange presence, "and am sent by +the Lord to bear thee fellowship. Thou resemblest me in two things; for +thou hast seen the highest marvel of the Sangreal, and are pure of heart +and of body. Now say farewell to thy comrades, for thy time is come to +depart." + +Galahad thereupon went to Percivale and Bors, and kissed them, and +commended them to God, saying to Bors,-- + +"Fair friend, who art destined to return to our native realm, salute for +me my lord and father Lancelot, and bid him remember the evils of this +unstable world, and bear in mind the duty he has been taught." + +Then he kneeled before the table and prayed fervently, and suddenly his +soul departed from his body, a multitude of angels bearing it visibly +upward toward heaven, in full view of his late comrades. Also they saw +come from heaven a hand, with no body visible, and take up the holy +vessel and the spear, and bear them to heaven. And from that moment no +man ever saw on earth again the blessed Sangreal. + +Afterwards Galahad's body was buried with great honor, and with many +tears from his two fellows and from the people whom he had governed. +Then Percivale betook him to a hermitage, and entered upon a religious +life; while Bors stayed with him, but in secular clothing, for it was +his purpose to return to England. + +For a year and two months Percivale lived thus the holy life of a +hermit, and then he passed out of this world, and was buried by +Bors--who mourned him as deeply as ever man was mourned--beside his +sister and Galahad. This pious office performed, Sir Bors, the last of +the three chosen knights, felt that his duty in that land was at an end, +and thereupon took ship at the city of Sarras and sailed for the realm +of England, where he in good season arrived. Here he took horse and +rode in all haste to Camelot, where King Arthur and the court then were, +and where he was received with the greatest joy and wonder, for so long +had it been since any man there had set eyes on him, that all believed +him to be dead. + +But greater than their wonder was their admiration when the returned +knight told the story of miracle and adventure which had befallen him +and his two comrades, and the pious maid, Percivale's sister, and of the +holy life and death of Galahad and Percivale. This marvellous narrative +the king had told again to skilled clerks, that they might put upon +record the wonderful deeds of these good knights. And it was all written +down in great books, which were put in safe keeping at Salisbury. + +Bors then gave to Lancelot the message which his son had sent him, and +Lancelot took him in his arms, saying, "Gentle cousin, gladly do I +welcome you again. Never while we live shall we part, but shall ever be +true friends and brothers while life may last to us." + +And thus came to an end the marvellous and unparalleled adventure of the +Holy Grail. + +[Illustration: SALISBURY CATHEDRAL.] + + + + + BOOK X. + + THE LOVE OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE POISONING OF SIR PATRISE. + + +After the quest of the Sangreal was ended, and all the knights who were +left alive had come again to Camelot, there was great joy in the court, +with feasts and merrymakings, that this fortunate remnant might find a +glad welcome. Above all, King Arthur and Queen Guenever were full of joy +in the return of Lancelot and Bors, both from the love they bore them +and the special honor they had gained in the quest. + +But, as is man's way, holy thoughts vanished with the holy task that +gave them rise, the knights went back to their old fashions and +frailties, and in Lancelot's heart his earthly love for the queen soon +rose again, and his love of heaven and holy thoughts grew dim as the +days went by. Alas that it should have been so! for such an unholy +passion could but lead to harm. To fatal ills, indeed, it led, and to +the end of Arthur's reign and of the worshipful fellowship of the Table +Round, as it is our sorrowful duty now to tell. + +All this began in the scandal that was raised in the court by the close +companionship between Lancelot and the queen. Whisper of this secret +talk at length came to that good knight's ears, and he withdrew from +Queen Guenever as much as he could, giving himself to the society of +other ladies of the court, with design to overcome the evil activity of +slanderous tongues. + +This withdrawal filled the queen with jealous anger, and she accused him +bitterly of coldness in his love. + +"Madam," said Lancelot, "only that love for you clung desperately to my +heart, and drove out heavenly thoughts, I should have gained as great +honor in the quest of the Sangreal as even my son Galahad. My love is +still yours, but I fear to show it, for there are those of the court who +love me not, such as Agravaine and Mordred, and these evil-thinking +knights are spreading vile reports wherever they may. It is for this I +make show of delight in other ladies' society, to cheat the bitter +tongue of slander." + +To this the queen listened with heaving breast and burning cheek. But at +the end she burst into bitter tears and sobs, and wept so long that +Lancelot stood in dismay. When she could speak, she called him recreant +and false, declared she should never love him more, and bade him leave +the court, and on pain of his head never come near her again. + +This filled the faithful lover with the deepest grief and pain; yet +there was anger, too, for he felt that the queen had shut her ears to +reason, and had let causeless jealousy blind her. So, without further +words, he turned and sought his room, prepared to leave the court. He +sent for Hector, Bors, and Lionel, and told them what had happened, and +that he intended to leave England and return to his native land. + +"If you take my advice you will do nothing so rash," said Bors. "Know +you not that women are hasty to act, and quick to repent? This is not +the first time the queen has been angry with you; nor will her +repentance be a new experience." + +"You speak truly," said Lancelot. "I will ride, therefore, to the +hermitage of Brasias, near Windsor, and wait there till I hear from you +if my lady Guenever changes her mood. I pray you do your best to get me +her love again." + +"That needs no prayer. Well you know I will do my utmost in your +behalf." + +Then Lancelot departed in haste, none but Bors knowing whither he had +gone. But the queen showed no sign of sorrow at his going, however +deeply she may have felt it in her heart. In countenance she remained +serene and proud, as though the world went well with her, and her heart +was free from care. + +Her desire, indeed, to show that she took as much joy in the society of +other knights as in that of Lancelot led to a woful and perilous event, +which we have next to describe. For she gave a private dinner, to which +she invited Gawaine and his brethren and other knights, to the number of +twenty-four in all. A rich feast it was, with all manner of dainties and +rare devices. Much was the joy and merriment of the feasting knights. + +As it happened, Gawaine had a great love for fruits, especially apples +and pears, which he ate daily at dinner and supper; and all who invited +him to dine took care to provide his favorite fruits. This the queen +failed not to do. But there was at the feast an enemy of Gawaine's, +named Pinel le Savage, who was a cousin of Lamorak de Galis, and had +long hated Gawaine for the murder of that noble knight. + +To obtain revenge on him, Pinel poisoned some of the apples, feeling +sure that only Gawaine would eat them. But by unlucky chance a knight +named Patrise, cousin to Mador de la Porte, eat one of the poisoned +apples. So deadly was the venom that in a moment he was in agony, and +very soon it so filled his veins that he fell dead from his seat. + +Then was terror and wrath, as the knights sprang in haste and turmoil +from their seats. For they saw that Patrise had been poisoned, and +suspicion naturally fell upon the queen, the giver of the feast. + +"My lady, the queen," cried Gawaine in anger, "what thing is this we +see? This fate, I deem, was meant for me, since the fruit was provided +for my taste. Madam, what shall I think? Has this good knight taken on +himself the death that was intended to be mine?" + +The queen made no answer, being so confused and terrified that she knew +not what to say. + +"This affair shall not end here," cried Mador de la Porte in great +wrath. "Here lies a noble knight of my near kindred, slain by poison and +treason. For this I shall have revenge to the utterance. Queen Guenever, +I hold you guilty of the murder of my cousin, Sir Patrise. I demand from +the laws of the realm and the justice of our lord the king redress for +this deed. A knight like this shall not fall unrevenged, while I can +wield spear or hold sword." + +The queen, at this hot accusation, looked appealingly from face to face; +but all stood grave and silent, for greatly they suspected her of the +crime. Then, seeing that she had not a friend in the room, she burst +into a passion of tears, and at length fell to the floor in a swoon. + +The story of this sad business soon spread through the court, and +quickly came to the ears of the king, who hastened to the banqueting +hall full of trouble at what he had heard. When Mador saw him, he again +bitterly accused the queen of treason,--as murder of all kinds was then +called. + +"This is a serious affair," said the king, gravely. "I, as a rightful +judge, cannot take the matter into my own hands, or I would do battle in +this cause myself, for I know well that my wife is wrongly accused. To +burn a queen on a hasty accusation of crime is no light matter, though +you may deem it so, Sir Mador; and if you demand the combat, fear not +but a knight will be found to meet you in the lists." + +"My gracious lord," said Mador, "you must hold me excused, for though +you are our king, you are a knight also, and held by knightly rules. +Therefore, be not displeased with me, for all the knights here suspect +the queen of this crime. What say you, my lords?" + +"The dinner was made by the queen," they answered. "She or her servants +must be held guilty of the crime." + +"I gave this dinner with a good will, and with no thought of evil," said +the queen, sadly. "May God help me as an innocent woman, and visit this +murder on the base head of him who committed it. My king and husband, to +God I appeal for right and justice." + +"And justice I demand," said Mador, "and require the king to name a day +in which this wrong can be righted." + +"Be it so, then," said the king. "Fifteen days hence be thou ready armed +on horseback in the meadow beside Winchester. If there be a knight there +to meet you, then God speed the right. If none meet you, then my queen +must suffer the penalty of the law." + +When Arthur and the queen had departed, he asked her how this case +befell. + +"God help me if I know," she answered. + +"Where is Lancelot?" asked the king. "If he were here, he would do +battle for you." + +"I know not," she replied. "His kinsmen say he has left the land." + +"How cometh it," said the king, "that you cannot keep Lancelot by your +side? If he were here your case would be won. Sir Bors will do battle in +his place, I am sure. Go seek him and demand his aid." + +This the queen did, begging Bors to act as her champion; but he, as one +of the knights who had been at the dinner, demurred, and accused her of +having driven Lancelot from the country by her scorn and jealousy. + +Then she knelt and begged his aid, and the king, coming in, also +requested his assistance, for he was now sure the queen had been +unjustly defamed. + +"My lord," answered Bors, "it is a great thing you require of me, for if +I grant your request I will affront many of my Round Table comrades. Yet +for your and Lancelot's sake I will be the queen's champion on the day +appointed, unless it may happen that a better knight than I come to do +battle for her." + +"Will you promise me this, on your faith?" asked the king. + +"I shall not fail you," said Bors. "If a better knight than I come, the +battle shall be his. If not, I will do what I can." + +This promise gladdened the king and queen, who thanked Bors heartily, +and were filled with hope, for they trusted greatly in this good +knight's prowess and skill. + +Bors, however, had other thoughts than they dreamed of, and left the +court secretly, riding to the hermitage of Brasias, where he found +Lancelot and told him of what had occurred. + +"This happens well," said Lancelot. "The queen shall not suffer. Do you +make ready for the battle, but tarry and delay, if I am not there, as +much as you may, till I arrive. Mador is a hot knight, and will be hasty +to battle. Bid him cool his haste." + +"Leave that to me," said Bors. "Doubt not that it will go as you wish." + +Meanwhile the news spread throughout the court that Bors had taken on +himself the queen's championship. This displeased the most of the +knights, for suspicion of the queen was general. On his return many of +his fellows accused him hotly of taking on himself a wrongful quarrel. + +"Shall we see the queen of our great lord King Arthur brought to shame?" +he demanded. "To whom in the world do we owe more?" + +"We love and honor our king as much as you do," they answered. "But we +cannot love a destroyer of knights, as Queen Guenever has proved +herself." + +"Fair sirs," said Bors, "you speak hastily, methinks. At all times, so +far as I know, she has been a maintainer, not a destroyer, of knights, +and has been free with gifts and open-handed in bounty to all of +knightly fame. This you cannot gainsay, nor will I suffer the wife of +our noble king to be shamefully slain. She is not guilty of Sir +Patrise's death, for she never bore him ill will, nor any other at that +dinner. It was for good will she invited us there, and I doubt not her +innocence will be proved; for howsoever the game goeth, take my word for +it, some other than she is guilty of that murder." + +This some began to believe, convinced by his words, but others still +held their displeasure, believing the queen guilty. + +When at length the day that had been fixed for the battle came, there +was a great gathering of knights and people in the meadow beside +Winchester, where the combat was to take place. But many shuddered when +they saw another thing, for an iron stake was erected, and fagots heaped +round it, for the burning of the queen should Mador win the fight. + +Such, indeed, was the custom of those days. Neither for favor, for love, +nor for kindred could any but righteous judgment be given, as well upon +a king as upon a knight, upon a queen as upon a poor lady, and death at +the stake was the penalty for those convicted of murder. + +Now there rode into the lists Sir Mador de la Porte, and took oath +before the king that he held the queen to be guilty of the death of Sir +Patrise, and would prove it with his body against any one who should say +to the contrary. + +Sir Bors followed, and made oath as the queen's champion that he held +her guiltless, and would prove it with his body, unless a better knight +came to take the battle on him. + +"Make ready then," said Mador, "and we shall prove which is in the +right, you or I." + +"You are a good knight, Sir Mador," said Bors, "but I trust that God +will give this battle to justice, not to prowess." + +He continued to talk and to make delay till Mador called out +impatiently,-- + +"It seems to me that we waste time and weather. Either come and do +battle at once, or else say nay." + +"I am not much given to say nay," answered Bors. "Take your horse and +make ready. I shall not tarry long, I promise you." + +Then each departed to his tent, and in a little while Mador came into +the field with his shield on his shoulder and his spear in his hand. But +he waited in vain for Bors. + +"Where is your champion?" cried Mador to the king. "Bid him come forth +if he dare!" + +When this was told to Bors he was ashamed to delay longer, and mounted +his horse and rode to his appointed place. But as he did so he saw a +knight, mounted on a white horse, and bearing a shield of strange +device, emerge from a neighboring wood, and come up at all speed. He +continued his course till he came to Sir Bors. + +"Be not displeased, fair knight," he said, "if I claim this battle. I +have ridden far this day to have it, as I promised you when we spoke +last. And for what you have done I thank you." + +Then Bors rode to the king and told him that a knight had come who would +do battle for the queen and relieve him from the championship. + +"What knight is this?" asked the king. + +"All I may say is that he covenanted to be here to-day. He has kept his +word, and I am discharged." + +"How is this?" demanded Arthur. "Sir knight, do you truly desire to do +battle for the queen?" + +"For that, and that alone, came I hither," answered the knight. "And I +beg that there be no delay, for when this battle is ended I must depart +in haste on other duties. I hold it a dishonor to all those knights of +the Round Table that they can stand and see so noble a lady and +courteous a queen as Queen Guenever rebuked and shamed among them all. +Therefore I stand as her champion." + +Then all marvelled what knight this could be, for none suspected him. +But Mador cried impatiently to the king,-- + +"We lose time here. If this knight, whoever he be, will have ado with +me, it is time to end words and begin deeds." + +"You are hot, Sir Mador. Take care that your valor be not cooled," said +the other. + +They now moved to their appointed stations, and there couched their +spears and rode together with all the speed of their chargers. Mador's +spear broke, but the spear of his opponent held, and bore him and his +horse backward to the earth. + +But he sprang lightly from the saddle, and drew his sword, challenging +the victor to do battle with him on foot. This the other knight did, +springing quickly to the ground, and drawing his sword. Then they came +eagerly to the combat, and for the space of near an hour fought with the +fury of wild beasts, for Mador was a strong knight, proved in many +battles. + +But at last the strange champion struck his opponent a blow that brought +him to the earth. He stepped near him to hurl him flat, but at that +instant Mador suddenly rose. As he did so he struck upward with his +sword, and ran the other through the thick of the thigh, so that the +blood flowed freely. + +When he felt himself wounded he stepped back in a rage, and grasping his +sword struck Mador a two-handed blow that hurled him flat to the earth. +Then he sprang upon him to pull off his helm. + +"I yield me!" cried Mador. "Spare my life, and I release the queen." + +"I shall not grant your life," said the other, "only on condition that +you freely withdraw this accusation from the queen, and that no charge +against her be made on Sir Patrise's tomb." + +"All this shall be done. I have lost, and adjudge her innocent." + +The knights-parters of the lists now took up Sir Mador and bore him to +his tent. The other knight went to the foot of King Arthur's seat. By +that time the queen had come thither also, and was heartily kissed by +her overjoyed lord. Then king and queen alike thanked the victor knight, +and prayed him to take off his helmet, and drink some wine for +refreshment. This he did, and on the instant a loud shout went up from +all present, for they recognized the noble face of Lancelot du Lake. + +"Sir Lancelot!" cried the king. "Never were you more heartily welcome. +Deep thanks I and Queen Guenever owe you for your noble labor this day +in our behalf." + +"My lord Arthur," said Lancelot, "I would shame myself should I ever +fail to do battle for you both. It was you who gave me the high honor of +knighthood. And on the day you made me knight I lost my sword through +haste, and the lady your queen found it and gave it me when I had need +of it, and so saved me from disgrace among the knights. On that day I +promised her to be ever her knight in right or wrong." + +"Your goodness merits reward," said the king, "and therein I shall not +fail you." + +But as the queen gazed on Lancelot, tears came to her eyes, and she wept +so tenderly that she almost sank to the ground from sorrow and remorse +at her unkindness to him who had done her such noble service. + +Now the knights of his blood came around Lancelot in the greatest joy, +and all the Knights of the Round Table after them, glad to welcome him. + +And in the days that followed Lancelot was cured of his wound, and Mador +put under the care of skilful leeches, while great joy and gladness +reigned in the court for the happy issue of that combat which had +promised so fatal an ending. + +About this time it befell that Nimue, the damsel of the lake, came to +the court, she who knew so many things by her power of enchantment, and +had such great love for Arthur and his knights. When the story of the +death of Sir Patrise and the peril of the queen was told her, she +answered openly that the queen had been falsely accused, and that the +real murderer was Sir Pinel, who had poisoned the apples to destroy +Gawaine, in revenge for the murder of Lamorak. This story was confirmed +when Pinel fled hastily from the court, for then all saw clearly that +Guenever was innocent of the crime. + +The slain knight was buried in the church of Westminster, and on his +tomb was written,-- + +"Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir Pinel le Savage, +through poisoned apples intended for Sir Gawaine." And to this was added +the story of how Guenever the queen had been charged with that crime, +and had been cleared in the combat by Sir Lancelot du Lake, her +champion. + +All this was written on the tomb, to clear the queen's good fame. And +daily and long Sir Mador sued the queen to have her good grace again. +At length, by means of Lancelot, he was forgiven, and entered again into +the grace of king and queen. Thus once more peace and good-will were +restored to Camelot. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT. + + +It came to pass that, within fifteen days of the Feast of the +Assumption, King Arthur announced that a great tournament would be held +on that day at Camelot, where he and the king of Scots would hold the +lists against all who should come. This tidings went far, and there came +to Camelot many noble knights, among them the king of North Wales, King +Anguish of Ireland, the king with the hundred knights, Sir Galahalt the +high prince, and other kings, dukes, and earls. + +But when Arthur was ready to ride from London, where he then was, to +Camelot, the queen begged to be excused from going with him, saying that +she was not well. Lancelot, too, would not go, on the plea that he was +not well of the wound which Sir Mador had given him. So the king set out +in grief and anger, for the absence of his wife and Lancelot tried him +sorely. On his way to Camelot he lodged in a town named Astolat, which +is now known as Gilford, and here he remained for several days. + +But hardly had he departed before the queen sought Lancelot, and blamed +him severely for not going with the king, saying that he thus exposed +her to slander. + +"Madam, your wisdom comes somewhat late. Why gave you not this advice +sooner?" said Lancelot. "I will go, since you command it; but I warn you +that at the jousts I will fight against the king and his party." + +"Fight as you will, but go," said Guenever. "If you take my counsel, +however, you will keep with your king and your kindred." + +"Be not displeased with me, madam," said Lancelot. "I will do as God +wills, and that, I fear, will be to fight against the king's party." + +So the knight took horse and rode to Astolat, and here in the evening he +obtained quarters in the mansion of an old baron, named Sir Bernard of +Astolat. It happened that this mansion was near the quarters of the +king, who, as in the dusk he walked in the castle garden, saw Lancelot +draw near to Sir Bernard's door, and recognized him. + +"Aha!" said the king, "is that the game? That gives me comfort. I shall +have one knight in the lists who will do his duty nobly." + +"Who is that?" asked those with him. + +"Ask me not now," said the king, smiling. "You may learn later." + +Meanwhile Lancelot was hospitably received by the old baron, though the +latter knew not his guest. + +"Dear sir," said Lancelot to his host, "I thank you for your kindness, +and I shall owe you deeper thanks if you will lend me a shield. Mine is +too well known, and I wish to fight in disguise." + +"That shall I willingly," answered his host. "I have two sons who were +lately knighted, and the elder, Sir Tirre, has been hurt. His shield you +shall have, for it is yet unknown in list or field. As for my younger +son, Sir Lavaine, he is a strong and likely youth, whom I beg you will +take with you. I feel that you must be a champion of renown, and hope +you will tell me your name." + +"Not at present, if you will excuse me," said Lancelot. "If I speed well +at the tournament I will return and tell you. But I shall be glad to +have Sir Lavaine with me, and to use his brother's shield." + +"You are welcome to both," said Sir Bernard. + +This old baron had a daughter of great beauty, and in the freshness of +youth, who was known in that region as the Fair Maid of Astolat, by name +Elaine le Blank. And when she saw Lancelot her whole heart went out to +him in love,--a love of that ardent nature that never dies while she who +wears it lives. + +Lancelot, too, was strongly attracted by her fresh young face, of +lily-like charm; but he had no love to give. Yet he spoke in tender +kindness to the maiden, and so emboldened her that she begged him to +wear her token at the tournament. + +"You ask more than I have ever yet granted to lady or damsel," said +Lancelot. "If I yield to your wish I shall do more for your love than +any woman born can claim." + +[Illustration: "YOU ARE WELCOME, BOTH!" SAID SIR BERNARD.] + +She besought him now with still more earnestness, and it came to his +mind that if he wished to go to the lists disguised he could take no +better method, for no one would recognise Lancelot under a damsel's +token. + +"Show me what you would have me wear, fair maiden," he said. + +"It is a red sleeve of mine," she answered, "a sleeve of scarlet, +embroidered with great pearls," and she brought it to him. + +"I have never done this for damsel before," said Lancelot. "In return I +will leave my shield in your keeping. Pray keep it safe till we meet +again." + +Then the evening was spent in merry cheer; but that night Elaine slept +but lightly, for her slumber was full of dreams of Lancelot, and her +heart burned with fears that he might come to harm in the lists. + +On the next day King Arthur and his knights set out for Camelot. Soon +afterwards Lancelot and Lavaine took leave of Sir Bernard and his fair +daughter, while the eyes of Elaine followed the noble form of Lancelot +fondly and far, as he rode. Both the knights had white shields, and +Lancelot bore with him Elaine's red embroidered sleeve. When they +reached Camelot they took lodging privately with a rich burgess of the +town, that none might know them. + +When came Assumption Day, the lists were set, the trumpets blew to the +field, the two parties of knights gathered promptly to the fray, and +fierce was the encounter between them. In the end, after hard fighting, +the party of Arthur bore back their opponents, who were headed by the +kings of Northumberland and North Wales. + +All this was seen by Lancelot and Lavaine, who sat their horses at a +distance looking on. + +"Come," said Lancelot, "let us help these good fellows, who seem to be +overpowered." + +"Lead on," said Lavaine. "I shall follow and do my best." + +Then Lancelot, with the red sleeve fastened upon his helmet, rode into +the thickest of the press, and smote down such numbers of knights with +spear and sword that the party of the Round Table were forced to give +back, and their opponents came on with fresh heart. And close upon +Lancelot's track Lavaine smote down several good knights. + +"Who can this wonderful fighter be?" asked Gawaine of the king. + +"I know him well," said Arthur, "but will not name him since he is in +disguise." + +"I could believe it was Lancelot," said Gawaine, "but for that red +sleeve. No man ever saw Lancelot wear a woman's token." + +"Let him be," said Arthur. "He will be better known before he is done." + +Then nine knights of Lancelot's kindred, angry at seeing this one +champion beat down all before him, joined together and pressed hotly +into the din, smiting down all that opposed them. Three of them--Bors, +Hector, and Lionel--spurred together on Lancelot, all striking him at +once with their spears. So great was their force that Lancelot's horse +was hurled to the ground, and his shield pierced by Bors, whose spear +wounded him in the side, breaking and leaving its head deep in the +flesh. + +Seeing this misfortune, Lavaine spurred fiercely on the king of the +Scots, thrust him from his horse, and, in despite of them all, brought +that horse to Lancelot, and helped him to mount. Then, though so sorely +hurt, Lancelot drew his sword, and, aided by Lavaine, did such deeds of +arms as he had never surpassed in his hours of greatest strength. As the +chronicles say, that day he unhorsed more than thirty knights; and +Lavaine followed his example well, for he smote down ten Knights of the +Round Table in this his first tournament. So does a noble example stir +young hearts. + +"I would give much to know who this valiant knight can be," said +Gawaine. + +"He will be known before he departs," answered Arthur. "Trust me for +that." + +Then the king blew to lodging, and the prize was given by the heralds to +the knight with the white shield who bore the red sleeve. Around +Lancelot gathered the leaders on his side, and thanked him warmly for +gaining them the victory. + +"If I have deserved thanks I have sorely paid for them," said Lancelot, +"for I doubt if I escape with my life. Dear sirs, permit me to depart, +for just now I would rather have repose than be lord of all the world." + +Then he broke from them and galloped away, though his wound forced +piteous groans from his steadfast heart. When out of sight of them all +he checked his horse, and begged Lavaine to help him dismount and to +draw the spear-head from his side. + +"My lord," said Lavaine, "I would fain help you; yet I fear that to draw +the spear will be your death." + +"It will be my death if it remains," said Lancelot. "I charge you to +draw it." + +This Lavaine did, the pain being so deadly that Lancelot shrieked and +fell into a death-like swoon, while a full pint of blood gushed from the +wound. Lavaine stopped the bleeding as well as he could, and with great +trouble got the wounded knight to a neighboring hermitage, that stood in +front of a great cliff, with a clear stream running by its foot. + +Here Lavaine beat on the door with the butt of his spear, and cried +loudly,-- + +"Open, for Jesus' sake! Open, for a noble knight lies bleeding to death +at your gate!" + +This loud appeal quickly brought out the hermit, who was named Baldwin +of Brittany, and had once been a Round Table knight. He gazed with pity +and alarm on the pale face and bleeding form before him. + +"I should know this knight," he said. "Who is he?" + +"Fair sir," said Lancelot, feebly, "I am a stranger and a knight-errant, +who have sought renown through many realms, and have come here to my +deadly peril." + +As he spoke the hermit recognized him, by a wound on his pallid cheek. + +"Ah, my lord Lancelot," he said, "you cannot deceive me thus." + +"Then, if you know me, help me for heaven's sake. Relieve me from this +pain, whether it be by life or death." + +"I shall do my best," said the hermit. "Fear not that you will die." + +Then he had him borne into the hermitage, and laid in bed, his armor +being removed. This done, the hermit stanched the bleeding, anointed the +wound with healing ointments, and gave Lancelot a refreshing and healing +draught. + +Meanwhile King Arthur invited the knights of both parties to a great +evening feast, and there asked the king of North Wales to bring forward +the knight of the red sleeve, that he might receive the prize he had +won. + +"That I cannot do," was the answer. "He was badly, if not fatally, +wounded, and left us so hastily that we know not whither he went." + +"That is the worst news I have heard these seven years," said Arthur. "I +would rather lose my throne than have that noble knight slain." + +"Do you know him?" they all asked. + +"I have a shrewd suspicion who he is; and I pray God for good tidings of +him." + +"By my head," said Gawaine, "I should be sorry enough to see harm come +to one that can handle spear and sword like him. He cannot be far away, +and if he is to be found I shall find him." + +"Fortune aid you in the quest," said the king. + +Then Gawaine took a squire, and they rode in all directions for six or +seven miles around Camelot, but could learn nothing of the missing +knight. Two days afterwards Arthur and his fellowship set out on their +return to London. On their way they passed through Astolat, and here it +happened that Gawaine lodged with Sir Bernard, Lancelot's former host. + +He was well received, and the old baron and his fair daughter begged him +earnestly for tidings of the tournament, being specially eager to know +who had done best there. + +"Two knights bore all before them," said Gawaine. "Both carried white +shields, and one wore on his helmet a red sleeve, as some fair lady's +token. Never saw I a man before do such mighty deeds, and his fellow +seconded him nobly." + +"Blessed be God that that knight did so well," broke out Elaine, "for he +is the first man I ever loved, and shall be the last." + +"You know him then?" said Gawaine. "Pray tell me his name." + +"That I know not, nor whence he came; but this I truly know, that I love +him, and that the token he wore was mine. This, and this only, I can +justly affirm." + +"This is a strange story," said Gawaine. "What knowledge have you of +him? and how came you to know him?" + +In response, she told him how the knight had left his shield with her, +and taken that of her brother, with what else she knew. + +"I would thank you much for a sight of that shield," said Gawaine. + +"I have it in my chamber, covered with a case, and will send for it," +said Elaine. + +When the shield was brought Gawaine removed the case, and at sight he +knew it to be Lancelot's shield. + +"Ah, mercy!" said Gawaine, "the sight of this makes my heart heavy." + +"Why so?" she demanded. + +"For good cause," he answered. "Is the owner of this shield your love?" + +"Truly so," she replied. "I love him dearly; would to God he loved me as +dearly." + +"Then must I say that you have given your love to the noblest and most +renowned knight in the world." + +"So it seemed to me; for he carries a noble soul in his face." + +"This I may say," said Gawaine. "I have known this knight for more than +twenty years, and never knew him before to wear a woman's token at joust +or tournament. You owe him thanks, indeed, that he wore yours. Yet I +dread greatly that you will never see him again, and it is for this that +my heart is heavy." + +"Why say you so?" she cried, starting up with pallid face. "Is he hurt? +Is he slain?" + +"Not slain; but sadly hurt. This more it is my duty to tell you: he is +the noble knight, Sir Lancelot du Lake. I know him by his shield." + +"Lancelot! Can this be so? And his hurt--who gave it? Is it really +perilous?" + +"Had the knight who wounded him known him, he would have been grieved +almost to death. As for Sir Lancelot, I can tell you nothing more. On +receiving his hurt he left the lists with his comrade, and cannot be +found. He is somewhere concealed." + +"Then shall I go seek him!" cried Elaine. "Give me leave to do so, dear +father, if you would not have me lose my mind. I shall never rest till +I find him and my brother, and nurse him back to health." + +"Go, daughter, if you will," said her father, "for I am sick at heart to +hear such tidings of that noble knight." + +In the morning Gawaine rejoined King Arthur, and told him of what he had +learned. + +"I knew already it was Lancelot," said the king; "but never before knew +I him to wear woman's token." + +"By my faith, this lily maiden of Astolat loves him deeply," said +Gawaine. "What it means I cannot say, but she has set out to seek him, +and will break her heart if she fail to find him." + +And so they rode on to London, where Gawaine made known to the court +that it was Lancelot who wore the red sleeve and won the prize at the +tournament. + +This tidings made no small trouble in the court. Bors and his kinsmen +were heavy at heart when they learned that it was Lancelot whom they had +so hotly assailed. And Queen Guenever was beside herself with anger on +learning that it was Lancelot who had worn the red sleeve at the +tournament. + +Meanwhile Elaine journeyed to Camelot in search of the wounded knight, +and as she sought far and near about the town, sick at heart, it chanced +that she espied her brother Lavaine, as he rode out to give his horse +air. She called loudly to him, and when he came up asked him,-- + +"How does my lord, Sir Lancelot?" + +"Who told you, sister, that my lord's name was Lancelot?" + +She told him how she had learned this, and they rode together to the +hermitage, where Lavaine brought her in to see the wounded knight. + +But when she saw him lying there so sick and pale, and with a death-like +hue upon his face, she stood gazing upon him with dilated eyes and +whitening face, and then suddenly fell to the floor in a deep swoon. + +"I pray you, Lavaine, take her up and bring her to me," said Lancelot. + +When she was brought near him he kissed her pale face, and at the touch +of his lips her cheeks flamed out with red, and life came back to her. + +"Fair maiden," said Lancelot, "it pains me to see you so deeply +afflicted. Comfort yourself, I pray you. If you come here to my aid you +are truly welcome; but let not this little hurt trouble you; I shall +soon be well of it." + +Then they fell into discourse, and Elaine told Lancelot how Gawaine had +seen and known his shield. This gave him no small trouble, for he knew +well that the story of the red scarf would get to Queen Guenever's ears, +and he feared its effect on her hasty and jealous temper. But Elaine +never left Lancelot, but watched him day and night, nursing him back to +health. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW ELAINE DIED FOR LOVE. + + +When Sir Bors learned that his unlucky blow had brought Lancelot nearly +to death's door, he became sore indeed at heart, and hastened to Camelot +in search of his noble kinsman. Here he met Lavaine, who knew him and +conducted him to the bedside of the wounded knight. + +When he saw the pale and haggard countenance of Lancelot, he fell into a +passion of tears, and accused himself bitterly. But Lancelot consoled +him as well as he could, declaring that the fault was his own, and that +he would bear the blame. Then Bors told him of the anger of the queen, +and of his earnest but vain endeavor to overcome it. + +"I deserve it not," said Lancelot. "I wore the sleeve only by way of +disguise. As for Gawaine, he would have shown more wisdom and friendship +had he been less free of speech." + +"I told her all this," said Bors, "but she was past listening to reason. +Is this maiden, who is so busy about you, she whom they call the lily of +Astolat?" + +"She it is," said Lancelot. "I cannot by any means put her from me." + +"Why should you?" asked Bors. "She is a beautiful and tender-hearted +damsel. Would to God, fair cousin, you could love her, for I see well, +by her gentle and close care of you, that she loves you devoutedly." + +"That I am sorry for," said Lancelot. + +"She will not be the first that has loved you in vain," said Bors; "the +more the pity." + +Many other things they talked of, and Lancelot found such comfort in the +presence of Sir Bors that in a few days he showed great signs of +improvement. Then Bors told him of another tournament that King Arthur +had ordered, to be held at Camelot on All-hallowmas day, between his +party and that of the king of North Wales. + +This filled Lancelot with an earnest desire to grow strong, and during +the following month, under the kind care of his cousin, and the gentle +ministrations of Elaine, he improved greatly in health. For Elaine +waited upon him with loving diligence night and day, and never was child +or wife more gentle and heedful to father or husband than this fair maid +of Astolat to the wounded knight. + +At length came a day when Lancelot felt so much stronger, through the +healing influence of a bath of herbs which the hermit had gathered in +the woods, that he determined to try if he could wear his armor and sit +in his saddle. He thereupon armed and had his horse brought out. +Mounting the mettled charger, in the high spirit of new health he +spurred it to full speed. + +But the courser's long rest in the stable had made it fresh and fierce, +and on feeling the spurs it leaped forward so violently that Lancelot's +wound burst open in the strain, and the blood gushed out again. + +"Bors! Lavaine! help!" he feebly cried. "I am come to my end." + +As he spoke he fell from his horse to the earth, and lay there like a +corpse. + +The two knights hurried up, full of fearful concern, and when Elaine, +who had heard the pitiful call, came flying to the spot, she threw +herself on the prostrate form, weeping like one beside herself with +grief, and kissing the insensible knight as if she hoped thus to recall +him to life. + +"Traitors you are!" she cried wildly to her brother and Sir Bors. "Why +did you let him leave his bed? I hold you guilty of his death." + +At this moment the hermit Baldwin appeared. When he saw Lancelot in that +plight he grew angry at heart, though he checked the reproachful words +that rose to his lips. + +"Let us have him in," he said, briefly. + +Lancelot was thereupon carried to the hermitage, his armor removed, and +the bleeding stanched, but it was long before he could be brought out of +his death-like swoon. + +"Why did you put your life thus in jeopardy?" asked the hermit, +reproachfully, when the knight was again in his senses. + +"I was too eager to attend the tournament, now near at hand," he said. + +"Ah, Sir Lancelot, you have more courage than wisdom, I fear. As for the +tournament, let Sir Bors attend it and do what he may. By the time it is +over and he returned, I hope that you may be well once more, if you will +but be governed by my advice." + +This advice was taken and Bors went to the tournament, where he bore +himself so valorously that the prize was divided between him and +Gawaine. Gareth and Palamides also did noble deeds, but they departed +suddenly before the prize was declared, as if called away by some +adventure. + +All this Lancelot heard with great pleasure from Bors on his return, his +only regret being that he had not been able to take part in that +knightly sport. But the remedies of the hermit and the care of Elaine +had meanwhile done him wonderful service, and he was soon able again to +mount his horse and wear his armor in safety. + +A day, therefore, quickly came when the knight felt himself in condition +for a journey, and when he and his companions took the road to Astolat, +escorting the fair Elaine back to her father's home. Here they were +gladly received by the old baron Bernard, and his son Tirre, who had now +recovered. + +But when the time approached which Lancelot had set for his departure, +Elaine grew pale and drooping. At length, with the boldness of speech of +that period, she came to him and said,-- + +"My lord Sir Lancelot, clear and courteous sir, will you then depart, +and leave me alone with my love and sorrow? Have mercy on me, I pray +you, and suffer me not to die of grief." + +"What would you have me do?" asked Lancelot. + +"I brought you back to life; give me your love in return; make me your +wedded wife, and I will love you as never woman loved." + +"That can I never do," said Lancelot, gravely. "I shall never wed." + +"Then shall I die for your love." + +"Think not of death, Elaine. If I could marry woman it would be you, +for I could love you dearly were my heart free. For your gentleness and +kindness thus only can I repay you. If you can set your heart upon some +worthy knight who is free to wed you, I shall give to you and your heirs +a thousand pounds yearly, as some small payment of the debt I owe you." + +"You speak idly and coldly, Sir Lancelot. Your money I will have none +of; and as for wedding, I have but the choice to wed you or wed my +death." + +"You rend my heart, fair Elaine. Would that it could be as you wish. +Alas! that can never be." + +At this, with a cry of heart-pain, the distressed maiden fell swooning +at his feet. Thence she was borne by women to her chamber, where she +lay, lamenting like one whose heart is broken. + +Sir Bernard now came to Lancelot, who was preparing to depart, and +said,-- + +"Dear sir, it grieves me to find my daughter Elaine in such a +distressful state. I fear she may die for your sake." + +"It grieves me as deeply," said Lancelot. "But what can I do? That she +loves me so deeply I am sorry to learn, for I have done nothing to +encourage it, as your son can testify. I know that she is a true and +noble maiden, and will do all that I can for her as an honest knight; +but love her as she loves me I cannot, and to wed I am forbidden. Yet +her distress wounds me sorely." + +"Father," said Lavaine, "I dare avow that she is as pure and good as my +lord Sir Lancelot has said. In loving him she does but what I do, for +since I first saw him I could never depart from him; nor shall I leave +him so long as he will bear my company." + +Then Lancelot took his leave, and he and Lavaine rode together to +Camelot, where Arthur and the whole court received the errant knight +with the utmost joy and warmest welcome. Queen Guenever alone failed to +greet him kindly, her jealous anger continuing so bitter that she would +not give him a word or a look, seek as he would. + +But the joy and brightness at Camelot were replaced by darkness at +Astolat, for the fair Elaine was in such sorrow day and night that she +neither ate, drank, nor slept; and ever she sadly moaned and bewailed +the cruelty of Sir Lancelot. + +Ten days of this brought her so near her end, that her old father, with +sad heart, sent for the priest to give her the last sacraments. But even +then she made her plaints of Lancelot's coldness so mournfully, that the +ghostly father bade her cease such thoughts. + +"Why should I?" she cried. "Am I not a woman, with a woman's heart and +feelings? While the breath is in my body I must lament my fate; for I +hold it no offence to love, and take God to witness that I never have +and never can love other than Lancelot du Lake. Since it is God's will +that I must die from unrequited love of so noble a knight, I pray for +his mercy and forgiveness of all my sins. Never did I offend deeply +against God's laws; but it was not in my nature to withstand the fervent +love that is bringing me to my death." + +Then she sent for her father and brother, and prayed them to write a +letter as she might dictate. This they did, writing down the mournful +words which she spoke. + +"Now," she said, "this more I command you to do. When I am dead, put +this letter in my right hand before my body grows cold. Then see that I +be richly dressed and laid in a fair bed, and take me in a chariot to +the river Thames. There lay my body in a barge, covered with black +samite, and with but one man to steer the barge down the river to +Camelot." + +All this they, weeping sadly, agreed to do, and soon afterwards the +maiden died, slain by her love. Her sad old father then had all done as +she had requested. + +Meanwhile, in Camelot the world moved merrily. But one morning, by +fortune, as King Arthur and Queen Guenever stood talking at a window, +they espied a black barge drifting slowly down the river. Wondering much +what it meant, the king called Sir Kay and two other knights, and sent +them to the river, bidding them to bring him speedy word of what the +barge contained. + +This they did. On reaching the river-side they found that the barge had +been turned inward, and lay beside the bank, and to their surprise they +saw in it a rich bed, on which lay the corpse of as fair a woman as they +had ever beheld. In the stern of the barge sat, with oar in hand, a poor +man who seemed dumb, for no word would he speak. + +"That corpse must I see," said the king, when word of this event was +brought him. "Surely this betokens something strange." + +He took the queen by the hand and went to the river-side with her. Here +the barge had been made fast, and they stepped from the shore to its +deck. There they saw the corpse of a beautiful maiden, dressed in costly +attire, and lying in a bed which was richly covered with cloth of gold. +And as she lay she seemed to smile. + +The queen now espied a letter clasped closely in her right hand, and +showed it to the king. + +"That will surely tell us who she is, and why she has come hither," he +said. + +He thereupon took the letter and returned with the queen to the palace. +Here, surrounded by many knights, he broke the seal, and gave the +epistle to a clerk to read. This was its purport,-- + +"Most noble knight, Sir Lancelot, now hath death made us two at debate +for your love. I was your lover, she whom men called the Fair Maid of +Astolat; therefore unto all ladies I make my moan, and I beg you to pray +for my soul, and at the least to bury me, and offer my mass-penny. This +is my last request. God is my witness that I die a pure maiden. Pray for +my soul, Sir Lancelot, as thou art peerless." + +When this pitiful letter had been read, all who heard it shed tears, for +never had they heard aught so moving. Then Lancelot was sent for and the +letter read to him. + +"A sorrowful thing is this," he said, in grievous tones. "Then she is +dead, the fair Elaine, and thus, with silent lips, makes her last +prayer. Truly it wounds me to the heart. Yet, my lord Arthur, God knows +I had no just share in the death of this maiden, as her brother here, +Sir Lavaine, can testify. She was fair and good, and I owed her much, +but she loved me beyond measure, and her love I could not return." + +"You might have shown her," said the queen, reprovingly, "some bounty +and gentleness, and thus have preserved her life." + +"Madam," said Lancelot, "naught would she have but my love, and my hand +in marriage. I offered to endow her with a thousand pounds yearly, if +she should love and wed any other, but to this she would not listen. As +for me, I had no other comfort to give her, for love cannot be +constrained, but must rise of itself from the heart." + +"Truly must it," said the king. "Love is free in itself, and will not be +bound, for if bonds be placed upon it, it looseth itself perforce. As +for this unhappy maiden, nothing is left for you but to obey her last +pitiful request." + +"That shall I to the utmost of my power," said Lancelot. + +Then many knights and ladies went to behold the fair maiden, who had +come thither in such moving wise. And in the morning she was richly +interred, and with all due honor, at Lancelot's command; and he offered +her mass-penny, as did all the knights who were there present. + +Then the poor dumb servitor returned again with the barge, rowing it +slowly and sadly back to Astolat. + +Afterwards the queen sent for Lancelot, and begged his pardon humbly for +her causeless anger. + +[Illustration: ELAINE.] + +"This is not the first time," said Lancelot, "that you have been +displeased with me without cause. What you will, I must bear, and keep +my sorrow within my heart; yet I would that your love were less tainted +by hasty jealousy. As for forgiving you, what else can I do, my queen? +Love cannot live without forgiveness." + +After these events the winter and spring passed on, with hunting and +hawking, and jousts and tournaments, and the fate of the fair Elaine was +wellnigh forgotten in the joy of the court. But her brother Lavaine +gained great honor, and at a tournament that was given on Candlemas day +did so nobly that the king promised he should be made a Knight of the +Round Table at the next feast of Pentecost. + +And at this tournament Lancelot again fought in disguise, wearing a +sleeve of gold of the queen's, and did such deeds that the prize was +adjudged to him. Thus a second time did he wear a woman's token in the +lists. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CHEVALIER OF THE CART. + + +The year passed on from Candlemas till after Easter, and then came the +month of May, when every lusty heart begins to blossom and to bear +fruit; for as herbs and trees flourish in May, so does the heart of a +lover, since in this lusty month all lovers gain courage, calling to +their minds old vows and deeds of gentleness, and much that was +forgotten in the winter's chill. + +As winter always defaces and erases green summer, so fares it with +unstable love in man and woman. But as May flowers and flourishes in +many gardens, so flowers the lover's heart in the joy of her to whom he +has promised his faith. Yet nowadays men cannot love seven days without +their love cooling; for where love warms in haste it cools as hastily; +thus fareth it in our days,--soon hot, soon cold. The old love was not +so. Men and women could love together seven years in truth and +faithfulness. Such was the way of love in King Arthur's days; but love +nowadays I liken unto summer and winter; now hot, now cold, like the +changing seasons. Therefore all ye who are lovers call to your +remembrance the month of May, like as did Queen Guenever, who while she +lived was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end. + +So it befell in the month of May that Queen Guenever called unto her +certain knights of the Round Table, inviting them to ride with her in +the early morn a-maying in the woods and fields beside Camelot. + +"And see that you all be well horsed," she said, "and clad in green, +either in silk or cloth. I shall bring with me ten ladies, and every +knight shall have a lady behind him, and bring with him a squire and two +yeomen." + +And so, when morning came, the ten knights invited put on their gayest +robes of green, and rode with the queen and her ladies, a-maying in the +woods and fields, to their great joy and delight. + +Yet this pleasure party led to sad results, as we have now to tell. For +there was a knight named Meliagrance, son of King Bagdemagus, who had a +castle, the gift of King Arthur, within seven miles of Camelot. This +knight loved the queen, and had done so for many years, and it had long +been in his heart to steal her away; but he had never been able to find +her without many knights about her, and, chief of all, Sir Lancelot. + +When he heard of this Maying party, and that the queen would be attended +by only ten knights, and these in green robes, he resolved to carry out +his base design, and therefore placed in ambush twenty men-at-arms and a +hundred archers. + +So it happened that while the queen and her knights were merrily +arraying one another in flowers and mosses, and with wreaths made of +sprays of fresh green, this false knight rode suddenly from a wood near +by, followed by a throng of armed men, and bade them stand, and yield up +the queen on peril of their lives. + +"Traitor knight," cried Guenever, "what seek you to do? Wouldst thou, a +king's son, and a knight of the Round Table, seek to dishonor the noble +king who made you what you are? You shame yourself and all knighthood; +but me you shall never shame, for I had rather cut my throat than be +dishonored by you." + +"Madam, this language will avail you nothing," said Meliagrance. "I have +loved you many a year, and now that I have you at advantage will take +you as I find you." + +"You must kill us first, unarmed as we are," cried the queen's knights. +"You have taken us at a foul disadvantage; but you shall not have the +queen so lightly as you deem." + +"Fight, will you? Then fight it, if you will have it so," said +Meliagrance. + +Then the ten knights drew their swords, and the others spurred upon them +with couched spears. But so skilfully did the queen's defenders use +their blades that the spears did them no harm. + +The battle then went on with swords, and the ten knights did noble +deeds, slaying many of their assailants; yet they were so overmatched +that they soon were all stretched upon the earth with bleeding wounds. + +"Sir Meliagrance," cried the queen, in deep distress, "kill not my noble +knights, I pray you. If you do them no more harm I will go with you, if +you will take them with me. Otherwise I will slay myself before you +shall take me." + +"Madam, since you wish it, they shall be taken to my castle, whither you +must come with me." + +Then at the queen's command the battle ceased, and the knights had their +wounds dressed. But Meliagrance watched keenly that none of the company +should escape, for greatly he feared that news of this outrage might be +borne to Lancelot du Lake. + +But there was with the queen a little page who rode a swift horse, and +to him she privily spoke. + +"Slip away, when you see the chance," she said, "and bear this ring to +Lancelot du Lake. Tell him what has happened, and pray him as he loves +me to come in haste to my rescue. Spare not your horse, and stay not for +land or water." + +The page took the ring, and rode carelessly to the edge of the circle. +Then, seeing his opportunity, he put spurs to his horse and rode away at +full speed. When Meliagrance saw this he ordered instant pursuit, and +the boy was hotly chased and fired at with arrows and javelins; yet the +speed of his horse soon carried him beyond danger. + +"Madam," cried Meliagrance, fiercely, to the queen, "you are plotting to +betray me. But if you have sent for Lancelot du Lake, he shall find the +road to you a perilous one, I warrant him." + +And as they rode to the castle he placed an ambush of thirty archers by +the road-side, charging them if they saw a knight come that way on a +white horse to slay the horse. But he warned them not to assail him in +person, as they would find him hard to overcome. + +This done, the party proceeded to the castle; but here the queen would +not let her ladies and knights out of her presence, and Meliagrance +stood in such dread of Lancelot that he dared not use force. + +In the mean time the page found Lancelot, and gave him the queen's ring +and message, telling him the whole story of the treacherous assault. + +"I would give all France to have been there well armed," cried Lancelot. +"The queen shall be saved, or I will die in the effort. Haste you to Sir +Lavaine and tell him where I have gone, and bid him follow me to +Meliagrance's castle. Tell him to come quickly, if he wishes to have a +hand in the rescue of the queen and her knights." + +Lancelot was hastily arming as he spoke, and mounting, he rode with all +speed, forcing his horse to swim the Thames in his haste. In no great +time he reached the spot where the fight had taken place, and where he +found the garlands the knights had worn, rent with sword-strokes and +reddened with their blood. Then he followed the tracks of the party till +he entered a narrow passage, bordered by a wood. Here were the archers +stationed, and when Lancelot came by they bade him return, for that way +was closed. + +"Why should I turn?" he demanded. "Whence get you the right to close the +way?" + +"If you go forward it will be on foot, for we shall kill your horse." + +"Go forward I shall, if there were five hundred more of you," said +Lancelot. + +Then a cloud of arrows whistled through the air, and the noble horse, +struck by a dozen shafts, fell to the earth. Lancelot leaped lightly +from the falling animal, and rushed in a rage into the wood; but there +were so many hedges and ditches that he found it impossible to reach his +light-armed assailants. + +"Shame on this Meliagrance for a dastard!" he cried in anger. "It is a +true old saw that a good man is never in danger but from a coward." + +The angry knight, finding that his assailants were beyond his reach, set +out on foot for Meliagrance's castle, but found himself so encumbered +with his armor, shield, and spear, that his progress was but slow. Yet +he dared not leave any of his arms, for fear of giving his foe an +advantage. + +At length, by good fortune, there appeared on the road a cart, that was +used for hauling wood. + +"Tell me, friend carter," said Lancelot, when the vehicle came near, +"what shall I give you for a ride in your cart to a castle that lies a +few miles away?" + +"You can give me nothing," said the carter. "I am sent to bring wood for +my lord, Sir Meliagrance, and it is not my fashion to work for two at +once." + +"It is Sir Meliagrance I seek." + +"Then go on foot," said the carter, surlily. "My cart is for other +work." + +Incensed at this, Lancelot dealt the fellow a blow with his mailed fist +that stretched him senseless on the ground. Then he turned to the +carter's comrade. + +"Strike me not, fair sir," pleaded this fellow. "I will bring you where +you wish." + +"Then drive me and this cart to the gate of Meliagrance's castle." + +"Leap into the cart, and you shall be there before the day grows old." + +This Lancelot did, and the carter lashed his horse forward with all +speed, for he was in mortal fear of the knight's hard fist. + +An hour and a half afterwards, as Guenever and her ladies stood in a +window of the castle, they saw a cart approaching, in which stood +upright an armed knight, resting on his spear. Even at that distance +they knew him by his shield to be Lancelot du Lake. + +"A noble and trusty friend he is, indeed, to come in such a fashion," +said the queen. "Hard bested he must have been, to be forced to ride +hither in a woodman's cart." + +As they looked, the cart came to the castle gates, and Lancelot sprang +from it to the ground, his heart full of rage and passion. + +"Where art thou, traitor?" he cried, in a voice that rang throughout the +castle. "Come forth, thou disgrace to the Round Table fellowship! Come, +with all your men; for here am I, Lancelot du Lake, who will fight you +all single-handed on this question." + +As he spoke he thrust the gates open with such force that the porter, +who sought to hold them shut, was hurled like a dead man to the earth. + +When Meliagrance in the castle heard this loud defiance his cowardly +soul sank within him, for well he knew from whom it came, and he ran in +haste to the queen and fell on his knees before her, begging her to +forgive him and to cool the wrath of Lancelot. So pitifully did he +implore, that in the end Guenever was moved to compassion, and went with +her ladies to the castle court, where Lancelot stood furiously bidding +the traitor knight to come down and do battle. + +"Why are you so moved, Lancelot?" asked the queen. + +"Why should I not be?" he cried, in a rage. "The hound has killed my +horse and stolen my queen. Is this the thing to bear like a lamb?" + +"He sorely repents his fault, and has moved me to forgive him," said the +queen. "Come in, then, peaceably, I beg you, for I have passed my word." + +"You accord easily with this dog of a kidnapper," said Lancelot, +sourly. "Had I looked for this I might have spared my haste and saved my +horse." + +"It is not through love or favor I have forgiven him," said the queen, +"but to check the voice of scandal." + +"I am no fonder of scandal than yourself," said Lancelot. "Yet if I had +my will I would make this fellow's heart full cold before I left this +castle." + +"I know that well, but beg that you will be ruled by me in this affair." + +"Let it be so, if you have passed your word. But you are too soft of +heart Queen Guenever." + +Then she took his hand, for he had taken off his gauntlet, and led him +into the castle, and to the chamber in which lay the ten wounded +knights, whose hearts warmed at his coming. From them he learned in full +what had occurred, a story which stirred his blood again into such a +flame, that only the soft hand of the queen hindered him from seeking +Meliagrance through the castle to slay him. + +As they stood talking, Sir Lavaine rode furiously in at the gate, +crying,-- + +"Where is my lord, Sir Lancelot du Lake?" + +"Here I am," cried Lancelot from a window. "All is well, Lavaine." + +"I found your horse slain with arrows, and judged you were hard pushed." + +"As for that, Lavaine, soft words have turned hard blows. Come in. We +shall right this matter at another time, when we best may." + +For many a day thereafter, as the French book says, Lancelot was called +the Chevalier of the Cart, and many an adventure he had under that +homely name. + +All went peacefully that night at the castle, but the next morning there +was new trouble. For one of the castle maidens brought word to +Meliagrance that she had found what seemed to be the print of a bloody +hand on the coverings of the queen's bed. Thither he hurried, full of +jealous anger, and found what appeared, indeed, to be the crimson print +of a man's hand. On seeing this he made a loud outcry, declaring that it +was the blood of one of the wounded knights, and fiercely accused +Guenever of having been false to her lord King Arthur. + +When word of this accusation came to the wounded knights they were +filled with indignation, and cried that they would meet Meliagrance or +any man in the lists in defence of the queen's honor. + +"Ye speak proudly," said Meliagrance. "Yet look here, and see if I have +not warrant for what I say." + +When he showed them the red witness of his words they were abashed, and +knew not what to answer. + +All this was told to Lancelot, and he came in haste and anger to the +queen's chamber. + +"What is this?" he demanded. + +"It is that the queen has proved false to her lord and husband, and this +I stand ready to prove with my body," said Meliagrance. + +"Beware what you say, sir knight," cried Lancelot, "or you will find +your challenge taken." + +"My lord Lancelot," answered Meliagrance, "good knight as you are, take +heed how you do battle in a wrong quarrel, for God will have a hand in +such a cause." + +"This I say," answered Lancelot, hotly, "that you accuse the queen +wrongly, and these noble knights as falsely. This is the work of treason +or magic." + +"Hold," said Meliagrance; "here is my glove, in proof that she is +traitress to the king, and that one of these wounded knights is her +leman." + +"I accept your challenge," said Lancelot, "and will fight you to the +death in this cause. When shall we do battle?" + +"Let it be in eight days from this," said Meliagrance, "in the field +beside Camelot." + +"I am agreed," said Lancelot. + +"Then let us go to dinner," said Meliagrance, "and afterwards you and +the queen and her knights may ride to Camelot." + +Yet fairly as he spoke his heart was full of treachery, and before going +to the table he asked Lancelot if he would care to see the rooms and +passages of the castle. + +"If you wish to show them," said Lancelot. + +Then they went from chamber to chamber, Lancelot having no fear of peril +or thought of treason. But as they traversed a long and dark passage the +false-hearted host trod on a spring, and down fell a trap-door, giving +Lancelot a fall of more than ten fathoms into a dark cell, whose floor +was covered deeply with straw. This done, Meliagrance hastened away, +after replacing the trap, and ordered one of his men to remove Lavaine's +horse from the stable. + +When the knights came to dinner all were surprised that Lancelot was not +present. + +"Is this one of his old tricks?" asked the queen. "He has a fashion of +thus departing suddenly, without warning." + +"But not on foot," said Lavaine, and left the room. + +When he returned, it was to say that his horse had vanished from the +stable, and that doubtless Lancelot had taken it and ridden off. So they +sat quietly at dinner, and afterwards set out for the court, the wounded +knights being carried under care of Lavaine, in easily litters. + +When the court was reached, and Arthur was told of what had occurred, he +was full of wrath. + +"So this traitor Meliagrance chooses first to kidnap my queen, and then +to accuse her of treason?" he cried. "By my crown, I would deal with him +in another fashion only that Lancelot has taken the challenge. I fancy +the fellow will have his hands full, without my care. But where is +Lancelot?" + +"That we know not," said the knights. "It is like him to go off in this +hasty way. He took Sir Lavaine's horse, and left us without a word of +parting." + +"Let him he," said the king. "He will come in good time,--unless he be +trapped by some treachery." + +Little dreamed they of Lancelot's true situation at that moment. He had +been sorely bruised by his fall, and lay in great pain in the cave, +visited only by a lady, who came to him daily with food. Yet it +happened, as had occurred so often to Lancelot, that the lady fell in +love with his handsome face. Meliagrance had made a foolish choice in +sending a woman with a soft heart to his prisoner, and was likely to pay +dearly for his folly. Yet days passed on, and Lancelot continued deaf to +her sighs and blind to her languishing looks. + +"Sir Lancelot," she at length said, "do you not know that your lady, +Queen Guenever, will be burnt at the stake unless you be there at the +day of battle?" + +"God forbid that such a disaster should come to pass!" cried Lancelot. +"Yet if I should not be there, all men of worship will know that I am +dead, sick, or in prison, for men know me well enough to know that +nothing less would keep me away. Therefore, some knight of my blood or +of my fellowship will take up this battle, and fight bravely in the +queen's cause." + +"I shall set you free, Sir Lancelot, to fight your own battle, if you +will but give me your love; for truly I love you with my whole heart." + +"I am sorry that I cannot return it," said Lancelot. "But I cannot lie +to you in such a cause, even for life or honor." + +"Take heed what you say, Sir Lancelot. Shame will be your lot if any but +you fight this battle." + +"As for the world's shame, may Christ defend me. As for my distress of +heart, it is welcome, if God sends it." + +The lady went away full of sorrowful thoughts. But on the morning of the +day fixed for the battle she came to him again, and said, gently,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, I deem you hard-hearted and cruel; yet I love you too +truly to see you disgraced. If you will solace my heart-pain with but +one kiss, I will set you free, and deliver to you your armor, and the +best horse in the castle stables." + +"Surely there is no dishonor in a kiss; and well will you earn it by +such service," said Lancelot. "You offer me new life, fair lady." + +Then he kissed her; and with a face half glad, half gloomy, she led him +from the prison by a secret passage to the chamber where his armor had +been left. And when he was armed she conducted him privily to a stable +where stood twelve good horses, and bade him make his choice. + +Lancelot chose a white courser, whose size and spirit pleased him most, +and this he deftly saddled and bridled. Then, with spear in hand and +sword by side, he commended the lady to God, saying,-- + +"Lady, for this good deed I shall do you ample service if ever it be in +my power. If not, may God reward you." + +This said, he rode with proud mien from the castle, and galloped at +headlong speed away, while she, with sad eyes and sighing lips, stood +looking with loving regard on his departing form. + +Sadly was his coming needed, for imminent was the peril of the queen. At +the place fixed for the combat knights and lords had early gathered, and +Meliagrance, feeling sure that Lancelot could not appear to do battle, +put on a haughty mien, and loudly demanded justice, or the combat. Yet +the hour appointed came and passed, and the queen's champion had not +appeared; while the king and all the court grew full of pain and dread +as the fatal moments went by. The laws were strict, and could not be set +aside for queen or commoner. Guenever must perish at the stake, or be +saved by a champion's sword and spear. Therefore, as the minutes slowly +grew into hours, and nothing of Lancelot was seen, while Meliagrance +more loudly demanded justice or a champion, all hearts sank deep in +despair. + +"My lord the king," cried Lavaine, at length, "some sad misfortune has +happened to Sir Lancelot. Never did he fail to appear to do battle +unless he were sick or in prison. I beseech you, therefore, give me +leave this day to do battle for him, and to strike a knightly blow for +my lady the queen." + +"Thanks, gentle knight," said the king. "I dare avow that the charge +which Meliagrance lays upon the queen is a false one, for of these ten +wounded knights who were present, there is not one but would gladly do +battle to prove its falsity were he able to wear armor." + +"That shall I do in the service of my lord Lancelot," said Lavaine, "if +you will give me leave." + +"Full leave you have," answered the king. "I pray you do your best; for +it seems sure that some treachery has been done to the noble Lancelot." + +Lavaine now armed in all haste, and, mounting his war-courser, rode into +the lists, where he faced Meliagrance, challenging him to do battle to +the death. + +"Lesses les aller!" cried the heralds. + +The two champions couched their spears, clutched their bridles, and were +about to plunge the spurs into their horses' flanks, when the sound of +hoofs was heard without, and an armed knight came galloping at furious +speed into the lists. + +"Ho! and abide!" cried King Arthur. + +"Raise your spears, sir knights, this quarrel is mine," said the +new-comer. "You have my thanks, Lavaine, but only I must fight in this +cause." + +Then he rode to the king, lifted his visor, and showed the noble face of +Lancelot, now hot with indignation. + +"I am here to fight this villain and traitor," he called, loudly. "My +lord the king, I have lain these eight days in a prison cell, into which +the base hound entrapped me. By fortune I escaped, and here I am, ready +to pay him in fitting coin for his foul treachery." + +"The dog! has he done this thing?" cried the king, in anger. "Then, by +my crown, whether he win or not Guenever shall not suffer from the +charge which he has dared bring. But God's justice will not let him +win." + +That Meliagrance quaked at heart on seeing this seeming apparition from +the grave need not be said. But he had dared the hazard of the die, and +sat his horse in grim silence while his foul treachery was thus made +known to the court. Lancelot now rode to his place in the lists, and +faced his adversary. + +"Lesses les aller!" cried the heralds again. + +Then, spear in rest, the warriors spurred their horses, and met with a +shock like thunder in the centre of the field. Lancelot kept his saddle, +but Meliagrance was hurled over his horse's croup. Seeing this, Lancelot +lightly sprang from his saddle, drew his sword, and advanced upon his +foe, who was on his feet ready to meet him. + +Hot and fierce was the combat that succeeded, many great strokes being +given and returned; but at length Lancelot struck so fierce a blow that +Meliagrance was felled to the ground. Then the dastard cried aloud in an +agony of fear,-- + +"Noble knight, noble Sir Lancelot, spare my life, I humbly pray you! I +yield me as overcome and recreant and beseech you, as a Knight and +Fellow of the Round Table, not to slay me helpless. Alive or dead, I put +myself in your hands and the king's." + +Lancelot stood looking grimly down upon him, at a loss what to do. To +slay him was the wish of his heart; yet it looked like murder to kill a +praying wretch. In his doubt he turned towards the queen, and she nodded +her head as if to bid him kill the villain. + +"Rise, sir hound," cried Lancelot. "You shall fight this battle to the +utterance." + +"I will never rise," said Meliagrance, "till you grant me mercy as a +yielding and recreant knight." + +"Coward!" cried Lancelot. "If you fear to fight me as I am, I will give +you odds in the combat. I will take off my armor from my head and the +left side of my body, and let them bind my left hand behind me, and +fight you with my right hand alone." + +At this perilous offer Meliagrance started hastily to his feet, and +loudly cried,-- + +"My lord Arthur, you have heard this offer! I accept it. Let him be +disarmed and bound as he says." + +"You do not mean to keep this foolish promise, Lancelot?" demanded the +king. + +"That do I," said Lancelot. "I shall not go back on my word, be it wise +or foolish." + +"Then so let it be; but you invite death by such a reckless compact." + +The attendant knights thereupon removed Lancelot's helmet, and took from +him his shield and the armor from his left side. They then bound his +left arm behind him, and thus arrayed he was placed before his +antagonist, whose heart burned with hope and with murderous designs. + +All those who looked on were full of fear for Lancelot, deeming it the +height of folly that he should take such a frightful risk, while many +ladies closed their eyes, in dread to see him slain. + +With the inspiration of hope, Meliagrance came up, bearing his sword +uplifted, while Lancelot stood with his head and side fully open to his +stroke. Down came the blade with a deadly sweep that caused many men to +close their eyes, sure that the knights head would be cleft in twain. + +But Lancelot had no such thought. With a light swing to the right he +avoided the stroke, which cut idly through the air; then, stepping +forward to give effect to the blow, he swung his own blade upward with +giant strength, and brought it down on Meliagrance's helmet with such +mighty force that the hard steel and the head it covered were shorn in +twain, and the traitor knight fell dead upon the field. + +Wild were the shouts of joy and triumph at this unlooked-for end to the +combat. The king sprang from his seat and rushed into the lists, where +he warmly clasped Lancelot in his arms; while Guenever, in joy at her +deliverance, kissed him on both cheeks; and all the knights crowded +around them with glad cries and warm congratulations. + +As for Meliagrance, he was given the burial of a recreant and traitor, +the cause of his death being inscribed on his tomb, that all might read +his dishonor. + +But for Sir Lancelot, the king and queen made more of him, and felt more +love for him in their hearts, than ever before. + +After this time many events of interest took place of which we have +little space to speak. Among them, Lancelot healed the wounds of a +knight of Hungary, named Sir Urre, who had been held in pain, through +sorcery, for seven years, till his wounds should be touched by the best +knight in the world. This knight had a lovely sister, named Felelolie, +whom Lavaine married, whereupon King Arthur made him a Knight of the +Round Table, and gave him a barony of land. + +As for Lancelot, he gained great fame as the Chevalier of the Cart. For +as many lords and ladies made sport of him as the knight who had ridden +in a cart, like one sentenced to the gallows, for a whole twelvemonth he +never mounted horse, but rode only in a cart, during which time he had +many adventures and fought forty battles, in all of which he came off +victor. + +And so the days grew into years, and all went happily at Arthur's court, +though each passing day brought the coming time of woe and disaster +nearer to hand. + + + + + BOOK XI. + + THE HAND OF DESTINY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TRAPPING OF THE LION. + + +In May, when every lusty heart flourisheth and bourgeoneth,--for as +winter, with its rough winds and blasts, causes man and woman to cover +and sit fast by the fire, this fresh and joyous season brings them forth +to gladden in the coming of the flowery summer,--in this rare month of +May, when only merry thoughts and gentle deeds should be known, there +began a great and unhappy season of wrath, which ended not till the +flower of chivalry of all the world was destroyed. And this all came +about through the hate and jealousy of two unhappy knights, Sir +Agravaine and Sir Mordred, brothers unto Sir Gawaine. + +For much in their secret souls they hated the queen and Lancelot, and +they fell to watching this good knight daily and nightly, with the hope +of bringing him in some way to shame. + +Failing in this base endeavor, they no longer concealed their enmity, +but began to talk openly of the love of Lancelot for the queen, and to +hint that shameful relations existed between them. The report of this +slanderous talk coming to Gawaine's ears, he reproved them sharply for +indulging in such base and unworthy scandal, in which he was joined by +his brothers Gareth and Gaheris. + +"You forget what Lancelot has done for you," said Gawaine. "Who but he +rescued you both when held in prison by Sir Turquine? And many other +things he has done in your favor. Methinks such kind deeds merit better +return than this." + +"Think as you will," said Agravaine, "I have my opinions and shall hide +them no longer." + +As they thus debated King Arthur approached. + +"Now, brothers, stint your noise," said Gawaine. + +"That will we not," they replied. + +"Then the devil speed the pair of you, if you are bent on mischief! I +will listen to no more of your slanderous talk." + +"Nor will we," said Gareth and Gaheris. "We owe too much to Lancelot to +listen to the false tales of evil tongues." + +With this they turned and walked away in anger and grief, as Arthur came +up. + +"What is this?" asked the king. "Is there bad blood between you +brethren?" + +"They do not care to hear the truth," said Agravaine, "but to my fancy +it has been kept too long from your knowledge. We are your sister's +sons, King Arthur, and it is our duty to be honest and open with you." + +"What would you say?" asked the king. + +"Simply what we and all your court know well, that there are such doings +between Lancelot and your queen as are a disgrace to this realm of +England. He is a traitor to your person and your honor, and this we +stand ready to prove." + +"This is a perilous charge you make," said Arthur, deeply moved. "Nor am +I ready to believe such a tale on your mere word. You have gone far, +gentlemen; too far, I deem, without abundant proof." + +"My lord," said Mordred, "we speak not without due warrant, and proof +you shall have. What we advise is, that you ride out to the hunt +to-morrow. Lancelot, you will find, will have some excuse to hold back. +Then, when night draws near, send word to the queen that you will lie +out all that night. Let this be done, and we promise you we shall take +him with the queen. If we do it will go hard with Lancelot; for we shall +not lightly see our king brought to shame." + +"Be it so," said the king, after deep thought, for he was little +inclined to believe ill of Lancelot. "I will do as you say. Understand, +sir knights, I have heard all this before; yet I believe it not, and I +consent to your scheme only to put an end to the vile voice of scandal." + +On the next morning, as agreed upon, Arthur rode to the hunt; but +Lancelot excused himself, as his enemies had predicted, on the plea that +he was in no mood for the chase. When night came near a messenger from +the king brought word to Guenever that the hunting party had been drawn +far away, and would not return that night. + +Meanwhile Mordred and Agravaine selected twelve knights, all of them +enemies of Lancelot, to whom they told their purpose, and set them on +guard in the castle of Carlisle, where the court then was. Of Lancelot's +friends few were in the court, for nearly all had gone with the king to +the hunt. + +When night came, Lancelot told Bors, who dwelt with him, that he had a +fancy to go and speak with the queen. + +"Do not go to-night, I pray you," said Bors. + +"Why not to-night?" + +"I fear some plot of that rogue, Agravaine, who has it in his heart to +work you ill. I have heard a whisper, and fear that the king's absence +to-night is part of a plot, and that an ambush is laid to do you harm." + +"Have no dread of that," said Lancelot. "I wish only some minutes' +conversation with the queen, and will quickly return again." + +"I should rather you would not go. I am in doubt that some evil may come +of it." + +"Why say you this nephew? Do you deem that I am a coward, or that the +queen is my mistress, as the evil-tongued say? I go because she has sent +for me, desiring to see me. Am I the man to deny her request because +there are foul-mouthed slanderers abroad?" + +"Go, then, since I see you will. God speed you, and send you back safe +and sound." + +Lancelot thereupon wrapped himself in his mantle, and taking his sword +under his arm made his way to the castle, which was some distance from +his residence. Here he sought and entered the queen's chamber, where she +awaited him with her ladies. + +But no sooner had he done so, and scarcely had he spoken a word to his +royal lady, than Mordred, Agravaine, and their followers burst in tumult +from the chamber in which they had been concealed, and loudly +exclaimed,-- + +"Traitor knight! Lancelot du Lake, false and caitiff wretch, now art +thou taken in thy treason!" + +So loud they cried that their voices rang throughout the court, and they +crowded round the door of the queen's chamber, bent on taking Lancelot +unarmed, and slaying him at the feet of Guenever. Fortunately the door +was of solid oak, and a damsel of the queen had hastily shot the bolts. + +"Alas!" cried the queen, "what vile plot is this? Mischief is around us, +Lancelot!" + +"Is there any armor in your chamber?" asked Lancelot. "If so, give it to +me, and I will face this malicious crew." + +"There is none," said the queen. "I see no hope, and fear our love has +come to a fatal end. There seems to be a host of armed knights without. +They will kill you, Lancelot, and death will come to me through their +vile charge of unchastity." + +"Why did I not even wear as much of my armor as I fought Meliagrance +with!" cried Lancelot, in distress. "If I had but listened to Sir Bors! +Never was I caught in such a trap before." + +As they spoke the tumult without increased, and Mordred and Agravaine +cried together,-- + +"Come out, thou traitor knight! Think not to escape, for we have you +like a rat in a trap. Come out and meet your just deserts." + +"Shall I bear this?" cried Lancelot, flaming into anger. "The dogs! a +dozen of them in armor against one man in his mantle! I would rather +meet death at once than stand and hear their reviling tongues." + +Then he took the queen in his arms and kissed her, saying,-- + +"Most noble Christian queen, I beseech you, as you have ever been my +special good lady, and I your poor knight, and as I never failed you in +right or wrong since the day that King Arthur made me knight, that you +will pray for my soul if I be here slain. For you may be sure that Sir +Bors and my other kindred, with Lavaine and others of my friends, will +rescue you from harm, and I beg you to go with them and live like a +queen on my lands." + +"That will I not, Lancelot," said the queen. "If you are slain for me, +then death may come when it will, for I shall not live long to mourn +you." + +"Then, since my last hour seems to have come, and our love and life must +cease together, so let it be; but some of those barking curs shall go +with me to the shades. I am heavier at heart for you than for myself. +Ah, that I had but a knight's armor!" + +"I would that God would be content with my death, and suffer you to +escape," said the queen. + +"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "God defend me from such a shame. +And now may the Lord Jesus be my shield and my armor." + +This said, he wrapped his mantle around his arm, and approached the +door. As he did so the strong oaken portal trembled under their blows, +for they had got a great form out of the hall, and were using it as a +battering-ram. + +"Save your trouble, you crew of mischief," said Lancelot. "Think you +that Lancelot du Lake needs to be come at like a rabbit in its hutch? I +fear you not, and dread not to face an army of such hounds." + +"Come out, then, or let us into that chamber. It avails you nothing to +strive against us all; but we will promise to spare your life till we +have brought you to King Arthur." + +"Will you?" said Lancelot, "or do you think to slay me where I stand? I +trust you not, liars." + +Then he unbarred the door and with his left hand held it open a little, +so that but one man could enter at a time. As he did so, Colgrevance of +Gore, who stood nearest, pressed forcibly through the opening, and +struck a spiteful blow at Lancelot with his sword. This Lancelot +parried, and returned so fierce a stroke with his own good blade, that +he cut through the helmet and skull of the knight, and stretched him +dead upon the floor. + +Then, with all his great strength, he dragged the bleeding corpse within +the chamber, closed the door against the pressure of all who bore upon +it, and replaced the bars. "So much for this daring fool," he cried. +"Thank heaven, I have an armor now! I shall not be quite a sheep at the +shambles." + +As he spoke he was hastily stripping the armor from the body of the dead +knight. This done, he quickly arrayed himself in it, with the aid of the +queen and her ladies. + +Meanwhile the assault on the door continued, and Mordred and Agravaine +kept up their cry,-- + +"Traitor knight! come out of the queen's chamber!" + +"Hold your peace," cried Lancelot. "You shall not prison me here, I +promise you that, and if you take my counsel, you will depart. I am +ready to agree on my knighthood to appear to-morrow before the king, and +answer there that I came not to the queen with any evil purpose; and +this I stand ready to prove by word or deed." + +"Out on you, traitor!" cried Mordred. "Have you, we will, and slay you +if we wish, for the king has given us the choice to save you or slay +you." + +"Is that your last word, sirrahs? Then keep yourselves, for I am not of +the breed that die easily." + +As he spoke, he flung down the bars and threw the door wide open. Then +he strode proudly and mightily among them, sword in hand and clad in +full armor, and at the first blow from his mighty hand stretched +Agravaine dead upon the floor. Like a maddened lion that charges upon a +herd of sheep, he now rushed upon them, striking fiercely to right and +left, and felling men with every blow, till in a little while twelve +more of his assailants lay cold in death, for there was not a man of +them all could stand one blow from his powerful arm. + +Of the whole party only Mordred remained alive, and he fled wounded with +craven haste. Then Lancelot, leaning on his blood-dripping sword, turned +to the queen, who stood looking at his deeds of might, with white lips +and starting eyes. + +[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. + +SIR LANCELOT IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER.] + +"All is at an end now," he said. "Henceforth King Arthur is my foe, and +I am like a wolf at bay. Yet I fear your enemies will work you fatal +harm, and would have you go with me, and let me be your +knight-protector." + +"That I dread to do," said the queen, "for vile slander would follow my +footsteps. I had better face my foes. If they devise to put me to death, +then you may come to my rescue, and no one then can blame me for going +with you." + +"That shall I do," said Lancelot. "And I promise to make such havoc +among all men who mean you harm as I have done among those who lie +here." + +Then he kissed her, and each gave the other a ring; and so he left the +queen and went to his lodgings. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE RESCUE OF THE QUEEN. + + +Little sleep came that night to Lancelot and his friends. For when he +came again to Bors, he had found him, with others of his kindred, armed +and ready to come to his rescue. They listened with concern and +indignation to Lancelot's story of how he had been entrapped, and heard +with knightly joy the story of his bold discomfiture of his foes. + +But it was evident to them all that the event was one of the greatest +moment; that enmity would exist between Lancelot and the king, and that +Guenever might be adjudged to the stake on the charge of infidelity to +her lord. + +Therefore Bors took it upon himself to gather in Lancelot's defence all +his kindred and friends; and by seven o'clock of the next morning he had +gained the word of twenty-two Knights of the Round Table. To these were +added knights of North Wales and Cornwall, who joined Lancelot for +Lamorak's and Tristram's sake, to the number of fourscore. + +To these Lancelot told all that had occurred, and expressed his fear of +Arthur's hostility. + +"I am sure of mortal war," he said, "for these knights claimed to have +been sent and ordained by King Arthur to betray me, and I fear the king +may, in his heat and malice, condemn the queen to the fire. Trust me, +that I will not suffer her to be burnt for my sake. She is and has been +ever a true lady to her lord, and while I live she shall not become a +victim to the malice of her enemies." + +The assembled knights agreed with him in this decision, and promised +their utmost aid in his purpose of rescue. + +"Rescue her I shall, whoever may be hurt; and I trust to heaven that no +friend of mine will aid the king to her injury. But if I rescue her, +where shall I keep her?" + +"Did not the noble Sir Tristram, with your good will, keep La Belle +Isolde three years in Joyous Gard, against the malice of King Mark?" +said Bors. "That place is your own; and there, if the king adjudge the +queen to the stake, you may keep her till his heat shall cool. Then you +may bring her home with worship, and gain Arthur's thanks." + +"That may not work so well as you fancy," said Lancelot. "You remember +what a return Tristram got from King Mark." + +"That is another story," replied Bors. "You know well that Arthur and +Mark are men of different mould. Mark could smile and play the traitor; +but no man living can say that King Arthur was ever untrue to his word." + +Their conference over, by the advice of Lancelot the knights put +themselves in ambush in a wood as near Carlisle as they could secretly +approach. And there they remained on guard, waiting to learn what the +king might do. + +Meantime Mordred, though wounded by Lancelot's sword, had managed to +mount his horse, and rode in all haste to tell the king of the bloody +end of the ambush. On hearing the story, Arthur's mind was divided +between anger and pain. + +"It grieves me sorely that Lancelot should be against me," he said; "and +much I fear that the glorious fellowship of the Round Table is broken, +for many of our noblest knights will hold with him. But dishonor must +not rest upon England's crown. The queen has played me false, and shall +suffer death for her treason to her wifely duty." + +For the law was such in those days, that all, of whatever estate or +degree, found guilty of treason, should suffer death. And so it was +ordained in Queen Guenever's case--since thirteen knights had been +slain, and one escaped sore wounded, in defending the king's honor--that +she should be taken to the stake, and there be burnt to death as a +traitress. + +"My lord Arthur," said Gawaine, "let me counsel you not to be over +hasty in this severe judgment, for as I take it the guilt of the queen +is not proved. That Lancelot was found in the queen's chamber I admit; +but he might have come there with no evil purpose. You know how he has +been for years her chosen knight, and how much he has done for her. She +may have sent for him privily, to avoid scandal, for conference on some +innocent subject. What we do for the best often turns to the worst, and +I dare affirm that my lady the queen is, and has always been, faithful +and true to her lord. As for Lancelot, I doubt me not he will make good +what I have said with word and body, against any and all that question +or oppose." + +"That I believe," said the king. "I know Lancelot's way. But his +boldness does not prove the queen's innocence. For her he shall never +fight again, for she shall suffer the penalty of the law. And if I can +lay my hands on him, he shall die the shameful death he richly merits." + +"Then may Christ save me from ever seeing it," said Gawaine. + +"Why say you this?" demanded the king, angrily. "You have no cause to +love him. Last night he killed your brother Agravaine, and here is +Mordred sorely wounded. He also slew two of your sons, Sir Florence and +Sir Lovel." + +"I know all that. But I gave them warning beforehand of what would +happen if they meddled in this affair. They brought this fate on +themselves. As for Agravaine, he stirred up this scandalous business, +and has got his deserts." + +"Say no more," cried the king, in hot indignation. "I am resolved. The +honor of Arthur's wife must be above suspicion. She has fallen from +chastity and shall die the death. As for you, Gawaine, I bid you arm in +your best armor, with your brethren Gareth and Gaheris, and bring her to +the fire, that she may there hear her judgment, and receive the death +she merits." + +"No, my most noble lord, that shall I never do," said Gawaine. "No man +shall say that I had aught to do with the death of this worthy lady, or +gave my word in favor of her death." + +"Then bid your brothers, Gareth and Gaheris, attend." + +"They are young, and may not withstand your will; but they shall not be +there by my counsel," said Gawaine, stoutly. + +"We must attend, if you command us," said Gareth and Gaheris to the +king. "But it will be sorely against our wills. If come we must, it +shall be in peaceful guise, and without warlike array." + +"Come as you will," said the king. "This I say, she shall have judgment +this day." + +"Alas! that I have ever lived to see this woful day!" said Gawaine, +sadly, and as he turned away the tears ran hotly from his eyes. + +But the king was bitterly set in his deadly purpose, and no sooner had +he reached Carlisle than he gave command that the queen should at once +be led to the place of execution, there to be burned as a traitress. + +When this fatal decision was known in the castle there was weeping and +wailing and wringing of hands from many lords and ladies, while of the +knights there present, few would consent to wear armor to compass the +queen's death. + +But Arthur's commands none dared question, and the unhappy lady was +shriven by her ghostly father, and bound to the fatal stake. In a circle +around her stood a guard of armed knights, while others were present +without armor. But the king was not there; nor would Gawaine show +himself at that shameful scene. + +Then fire was set to the fagots that surrounded the stake. But as the +flames began to curl upwards there came a shrill bugle-blast from a +neighboring wood, and of a sudden Lancelot and his knights broke from +their ambush, and rode upon those about the fire, striking right and +left at all who bore arms and withstood them. + +Down went the guard of knights before this fierce onset, till full +twenty of them lay dead on the field. But by sad fortune, as Lancelot, +in his warlike fury pressed hither and thither, cutting and slashing +with the hot rage of the berserker, he by mishap struck the two unarmed +knights, Gareth and Gaheris, and stretched them dead upon the field. + +This was in the thick of the fray, and he knew not what he had done, for +rather would he have slain himself than harmed these, his faithful +friends. A few minutes sufficed to kill or disperse all the guard. Then +Lancelot sprang from his horse, scattered the blazing fagots with his +foot, and with a blow of his sword severed the bonds that fastened +Guenever to the stake. + +The unhappy lady fell, weeping, into his arms, thanking him in broken +accents. With all due haste he mounted her on a horse that had been +provided, and rode off with her and his following of gallant knights to +Joyous Gard, strong of heart and stout of frame, and resolved to fight +for her to the death, for more than ever he felt himself her chosen +knight. + +And when word went through the country round that Arthur and Lancelot +were at odds, many a good knight rode in all haste to his castle, bent +on taking his side in the coming war. + +But when the news was brought to Arthur of how Lancelot had rescued the +queen, and slain many of his knights, and in particular Gareth and +Gaheris, his anger turned to such bitter sorrow and regret that he +swooned from pure grief. And when he came to his senses again he deeply +moaned, and reproached himself for the evil that had befallen. + +"Alas! that I ever wore the crown!" he bewailed. "Within these two days +I have lost forty knights, and, above all, the noble fellowship of +Lancelot and his kindred, and all because I listened to the tongue of +foul detraction. Alas! that ever this fatal thing began! Fair friends, +see that none of you tell Gawaine of what has happened, for he loves +Gareth so deeply that I fear, when he hears of his death, he will go out +of his mind. How came Lancelot to slay these knights, who both loved him +devotedly?" + +"He would never have harmed them had he known them," said a knight. "It +was in the midst of the hurtling and fierce struggling, when swords +strike they know not where. Sad he will be when he learns what he has +done." + +"I am heavier for the loss of my knights than of my queen," said +Arthur, sadly. "Other queens may be had, but such a fellowship of +knights can never be brought together again. And this I know, that when +Gawaine learns of Gareth's death, he will never rest, nor suffer me to +rest, till I have destroyed Lancelot and his kindred, or they have +destroyed me. Ah, Agravaine, Agravaine, Jesus forgive thy soul for thy +evil will, for thou and thy brother Mordred have caused all this bitter +sorrow." + +While the king thus complained, a tale-bearer, unheeding his +injunctions, came to Gawaine big with his story, and told him of the +rescue of the queen, and the death of a knightly host. + +"What else could Lancelot do?" said Gawaine. "I should have done as much +myself had I stood in his place. But where are my brothers? Why hear I +not of them?" + +"Truly," said the man; "they are both killed." + +"Now, Jesus forbid! What! both? Is Gareth slain? Dare you tell me so?" + +"Alas! the pity of it!" + +"Killed! Who killed him?" + +"Sir Lancelot slew them both." + +"That is false. Gareth loved him better than he did me or the king. He +would have joined him against us all, had Lancelot desired. And he was +unarmed. Dare you repeat this story?" and he caught the man fiercely by +the shoulders and glared wildly in his face. + +"Sir, it is so noised abroad," said the man. + +"Then is all joy gone from my life," moaned Gawaine, and he fell to the +floor in a deep swoon, in which he lay long like one dead. + +But when Gawaine recovered, and had sought the king, and learned that +his two brothers had been killed, unarmed and defenceless, his sorrow +changed to bitter and revengeful anger. + +"My king, my lord, and my uncle," he sternly said, "I vow by my +knighthood that I shall never forgive Lancelot for this murderous deed, +but from this day forth shall remain his deadly foe, till one of us has +slain the other. War to the death it shall be, and if you aid me not I +shall seek Sir Lancelot alone, if it be through seven kings' realms, +till I hold him to answer for this deed of blood." + +"You shall not need to seek him so far," said the king. "They say that +Lancelot awaits us in Joyous Gard, and that many knights have joined +him." + +"Well is it so," said Gawaine fiercely. "Then my lord Arthur, gather +your friends, and I will gather mine. Say not that deeds like this shall +go unpunished in England's realm. Your justice defied! My unarmed +brothers murdered! Shall this be done, and we basely submit?" + +"You speak to the point," said the king. "We must strike for honor and +revenge. Strong as Lancelot's castle is, and bold as are his friends, I +fancy I can gain strength enough to draw him out of the strongest tower +in it." + +Then King Arthur sent orders far and wide through the land, and in brief +time there came to Carlisle many knights, dukes, and earls, so that he +had a great host. These the king informed of what had happened, and of +his purpose to force Lancelot to yield up his queen, and to punish him +for his trespass. + +Lancelot meanwhile, was not idle, but drew to himself, many more +knights, and provisioned his castle fully, for he well knew that he must +abide behind walls, as he was far too weak to meet the king's host in +the field. + +Not many days had elapsed when King Arthur and Gawaine with a great host +of men, laid siege about Joyous Gard, both the town and the castle, and +war replaced the peace that had reigned so long in the land. + +But Lancelot lay secure in his castle, and for a long time would not go +out himself, nor suffer any of his knights to pass the gates of town or +castle. And so fifteen weeks of the siege passed away. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RETURN OF GUENEVER. + + +It befell upon a day in harvest-time that Lancelot looked over the walls +of Joyous Gard, and seeing below him the king and Gawaine, thus spoke to +them,-- + +"My lords both, you besiege this castle in vain. You will gain more +dishonor than worship here. If I chose to come out, with my knights, I +should soon bring this war to an end." + +"Come forth, if thou darest!" cried the king, in anger. "I promise to +meet thee in the midst of the field." + +"God defend that I should face on the field of battle the noble king who +made me knight." + +"A truce to your fair language," answered the king. "Trust me, that I am +your mortal foe, and will be so till the day of my death. You have slain +my knights and dishonored my queen, and hold her from me by force, like +a traitor. Think you I shall lightly forgive this?" + +"You may say what you will, my lord and king," answered Lancelot. "With +you I will not fight; but as for your lady Guenever, I am ready to stand +for her innocence against any knight under heaven. Those who have +slandered me and her lie in their teeth, and I hold myself ready to +prove to the death that she is as true and chaste a lady as ever lived. +More than once, my lord, you have consented that she should be burnt, +from the voice of slander, and more than once have I rescued her, and +forced the lie down the throats of her slanderers. Then you thanked me +for saving her from the fire. Now, for doing you the same high service +again, you bring war upon me. Your queen is honest and true, and if you +will receive her to your good grace again I stand ready to deliver her." + +"Recreant knight!" cried Gawaine, in wrath, "I warrant you my lord the +king shall have his queen and you too, despite your fair words and proud +defiance, and shall slay you both if it please him." + +"That may be, Gawaine," said Lancelot. "Yet if I chose to come out of +the castle you would not find it quite child's play to win me and the +queen." + +"Save your boastful words," said Gawaine. "As for my lady, the queen, I +shall say naught to her dishonor. But, recreant knight, what cause had +you to slay my brother Gareth, who loved you with his whole soul?" + +"I shall not seek an excuse for that deed," said Lancelot. "I would with +as good will have slain my nephew Sir Bors. All I may say is that it was +done in the heat of battle, and I knew not they were slain till word was +brought me here." + +"You lie in your teeth!" cried Gawaine. "You killed them in despite of +me; and for this foul deed I shall make war on you while I live." + +"If you are so hotly set, there is no use for me to seek accord; yet I +am truly sorry for their deaths and your enmity. Only for this I would +soon have the good grace of my lord Arthur." + +"That may be, traitor, but you will wait long for peace. You have lorded +it over me, and the whole of us, too long, and slain knights at your +will. Now our turn has come." + +"No one dare say that I ever killed a knight through treachery, as you, +Gawaine, have done." + +"You mean Sir Lamorak. Him I slew, man to man." + +"Who lies now? You know well that you and the crew that set upon him +dared not meet him face to face. You struck him treacherously from +behind." + +"A truce to Lamorak. This you may know, that I will never leave you till +I deal with you as I did with him." + +"Murder me, you mean! I fancy you might if you caught me in such a +strait, which you will not easily do." + +Then others took the cue from Gawaine, and the cry went up from many +voices: "False and recreant knight! how long will you hide behind your +castle walls, like a rat in his hole?" + +"How long is this to last?" said Bors and others to Lancelot. "We pray +you to keep us no longer within these walls, but let us out to do battle +with them. Men will say next that you are afraid. As for fair speech, it +is thrown away. Gawaine will never forgive you, nor suffer you to make +accord with the king. Therefore fight for your right, for to that it +must come." + +"I am loath to do so," said Lancelot. + +Then he called from the wall to the king,-- + +"My knights demand that I let them sally from the castle. I therefore +pray that neither you nor Sir Gawaine come into the field, for to you +two I wish no harm." + +"What then? Shall we cower in our tents while others fight our battles?" +cried Gawaine. "This quarrel is mine and the king's. Shall we not fight +in it?" + +"If you will, you will; but I seek not battle with either of you." + +Then they drew back, and both sides made ready for battle. And Gawaine, +with deadly intent, set aside a strong body of knights, bidding them to +attack Lancelot in force, and slay him if they could. + +When the next morning came, King Arthur drew up his host against the +castle in three great bands. And Lancelot's fellowship issued from the +castle at three gates, the three bands being led by Lancelot, Bors, and +Lionel. But Lancelot had given strict charge to his knights to avoid +harming King Arthur and Sir Gawaine. + +Fierce was the battle that followed, and many good knights were slain. +It began with a challenge from Gawaine, who came out before the king's +host and dared any knight of Lancelot's to joust with him. This +challenge Lionel accepted, but Gawaine thrust him through the body, and +dashed him to the earth like a dead man. Then his friends rushed to his +rescue and drove back his foes, bearing him from the field into the +castle. This affray brought on a hot and fiery battle, and soon the air +was filled with shouts, and the earth strewn with dead and wounded men. + +In the midst of this fray the king hotly attacked Lancelot; but that +faithful knight patiently endured his assault, and lifted not a hand in +defence. But Bors, seeing his danger, rushed in, and, with a spear +thrust, hurled King Arthur to the ground. Quickly leaping from his +horse, he drew his sword, and said,-- + +"Shall I make an end of this war?" + +"On pain of your head, no! Harm not the king! I shall not stand by and +see him slain." + +Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and helped the king to his horse +again, saying,-- + +"My lord Arthur, for God's sake, end this strife! I will not fight you, +though you kill me, nor have I the heart to fight your men. My lord, +remember what I have done for you. Is not this an evil reward?" + +When Arthur heard these words tears flowed from his eyes, for Lancelot's +courtesy had overcome his anger. He turned and rode away, saying +sadly,-- + +"Alas! that this war ever began." + +Then both sides drew off, and parties of each began the sad duty of +burying the dead, while the wounded were borne away, and healing salves +applied to their wounds. + +The next day the battle was renewed, and fought with the same deadly +energy as before. On this day Bors led the foremost party, and met +Gawaine as Lionel had done the day before. Fiercely together they rode, +and both were hurled to the ground with deep and dangerous wounds. +Around them the battle raged with double fierceness, but Lancelot broke +in and rescued Bors, and had him borne to the castle, while the other +party bore off Gawaine. + +Then, as the battle continued, Lavaine and others begged Lancelot to put +forth his strength and fight with his full might, for he imperilled them +all by his forbearance. + +"Why should you spare your foes?" they said. "You do but harm thereby. +Your enemies spare not you." + +"I have no heart to fight against the king," said Lancelot. + +"If you spare them all this day they will never thank you," said +Palamides. "And if they get the better of you they will slay you without +mercy." + +Lancelot saw that this was but the truth, and stirred by this and the +wound of Sir Bors, he rushed into the fray with his old might and fury, +forcing back all before him. Glad to see the old Lancelot, his +followers pressed forward, driving back the foe, so that by eventide +they had the best of the fray, and their horses went fetlock deep in the +blood of the slain. + +Then, in pity for Arthur, Lancelot blew the recall, and suffered the +king's party to withdraw without further slaughter. + +After this there was peace between the parties for many days, for +Gawaine had been so sorely hurt that he could not stir the king to +active war, and Arthur after awhile returned to Carlisle, leaving the +castle closely besieged. + +But the story of this war had now passed through Christendom, and had +reached the pope, who, feeling that war between King Arthur and Lancelot +was like battle between brothers, sent a letter to the king, commanding +him, under pain of an interdict upon all England, to take his Queen +Guenever into favor again, and to make peace and accord with Sir +Lancelot. + +This Papal bull was brought to Arthur by the bishop of Rochester, who +was then at Rome. When the king had heard it read he knew not what to +do. He agreed to take back the queen, and in his heart desired to make +friends with Lancelot; but to this Gawaine, who had then the greatest +influence over him, would not consent. + +In the end it was agreed that if Lancelot would bring back the queen he +should come and go in safety, and that no word should be spoken to +Guenever, by the king or other person, of aught that had happened in the +past. + +Then the bishop had from the king his assurance, under the great seal +of the realm, as he was a true anointed knight, that Sir Lancelot should +come and return in safety, and that the queen should not be spoken to by +the king, or any other, concerning what had passed. With this +safe-conduct, written at length and signed by King Arthur, the holy +prelate rode in state to Joyous Gard, where he made Lancelot acquainted +with all that had happened, telling him of the pope's action, and of the +peril he would encounter if he withheld the queen from the king. + +"It was never in my thought," said Lancelot, "to withhold Queen Guenever +from my lord Arthur. All men know why I have her in charge. She would +have suffered a shameful death through the king's unjust anger had I not +been on hand to save her life; and I hold her only from peril of that +vile sentence, which has never until now been remitted. I thank the pope +heartily that he has made peace between Guenever and the king, and God +knows that I will be a thousand-fold gladder to take her back than I +ever was to bring her away. All I demand is, that I shall come and go in +safety, and that the queen shall have her liberty as before, and stand +in no peril from this or any former charge against her. For else I dare +venture to keep her from a harder shower than ever yet has fallen upon +her or me." + +"You need dread nothing either for yourself or the queen," replied the +bishop. "You know full well that the pope must be obeyed, by the king as +well as by you. It were not to the pope's worship nor my poor honor that +you should be distressed, or the queen put to shame or peril. And as +for King Arthur, here is his promise, under his own writing and seal." + +Then he showed Lancelot all the written documents he had brought, both +from the pope and the king. + +"That suffices," said Lancelot. "I would trust King Arthur's bare word +as I would the oath of half Christendom. No man can say that he ever +broke his plighted faith. Therefore, I beg you to ride before me to the +king, and recommend me to his good grace, letting him know that in eight +days from to-day, by the grace of God, I shall bring to him his lady +Queen Guenever. And say this further to him, that I stand ready to meet +any one in the lists for the queen's fair fame except himself and Sir +Gawaine, and the latter more from the king's love for him than from +aught of his own deserts." + +With this agreement the bishop departed to Carlisle, and when he had +told the king how nobly Lancelot had spoken, the tears started from +Arthur's eyes, and much he deplored in his heart the cruel chance that +had aroused war between him and his dearest friend. + +Lancelot now made ready a hundred knights, who were all dressed in green +velvet, with their horses trapped to their heels, while each knight held +in his hand an olive branch, in token of peace. For the queen there were +provided four and twenty gentlewomen, who followed her in the same +guise; while Lancelot was followed by twelve coursers, on each of which +sat a young gentleman, and these were arrayed in green velvet with +golden girdles, and the horses trapped to the heels with rich cloths, +set with pearls and stones in gold, to the number of a thousand. As for +Lancelot and Guenever, they were clothed in white cloth-of-gold tissue. +And in this array they rode from Joyous Gard to Carlisle, and through +Carlisle to the castle, while many an eye shed tears on seeing them. + +Then Lancelot alighted and took the queen, and led her to where Arthur +sat, with Gawaine and many great lords before him. Then he kneeled, and +the queen with him. + +Many of the assembled knights wept bitterly on seeing this, but the king +sat in haughty silence, looking steadily upon the pair who knelt before +him. Seeing his countenance, Lancelot rose and forced the queen to rise +also. Then thus he spoke in knightly pride,-- + +"My lord the king, by the pope's command and yours I have brought you my +lady, the queen, as right requireth. If there be any knight, whatever +his degree, except your sacred self, who shall dare say she has been +untrue to you, I, Lancelot du Lake, stand ready to make her honor good +with my body. To liars you have listened, and that has caused all the +trouble between you and me. Time has been, my lord Arthur, when you have +been greatly pleased with me in that I did battle for my lady your +queen. Full well you know, my most royal sir, that she has been put to +great wrong before this time; and since it pleased you then that I +should fight for her, it seems to me that I had still more cause this +last time to rescue her from the fire, since she was to have been burnt +for my sake. Had not the might of God been with me, think you that I +could, unarmed, have prevailed over fourteen armed knights? I was sent +for by the queen, who wished to confer with me, but had barely stepped +within her chamber, when out burst Mordred and Agravaine, calling me +traitor and recreant knight." + +"They called you truly," said Gawaine. + +"Did they so, Gawaine? By heaven, in their quarrel they failed to prove +themselves in the right." + +"I have given you no cause to do evil to me, Lancelot," said the king. +"For I have loved you and yours more than all my other knights." + +"My good lord and liege," answered Lancelot, "I beg it may not displease +you if I answer that you have better cause to love me and mine than most +knights, for none have done you such service as we have at many times +and in many places. Often have I myself rescued you from deadly peril, +when you were hard pressed by your foes; and it has ever been my joy to +please you, and my lord Gawaine as well, in jousts and tournaments, and +in set battles, both on horse and on foot. I wish not to boast of my +deeds, yet you all know well that I never met a knight but that I was +able to stand against him, and have always done my duty like a man. I +have been matched with good knights, such as Sir Tristram and Sir +Lamorak, whom I loved for their valor and honesty. And I take God to +witness, that I was never angry with or jealous of any good knight whom +I saw active to win honor, and was ever glad at heart when I found a +knight who was able to endure me on horseback or on foot. Sir Carados of +the dolorous tower was a noble knight and a man of mighty strength, and +this you know full well, Sir Gawaine, since he pulled you from your +horse, and bound you before him on his saddle. Yet I rescued you from +him, and slew him before your eyes. In like manner I found his brother, +Sir Turquine, leading your brother, Sir Gaheris, bound on his saddle, +and slew him, and rescued your brother, as also three-score and four of +King Arthur's knights whom he held in prison. Never met I with as strong +and hard-fighting knights as Sir Carados and Sir Turquine, and I fought +with them to the uttermost for the sake of you and your brother. It +seems to me, Sir Gawaine, that you ought to bear in mind this good +service I did for you in the past. If I might but have your good will in +return, I would trust to God to have my lord Arthur's kindly grace." + +"The king may do as he will," said Gawaine; "but while I live I shall +never be in accord with you. I cannot forget that you have killed three +of my brothers, two of them treacherously and pitilessly, for they wore +no armor against you, and refused to bear any." + +"Would to heaven they had been armed, for then they would now be alive," +said Lancelot. "I tell you this, Sir Gawaine, that I love none of my own +kinsmen as I did your brother, Sir Gareth, and would far rather have +slain myself than him. Never while I live shall I cease to mourn his +death, not alone for your bitter sorrow and anger, but for other causes +which concern myself. One is, that it was I who made him a knight; +another is, that he loved me above all other knights; a third is, that +he was ever noble, true, courteous, and gentle. I never would have +slain, or even hurt, either Gareth or Gaheris by my will; and sad at +heart am I that this fatal chance has robbed me of your love and made +undying war between us, and has caused my noble lord and king to be my +mortal foe. May Jesus forgive me for this cruel chance, which the fates +have laid upon me. In reparation for this sad misfortune, I shall freely +offer, if it will please the king's good grace, and yours, my lord +Gawaine, to do penance in this wise. I shall start from Sandwich, and go +in my shirt, barefoot, and at every ten miles' end I shall found a +religious house, of what order you wish, where shall be sung and read +day and night psalms and masses for the repose of Sir Gareth and Sir +Gaheris. This I shall perform from Sandwich to Carlisle. This, Sir +Gawaine, seems to me fairer, holier, and better for their souls than +that you and the king should make war upon me; for little good to any is +likely to come from it." + +Then the knights and ladies there wept as though they were distracted, +and the tears fell hot on King Arthur's cheeks. But no shadow of +softness came to Gawaine's stern face. + +"The king, as I have said, may do as it pleases him," he answered, "but +I shall never forgive you for the murder of my brothers. If my uncle, +King Arthur, accords with you, he shall lose my service, for I hold you +false both to the king and me." + +"The man lives not that can make that good," cried Lancelot. "If you +charge me thus, I am ready to answer you with spear and sword since +words you disdain." + +"That cannot be at this time," said Gawaine. "You are here under the +king's safe-conduct, and so must depart. If it were not for the pope's +command and the king's given word, I should do battle with you, body to +body, and prove upon you that you have been false both to the king and +to me. In this land you shall not abide more than fifteen days, for I +give you open warning that your safe-conduct lasts only for that time. +In this the king and we all were agreed before you came hither. Only for +this you would now find that my words are ready to be backed up with +deeds. And this you shall find wheresoever I shall meet you hereafter." + +Then Lancelot sighed, and tears fell upon his cheeks. + +"Alas, most Christian realm," he said, "that I have loved above all +other realms, and most Christian king, whom I have worshipped next to my +God. From both I am banished, without cause or warrant. Truly I am sorry +that I ever came into this land, to be thus causelessly and shamefully +treated, after my long service here. So is it ever with fortune, whose +wheel is so changeable that there is no constant abiding; and this may +be proved by the old chronicles of noble Hector of Troy, and Troilus, +and Alexander the mighty conqueror, and many more. When they were +highest they quickly became lowest; and thus has it fared with me. No +living men have brought more honor and glory to the Round Table than I +and my kindred, and yet we stand banished from the land which owes us +such worthy service. As for you, Gawaine, I can live upon my native +lands as well as any knight here. And if you, redoubted king, shall seek +me there in hostile array, I must endure you as well as I may. If you +come thither, Gawaine, see that you charge me not with treason or +felony, for if you do, it will scarcely end with words." + +"Do your worst," cried Gawaine, hotly. "And get you gone from here as +fast as you can. We shall soon come after, and tumble your strongest +castle upon your head." + +"That shall not need," said Lancelot. "You may find me ready to meet you +in open field." + +"There have been words enough," said Gawaine. "Deliver the queen and +take yourself away." + +"If I had looked for so short a reception I would have thought twice +before coming," answered Lancelot, proudly. "If the queen had been as +dear to me as you would make her, I durst have kept her from the best +fellowship of knights under heaven." + +Then he turned to Guenever and said, in full hearing of the king and all +there,-- + +"Madam, now I must depart from you and this noble fellowship forever. +Since it is so, I beseech you to pray for me. And if you be slandered by +any false tongues, send me word, my lady, and if one knight's hands may +deliver you by battle, I shall deliver you." + +Then Lancelot kissed the queen, and said openly to all present,-- + +"Now let me see who there is in this place that dare say Queen Guenever +is not true unto my lord King Arthur! Let him speak who dare speak." + +He looked proudly around the hall, from right to left, but no voice came +in answer. Then he took the queen by the hand and led her to the king, +and delivered her to his royal hand. This done, Lancelot turned and +walked from the hall with haughty stride; and there was neither duke, +earl, nor king, baron nor knight, lady or maiden, that wept not at the +sorrowful parting, except Sir Gawaine. And when Lancelot took his horse +to ride out of Carlisle there was sobbing and weeping from all the +people who had gathered in the streets to see him depart. And so he took +his way to Joyous Gard, which ever after he called Dolorous Gard. And +thus departed Sir Lancelot du Lake from the court of King Arthur +forever. + +He now called his fellowship about him, and asked them what they would +do. + +"Whatever you will," they answered with one voice. + +"Then, my brave and faithful friends, we must leave this realm. It is +sore to me to be banished, and had I not dreaded shame, the lady +Guenever should never have left me." + +"If you stay in this land we shall not fail you," said his knights. "If +you depart hence we shall go with you." + +"My fair lords, I thank you heartily," answered Lancelot, with much +feeling. "If you come with me to my realm beyond the sea, I shall divide +my lands among you, till I have as little as any of you. I care for +only enough to live upon, and trust to maintain you in knightly honor." + +"So let it be," they rejoined. "Here, now that the fellowship of the +Round Table is broken, there will be no more peace, but only strife and +turmoil. You were the stay of Arthur's court, Sir Lancelot. With you +gone, all quiet and harmony will depart." + +"You praise me too highly, gentlemen. I did my duty; but not I alone. +Yet I fear, when we are gone, we will soon hear of wars and rebellions, +from those who dared not raise their heads when we were all together. +Mordred I fear above all. He is envious and ambitious, and if King +Arthur shall trust him I dread me greatly he will find him a stinging +serpent." + +Then, soon after, they left Joyous Gard, and shipped at Cardiff to pass +beyond the seas to Lancelot's realm of Benwick. Some men, indeed, call +it Bayonne, and some call it Beume, the land whence comes the wine of +Beume. Yet to say sooth, Lancelot and his nephews were lords of all +France, and had there a host of towns and castles, and many people at +their command. + +There went with him a hundred proven knights, whom he rewarded as he had +promised. For he shortly called a parliament, where he crowned Lionel +king of France. Bors he made king of the realm of King Claudas; and +Hector de Maris, King of Benwick and Guienne; while his other knights +were made dukes and earls, till all were nobly provided for. + +Thus Lancelot rewarded his faithful friends. And he furnished and +provisioned his towns and castles, and gathered the men of war of the +realm, for he felt well assured that Gawaine would not rest till he had +brought King Arthur against him in martial array. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE WAR BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LANCELOT. + + +What Lancelot had feared came quickly to pass. For so unrelenting was +Gawaine's enmity, and so strong his influence over the king, that +Arthur, at his persistent instigation, got together a great army, to the +number of sixty thousand, and had shipping made ready to carry them over +the sea. + +Then he made Sir Mordred chief ruler of all England during his absence, +and put Queen Guenever under his care, little dreaming of what fatal +results would follow this unwise choice. + +These preparations made, Arthur passed the sea with his host, and landed +in Lancelot's realm, where, through the revengeful spirit of Gawaine, +they burnt and wasted all that they overran. + +When word of this was brought to Lancelot and his knights, Sir Bors thus +broke out in anger,-- + +"My lord Sir Lancelot, it is a shame to let them thus destroy this fair +realm of France. You may well be assured that, however long you forbear +your foes, they will do you no favor if you fall into their hands." + +Then said Sir Lionel, who was wary and wise, "My lord Sir Lancelot, this +is my counsel. Let us keep to our strong-walled towns till the invaders +suffer from hunger and cold, and blow upon their nails for warmth. Then +we may freshly set upon them, and shred them down like sheep in a +field." + +"Such a course would disgrace us all," said King Bagdemagus to Lancelot. +"Your over-courtesy has caused all the trouble we now have. If we let +Gawaine work his will, he will bring our power to naught, while we hide +like rabbits in our holes." + +"So say I," broke in Sir Galihud. "There are knights here who come of +kings' blood, and that will not long be content to droop behind walls. +Give us leave to meet them in the field, and we shall deal with them in +such fashion that they will curse the time they came into this country." + +Then spoke seven brethren of North Wales, men of such prowess that one +might seek through seven lands before he could find seven such +knights,-- + +"Sir Lancelot," they said together, "let us ride out with Sir Galihud, +for it has never been our wont to cower in towns and castles." + +"My fair lords," replied Lancelot to them all, "I am loath to ride out +with my knights and shed Christian blood. And my lands, after all the +wars they have endured, are too bare long to sustain this invading host. +It is the part of wisdom, therefore, for the time to keep to our walls, +and meanwhile I will send a messenger to King Arthur and offer him a +treaty of peace." + +Then he sent a damsel to the king, and a dwarf with her, with a message, +bidding Arthur to quit making war upon his lands, and offering him fair +terms of accommodation. The damsel rode to the hostile camp on a palfry, +while the dwarf ran by her side. When she came near to King Arthur's +pavilion she alighted, and there was met by a gentle knight, Sir Lucan +the butler, who said,-- + +"Fair damsel, come you from Sir Lancelot du Lake?" + +"Yes, sir," she replied, "I am come hither with a message from him to my +lord the king." + +"Alas, that it should be needed!" said Sir Lucan. "My lord Arthur would +soon be in accord with Lancelot but for Gawaine, who has more influence +over him than all his knights besides, and will not suffer him to think +of peace and friendship. I pray to God, damsel, that you speed well in +your errand, for all that are about the king, except Sir Gawaine, wish +well to Lancelot above all knights living." + +With these words he led the damsel to the king's pavilion. There Arthur, +who had been advised of her coming, sat with Gawaine to hear her +message. When she had told her errand the king was so moved that tears +ran from his eyes, and all the lords were ready to advise him to make +peace with Lancelot. But Gawaine, who sat with lowering brow, now broke +out in hot speech,-- + +"My lord, my uncle, what will you do? Will you turn again after having +come so far? All the world will speak villany of you." + +"I do not deem it wise to refuse his fair proffers," said the king. +"Yet since I am come so far on this journey, I leave it to you to give +the damsel her answer." + +"Then tell Sir Lancelot," said Gawaine to the damsel, "that he wastes +his labor now to sue to my uncle. If he wished peace he should have +sought it sooner. Now it is too late. Tell him, also, that I, Sir +Gawaine, promise him, by the faith I owe to God and to knighthood, never +to leave him in peace till he have slain me or I him." + +This word the damsel brought back to Lancelot, where he stood among his +knights, and sad of heart he was to hear it. + +"Why do you grieve?" said the knights. "If war they want, let them have +it to their fill. Let us meet them in the field." + +"Never before was I so loath to do battle," said Lancelot. "I would +rather flee from King Arthur than fight him. Be ruled by me, noble sirs. +When I must defend myself, then I will; but haste will make fresh +sorrow." + +Then the knights held their peace, and that night took their rest. But +in the morning, when they looked abroad, they saw a hostile host around +the city of Benwick, pressing it so closely that ladders were already +set up against the walls. The defenders of the town flocked in haste to +the walls and threw down the ladders, and hot strife began. + +Forth now rode Sir Gawaine on a strong steed, and with a great spear in +his hand, and when he came before the chief gate he called out loudly,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, where art thou? Or what proud knight is here that dare +break a spear with me?" + +Hearing this challenge, Sir Bors hastily made ready, and rode from the +city to the encounter. But Gawaine smote him from his horse, and would +have slain him had he not been rescued. Then Lionel, his brother, rode +out to revenge him; but he, too, was sorely wounded, and so borne into +the town. + +And thus, day after day, came Gawaine with his challenge, and not a day +passed but some knight fell before his spear. And for half a year the +siege continued, and there was much slaughter on both sides. + +At length came a day when Gawaine again appeared before the gates, armed +at all points, and loudly cried,-- + +"Where art thou now, thou false traitor, Sir Lancelot? Why hidest thou +within walls and holes like a coward? Come forth, traitor, that I may +revenge on thy body the death of my three brothers?" + +Then said Lancelot's knights to their leader,-- + +"Now, Sir Lancelot, you must fight, or you are shamed forever. It is +time for you to stir, for you have slept over long and we suffered over +much." + +"Defend myself I must, since he charges me with treason," said Lancelot. +"His words cut deeply, and I must fight or be held recreant," and with +stern countenance he bade the attendants to saddle his strongest horse +and bring his arms to the gate tower. Then from this tower he called to +the king, who stood below,-- + +"My lord Arthur," he said, "sad am I, for your sake, that thus you press +upon me. Had I been revengeful I might have met you in open field, and +there made your boldest knights full tame; but I have forborne you half +a year, and given you and Gawaine free way. It is much against my will +to fight with any of your blood, but since he accuses me of treason I am +driven to it like a beast brought to bay." + +"If you dare do battle," cried Gawaine, "leave your babbling and come +out. Nothing will give deeper joy to my heart, for I have waited long +for this hour." + +At this Lancelot mounted and rode out, and a host of knights followed +him from the city, while from the king's army a throng of knights +pressed to the front. But covenant was made that none should come near +the two warriors till one was dead or had yielded, and the knights drew +back, leaving a broad open space for the combatants. + +Gawaine and Lancelot now rode far apart, and wheeled their horses till +they faced each other. Thus they stood in grim silence and energy till +the signal for the onset was given, when, like iron statues come to +life, they plunged their spurs in the flanks of their chargers and +dashed at furious speed across the plain. A minute passed, and they met +in the middle with a shock like thunder, but the knights were so strong +and their spears so great, that the horses could not endure the buffets, +and fell to the earth. + +In a moment both knights had leaped clear of their saddles, drawn their +swords, and brought their shields before them. And now began a fierce +and terrible affray, for they stood and hewed at each other with might +and main, till blood burst in many places through the joints of their +armor. + +But Gawaine had a gift that a holy man had given him, that every day in +the year, from nine o'clock till noon, his strength should increase till +it became threefold. And he took good care to fight all his battles +during these hours, whereby he gained great honor. + +None knew of this gift but King Arthur, and as Lancelot felt the +strength of his antagonist constantly increasing, he wondered greatly, +and began to fear that he would be overcome. It seemed to him that he +had a fiend, and no earthly man, before him, and for three hours he +traced and traversed, and covered himself with his shield, scarcely able +to stand against the brunt of Gawaine's mighty blows. At this all men +marvelled, for never before had they beheld Lancelot so sorely driven to +defence. + +But when the hour of noon had passed, the magic might of Gawaine +suddenly left him, and he had now only his own strength. This Lancelot +felt, and he drew himself up and pressed on his foe, saying,-- + +"You have had your day, Gawaine; now it is my turn. Defend yourself, for +I have many a grievous buffet to repay." + +Then he redoubled his strokes, and at length gave Gawaine such a blow on +the helmet that he fell to the earth. Lancelot now withdrew a step. + +"Why do you withdraw?" cried Gawaine, bitterly. "Turn, thou traitor, and +slay me; for if I recover you shall fight with me again." + +"It is not my way, Sir Gawaine, to strike a fallen knight. When you +want to fight again you shall not find me lacking." + +Then he turned and went with his knights into the city, while Gawaine +was borne from the field to one of the king's pavilions, where leeches +were brought to attend him. + +"Alas!" said the king, "that ever this unhappy war began, for Sir +Lancelot ever forbeareth me, and my kin also, and that is well seen in +his sparing my nephew Gawaine this day." + +Then Arthur fell sick from sorrow for the hurt of his nephew and regret +for the war. The siege was kept up, but with little energy, and both +sides rested from their toils. + +Three weeks passed before Gawaine regained his strength; but as soon as +he was able to ride he armed again, mounted his horse, and rode to the +gate of Benwick, where he loudly repeated his challenge to Lancelot as a +traitor and recreant knight. + +"You got the best of me by mischance at our last battle," he said, "but +if you dare come into the field this day I will make amends, and lay you +as low as you laid me." + +"Defend me from such a fate," said Lancelot, "for if you should get me +into such a strait my days were done. But since you in this unknightly +fashion charge me with treason, I warrant you shall have both hands full +before you gain your end." + +Then Lancelot armed and rode out, and the battle began as before, with a +circle of armed knights surrounding. But in this onset Gawaine's spear +broke into a hundred pieces in his hand, while Lancelot struck him with +such might that his horse's feet were raised, and horse and rider +toppled to the earth. + +"Alight, traitor knight!" cried Gawaine, drawing his sword. "If a horse +has failed me, think not that a king and queen's son shall fail thee." + +Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and the battle went on as before, +Gawaine's strength increasing hour by hour. But Lancelot, feeling this, +warily kept his strength and his wind, keeping under cover of his +shield, and tracing and traversing back and forth, to break the strength +and courage of his foe. + +As for Gawaine, he put forth all his might and power to destroy +Lancelot, and for three hours pressed him so fiercely that he could +barely defend himself. But when noon passed, and Lancelot felt Gawaine's +strength again decline, he said,-- + +"I have proved you twice, Sir Gawaine. By this magic trick of your +strength increasing you have deceived many a valiant knight. You have +done your worst; now you shall see of what metal I am made." + +Then he attacked him fiercely, and Gawaine defended himself with all his +power; but at length there fell such a heavy blow on his helmet and on +the old wound, that he sank to the earth in a swoon. When he came to +himself again, he struck feebly at Lancelot as he lay, and cried +spitefully,-- + +"Thou false traitor, I am not yet slain. Come near me, and do this +battle to the uttermost." + +"I shall do no more than I have done," said Lancelot. "When I see you on +your feet again I shall stand ready to fight you to the bitter end. But +to smite a wounded and prostrate man!--God defend me from such a shame." + +And he turned and went towards the city, while Gawaine with spiteful +malice called him traitor, and vowed he would never cease to fight with +him till one of them was dead. + +A month now passed away, during which Gawaine lay sick of his wound. As +he slowly recovered, the old battle-hunger for Lancelot's blood returned +to his heart, and he impatiently awaited the day when he could again +take the field. But before this day arrived, news came from England that +put a sudden end to the war; tidings of such threatening aspect that +King Arthur was forced to return in all haste to his own realm. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE STING OF THE VIPER. + + +Disastrous, indeed, were the news from England. King Arthur had made the +fatal mistake of placing a villain and dastard in charge of his realm, +for Mordred had taken advantage of his absence to turn traitor, and seek +to seize the crown and sceptre of England as his own. + +News moved but slowly from over seas in those days, and Mordred, with +treasonable craft, had letters written as though they came from abroad, +which said that King Arthur had been slain in battle with Sir Lancelot. + +Having spread this lie far and wide, he called the lords together to +London in parliament, and so managed that they voted him king. Then he +was crowned at Canterbury, and held a feast for fifteen days, after +which he went to Winchester, where Guenever was, and publicly declared +that he would wed his uncle's widow. + +When word of this came to Guenever she grew heavy at heart, for she +hated the traitor to her soul's depth. But she was in his power, and was +forced to hide her secret hate. She therefore seemed to consent to his +will, and desired permission to go to London, where she might buy all +things that were necessary for the wedding. She spoke so fairly that he +trusted her, and gave her leave to make the journey. + +But no sooner had she reached London than she took possession of the +Tower, and with all haste supplied it with provisions and garrisoned it +with men, and so held it as a fortress, many knights holding with her +against the usurper. + +Mordred soon learned that he had been beguiled by the queen, and, moved +to fury, he hastened to London, where he besieged the Tower, assailing +it vigorously with great engines of war. But Guenever held out stoutly +against him, and neither by fair speech nor foul could he induce her to +trust herself into his hands again. + +[Illustration: THE TOWER OF LONDON.] + +There now came to Mordred the bishop of Canterbury, who said,-- + +"Sir, what would you do? Would you displease God and shame knighthood +by wedding the wife of your uncle, who has been to you as a father? +Cease this vile purpose, I command you, or I shall curse you with book, +and bell, and candle, and bring upon your head the vengeance of the +church." + +"Do your worst, sir priest," said Mordred, angrily. "I defy you." + +"I shall do what I ought; be sure of that. You noise about that the lord +Arthur is slain, no word of which I believe. You seek with a lie to make +mischief in this land. Beware, lest your vile work recoil upon +yourself." + +"Peace, thou false priest," cried Mordred. "Chafe me no more, or I shall +order that thy head be stricken off." + +Finding that words were useless, the bishop departed, and, as he had +threatened, laid the curse of the church on Mordred. Roused to rage by +this, the usurper sought him to slay him, and he fled in all haste to +Glastonbury, where he took refuge as a hermit in a chapel. But well he +knew that war was at hand, and that the rightful king would soon strike +for the throne. + +Despite the anathema of the church, Mordred continued his efforts to get +Guenever into his power; but she held firmly to the Tower, repelling all +his assaults, and declaring openly that she would rather kill herself +than marry such a wretch. Soon afterwards he was forced to raise the +siege, for word came to him by secret messengers that Arthur had heard +of his treason, and was coming home with his whole host to revenge +himself on the usurper of his crown. + +When Mordred heard this he made strenuous efforts to gather a large +army, and many lords joined him with their people, saying that with +Arthur there had been nothing but war and strife, but that with Mordred +they hoped for peace and a quiet life. Thus was evil said of the good +King Arthur when he was away from the land, and that by many who owed to +him their honors and estates. Mordred was thus quickly able to draw with +a great host to Dover, where he had heard that Arthur would land, for he +hoped to defeat and slay him before he could get firm footing on +England's soil. + +Not long had he been there when a great fleet of ships, galleys, and +carracks appeared upon the sea, bearing the king's army back to their +native realm. On the beach stood Mordred's host, drawn up to prevent the +landing of the king's army. As the boats came to the shore, laden with +noble men-of-arms, a fierce struggle ensued, in which many a knight was +slain, while full many a bold baron was laid low on both sides. But so +courageous was the king, and so fierce the onset of his knights, that +the opposing host could not hinder the landing of his army. And when +they had gained a footing on the land, they set on Mordred with such +fury that he and all his host were driven back and forced to fly, +leaving Arthur master of the field. + +After the battle, the king ordered that the dead should be buried and +the wounded cared for. Among the latter Sir Gawaine was found lying in a +great boat, where he had been felled with a deadly wound in the bitter +strife. On hearing this direful news, Arthur hastened to him and took +him in his arms, with great show of grief and pain. + +"In you and in Lancelot I had my highest joy," moaned the king. "Now I +have lost you both, and all my earthly happiness is gone." + +"My death is at hand," said Gawaine, "and I owe it all to my own hate +and bitterness for I am smitten on the old wound that Lancelot gave me, +and feel that I must die. Had he but been with you this unhappy war +would never have begun. Of all this I am the cause, and have but +received my deserts. Therefore I pray you, dear uncle, let me have +paper, pen, and ink, that I may write to Sir Lancelot with my own hand." + +These were brought him, and Gawaine wrote a moving and tender letter to +Lancelot, blaming himself severely for his hardness of heart. + +In this wise it ran,-- + +"Unto Sir Lancelot, flower of all noble knights, I, Sir Gawaine, son of +King Lot of Orkney, and sister's son unto the noble King Arthur, send +greeting; and also these sad tidings, that on the tenth day of May I was +smitten on the old wound which you gave me at Benwick, and thus through +this wound have I come to my death. And I would have all the world know +that I, Sir Gawaine, Knight of the Round Table, have met with death not +through your ill-will, but from my own seeking; therefore I beseech you +to come in all haste to this realm, to which you have heretofore done +such honor. I earnestly pray you, Sir Lancelot, for all the love that +ever was betwixt us, make no tarrying, but come over the sea in all +haste, that thou mayest with thy noble knights rescue that royal king +who made thee knight, for he is hard bested with a false traitor, my own +half-brother, Sir Mordred, who has had himself crowned king, and would +have wedded Queen Guenever had she not taken refuge in the Tower of +London. We put him to flight on our landing, on the tenth day of May, +but he still holds against us with a great host. Therefore, I pray you +to come, for I am within two hours of my death; and I beg that you will +visit my tomb, and pray some prayer, more or less, for my soul." + +When Sir Gawaine had finished this letter he wept bitter tears of sorrow +and remorse, and Arthur wept beside him till they both swooned, the one +from grief, the other from pain. When they recovered, the king had the +rites of the church administered to the dying knight, who then prayed +him to send in haste for Lancelot, and to cherish him above all other +knights, as his best friend and ally. + +Afterwards, at the hour of noon, Gawaine yielded up his spirit. And the +king had him interred in Dover castle, where men to this day may see his +skull, with the wound thereon that Lancelot gave him in battle. + +Word was now brought to King Arthur that Mordred had pitched a new camp +on Barham Down. Thither in all haste he led his army, and there a second +great battle was fought, with much loss on both sides. But at the end +Arthur's party stood best, and Mordred fled, with all his host, to +Canterbury. + +This second victory changed the feeling of the country, and many people +who had held aloof joined the king's army, saying that Mordred was a +traitor and usurper. When the dead had been buried and the wounded cared +for, Arthur marched with his host to the sea-shore, westward towards +Salisbury. Here a challenge passed between him and Mordred, in which +they agreed to meet on a down beside Salisbury, on the day after Trinity +Sunday, and there fight out their quarrel. + +Mordred now made haste to recruit his army, raising many men about +London, for the people of that section of the country held largely with +him, and particularly those who were friendly to Lancelot. When the time +fixed came near, the two armies drew together and camped on Salisbury +Down. + +And so the days passed till came the night of Trinity Sunday, when the +king dreamed a strange dream, for it seemed to him that he sat in a +chair that was fastened to a wheel, and was covered with the richest +cloth of gold that could be made. But far beneath him he beheld a +hideous black pool, in which were all manner of serpents, and vile +worms, foul and horrible. Suddenly the wheel seemed to turn, and he fell +among the serpents, which seized upon his limbs. + +Awakening in fright, he loudly cried, "Help!" and knights and squires +came crowding in alarm into his chamber; but he was so amazed that he +knew not where he was nor what he said. + +Then he fell again into a half slumber, in which Gawaine seemed to come +to him attended by a number of fair ladies. + +"Fair nephew," asked the king, "who are these ladies?" + +"They are those for whom I did battle during my life," answered Gawaine. +"God has sent them and me to warn you of your coming death, for if you +fight with Mordred to-morrow as you have agreed, you will both be slain, +and most of your people. Therefore I am here to warn you not to fight +to-morrow, but to treat with the traitor, and make him large and fair +promises, so as to gain a month's delay. Within that time Lancelot and +his knights will come, and Mordred the usurper cannot hold against you +both." + +This said, Gawaine and the ladies vanished. Then Arthur waked, and sent +messengers in haste to bring his lords and bishops to council. When they +had come he told them his dream, and they counselled him by all means to +be guided by it. Lucan the butler, and his brother Sir Bevidere, with +two bishops, were therefore sent to treat with Mordred, and make him +large promises for a month's truce. + +The commissioners sought Mordred's camp and held a long conference with +him. At the end he agreed to meet King Arthur on the plain between the +hosts, each to bring but fourteen persons with him, and there consult on +the treaty. + +"I am glad that this is accomplished," said the king, when word of the +compact was brought him. + +But when he was ready to start for the place of conference, with the +fourteen chosen men, he said to his knights,-- + +"Be wary and watchful, for I trust not Mordred. If you see any sword +drawn, come fiercely forward, and slay the villain and his guard." + +Mordred gave the same warning to his lords, for he had equal mistrust of +Arthur, whom he feared and doubted. + +The two leaders, with their chosen followers, now advanced and met +between the hosts. But by a fatal chance, as the king and his opponent +were in consultation, an adder came from a heath bush and stung a knight +on the foot. Feeling the wound he drew his sword in thoughtless haste to +kill the venomous serpent. But the instant the hosts on both sides saw +that sword flash in the air all was uproar and tumult. On both sides +trumpets and horns were blown, harness rattled and clanked, and the +flash of spear-heads and sword-blades gleamed in the sunlight, while +like two mighty waves of war the great hosts broke from their stations +and rushed together across the plain. + +Then Arthur sprang to his horse, exclaiming, "Alas! this unhappy day!" +and rode to his party; and Mordred did likewise. + +No hand nor voice could stay the advancing hosts, and in a moment there +began the most doleful battle ever seen in Christian land. For there was +rushing and riding, foining and striking, and deadly clamor, and fearful +strife. Many a grim word was there spoken, and many a deadly stroke +dealt. Many times King Arthur rode through Mordred's host, and knightly +were the deeds of his hands. And Mordred fought with knightly valor and +zeal. + +Thus went on the deadly fray all day long, without pause or stint, till +noble knights lay like fallen leaves upon the bloody ground. And when +nightfall was at hand they still fought with desperate valor, though by +that time full a hundred thousand men lay dead upon the down. + +Then the heart of Arthur grew full of warlike fury, to see so many of +his people slain. And when the sun was near its setting, he leaned upon +his crimson sword, and looked about him with eyes that seemed to weep +blood. For of all his mighty host of knights but two remained alive, Sir +Lucan the butler, and his brother Sir Bevidere; and both of these were +sorely wounded. + +"God's mercy!" cried the king, "where are all my noble knights? Alas! +that I have lived to see this doleful day! Now, indeed, am I come to my +end. But would to God I knew where to find that traitor, Mordred, who +has caused all this mischief." + +As he spoke, his eyes fell on Mordred, who stood leaning upon his sword +amid a great heap of slain, for his host had been slaughtered to a man. + +"Give me my spear," cried Arthur, wrathfully, to Sir Lucan. "Yonder +stands the traitor who has wrought this dire woe." + +"Let him be," said Lucan. "He is unhappy enough. Remember, my good lord, +your last night's dream, and what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told you. +For God's sake make an end of this fray. Blessed be God, we have won the +field; for here are three of us alive, while Mordred stands alone among +his dead. If you leave off now, the wicked day of destiny will pass and +life remain to you. Your time for revenge will come hereafter." + +"Betide me life, betide me death," cried the king, "this fray must end +here. Now that I see him yonder alone, he shall never escape my hands. +One or both of us shall die." + +"Then God speed the just cause," said Bevidere. + +With no word more Arthur took his spear in both hands, and ran furiously +at Mordred, crying,-- + +"Traitor, now has thy day of death come!" + +When Mordred heard him, he raised his dripping sword and ran to meet the +king. Thus they met in mid-field, and King Arthur smote Mordred under +the shield, the spear piercing his body more than a fathom. + +Mordred felt that he had his death-wound, but with a last impulse of +fury in his felon soul he thrust himself, with all his strength, up to +the bur of King Arthur's spear. Then wielding his sword with both hands, +he struck the king so dread a blow on the side of the head that the +trenchant blade cut through the helmet and deep into the skull. + +With this last and fatal stroke Mordred fell stark dead to the ground. +And Arthur sank in a swoon to the earth, where he lay like one dead. + +Thus sadly and direfully ended that dreadful war, with which came to a +close the flower of the days of chivalry, and the glorious and +never-to-be equalled fellowship of the Round Table, with all the mighty +deeds of prowess and marvels of adventure that to it belonged. For of +those noble knights, except Sir Lancelot and his kindred, only two +lived, Sir Lucan the butler, and Sir Bevidere his brother, and of these +two Sir Lucan was wounded unto death; and with them the illustrious King +Arthur, whose chivalrous soul had so long sustained this noble order of +knighthood, lay bleeding piteously upon that direful field of blood. + +Sir Lucan and Bevidere, with bitter tears of sorrow, lifted their +helpless king between them, and with great labor led him from that place +of slaughter till they reached a small chapel near the sea-shore. Here, +as the night drew on, the sound of many voices came to them, as if the +dead had risen and were astir on the blood-stained field. + +"What noise is this, Sir Lucan?" said the king. "Go, gentle friend, and +tell me what it means." + +Lucan went, and by the moonlight saw a throng of pillagers, who robbed +the dead bodies of money and jewels, killing for their riches those +knights who were not quite dead. When he brought this news back to +Arthur, the king's sad heart came near to breaking. + +"Alas! Lancelot," he said, "how have I missed you this day. Alas! that I +ever turned against you, for had you been here this fatal end could +never have been, nor those noble warriors left to be the prey of the +wolves and jackals of the battle-field. Sorely have I erred and sadly +have I been repaid for my error. But now, alas, it is too late for +regret or amendment, for the fellowship of the Round Table is at an end, +and Arthur the king shall reign no more." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE PASSING OF ARTHUR. + + +When morning dawned, after that day of fate, Lucan and Bevidere took up +the king between them, and sought to bear him to the sea-shore, as he +bade them do. But in the lifting the king swooned, and Lucan fell +prostrate, the blood gushing anew from his wound. + +Arthur lay long like one dead, and when he came to himself again he saw +Lucan lifeless at his feet, with foam upon his lips, and the ground +around him deeply stained with his blood. + +"Alas! this is a heavy sight to see," he said. "He sought to help me +when he stood most in need of help. He would not complain though his +heart broke, and has given his life for mine. May Jesus have mercy on +his soul." + +Bevidere stood beside him, weeping bitterly for the death of his +brother. + +"Weep and mourn no more," said the king. "It will not now avail. Could I +live, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore. But my time goeth +fast, and there is that to do for which but few moments remain." + +Then he closed his eyes for a time, like one who sees visions; and when +he looked again there was that in his face which Bevidere could not +fathom and his eyes were deep with meaning unrevealed. + +"Now, my lord Bevidere," said the king, "the end is at hand. Take thou +my good sword Excalibur, and go with it to yonder water-side. When thou +comest there, I charge thee throw it as far as thou canst into the +water; then come again and tell me what thing thou seest." + +"Trust me, my lord and king, your command shall be obeyed," said +Bevidere. + +So he took the sword and departed to the water-side. But as his eyes +fell upon the noble weapon, whose pommel and haft were all of precious +stones, a feeling of greed came upon him and he said to himself,-- + +"If I throw this rich sword into the water, no good can come of it, but +only harm and loss. Had I not better keep it for myself?" + +Moved by this thought, he hid Excalibur under a tree, and returned to +the king, whom he told that he had thrown the sword into the water. + +"What saw you there?" asked the king. + +"Sir, I saw nothing but the rippling waves." + +"Then you speak untruly," said the king. "You have not thrown the sword +as I bade you. Go again, and obey my command, as you are to me dear and +true. Spare not, but throw it in afar." + +Bevidere thereupon went again, and took the sword in his hand. But the +rich jewels so glittered in the sun that his greed came back more +strongly than before, and he deemed it a sin to throw into the sea that +noble blade. So he hid the sword again, and returned to the king with +his former tale. + +"What sawest thou there?" asked the king. + +"Sir, I saw nothing but the waves that broke on the beach, and heard +only the roar of the surf." + +"Ah, traitor! false and untrue art thou!" cried the king. "Thou hast +betrayed me twice. Who would have thought that thou, whom I held dear, +and who art named a noble knight, would betray his king for the jewels +of a sword? Go again, for thy long delay puts me in a great jeopardy of +my life. If now you do not as I have bidden, beware of me hereafter, for +dead or alive I will have revenge upon you. Would you, Sir Bevidere, for +a shining blade, bring death and ruin to your king?" + +Then Bevidere, heart-full of shame, hastened away, and took the sword, +turning his eyes manfully away from its jewelled hilt. Binding the +girdle around it, with all the might of his arm he hurled the blade far +out over the waves. + +Then came a marvel. For as he followed the sword with his eyes, he saw a +hand and arm rise above the waves to meet the blade. The hand caught it +by the hilt, and brandished it thrice in the air, and then vanished with +it into the water. + +Bevidere, much wondering, hurried back to the king, and told him what he +had seen. + +"Now, Sir Bevidere, you have done as I bade you," said Arthur. "But much +precious time have you lost. Help me hence, in God's name, for I fear +that I have tarried over-long." + +Then Bevidere took the king on his back and bore him to the water-side, +and lo! there he saw another strange thing. + +For close by the shore lay a little barge, which he had not seen before, +and in it sat many fair ladies, among whom were three queens, who wore +black hoods, and wept with bitter sorrow when they saw King Arthur. + +"Now help me into the barge," said the king. + +This Sir Bevidere did as gently as he could. And the three queens +received the dying monarch with deep mourning, and had him laid between +them, with his head on the lap of her who sat in the centre. + +"Alas! dear brother, why have you tarried so long from me?" said this +queen. "Much harm I fear from this sad wound." + +And so they rowed from the land, while Bevidere stood on the shore sadly +watching the barge go from him. + +"Ah, my lord Arthur," he cried, "what shall become of me, now that you +go from me and leave me here alone among my enemies?" + +"Comfort thyself," said the king, "and do what thou mayest, for in me +can no man henceforth put his trust. I go into the vale of Avilion, to a +happy summer island far over the sea, where I shall be healed of my +grievous wound. But when I shall come again no voice may tell. Mayhap I +shall never come, but dwell forever in that sunny vale. If you never +hear more of me, pray for my soul." + +Then again the queens and the ladies wept and moaned, and the barge +moved swiftly over the long waves and afar to sea, while Bevidere stood +and watched it till it became a black speck on the waters. Then it +vanished and was seen no more, and the lonely watcher cast himself upon +the beach, weeping like one who has lost all life's happiness. + +But when night came near he turned and went wearily away, heavy with the +weight of death that lay upon his soul, for he alone remained of +yesterday's mighty hosts. All that night he journeyed through a great +forest, and in the morning he found himself between two hoary cliffs, +with a chapel and a hermitage in the glen that lay between. + +In this hermitage he found the holy man who had been archbishop of +Canterbury, and who had come hither to escape Mordred's rage. With him +Bevidere stayed till he was cured of his wounds, and afterwards he put +on poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and +prayers. + +But as for the three queens who went with Arthur to the island of +Avilion, the chronicles say that they were Morgan le Fay his sister, the +queen of Northgalis, and the queen of the Waste Lands. And with them was +Nimue, the lady of the lake. All were skilled in magic, but whither they +bore King Arthur, or where lies the magical isle of Avilion, or if he +shall come again, all this no man can say. These are of the secrets that +time alone can tell, and we only know that his coming is not yet. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE DEATH OF LANCELOT AND GUENEVER. + + +When word was brought to Lancelot du Lake that Mordred had usurped the +throne of England, had besieged Guenever in the Tower of London, and had +sought to prevent Arthur from landing at Dover, his soul was moved to +wrath and sorrow. And still more was he moved by the letter of Sir +Gawaine, with its pitiful self-reproach and earnest wistfulness. + +"Is it a time for mourning?" said Sir Bors to Lancelot. "My counsel is +that you cross at once to England, visit Gawaine's tomb, as he requests, +and then revenge my lord Arthur and my lady Guenever on this base +traitor, Mordred." + +"It is well advised," said Lancelot. "To England we must go in all +haste." + +Then ships and galleys were made ready with the greatest despatch, for +Lancelot and his host to pass over to England. And in good time he +landed at Dover, having with him seven kings and a mighty host of men. + +But when he asked the people of Dover the news of the country, his heart +was filled with dismay to hear of the great battle on Salisbury Downs, +where a hundred thousand men had died in a day, and of the death of +Arthur the king. + +"Alas!" said Lancelot, "this is the heaviest tidings that ever mortal +ears heard. Would that I had been advised in good time. Nothing now +remains to do. I have come too late. Fair sirs, I pray you to show me +the tomb of Sir Gawaine." + +Then they brought him into the castle of Dover, and showed him the tomb. +Lancelot fell on his knees before it, and wept, and prayed heartily for +the soul of him that lay within. And that night he made a funeral feast, +to which all who came had flesh, fish, wine, and ale, and every man and +woman was given twelve pence. With his own hand he dealt them money in +a mourning gown; and ever he wept, and prayed for the soul of Sir +Gawaine. + +In the morning, all the priests and clerks of the country round +gathered, at his request, and sang a requiem mass before the tomb. And +Lancelot offered a hundred pounds, and each of the seven kings forty +pounds, and a thousand knights offered one pound each, this going on +from morning till night. And Lancelot lay two nights on the tomb in +prayer and weeping. + +On the third day he called about him the kings, dukes, earls, barons, +and knights of his train, and said to them,-- + +"My fair lords, I thank you all for coming into this country with me; +but we have come too late, and that I shall mourn while I live. But +since it is so, I shall myself ride and seek my lady Queen Guenever, for +men say that she has fled from London, and become a nun, and that she +lives in deep penance, and in fasting, prayers, and almsgiving, and is +sick almost unto death. Therefore, I pray you, await me here, and if I +come not again within fifteen days, then take ship and return to your +own country." + +"Is it wise for you to ride in this realm?" said Sir Bors. "Few friends +will you find here now." + +"Be that as it may," said Lancelot, "I shall go on my journey. Keep you +still here, for no man nor child shall go with me." + +No boot was it to strive with him, and he departed and rode westerly, on +a seven or eight days' journey, asking of all people as he went. At last +he came to the nunnery where was Queen Guenever, who saw him as she +walked in the cloister, and swooned away, so that her ladies had work +enough to keep her from falling. When she could speak, she said,-- + +"Ye marvel why I am so held. Truly, it is for the sight of yonder +knight. Bid him come hither, I pray you." + +And when Sir Lancelot had come, she said to him with sweet and sad +visage,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, through our love has all this happened, and through it my +noble lord has come to his death. As for me, I am in a way to get my +soul's health. Therefore, I pray you heartily, for all the love that +ever was between us, that you see me no more in the visage; but turn to +thy kingdom again, and keep well thy realm from war and wrack. So well +have I loved you that my heart will not serve me to see you, for through +you and me is the flower of kings and knights destroyed. Therefore, Sir +Lancelot, go to thy realm, and take there a wife, and live with her in +joy and bliss; and I beseech you heartily to pray to God for me, that I +may amend my mis-living." + +"Nay, madam, I shall never take a wife," said Lancelot. "Never shall I +be false to you; but the same lot you have chosen that shall I choose." + +"If you will do so, I pray that you may," said the queen. "Yet I cannot +believe but that you will turn to the world again." + +"Madam," he earnestly replied, "in the quest of the Sangreal I would +have forsaken the world but for the service of your lord. If I had done +so then with all my heart, I had passed all the knights on the quest +except Galahad, my son. And had I now found you disposed to earthly +joys, I would have begged you to come into my realm. But since I find +you turned to heavenly hopes, I, too, shall take to penance, and pray +while my life lasts, if I can find any hermit, either gray or white, who +will receive me. Wherefore, madam, I pray you kiss me, and never more +shall my lips touch woman's." + +"Nay," said the queen, "that shall I never do. But take you my blessing, +and leave me." + +Then they parted. But hard of heart would he have been who had not wept +to see their grief; for there was lamentation as deep as though they had +been wounded with spears. The ladies bore the queen to her chamber, and +Lancelot took his horse and rode all that day and all that night in a +forest, weeping. + +At last he became aware of a hermitage and a chapel that stood between +two cliffs, and then he heard a little bell ring to mass, so he rode +thither and alighted, and heard mass. + +He that sang mass was the archbishop of Canterbury, and with him was Sir +Bevidere. After the mass they conversed together, and when Bevidere had +told all his lamentable tale, Lancelot's heart almost broke with sorrow. +He flung his arms abroad, crying,-- + +"Alas! who may trust this world?" + +Then he kneeled, and prayed the bishop to shrive and absolve him, +beseeching that he might accept him as his brother in the faith. To this +the bishop gladly consented, and he put a religious habit on Lancelot, +who served God there night and day with prayers and fastings. + +Meanwhile the army remained at Dover. But Lionel with fifteen lords rode +to London to seek Lancelot. There he was assailed by Mordred's friends, +and slain with many of his lords. Then Sir Bors bade the kings, with +their followers, to return to France. But he, with others of Lancelot's +kindred, set out to ride over all England in search of their lost +leader. + +At length Bors came by chance to the chapel where Lancelot was. As he +rode by he heard the sound of a little bell that rang to mass, and +thereupon alighted and entered the chapel. But when he saw Lancelot and +Bevidere in hermits' clothing his surprise was great, and he prayed for +the privilege to put on the same suit. Afterwards other knights joined +them, so that there were seven in all. + +There they remained in penance for six years, and afterwards Sir +Lancelot took the habit of a priest, and for a twelvemonth he sang mass. +But at length came a night when he had a vision that bade him to seek +Almesbury, where he would find Guenever dead. Thrice that night was the +vision repeated, and Lancelot rose before day and told the hermit of +what he had dreamed. + +"It is from God," said the hermit. "See that you make ready, and disobey +not the warning." + +So, in the early morn, Lancelot and his fellows set out on foot from +Glastonbury to Almesbury, which is little more than thirty miles. But +they were two days on the road, for they were weak and feeble with long +penance. And when they reached the nunnery they found that Guenever had +died but half an hour before. + +The ladies told Lancelot that the queen had said,-- + +"Hither cometh Lancelot as fast as he may to fetch my corpse. But I +beseech Almighty God that I may never behold him again with my mortal +eyes." + +This, said the ladies, was her prayer for two days, till she died. When +Lancelot looked upon her dead face he wept not greatly, but sighed. And +he said all the service for the dead himself, and in the morning he sang +mass. + +Then was the corpse placed in a horse-bier, and so taken to Glastonbury +with a hundred torches ever burning about it, and Lancelot and his +fellows on foot beside it, singing and reading many a holy orison, and +burning frankincense about the corpse. + +When the chapel had been reached, and services said by the hermit +archbishop, the queen's corpse was wrapped in cered cloth of Raines, +thirty-fold, and afterwards was put in a web of lead, and then in a +coffin of marble. + +But when the corpse of her whom he had so long loved was put in the +earth, Lancelot swooned with grief, and lay long like one dead, till the +hermit came and aroused him, and said,-- + +"You are to blame for such unmeasured grief. You displease God thereby." + +[Illustration: Copyright by F. Frith and Co. Ltd., London, England. + +THE OLD KITCHEN OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY.] + +"I trust not," Lancelot replied, "for my sorrow is too deep ever to +cease. When I remember how greatly I am to blame for the death of this +noble King Arthur and Queen Guenever, my heart sinks within me, and I +feel that I shall never know a moment's joy again." + +Thereafter he sickened and pined away, for the bishop nor any of his +fellows could make him eat nor drink but very little, but day and night +he prayed, and wasted away, and ever lay grovelling on the tomb of the +queen. + +So, within six weeks afterwards, Lancelot fell sick and lay in his bed. +Then he sent for the bishop and all his fellows, and said with sad +voice: "Sir Bishop, I pray you give me all the rites that belong to a +Christian man, for my end is at hand." + +"This is but heaviness of your blood," replied the bishop. "You shall be +well amended, I hope, through God's grace, by to-morrow morning." + +"In heaven, mayhap, but not on earth," said Lancelot. "So give me the +rites of the church, and after my death, I beg you to take my body to +Joyous Gard, for there I have vowed that I would be buried." + +When they had heard this, and saw that he was indeed near his end, there +was such weeping and wringing of hands among his fellows that they could +hardly help the bishop in the holy offices of the church. But that +night, after the midnight hour, as the bishop lay asleep, he fell into +such a hearty laugh of joy that they all came to him in haste, and asked +him what ailed him. + +"Why did you wake me?" he cried. "I was never in my life so happy and +merry." + +"Wherefore?" asked Sir Bors. + +"Truly, here was Sir Lancelot with me, with more angels than I ever saw +men together; and I saw the angels bear him to heaven, and the gates of +heaven opened to him." + +"This is but the vexation of a dream," said Sir Bors. "Lancelot may yet +mend." + +"Go to his bed," said the hermit, "and you shall find if my dream has +meaning." + +This they hastened to do, and there lay Lancelot dead, but with a smile +on his lips, and the sweetest savor about him they ever had known. + +Great was the grief that followed, for never earthly man was mourned as +was Lancelot. In the morning, after the bishop had made a requiem mass, +he and his fellows put the corpse of the noble knight into the same +horse-bier that had borne Guenever, and the queen's corpse with it, and +they were taken together to Joyous Gard, with such state and ceremony as +befitted those of royal blood. + +And there all the services of the church were sung and read, while the +face of Lancelot lay open for people to see; for such was then the +custom of the land. When the services were over they were buried in one +tomb, for so great had been their love during life that all men said +they should not be divided in death. + +During these events, Sir Constantine, the noble son of Sir Cador of +Cornwall, had been chosen king of England in Arthur's place, and a +worthy monarch he proved, ruling the realm worshipfully and long. + +After Lancelot's death the new king sent for the bishop of Canterbury, +and restored him to his archbishopric; but Sir Bevidere remained a +hermit at Glastonbury to his life's end. + +King Constantine also desired the kindred of Lancelot to remain in his +realm; but this they would not do, but returned to their own country. +Four of them, Sir Bors, Sir Hector, Sir Blamor, and Sir Bleoberis, went +to the Holy Land, where they fought long and stoutly against the +Saracens. And there they died upon a Good Friday, for God's sake. + +And so ends the book of the life and death of King Arthur and his noble +Knights of the Round Table, who were an hundred and fifty when they were +all together. Let us pray that God was merciful to them all. + +THE END. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected as follows; + + Pg. 12 - Added missing punctuation "?" (might champion?) + + Pg. 188 - Added missing punctuation "." (and he did all.) + + Pg. 270 - Added missing endquote ("This I say,") + + Pg. 316 - Removed extra enquote (what will you do?) + + +2. Spelling corrections based upon correct spelling of the word + elsewhere in the text: + + Pg. 39 - "grevious" to "grievous" (4) (grievous cry that) + + Pg. 50 - "you" to "your" ("Knight, hold your hand.") + + Pg. 83 - "Dinaden" to "Dinadan" (92) (Gareth and Dinadan also) + + Pg. 94 - "seaside" to "sea-side" (8) (castle by the sea-side,) + + Pg. 127 - "law" to "lay" (as he lay there asleep) + + Pg. 143 - "Badgemagus" to "Bagdemagus" (11) (said Bagdemagus) + + Pg. 159 - "Percival" to "Percivale" (94) (Percivale had returned) + + Pg. 166 - "dressel" to "dressed" (old man dressed in a) + + Pg. 189 - "this" to "his" (to his surprise and joy) + + Pg. 202 - "Nacien" to "Nancien" (3) (once by Nancien) + + Pg. 220 - "seem" to "seen" (and seen what you highly) + + Pg. 238 - "befel" to "befell" (5) (it befell that Nimue) + + Pg. 281 - "Turquin" to "Turquine" (2) (by Sir Turquine?) + + Pg. 289 - "Tristam's" to "Tristram's" (313) (and Tristram's sake) + + Pg. 298 - "wil" to "will" (361) (if you will receive) + + Pg. 299 - "dishoner" to "dishonor" (12) (naught to her dishonor.) + + +3. Words where both versions appear in this text and have been retained. + + "threescore" (2) and "three-score" + + "King Astlabor" (p. 87) and "King Astlobar" (p. 90) + + +4. Known English Archaic words used in this text: + + "emprise" (prowess/daring) + + "guerdon" (reward) + + "halidom" (a thing considered holy) + + "leman" (sweetheart) + + "lief" (dear) + + "woful" (3) (now woeful) + + "villanous" (6) and villany (3) (now var. of villian* (10)) + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15), by Charles Morris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL 14 (OF 15) *** + +***** This file should be named 32292.txt or 32292.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/9/32292/ + +Produced by Christine Aldridge and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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