CHAPTER XIII. THE TOURNAMENT OF LONAZEP.
WHILE Tristram was with La Beale Isoude at Joyous Gard, he often rodehunting, of which pastime he was exceedingly fond; and by Isoude'sadvice he always rode armed. One day as he was returning from the chase,with his helm on, he met Sir Dinadan, who had come into that countryto seek him. Sir Dinadan told his name; but Sir Tristram would not, atwhich Sir Dinadan was angry, and reproached him; and at last said thathe must either tell his name or do battle. Tristram would do neither;so then Dinadan chid him for a coward. As they talked there came bya knight, Sir Epinogris, and Dinadan challenged him to joust. SirEpinogris was nothing loath, and when they ran together he smote SirDinadan out of his saddle.
"How is it with you now?" said Tristram.
"Fie upon thee, coward," cried Dinadan. "If thou be anything of aknight, avenge my shame."
"Nay," answered Sir Tristram. "I will not joust at this time; but takeyour horse and let us go from hence."
"God defend me," said Dinadan, "from thy fellowship, for I have not spedwell since I met thee."
"Well," said Tristram, "peradventure I could give you tidings of SirTristram."
"I will not believe," answered Dinadan, "that Sir Tristram would ever bein thy company; if he were, he were so much the worse."
And so they parted; and Tristram rode home to Joyous Gard, wherehe alighted and unarmed him. He told Isoude of his meeting with SirDinadan, and how he was full of mirth, and the best companion among allknights. "Why have you not brought him with you?" asked Isoude.
"Do not be afraid," said Sir Tristram. "He has only come here to seekme, and I guess we shall soon hear of him."
Even as he spoke, one of the servants in the castle came to tell SirTristram that an errant-knight had come to the castle seeking lodging;and by the device of his shield Tristram knew it was Sir Dinadan. SoTristram bade Isoude send for him, saying that he would himself keep outof sight; and he told his lady that if she spoke in praise of lovers,against whom Sir Dinadan ever railed, she would have great diversion.Dinadan was accordingly welcomed to the castle, and when he was broughtto Isoude, she questioned him as to his name, and whence he came, andwherefore he rode in that country. He told her all she would know. Thenshe led the talk to lovers, and he railed greatly against them. "Now,I pray you," said she, "to tell me, will you fight for my love againstthree knights that have done me great wrong? Inasmuch as you be a knightof King Arthur's court, I require you to undertake this battle for me."
"Madam," answered Dinadan, "I will say plainly to you that though youare the fairest lady I ever saw, and much fairer than is my lady QueenGuenever, yet will I not fight for you or for any other against threeknights." So Isoude laughed heartily at him; and they had pleasantdiversion together. In the morning Tristram armed him early, to ride toLonazep, where a great tournament had been appointed, to which knightswere coming from all parts; and he promised to meet with Sir Dinadan onthe way, and ride with him. Afterwards Sir Dinadan departed, and in awhile he overtook Sir Tristram.
"Ah!" said he, "art thou that coward knight with whom I met yesterday?Make ready; for thou shalt joust with me whether thou wilt or not."
"To that I am loath," answered Tristram; and so they ran together. ButTristram missed him purposely, and he broke his spear on Tristram. Thenhe drew out his sword; but Tristram refused to fight with swords.
"Well," cried Dinadan, "thou art as goodly and large a man as ever Isaw; but a greater coward I never met. What wilt thou do with thosegreat spears thou hast with thee?"--for Tristram's squires were bearingspears for his use at the tournament.
"I shall give them," said Tristram, "to some good knight when I come tothe tournament; and if I see you do the best, I will give them to you."
As they rode on together and talked, they saw in the way a knight thatstood ready to joust.
"Do thou meet him," said Tristram. "I will not, for he seems to me to bea shrewish knight."
"Shame on thee!" answered Dinadan.
However, he encountered with the knight, who smote him clean out of hissaddle. Then Sir Dinadan rose to his feet very angry, and challenged theother to fight on foot.
"What is thy name?" asked the knight.
"Wit you well, I am Sir Dinadan."
"And I am Sir Gareth, brother to Sir Gawaine."
Then were both glad of the meeting, for Sir Gareth was the best knightof his kin, and was greatly loved of all true knights; so there was nomore talk of fighting. But as Dinadan and Gareth rode together, theyspoke of Tristram, and of his great cowardice (for they knew him not);and he heard all they said, but only laughed at them. Presently theyovertook another knight, who wished to joust.
"Let one of you encounter with that knight," said Tristram, "for I willnot have to deal with him."
"Then I will," said Gareth.
So they ran together, and the stranger knight smote Sir Gareth over hishorse's croup.
"Now," quoth Tristram to Sir Dinadan, "do thou avenge that good knightSir Gareth."
"That will I not," answered Dinadan; "for the stranger hath strickendown a much stronger knight than I am."
"Ah," said Sir Tristram, "now, Sir Dinadan, I perceive that your heartbegins to fail you; so you shall see what I can do." Then he rode tothe other knight, and, when they met, smote him clean out of his saddle.Then Sir Dinadan marvelled who this man might be that he thought such acoward. But the knight that was overthrown drew his sword, and demandedto fight on foot.
"What is your name?" asked Tristram.
"Sir," answered the other, "my name is Palomides."
"What knight do you most hate?" then said Tristram.
"Sir Knight," said Sir Palomides, "I hate Sir Tristram to the death; andif we meet, then one of us shall die."
"Then," answered Tristram, "you may know that I am Sir Tristram; and sonow do your worst."
When Sir Palomides heard that, he was astonished; and he begged SirTristram to forgive his evil words, and promised ever to serve himknightly. So they were friends, and all four rode on together; but SirDinadan complained of the manner in which Sir Tristram had mockedhim. As they went, Sir Palomides told of a shameful deed that had beenwrought by Sir Gawaine and his brothers Gaheris, Agravaine, and Mordred.They had ever had ill-will to King Pellinore and all his kin, becauseKing Pellinore had killed in battle their father King Lot, and they hadmany years before compassed the death of King Pellinore. But eventhis vengeance had not satisfied them; and they had lately beset SirLamoracke de Galis, his son, as he was riding alone from a tournament,and had killed him feloniously, giving him his death-wound from behind.Of this deed Sir Tristram and the others spoke strongly in blame; andSir Gareth, though he was the brother of those who had done it, saidas much as any of the others, declaring that because of that murder heshould never love his brethren or keep fellowship with them.
The four knights went back again together to Joyous Gard, because theday of the tournament was not yet come, and there they had good cheertogether. After some days they set out for Lonazep, and Queen Isouderode with them, richly attired, to see the tournament. As they wentalong they saw a large body of knights: it was Sir Galihodin, who hadtwenty knights with him. When Sir Galihodin beheld Tristram and hisparty, he said,--
"Fair fellows, yonder ride four knights and a beautiful lady. I amdisposed to take their lady from them."
So he sent a squire to Sir Tristram to ask whether he and his fellowswould joust or deliver up their lady.
"Tell your lord," answered Tristram, "to come with as many as he will,and win her and take her."
"Sir," said Palomides, "I pray you to let me have this adventure."
"With all my heart," said Sir Tristram.
Then Sir Galihodin and three of his fellows approached them; but SirPalomides, with one spear, unhorsed all of them. When the rest of SirGalihodin's knights saw his downfall, six more of them came, and wouldhave set on Sir Palomides; but he stood still and awaited them; and SirGalihodin forbade them to meddle with him; so, as Si
r Palomides saw thatthey would joust no more, he returned to Tristram and the others.
"Right well and worshipfully have you done," said Tristram, "as a goodknight should."
Presently they fell in with four knights more--Sir Gawaine, Sir Ewaine,Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and Sir Dodinas le Savage. Now, Sir Palomideswas eager to prove himself a good knight before Queen Isoude, and hebegged Sir Tristram that if these knights sought to joust they alsomight be left to him. Sir Tristram again assented. So Sir Palomides rodeforward, encountered the four knights one after another, and smote themall to the ground. After that, they rode on quietly to Lonazep; andthere Sir Tristram had two pavilions pitched beside a well and he andhis company abode in them.
At and about the castle of Lonazep were gathered a noble assembly ofknights and kings. King Arthur was there, with the most of the Knightsof the Round Table; and on the other side the kings of Scotland,Ireland, Surluse, Northumberland, Listenoise, Northgalis, and others,with their knights.
Sir Tristram and the three knights who were with him went in greencolours; and when the pavilions had been pitched, Sir Tristram and SirDinadan rode into Lonazep to hear what might be doing there, and SirTristram rode Sir Palomides' horse, which was white. Sir Gawaine andSir Galihodin saw him, and they thought it was the same knight who hadstricken them down; and so they told King Arthur that that knight on thewhite horse had unhorsed them and six of their fellows. Thereupon KingArthur sent for Sir Tristram, and asked him his name; but Tristram wouldnot tell it.
"Upon what side will you be in the tournament?" asked the king.
"Truly," replied Sir Tristram, "I cannot tell that till I come to thefield, and then I will go on the side to which my heart inclineth."
So then he and Sir Dinadan rode again to their pavilions.
"Now, upon what party," said Sir Tristram, "shall we be to-morrow?"
"Sir," said Palomides, "if you will take my advice, we shall be againstKing Arthur, for on his part will be Sir Lancelot and many other goodknights; and the more worshipful they, the more worship shall we win."
"That is full knightly spoken," said Tristram; "and we will do accordingto your counsel."
So the next morning the four knights rode into the field, arrayed withtrappings, shields, and spears of green; and Queen Isoude sat at a highwindow where she could see the jousts. The knights went straight to theparty of the King of Scotland. When King Arthur saw them do that, heasked Sir Lancelot who they were.
"I do not certainly know," answered Lancelot; "but I should guess thatSir Tristram and Sir Palomides are among them."
Two knights that were brothers, named Sir Edward and Sir Sadocke, askedleave of King Arthur to have the first jousts; and straightway they metthe kings of Scotland and Northgalis, and smote them from their saddles.At that was Sir Palomides wroth, and he rode first against Sir Edwardand then against Sir Sadocke, and with the same spear he overthrew themboth. Then came in Sir Tristram on a black horse, and ere he stintedhe smote down with one spear four good knights; and Sir Gareth and SirDinadan supported him manfully.
"By my head!" cried King Arthur, "that knight on the black horse doesmarvellously well."
"Wait a little," said Gawaine; "that knight has scarcely yet begun."
And Sir Tristram remounted the kings of Scotland and North-galis, andthen he pressed in among the knights of the opposite party, and smotewith his spear and his sword to the right and left, till he had struckdown thirty knights, and Sir Palomides twenty; and most of these wereproved knights of King Arthur's court.
"As I live," said the king to Lancelot, "it is a great shame to seethose two smite down so many knights of mine. Therefore make you ready,for we will have to do with them."
"Sir," said Sir Lancelot, "they are two passing good knights, and itwill be little worship to us to have to do with them now, for they havethis day had sore travail."
"Nevertheless," answered King Arthur, "I will be avenged. Therefore takeSir Bleoberis and Sir Ector, and I will be the fourth, to do with themand the other two that ride with them."
"Sir," said Lancelot, "you shall find us ready."
So the four rode into the field; and there Sir Lancelot smote down SirTristram, and Sir Bleoberis Sir Palomides, and Sir Ector Sir Gareth, andKing Arthur overthrew Sir Dinadan. Then there was a great cry that thefour green knights had a fall; and the King of Northgalis, rememberinghow Sir Tristram had helped him, rode straight to him and said,--
"Noble knight, I know not who thou art; but for the great deeds thouhast done this day take now my horse, and I will help myself as wellas I can; for God knows thou art better worthy to have my horse than Imyself."
"Sir," said Tristram, "I thank you; and mayhap I shall be able torequite your courtesy."
Then Sir Tristram mounted and rode to King Arthur, and gave him with hissword such a buffet on the helm that he fell from his saddle. Then SirTristram gave the king's horse to the King of Northgalis. There wasa great press about King Arthur to horse him again; but Sir Palomideswould not suffer it, but smote with his sword to the right and leftmightily. Then, leaving Sir Palomides still on foot, Sir Tristram rodethrough the thickest of the press, smiting down many knights as he went,and passed to his pavilion. There he changed his horse, and put on redharness; and then he dashed lightly into the field again, and overthrewfive knights with a single spear. Very soon he had again horsed SirPalomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan; and they again began to domarvellous deeds of arms; but they knew not who had succoured them,because Tristram had changed his armour. Now La Beale Isoude, who hadwatched Sir Tristram quit the field and return again, was well pleasedwhen she saw him doing such great deeds, and she smiled as she sat atthe window. It chanced that Sir Palomides looked up and saw her, and hewas so rejoiced--because his love for her was still unabated--that hefelt as though he could have overcome any knight, even Sir Lancelot orSir Tristram himself. And he did so mightily that all men marvelled athis deeds; for he fared like a lion, and no knight could withstand him.
"By our Lady," quoth Sir Tristram to Sir Dinadan, "I always knew SirPalomides for a good knight, but never before have I seen him do sowell."
"It is his day," answered Dinadan.
But he had seen how Palomides looked up at Isoude, and he said tohimself that if Tristram knew for whose love he wrought these greatachievements he would not be so well pleased. But all that were in thefield gave Sir Palomides the prize. Just then came in Sir Lancelot, andwhen he heard the cry that Sir Palomides had done best, he got a greatspear and rode against him. But Sir Palomides smote the spear with hissword and struck it in twain; and then, as he rode past Sir Lancelot,he struck at his horse and slew it, so that Sir Lancelot fell to theground.
Then was there a loud outcry, and many knights said that Sir Palomideshad acted contrary to the rules of the tournament. When Sir Ectorde Maris saw how his brother Sir Lancelot had fared, he rode eagerlyagainst Sir Palomides, and smote him out of his saddle. Then came SirLancelot with his sword to Sir Palomides and cried,--
"Thou hast this day done me the greatest despite that ever was done mein tournament or joust. Therefore defend thee, for I will be avenged."
So Sir Palomides entreated him to forgive his unkindness, and to sparehim; "for," said he, "I know well I have not might to withstand you; andif you put me from my worship now, you put me from the greatest worshipI ever had or shall have."
"Well," said Lancelot, "it is true that you have done marvellously wellthis day; and I have a guess for whose love it is. If my lady were here,you should not have borne away the worship; but as she is not here, youshall have it for me, and I will forbear you. But beware that your lovebe not discovered, for if Sir Tristram knew it, you would have cause torepent."
So he, of his great nobleness, suffered Palomides to depart. Then SirLancelot was remounted, in spite of all the knights of the other side,and did great feats on King Arthur's part, as Sir Tristram and SirPalomides did on the other. But Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram alwaysspared one another. But whe
n the tournament was ended for the day, KingArthur and all the kings gave Sir Palomides the prize, for he had begunat the first and had endured to the end. When King Arthur was praisingSir Palomides, Sir Lancelot said,--
"Sir, as for Palomides, he has this day well deserved the prize; andyet, there was on the field a far better knight than he, and that willbe proved before the tournament is over."
When Sir Tristram and his fellows returned to their pavilions, SirDinadan was angry because Sir Tristram had let Sir Palomides carry offthe prize, and he reproached him with intent to provoke him, so that hemight the next day put forth all his powers. Early the next morning SirTristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Queen Isoude rode out into theforest to take the fresh air; and as they went, it chanced that KingArthur and Sir Lancelot came near them. "Yonder," said Sir Lancelot,"rideth the fairest lady in all the world except my lady QueenGuenever."
"Who is it?" asked King Arthur: and when Lancelot told him, he said hewould go nearer and greet Queen Isoude.
"Sir," said Lancelot, "it is not wise to go too near, for there are withher two as good knights as any now living, and if we come suddenly uponthem, they may be displeased."
"As for that," replied the king, "I will greet her, for I care not whomay be displeased."
"Sir," said Lancelot, "you put yourself in great jeopardy."
"Well," quoth the king, "we will take the adventure." So he rodestraight to Queen Isoude, and saluted her, and said, "God save you,gracious lady."
"Sir," she answered, "you are welcome."
Then the king looked at her steadfastly, and admired her beauty. Withthat came Sir Palomides, and said, "Thou uncourteous knight, whatseekest thou here? Thou art uncourteous to come upon a lady so suddenly;therefore withdraw thee." King Arthur took no heed of his words, butstill looked on Queen Isoude. Then was Sir Palomides wroth, and he rodeagainst King Arthur with his spear, and smote him from his horse. WhenSir Lancelot saw that, he said to himself, "I am loath to have to dowith yonder knight, not for his own sake, but because of Sir Tristram;for if I smite down Sir Palomides, I must encounter Sir Tristram, andI cannot match them both. Still, whether I live or die, needs must Iavenge my lord." And then he bade Sir Palomides make ready, and whenthey rode together, he gave him a great fall. That saw Sir Tristram, andcried to Lancelot, "Sir Knight, keep thee, for I must joust with thee."
"I have no fear to joust with thee," answered Lancelot, "but I amloath to do it. I was compelled to avenge my lord, when he was unhorsedunwarily and unknightly; but though I have done so, you should takeno displeasure, for he is such a friend to me that I could not see himshamed."
Then Sir Tristram understood that it was Sir Lancelot who spoke, and hesuspected that it was King Arthur whom Palomides had struck down. So heput down his spear, and suffered Lancelot and the king to withdraw; andhe chid Sir Palomides sharply for having shown such discourtesy toKing Arthur. Sir Palomides was sore grieved at his words; and when thetournament began, he forsook Sir Tristram, and went against him tothe opposite party. There he did great deeds of arms, and Sir Tristrammarvelled that he had gone against him, and said to Gareth, "He is wearyof my company."
"Sir," answered Gareth, "he desires to win worship and honour fromyou. That Sir Dinadan saw yesterday, and it was for that reason thathe reproached you yesternight; for he loveth you better than any otherknight in the world, and he wished to stir you up to win worship."
"I may well believe you," said Tristram; "and since I now understandPalomides' evil will and envy, you shall see how long his worship shallendure." With that he went into the press, and did so mightily that allthe cry forsook Sir Palomides and followed Sir Tristram; for he smotedown forty knights with his spear, and many others with his sword.
"How now?" said Sir Lancelot to King Arthur. "I told you that this daya better knight than Sir Palomides should play his part. See how wellyonder knight is doing; he has both strength and wind."
"You say truth," answered the king: "I never saw a better knight. He farsurpasses Palomides."
"It needs must be so," said Lancelot, "for it is the noble knight SirTristram himself."
When Palomides saw Sir Tristram doing so well, he wept from pure anger,for he knew that if Sir Tristram put forth his might he himself shouldget little worship. In a while Sir Tristram left the field, and went tohis pavilions, where he found Sir Dinadan still sleeping in his bed; andhe woke him up, and bade him come to the field. Sir Dinadan rose up andarmed him; but when he looked on Tristram's shield and helm, and sawthere the dints of many blows, he said, "Well was it for me that Islept; for had I been with you, I must for shame have followed you, andI see by the marks on your shield that I should have been well beaten."
"Leave your japes," said Tristram, "and come with me." Then he changedhis harness, and put on black armour.
"Ah," said Dinadan; "have you plucked up your spirits? You are not inthe same mood you were in yesterday."
Sir Tristram only smiled, and bade Dinadan come with him.
Now Sir Palomides saw Tristram change his armour, and so did QueenIsoude. And Palomides thought to do Tristram a shame. So he changed hisown armour with a wounded knight that was sitting by a well near thefield, and then returned again to the tournament. This also Queen Isoudesaw, but none of the knights in the field knew of it. Then Sir Palomidesmet Tristram, and both broke their spears, and after that they foughtwith their swords. Sir Tristram wondered who the other knight might be,for he felt that he was passing strong; and each gave the other manysore strokes. Then came in Sir Lancelot; and there came knights to him,and begged him to undertake the battle with the knight in blackarmour, because he had almost overcome the good knight with the silvershield,--which was Sir Palomides. Sir Lancelot knew not Sir Tristram,because he had changed his armour; so he rode between Tristram andPalomides, and said to Palomides, "Sir, let me have the battle, becauseyou have need of rest." Sir Palomides assented gladly, for he knew SirLancelot well, and hoped that he might beat or shame Sir Tristram. SirTristram also knew Sir Lancelot, but he met him full knightly, and theyfought long and sorely together; and Queen Isoude well-nigh swooned forsorrow. Then said Sir Dinadan to Sir Gareth,--
"That knight in the black harness is Sir Tristram, and Sir Lancelot mustneeds get the better of him, for Sir Tristram hath had sore travail thisday."
"Then let us smite him down," said Sir Gareth.
"It were better we should do so than that Sir Tristram should beshamed," answered Dinadan, "for yonder there waits the strong knightwith the silver shield, ready to fall on Sir Tristram if need be."
Then forthwith Sir Gareth rushed on Sir Lancelot, and gave him such astroke on the helm that he was well-nigh stunned; and immediately SirDinadan came upon him from the other side with a great spear, and smotehim such a buffet that he fell to the ground, horse and all.
"For shame!" cried Tristram to Gareth and Dinadan; "why have you smittendown that good knight while he was fighting with me?" Then came in SirPalomides, and struck Sir Dinadan from his horse; and Sir Lancelot,because Dinadan had smitten him down before, assailed him with hissword. Then Sir Palomides came fresh on Sir Tristram, who, being wishfulto help Sir Dinadan, gave Palomides a mighty buffet, and then pulledhim from his horse; and he himself leaped lightly down, and went betweenLancelot and Dinadan, so that he and Lancelot again did battle together.Straightway Sir Dinadan got Tristram's horse and brought it to him, andsaid aloud, so that Lancelot might hear, "My lord Sir Tristram, takeyour horse."
"Ah!" cried Sir Lancelot, "what have I done? Now am I dishonoured. Ah,my lord Sir Tristram! why are you disguised? You have put yourself ingreat peril. But I pray you, noble knight, pardon me; for if I had knownyou, we should not have done this battle."
"Sir," answered Tristram, "this is not the first kindness you haveshown me." Then were they both horsed again; and all the people on KingArthur's side said that Sir Lancelot had that day done the best, andon the other side that Sir Tristram had done the best. But said SirLancelot, "I have no right to the
honour, for Sir Tristram has beenlonger in the field than I, and has smitten down many more knights; andtherefore he has won the degree." And so was it proclaimed.
Then the tournament ended for that day, and Queen Isoude returned to thepavilions, wroth out of measure with Sir Palomides, for she had seen allthat he had done; and as Sir Tristram rode to the pavilions with Garethand Dinadan, Sir Palomides came with them, still disguised in the armourof the wounded knight, and bearing the silver shield. Sir Tristramknew him not for Palomides, and therefore said they had no need of hisfellowship; and thereupon Palomides made himself known. Sir Tristramreproached him sorely for what he had done, but he swore that he hadnot known him because of the changed armour. This excuse Sir Tristramreceived; but when they came to the tents, and Queen Isoude sawPalomides, she changed colour for anger.
"Madam, wherefore look you so angrily?" asked Sir Tristram.
"My dear lord," she answered, "how can I be otherwise, when I saw thisday how you were betrayed, and well-nigh brought to your death? Iwill not suffer in my presence such a felon and traitor as this SirPalomides; for I saw how he watched you quit the field, and then, whenhe beheld you return, he changed armour with a wounded knight andcame against you. For what he could do I was not greatly afraid, but Idreaded because of Sir Lancelot that knew you not."
"Madam," said Palomides, "you may say what you will. I must notcontradict you, but by my knighthood, I knew not Sir Tristram."
"Sir Palomides," said Tristram, "I will hold you excused; and though youspared me not, all is pardoned on my part."
Then La Beale Isoude hung down her head, and said no more. But whilethey sat at their meat, two armed knights came into the pavilion."Sirs," said Tristram, "you do not well to come upon us armed at allpoints."
"Nay," said one of them, "we come not with any evil intent, but asfriends. I am come to see thee, Sir Tristram, and this knight to seeQueen Isoude."
Then Sir Tristram requested them to take off their helms; and when theydid so, they were Sir Lancelot and King Arthur. So they were joyfullywelcomed, and there was much merry talk about the tournament and otherthings.
"For what cause," said King Arthur, "are you, Sir Tristram, against us?You are a Knight of the Round Table, and of right should be with us."
"My lord," said Sir Tristram, "here are Sir Dinadan and your own nephew,Sir Gareth, that have made me be against you."
"My lord," quoth Sir Gareth, "though I have the blame, it was SirTristram's own will."
"And that have we cause to repent," said Dinadan; "for this unhappy SirTristram brought us to the tournament, and many great buffets hath hesince earned us."
At that all laughed mightily. Then said King Arthur to Tristram, "Whatknight was it that fought so sturdily with you--he with the silvershield?"
"Sir," answered Tristram, "he is sitting at this table."
"What?" cried the king. "Was it Sir Palomides?--Ah, sir, that wasunknightly of you."
"Sir," answered Palomides, "I knew not Sir Tristram, because he was sodisguised."
"That might well be," said Lancelot, "for I knew him not."
"It matters not," said Tristram, "for I have pardoned him, and I shouldbe sorry to lose his fellowship, for I love his company."
After that they had much pleasant converse together, and not until nightdid King Arthur and Sir Lancelot take their leave. On the following day,in the tournament, Sir Tristram and Palomides at first went togetheragainst King Arthur's knights, as before, and did passing well. SirLancelot came in on King Arthur's side, and great deeds he wrought; buthe and his fellows were too few against the other party. When Tristramsaw how nobly Arthur's knights bore them, he called Palomides, Gareth,and Dinadan to him, and proposed that they should turn to King Arthur'sside. Gareth and Dinadan assented, but Sir Palo-mides said he would notdepart from the side on which he came in.
"That is for my sake," quoth Tristram; and so Sir Palomides left them.And Tristram and the other two went to King Arthur's side, and then theysmote down all they met, so that none could withstand them; and KingArthur himself gave Sir Palomides a fall. So the kings who held againstKing Arthur's were fain to withdraw their knights.
"Alas!" cried Palomides, "now have I lost all the worship I had won;"and he rode to a well, and there put off his armour, and wept and wailedlike a woman.
So the tournament was ended, and Sir Tristram would have given the chiefprize to Sir Lancelot, and Sir Lancelot to Sir Tristram; but by theaward of King Arthur it was divided between them.
Sir Tristram returned with his companions to his pavilions; but as SirPalomides sat by the well, the kings of Scotland and Northgalis came by,and they got him to put on his armour again, and to ride with them. Itchanced that they passed by Sir Tristram's tents, and Sir Palomides rodeto the entrance, and cried out, "Sir Tristram de Lyons, where art thou?"
"What, Sir Palomides!" answered Tristram; "will you not come in amongus?"
"Fie on thee, traitor!" said Palomides. "If it were daylight, now wouldI slay thee with mine own hands; and if ever I meet thee, thou shalt diefor this day's deed."
"Sir Palomides," replied Tristram, "you blame me wrongly. Had you doneas I did, you would have had worship: but since you give me warning,henceforth will I beware of you."
"Fie on thee, traitor," again said Palomides, and then he departed. Sohe went with the two kings, and Sir Tristram took his way with La BealeIsoude to Joyous Gard.
CHAPTER XIV. THE END OF THE HISTORY OF THE ROUND TABLE, AND THE PASSINGOF ARTHUR.
THE Tournament of Lonazep was the last great gathering of the chivalryof Britain. In no long time after, the good knight Sir Tristram wasslain by the crafts of his uncle and old enemy, King Marke of Cornwall.As for the Knights of the Round Table, they were dispersed in the questof the Holy Grail; which was a vessel that had been brought to Britaina long time before by Joseph of Arimathea with some of the blood ofour Lord therein, and had been left in charge of King Pellam, Joseph'sdescendant. Whoever could partake thereof was made whole of all wounds;but it might not be seen except by a knight that was absolutely pure andclean. Most of the Knights of the Round Table took part in the quest,and some of them, especially Sir Lancelot, Sir Bors, and Sir Percival deGalis, met with marvellous adventures in it; but it was achieved at lastby Sir Galahad, the son of Sir Lancelot by Elaine the daughter of KingPellam. As soon as he had achieved the Grail he died, and thereupon thesacred vessel disappeared from this world for ever. Of the other knightsthat went in the quest, many perished; but afterwards the remnantgathered again about King Arthur, and maintained the Round Table withmight, for Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawaine, and other good knights were stillleft. And Sir Lancelot loved Queen Guenever more than before, and shehim; but it chanced that there came some disagreement between them,and she bade him withdraw from the court. So he departed, and went to ahermitage near Windsor, and none save his cousin Sir Bors knew whitherhe had gone.
Soon afterward Queen Guenever gave a banquet to certain of the Knightsof the Round Table, and especially to Sir Gawaine. Now Sir Gawaine wasexceedingly fond of all kinds of fruit, and especially of apples andpears, so of these the queen had made large provision. But a knight ofthe court, named Sir Pinell, hated Sir Gawaine; for he was cousin to SirLamoracke de Galis, whom Gawaine and his brethren had slain. With intentto avenge him on Sir Gawaine, he put poison into some of the fairest ofthe fruit; but it fell out that no one ate the apples he had poisonedsave a knight named Sir Patrice, cousin to Sir Mador de la Port; and assoon as he had eaten, the poison was so strong that he died forthwith.Then was there a great stir among all the knights at the table, for asQueen Guenever had provided the banquet every one had suspicion of her;and she herself was sore abashed, for she did not understand the matter.But Sir Mador de la Port, who was one of the guests, rose up and accusedthe queen of the death of Sir Patrice; and forasmuch as all the otherknights believed her to be guilty, none of them would take up thequarrel on her behalf. Then Guenever burst into weeping, and at last shefell down in a swoon.
/>
News of the matter was soon brought to King Arthur, and he was soretroubled; but being bound by the oaths of knighthood, he appointed aday, fifteen days after that, on which Sir Mador was to be ready, armed,in the meadow beside Winchester, to make good his accusation againstthe queen; and if no knight appeared on her behalf, or if a knight didappear and was vanquished, then should she be burned in that place. Withthis Sir Mador was content, and departed. When King Arthur and the queenwere alone together, he asked her how the matter had come about.
"Sir," said she, "as God me help, I know nothing of it."
"Where is Sir Lancelot?" asked Arthur. "If he were here, he wouldundertake the battle for you."
"Sir," said the queen sorrowfully, for well she knew that she had senthim away from the court, "I cannot tell you where he is, but his kinsmenbelieve that he is not within this realm."
"Of that am I sorry," said the king. "But I counsel you to go to SirBors, and pray him to undertake the battle for you for Sir Lancelot'ssake, and I dare affirm that he will not refuse you." So the queenwent to Sir Bors, and entreated him as King Arthur had bidden her. "Ah,madam," said he, "I may not with any worship have to do in this matter;for I was at the banquet, and if I undertake the battle on your behalf,all the other knights my fellows will suspect me of guilt. Now stand youin need of Sir Lancelot, who would not have failed you, whether in rightor wrong. I wonder how you can for very shame require anything of me,after you have so discourteously treated that good knight my cousin."
"Alas!" cried the queen, and she fell on her knees to Sir Bors, andimplored him to have mercy on her; "for," said she, "if you will not, Imust die a shameful death, and I have not deserved it." Just then cameKing Arthur, and he also required Sir Bors to undertake the battlefor Sir Lancelot's sake. So then Sir Bors consented to be the queen'schampion, if on the appointed day a better knight than himself did notundertake the battle. The king and queen were greatly comforted; but SirBors straightway rode in secret to Sir Lancelot, and told him what hadhappened. Said Lancelot: "This has happily come as I would have it. Doyou make you ready on the day fixed to do the battle, but delay as longas you can till I come."
This Sir Bors undertook; and on the day set, the king and all the courtwere gathered in the meadow beside Winchester, where the battle wasappointed to be fought. The queen was brought into the place as aprisoner, and there was an iron stake set up, so that if Sir Madorhad the better she should be burned forthwith, according to the king'sjudgment. Then came Sir Mador de la Port, and made oath before the Kingthat Queen Guenever had treasonably slain his cousin Sir Patrice; andthat he would maintain with his body against any one that should saythe contrary. Forthwith there entered Sir Bors, and he said that QueenGuenever was innocent, and he would prove with his body that she was notguilty of the treason charged against her.
"Then make thee ready," said Sir Mador, "and we shall soon prove whetherthou or I be in the right."
"Sir," said Bors, "though I know you for a good knight, I have no doubtthat I can withstand you; but I have only undertaken to do this battleif there come not a better knight than I and discharge me of it."
"Thou must either meet me forthwith," said Mador angrily, "or say nayand withdraw."
"Take your horse," said Bors, "and you shall not have to wait long."Then both of them went to their tents, and made them ready; but Sir Borsdelayed as long as he could, till Sir Mador rode about the field cryingto the queen, "Bid your champion come forth if he dare." Then was SirBors ashamed, and took his horse, and came into the lists; but just thenhe was aware of a strong knight that came fast out of a wood near by ona white horse with a shield of strange device; and this knight requestedSir Bors to retire and let him take the battle. Sir Bors knew well whoit was, and so willingly withdrew. Then the king asked the strangerknight if he were willing to undertake the battle.
"Therefore," said he, "came I hither; and it seems to me a shame anddishonour to all you Knights of the Round Table that you should havesuffered so noble a lady and courteous a queen as Queen Guenever to berebuked and shamed among you."
Then all the knights marvelled who the stranger could be; but Sir Madorwas impatient, and so he and the other encountered in the midst of thelists, and Sir Mador's spear broke, but Sir Lancelot's held and bore SirMador to the ground. Then he drew his sword and challenged the strangerto fight him on foot; and quickly Sir Lancelot descended. So met theyfoot to foot, and fought a great battle for more than an hour, for SirMador was a passing good knight. But at the last Sir Lancelot smotehim down, and then he yielded, and withdrew his accusation against thequeen. So was she delivered; and then King Arthur prayed the stranger totake off his helmet. This he did, and all present knew that it was SirLancelot. Full joyfully was he greeted, especially by Queen Guenever,who repented her sorely of her unkindness to him. Afterwards, throughthe contrivance of the damsel of the lake, Nimue, it became known thatSir Pinell had done the deed of which Queen Guenever had been accused,and he fled to his own country; so then Sir Mador prayed the queen toforgive him, and peace was made between them.
On the following Lady-day, King Arthur proclaimed a tournament atCamelot; and thereto was a great gathering of knights from all parts,though many of the best of those who had been at Lonazep were now dead.Queen Guenever would not go, because she said she was sick; and at firstSir Lancelot also excused himself, but the queen told him it were betterfor him to go, lest there should be suspicion that he stayed behind forher sake. So then he departed, but in ill-humour, and declared that hewould be against King Arthur and his fellowship. Now as Sir Lancelotrode, he rested on his way at a castle which was named Astolat, and theknight that dwelt there was called Sir Bernard. He entertained Lancelotcourteously, though he knew not his name, but saw by his manner andhis many scars that he was a great lord and a well-proved knight. SirLancelot said to his host, "Sir, can you lend me a shield with a devicewhich is not known? I would go to the tournament disguised, and myshield is too well known."
Sir Bernard answered, "Sir, you shall have your desire, for you seem afull likely knight. I have two sons, of whom the elder was hurt on thesame day he was made knight, so that never since has he been able toride. His shield shall you bear; and his brother, Sir Lavaine, shallattend you in the field."
At this Sir Lancelot was well pleased. Now the old knight had a daughterthat was exceedingly beautiful, so that she was called the Fair Maid ofAstolat; and when she saw Sir Lancelot she loved him exceedingly;but his heart was ever set on Queen Guenever, and he returned not themaiden's love. Still, being courteous to all ladies, he was ever gentlewith her; and she was so emboldened that she entreated him to wear hertoken at the tournament.
"Fair damsel," said he, "if I grant you that, I shall have done more foryou than I did ever for any lady before." Then he bethought him thathe did not wish to be known at the tournament, and that if he bore thedamsel's token none would think it was he; so he granted her request.And she brought him a sleeve of red cloth embroidered with pearls; andhe put it on his helm, and gave her his shield to keep for him till hecame again for it.
So Lancelot departed to the tournament, and there he did great deedsagainst King Arthur's knights, and he put back all the fellowship of theRound Table; and Sir Lavaine supported him mightily. But by mischanceSir Bors hurt Sir Lancelot sore with a spear, which went into his sideand broke, and the spearhead remained in the wound. Then the tournamentended for the day; and because Sir Lancelot's name was not known, theprize was adjudicated to the knight who wore the red sleeve. But SirLancelot suffered so sorely from his wound that he withdrew secretlyfrom the crowd with Sir Lavaine; and when they were come to a quietplace he bade Sir Lavaine draw out the spear-head When that was done, hebled so much that he swooned away; but at last he recovered so far asto be able to ride to a hermitage near by, where the hermit tended himcarefully, and having in old days been himself a knight, he knew him forSir Lancelot. In the meantime, there was great grief with King Arthurand the knights at Camelot that they could not find t
he knight with thered sleeve, and all of them dispersed to seek for him. Now it chancedthat in the search Sir Gawaine lodged with Sir Bernard at Astolat, andthe damsel Elaine asked him how the tournament had gone. Then he toldher of the great exploits that had been achieved by the knight with thered sleeve.
"Right thankful am I," quoth Elaine, "that the good knight sped so well;for he is the man that I first loved, and the only man that ever I shalllove."
"Fair lady," said Gawaine, "is that knight your love?"
"Certainly," she answered, "he is my love."
"Do you know his name?" asked Gawaine.
"I know not his name," said Elaine, "for he would never tell it; but heleft here his shield in my keeping, and took my brother's in its stead,so that he might not be known."
Then Gawaine asked to look at the shield; and when he saw it, he knew itfor Sir Lancelot's. Then he marvelled, because before that time he hadnever known Lancelot bear any lady's token; and he told Elaine who theknight was, and that he had been sore wounded. Thereupon she asked leaveof her father to go forth and seek him and her brother Sir Lavaine. ButSir Gawaine went to London, and there openly he declared all that he hadlearned concerning Lancelot and the maid of Astolat. Thereat was QueenGuenever greatly angered, and she declared to Sir Bors that Lancelot wasa false traitor. But Sir Bors set forth to seek him.
In the meanwhile the damsel Elaine rode to Camelot, and there she sawher brother Sir Lavaine that had come out to exercise his horse. So shecaused him to bring her to the hermitage where Sir Lancelot lay; andwhen she saw him lying all pale and wasted on his bed, she swooned forsorrow. When she came to herself, he comforted her, and asked her howshe came to know his name. And she told him how Sir Gawaine had seen hisshield. "Alas!" said Lancelot, "I repent sorely that my name is known,for that will lead to trouble." Then Elaine never left Lancelot, butnursed him night and day. After a long while he was whole of his wound,and made ready to depart. So Elaine said to him, "My lord Sir Lancelot,as you are a fair and courteous knight, have mercy on me, and suffer menot to die for your love."
"What would you that I did?" asked Lancelot.
"I would have you for my husband," she answered.
"Fair damsel," said he, "I am purposed never to be married."
"Then must I die for your love," she said. He spoke to her fulltenderly, and promised, if she could give her love to another, to be hisgood friend. But all was to no purpose; for after he had departed, shenever slept nor ate, and after ten days she felt that her days weredone, but still she spoke and thought only of Lancelot. The priest thatwas with her bade her leave such thoughts. Then said she, "Why should Ileave such thoughts? Is it any sin to love a noble knight? I take God towitness that I was never greater offender against his laws than that Iloved the noble knight Sir Lancelot out of all measure, whereof I havemy death." And she had a letter written to Sir Lancelot, and requestedthat when she was dead the letter might be put in her hand, and she belaid in a fair bed with all the richest clothing she had about her; andthen that the bed should be laid in a barge covered with black, and sentinto the river Thames. All this was done, and the barge with the maid'sbody floated down the Thames to Westminster, where the court was at thattime. The king saw it floating on the river, and sent three knights tofind out what it might be. When they saw so fair a corpse lying in therichest bed they had ever beheld, they caused the barge to be drawn tothe shore, and told the king; who came to it, and took the letter fromthe dead maid's hand. It set forth that she who writ it had died forlove of Sir Lancelot du Lake, and entreated the knight to pray for hersoul. At this Sir Lancelot was sorry, and the queen repented of all thehard words she had said against him.
So Sir Lancelot was at that time the knight of by far the most worshipliving. Whenever there was a jousting, and he might be there, he carriedaway the palm; and he was ever ready to uphold the honour of King Arthurand of his court against all comers. Therefore was he well cherished ofthe King, while Queen Guenever loved him more and more, especially afterhe rescued her from Sir Meleagans, the son of King Bagdemagus, who hadlaid hold of her by treacherous means. But this same guilty love betweenLancelot and the queen now most unhappily was the cause of the totaldestruction of the Round Table, and the end of Arthur's glorious reign.Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred had ever hated Sir Lancelot; and now,against the will and counsel of Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris, and SirGareth, their brethren, they revealed the love of Lancelot and the queento King Arthur. The king was cut to the heart, for much he loved SirLancelot, but he refused to believe that such wrong had been done unlesshe had proof. This was obtained by the contrivances of Agravaine andMordred; but Lancelot slew Agravaine, and sorely wounded Mordred. Thenhe gathered together all the knights of his kin, and all othersthat would follow him, and prepared to rescue the queen, for she wassentenced by King Arthur to be burned. Against this Sir Gawaine pleadedearnestly, but in vain; but when the king bade him be one of those tolead the queen to her execution, he openly refused; and though Garethand Gaheris consented to be there, they would not put on their armour.Then the queen was led forth to her death, clad only in a single whitegarment; but Sir Lancelot had word of it, and he and his company camesuddenly, and overpowered them that guarded her, and rescued her. Byill-hap, Sir Lancelot slew Gaheris and Gareth, not knowing them; forthey had gone unarmed among those who were leading the queen to thestake. Then he took Queen Guenever to his castle of Joyous Gard, andmade ready to defend her there.
When King Arthur heard how the queen had been rescued, and especiallyof the death of Gaheris and Gareth, he was full of sorrow; but when SirGawaine knew that his brethren had fallen by the hand of Sir Lancelot,whom they had always loved, he well-nigh went out of his mind. Then hetook a great oath to be revenged against Sir Lancelot. And he and KingArthur raised a large army, and besieged Joyous Gard. But it was a verystrong place, and well stored with provision, so that nothing could bedone against it. Then King Arthur and Gawaine, with many reproaches andangry words, taunted Sir Lancelot to come out of the castle and meetthem in the open field. He was loath to do so, for he wished not to hurtKing Arthur or Gawaine; but at the last he consented, and there weregreat battles fought outside the castle. Many times Sir Lancelot mighthave slain the king, but he forbore him; but Sir Lancelot's knights,though not so many as those on the other side, were the most perilousat that time living, and they did great execution against those of theking. The rumour of this unhappy war spread all through Christendom; andthe Pope sent a bishop to King Arthur, charging him to make peace withSir Lancelot and take his queen again. So at last it was agreed that SirLancelot should deliver up Queen Guenever, and no harm be done her; andthat Sir Lancelot should withdraw him to his realm beyond the sea. Thiswas done, and not only Sir Lancelot's own kin but many more of the bestknights of Britain went with him to his own country of Benwick, where hegave them lands and made ready for war.
In no long time King Arthur and Sir Gawaine followed after with a greathost, leaving the realm of Britain in keeping of the kings nephew, SirMordred; and they besieged Sir Lancelot in his strong city of Benwick.There Sir Gawaine came every day before the walls, and defied SirLancelot to combat; and at the last Sir Lancelot met him in the field,and after a long fight wounded him sorely on the head. As soon asGawaine was healed, he came forth and challenged Sir Lancelot again; andagain Sir Lancelot struck him down, but would not slay him. Before hecould be fully recovered from this second wound, there came news thatSir Mordred had spread a report that King Arthur was slain in battleagainst Sir Lancelot, and had seized the kingdom. Then Arthur and allhis host returned with what speed they might, and landed at Dover. ThereMordred met him with a great army; but in the battle King Arthur wasvictorious, and Mordred fled. On that day Sir Gawaine received a mortalwound, and then he repented that he had waged such bitter war againstSir Lancelot: so he wrote him a letter, in which he begged hisforgiveness, and besought him to pray at his tomb; and he also requestedthat Lancelot would come over and help King Arthur against the traitorMordred. T
hen Gawaine died, and King Arthur mourned over him, and causedhim to be buried in the chapel of Dover Castle.
It was now reported to the king that Sir Mordred had gathered a greathost at Barendown; and King Arthur went forward to meet him. There wasanother great battle; but again King Arthur won the field, and Mordredand his party fled toward Salisbury. The king followed him, and manypeople flocked to his army; and he made ready to fight another battle onSalisbury Plain. But while Arthur was in his camp, he dreamed onenight that Sir Gawaine came to him, and warned him not to fight againstMordred the next day, for if he did he should have his death; but thatif he would treat with Mordred and delay for a month, then would comeover Sir Lancelot and his host, and put the traitor and his partyaltogether to the worse. When the king woke, he took measures to treatwith Mordred; so it was agreed that the king and his false nephew shouldmeet between the two armies, with fourteen attendants each, to make thetreaty. So the armies were drawn out, and King Arthur warned his menthat if they saw any sword drawn or other sign of battle they shouldcome on fiercely, because he did not trust Mordred. But Mordred gavea like warning to his men. While the two armies were standing face toface, it befell that an adder crept out of a bush of heather, andstung a knight on the foot. Forthwith he drew his sword to slay it,and thought of no other harm; but immediately the two hosts advancedfiercely against one another, and fought with all the greater furybecause each party thought that the other had designed treachery. KingArthur rode at the head of his knights, and smote down on every hand,and Mordred on his part fought better than he had done in all his lifebefore. At the last the king looked around him, and of all his hostthere were none left but Sir Lucas and Sir Bedivere, while on the otherside there was none but Mordred himself, that stood leaning grimly onhis sword. When Arthur saw him, he took his spear in his hand, and rantoward him, crying, "Traitor, now is thy death-day come."
When Mordred heard that, he waited for King Arthur with his sword readyin his hand; but the king avoided his blow, and thrust his spear cleanthrough his body. Then Mordred felt that he had his death-wound, and hethrust himself up the spear, and smote King Arthur on the helm with hissword, that it pierced to the brain-pan. Mordred fell stark dead, andthe king sank down in a swoon. But Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucas, thoughboth of them were sore wounded, contrived to bring him to a littlechapel by the seaside; and there Sir Lucas, that had sustained a mortalwound, fell down and died at the king's feet. Then Sir Bedivere wept forSir Lucas' death, for he was his brother.
"Leave this weeping and mourning," said King Arthur, "for it will notavail. Now my time is full short; therefore take thou my good swordExcalibur, and go to the water-side and throw it into the water."
Then went Sir Bedivere with the sword; and as he looked upon it, andsaw how the pommel and haft were all ornamented with precious stones, hethought it would be a pity that so noble a sword should be wasted So hehid it under a bush, and came back to the king, and told him that he hadthrown the sword into the water.
"What sawest thou there?" asked the king.
"I saw nothing but the waves caused by the wind," answered Bedivere.
"Thou hast said untruly," said Arthur; "therefore as thou art true anddear to me, go and obey my command."
Sir Bedivere returned, and took the sword in his hand, but he could notbring himself to throw it into the water. So once more he hid it, andwent back to the king, telling him that he had done according to hisbidding, but had seen nothing.
"Ah, traitor," cried the king, "twice now hast thou betrayed me for therich sword; but go yet and do my bidding, and if thou doest it not, thenwill I slay thee with mine own hands."
So then Bedivere went and took the sword, and wrapped the belts aboutthe hilt, and flung it as far as he might into the sea; and lo! therecame a hand above the water, and caught the sword, and brandished itthrice, and then vanished with it beneath the water. Then Bediverereturned to the king and told him what he had seen.
"Alas!" said Arthur, "help me from hence, for I fear I have tarried overlong."
Then Bedivere took the king on his back, and carried him to thewater-side; and there was a barge with many fair ladies in it, allwearing black hoods. "Now put me into the barge," said Arthur; andBedivere did so, and three queens received the king, with great mourningand wailing, and one of them said,--
"Ah, my dear brother, why hast thou tarried so long?" Then the bargewent away, and Bedivere lost sight of it. So he departed, weeping andwailing, and wandered all night in the forest. In the morning he foundhimself by a hermitage and a chapel. When he went into the chapel, hesaw a hermit praying by a tomb newly made. "Sir," said Bedivere, "whatman is there buried that you pray for?"
"My fair son," answered the hermit, "I know not; but last night, aboutmidnight, there came here a great number of ladies which brought thebody of a knight, and they prayed me to bury him."
"Alas!" cried Bedivere, "then it is my lord King Arthur that lies buriedin this chapel." And he swooned by the side of the tomb. When he cameto himself, he vowed that henceforth he would abide with the hermit,and become a holy man. Of the death of King Arthur, and whether he wasburied in that tomb, nothing more was certainly known; but many peoplebelieved that he was not dead at all, but remained in the Isle ofAvallon, with the Lady of the Lake, and would yet come again to recoverhis kingdom.
In the meanwhile Sir Lancelot heard of the treason of Mordred and thedeath of Gawaine; and he received Gawaine's letter, which made him verydoleful. So he gathered a great host, and came over into England, butthere he heard the evil news of Arthur's death; and it was told him thatQueen Guenever had gone into a nunnery at Almesbury. Thither he wentand saw her; and they had a sad meeting, for she bade him an eternalfarewell, and told him he must never see her again, for she haddedicated herself to the service of Heaven. And she bade him return tohis own kingdom, and rule it fitly, and take to himself a wife. But thisSir Lancelot denied her; for he said that as she had become a nun, sowould he also take a religious habit. And this he did, at the same placewhere was Sir Bedivere and the tomb of King Arthur; and with him abodesix knights of his kin, that also became hermits. Six years they dweltthere in great piety and penitence. Then it was made known to Lancelotin a vision that Guenever was dead at Almesbury; and he was bid to bringher to Glastonbury, and bury her by the side of her lord. So the nextday he and his six fellows set out for Almesbury, and there they foundthe queen dead; and they bore her body to Glastonbury, and buried herwith great solemnity in the same tomb as King Arthur. And from that timeforth Lancelot scarce ever ate or slept, but was always praying by thetomb, so that in six weeks he also waxed very sick and died. He hadbidden his fellows to bury him at Joyous Gard, and thither he was borne;and before he was laid in his grave, Sir Bors cried, weeping, "Ah,Sir Lancelot, there thou liest, that wert never matched of any earthlyknight's hands; and thou wert the courtliest knight that ever bareshield; and thou wert the truest friend that ever bestrode horse; andthou wert the truest lover that ever loved woman; and thou wert thekindest man that ever struck with sword; and thou wert the goodliestperson that ever came among peers or knights; and thou wert the meekestman, and the gentlest, that ever ate in hall among ladies; and thou wertthe sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in rest."
Such is the end of the history of King Arthur and his Knights of theRound Table. After Arthur, his kinsman Constantine, the son of Sir Cadorof Cornwall, was chosen King of Britain, and full nobly and worshipfullyhe ruled the realm. But of the goodly company of the Knights of theRound Table there was no remnant left.
THE END.
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