CHAPTER VII. LANCELOT DU LAKE
IT will be remembered that King Ban of Benwick and King Bors of Ganneshad given right good help to King Arthur when he was fighting for hiskingdom. Afterwards they went back to their own country, and carried ontheir wars against King Claudas of Gaul; but he, having wide lands andmany knights at his command, ever put them to the worse, and despoiledthem of their territory before Arthur could come or send to help them.So it befell that they both died of grief--King Ban leaving behind himone son, who was named Lancelot, and two younger, called Lionel andEctor de Maris; while King Bors left three sons, named Bleoberis,Blamor, and Bors. After the two kings were dead, Arthur, being easedfrom his wars at home, sent over to Gaul knights and men-at-arms thatbeat back King Claudas, and recovered from him the lands of Benwick andof Gannes. Arthur also took charge of the sons of the two dead kings,all save Lancelot, and had them trained in all manner of knightlyexercises, so that when they grew to manhood they were all men ofgreat might and valour, and they became Knights of the Round Table. ButLancelot fell to the charge of Viviane the enchantress, who was known asthe Lady of the Lake, so that afterwards he got the name of Lancelot duLake. She nourished and reared him till he was eighteen years of age,and then brought him to the court to receive knighthood at the hands ofKing Arthur. Even then few knights could withstand him, so strong washe, and so skilled with sword and spear; and when he grew to his fullprowess and manhood, he passed all the other knights that ever were inArthur's court, or in the whole world, so that never was he put to theworse altogether. King Arthur had great joy of Sir Lancelot. But hiscoming to the court was not in the end for the king's worship, for hegrew to love Queen Guenever, and to care for no other lady; and she,since he was not less comely than valiant, loved him also, and forgother duty to her lord and king, from which cause at the last there arosegreat sorrow.
Just after Lancelot came to the court, King Arthur had a great war withthe Emperor of the Romans. This emperor, whose name was Lucius, had sentambassadors to Britain demanding tribute, with many haughty threatsif it were not given. At this the king was wrathful, and returned foranswer that he owed no tribute, nor would pay any, but that he claimedthe empire as successor to Constantine, and would shortly come to takepossession of it. Accordingly, he went over sea with a great army andmost of his knights, leaving the kingdom in charge of Sir Baldwin andhis cousin and next heir Sir Constantine. When he came to Brittany, theking heard of a monstrous giant that lived in a mount there and ravagedall the country, feeding on the flesh of men and children; and Arthursought out this giant, and after a terrible fight he slew him. Then heand his knights had many-great battles with the mighty armies that hadbeen gathered by the Emperor Lucius, in the which there were many fierceheathen and giants. But always the Britons put their enemies to theworse, and killed thousands of them; and at the last Lucius himself wasslain, and Arthur marched to Rome, where, with much pomp and solemnity,he was crowned emperor. Then he came back with his knights to Britain,where the queen and all the people received him with great joy.
In this war Sir Lancelot, though yet but a young knight, did greatservice; but afterwards, when the knights began again their joustingsand tournaments, and sought adventures over Britain, his worshipincreased marvellously, so that most other knights began to hold himin dread. It happened that one time, after he had long rested him fromknightly sports, he went to his brother Sir Lionel, and bade him makeready, for they two would seek adventures. So they armed, mounted theirhorses, and set forth.
The day was very hot, and Sir Lancelot had a strong desire to sleep;so he lay down under an apple-tree, and fell into a deep slumber. SirLionel watched the while; and as he was so sitting, he saw three knightscome riding as fast as they were able, and behind them there followedonly a single knight. But Lionel thought he had never beheld one thatseemed so mighty. Within a little he overtook all the three knights thatfled, and smote them down, one after another; then he bound them allfast with the bridles of their own horses, and led them away. When SirLionel saw that, he determined to assay that knight himself; so he goton horseback without wakening his brother Sir Lancelot, and followed thestrong knight. When he had overtaken him, he bade him turn. Forthwiththe other turned and met Sir Lionel, and smote him down as he had donethe three knights. Then he bound him fast, threw him across his ownhorse, and took him, along with the others, to his castle. There thestrong knight unarmed his four captives, beat them while naked withthorns, and thrust them into a gloomy prison, where they found manyother knights, who made a great lamentation.
It so happened that Sir Ector de Maris, brother to Sir Lancelot and SirLionel, when he found that they had gone to seek adventures, was wroththat he did not accompany them, and set out to seek them. As he rodethrough the forest, he came to a strong castle which stood by a stream.At the ford of the stream, close by the castle, grew a tall tree, onwhich Sir Ector saw hanging a great many knights' shields, and amongthem the shield of his brother Sir Lionel. At the bole of the tree hunga great copper basin. Sir Ector raised his spear, and struck the basinthrice with all his might, so that it sounded like a church-bell.Forthwith there came out of the castle the same knight that had smittendown Sir Lionel, and he bade Sir Ector make ready. So they ran together,and Sir Ector smote the strange knight so hard that he turned his horsethrice about, but still he kept his saddle.
"That was well done," said the other, "and full knightly hast thoustricken me." Then he rushed on Sir Ector, caught him under his rightarm, bore him clean out of his saddle, and so rode with him into thehall of the castle, where he threw him down in the middle of the floor.Then said this strong knight, whose name was Sir Turquine, unto SirEctor,--
"Because you have done more to me this day than has been done by anyknight these twelve years, I will grant you your life, if you will besworn to be my prisoner all your life."
"That will I never promise," said Ector.
"You will suffer the more for it," answered the other. So he unarmed SirEctor, and beat him with thorns, as he had done the other knights, andthrew him into his dungeon, where were many knights his fellows, andespecially Sir Lionel. The two brothers made great sorrow together, andSir Ector asked Lionel where Sir Lancelot was.
"Fair brother," answered Sir Lionel, "I left him asleep under anapple-tree, and what is become of him I cannot tell."
Then all the knights that were prisoners said if Sir Lancelot came notto help them, they could not be delivered, for they knew no other knightbut he who could match Sir Turquine.
Meanwhile Sir Lancelot slept long under the apple-tree, and while helay there, King Arthur's sister, Morgan le Fay, and three other queens,passed by. They saw the knight sleeping, and knew him for Sir Lancelot;and then Morgan put an enchantment on him that he should sleep forsix hours, and they had him borne to a castle of hers near at hand. Bynight-time the enchantment was past, and he awoke; and a fair damselbrought his supper, and told him that he was in the power of anenchantress, but if he kept up his heart she would aid him. The next daythe four queens came to him, and Morgan le Fay told him he must chooseone of them for his true love, and forget his lady Queen Guenever, orelse stay in prison there till he died. He answered boldly that he wouldbe true to his lady, and would have none of them, so they left him.Afterwards the damsel again came to him, and said she was the daughterof King Bagdemagus, and that she would effect his escape on conditionthat he would promise to go and help her father in a tournament he andhis knights were holding against the King of Northgalis. There had beenanother tournament some days before between the same parties, and KingBagdemagus was put to the worse because there were three knights of KingArthur's court that helped the King of Northgalis; therefore the damselwanted Sir Lancelot's help for her father. Sir Lancelot knew KingBagdemagus for a good knight, so cheerfully he promised to help him inthe tournament. The next day, early in the morning, the damsel helpedhim out of his prison, and got him his horse and his armour, and toldhim where he should find her and her father.
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p; So Sir Lancelot rode away, glad at heart, and after some adventureshe came to an abbey where King Bagdemagus was. The damsel was therealready, and she gave him a hearty greeting. Nor was Bagdemagus himselfbehind in that. Lancelot told him how he had been betrayed by the fourqueens, and how his brother Sir Lionel had left him. "And," said he,"because your daughter delivered me out of my prison, I shall, while Ilive, do her service, and all her friends and kindred."
"Then am I sure of your help at the tournament," said King Bagdemagus.
"Certainly I will not fail you," answered Lancelot; and he asked whatknights of King Arthur's had been on the side of the King of Northgalis.The king said they were Sir Mador de la Port, and Sir Mordred, KingArthur's nephew, and Sir Gahalatine.
The tournament was appointed to take place within three miles of theabbey; and on the day before, King Bagdemagus sent to Sir Lancelot, byhis direction, three of his best knights, each with a white shield bareof any device, and a like shield for Sir Lancelot himself. On the morrowthe four knights ambushed themselves in a little wood close by the fieldwhere the tournament was to be held. Then the King of Northgalis and hisknights came into the field on the one side, and King Bagdemagus and hisknights on the other, and the three knights of King Arthur's stood bythemselves. Then the two parties met with a great dash, and at the firstencounter there fell twelve knights of King Bagdemagus, and six of theKing of Northgalis, and King Bagdemagus was put much to the worse. Thenin came Sir Lancelot with the white shield, and the three knights withhim. He thrust into the thickest of the press, and with one spearhe smote down five knights. Then he overthrew the King of Northgalishimself, that was a good knight, and broke his thigh. The three knightsof King Arthur saw this, and marvelled who it might be.
"Yonder is a shrewd guest," quoth Sir Mador de la Port, "therefore willI have at him."
So they encountered, and Sir Lancelot bore him down, horse and man, sothat his shoulder was put out. "Now befalleth it to me to joust," saidSir Mordred, "for Sir Mador has had a great fall." But he fared nobetter, for Sir Lancelot smote him out of his saddle with such mightthat his neck was well-nigh broken, and he lay long in a swoon. Thencame in Sir Gahalatine, and he and Lancelot ran together, and both broketheir spears; but when they took to their swords, Sir Lancelot smote SirGahalatine so hard on the helm that blood came from his nose and mouth,and he fell stunned from his horse. Thereafter Sir Lancelot got anothergreat spear, and before it broke he had struck down with it sixteenknights, and with another he unhorsed twelve knights more, so that theKing of Northgalis's knights would joust no more, and the prize wasgiven to King Bagdemagus.
Sir Lancelot rode with Bagdemagus to his castle, and there he was wellentertained by the king and his daughter. The next day he departed toseek his brother Sir Lionel, and came to the same forest where he hadparted from him. As he rode, he met a damsel, and asked her if she knewof any adventures.
"Yes," she answered, "here are adventures near at hand, if thou darestto prove them."
"For that cause came I hither," said Lancelot. Then the damselundertook, if he would tell her his name, to bring him where was thestrongest knight he had ever met. So he told her his name. Then saidshe, "Sir, here is an adventure that well befits thee. Hard by dwells aknight that can overmatch any other I ever heard of, except it be thee;and I understand that he keeps in his prison more than threescore ofKing Arthur's knights that he has conquered with his own hands. But whenyou have accomplished that adventure, you must promise me, as you area true knight, to go with me and help me and other damsels that aredistressed by a false knight."
Sir Lancelot promised as she desired, and she brought him to SirTurquine's castle, and bid him beat on the copper basin. He smote it sohard and so long that the bottom fell out, but no one answered. Then herode by the gate of the castle nearly half an hour, and presently he sawcoming a great knight, driving before him a horse, on which lay anarmed knight bound, and that knight Sir Lancelot presently saw was SirGaheris, Sir Gawaines brother.
Then Sir Lancelot rode out to meet them, and the great knight, who wasSir Turquine, got his spear in readiness. Without many words, they rantogether with so much force that both their horses' backs broke. So soonas they could get to their feet, they drew their swords, and smoteeach other many terrible blows, so that in no long time each was sorelywounded. Thus they fought for more than two hours, till at last bothwere breathless, and they stood leaning on their swords.
"Now, fellow," quoth Sir Turquine, "hold thy hand awhile, and tell mewhat I shall ask thee."
"Say on," said Sir Lancelot.
"Thou art," said Turquine, "the biggest man I ever met, and the bestbreathed, and like one knight that I hate above all others. If thou benot he, I will gladly accord with thee, and for thy love will deliverall the prisoners I have; and if thou wilt tell me thy name, thou and Iwill be friends together, and I will never fail thee while I live."
"Well," said Lancelot, "who is that knight whom thou hatest above allothers?"
"Truly," said Sir Turquine, "it is Sir Lancelot du Lake, for he slewmy brother Sir Carados of the Dolorous Tower, who was one of the bestknights then living. Him, therefore, I except; and if I ever meet him,one of us shall make an end of the other, for to that I have made avow. And because of what Sir Lancelot did to my brother have I slaina hundred good knights, and maimed many others; and still have I in mydungeon threescore and four. But all these shall be delivered, if thouwilt tell me thy name, and thou art not Sir Lancelot."
"Sir Knight," answered Lancelot, "wit thou well and know that I amLancelot du Lake, King Ban's son of Benwick, and Knight of the RoundTable; and now I defy thee to do thy worst."
"Ah," said Turquine, "thou art more welcome to me, Lancelot, than everknight was before, for we shall not part till one of us be dead." Sothey rushed together like two wild bulls, lashing at each other withtheir swords, and fought for two hours more, and either gave the othermany deep wounds. But at last Turquine grew very faint, and could scarcehold up his shield for weariness. That saw Sir Lancelot, and rushedon him more fiercely than ever, and got him down on his knees; then heloosed off his helm and smote off his head. After that Lancelot releasedSir Gaheris, and begged him to go into Turquine's castle and deliver allthe knights that were there prisoners; and he begged Gaheris to lend himhis horse--for his own was killed--so that he might ride with the damseland fulfil his promise. Gaheris assented joyfully, for said he, "Fairlord, you have saved both me and my horse; and surely you are the bestknight of the world, for you have slain the best knight except yourselfthat ever I saw." And he begged Lancelot to tell him his name; andLancelot did so, and promised to return to the court at the Feast ofPentecost. So then he departed with his damsel.
Gaheris went into the castle, and found there a porter with many keys.So he threw the porter on the ground so hard that his eyes started outof his head, and then he took the keys, and let out all the prisoners.They thanked Gaheris much, for when they saw that he was wounded theythought he had overcome Turquine. But he told them it was Sir Lancelotwho had slain him, and that he had left word for them to await hiscoming at the court. However, Sir Kay, who was also among the prisoners,with Sir Lionel and Sir Ector, said they would not do so, but would goand seek Sir Lancelot.
Meanwhile Lancelot rode with the damsel, and she told him that on theroad they were going there was a false knight called Sir Peers du ForestSavage, who lay in wait for all ladies, and robbed and distressed them.So Sir Lancelot bade her ride on in front, and when that felon knightcame out upon her he would be ready. It fell out as they had planned.Sir Peers seized the damsel, and then Sir Lancelot came and rebuked him.Sir Peers drew his sword, and rode to Lancelot, who smote him on thehelmet so that he clove him to the throat. Then Lancelot asked thedamsel if she required any more service at his hands. She answeredhim that she did not; but she wished him good fortune in all that heundertook, for he was the courtliest knight and the meekest to allladies and gentlewomen that she had ever known.
After that they p
arted; and Lancelot rode on for two days through athick wood, and had to sleep as well as he could beneath the trees. Onthe third day he came to a broad river that was crossed by a long narrowbridge. As he was going over the bridge there sprang out all of a suddena foul-looking churl, who smote his horse on the nose so that it turnedabout, and then he asked the knight why he came over that bridge withoutlicense.
"Why should I not ride this way?" said Lancelot. "There is no otherway."
"Thou must find another," said the churl, and straightway struck at himwith a great club stuck full of pins of iron. The knight warded the blowwith his sword, and dealt such a buffet in return that he cut the churlalmost in twain. So he passed on over the bridge, and at the fartherside was a fair village, with a castle in the midst. Many people criedout to him that he had done an evil deed for himself, for he had slainthe chief porter of the castle. Of all this Lancelot took no heed, butwent straight into the castle, of which the gate was open, and within hefound a green courtyard. Immediately there set upon him two huge giants;well armed except their heads, carrying heavy clubs. One of them rushedat him, but Sir Lancelot put off the club with his shield, and with hissword he clave the giant's head down to the breast. When the other sawthat, he turned to flee; but Sir Lancelot followed hard after him, andsmote him on the shoulder, so that he died on the spot. Then he wentinto the castle, and a great number of ladies and damsels came andthanked him for having rescued them from the giants, who had kept themin bondage for many years.
So Lancelot again rode forth, and passed through many wild countries.One night he lodged in a small house with an old gentlewoman, whogave him a bed in her upper chamber. While he lay there asleep he wasawakened by a sound of one riding hard, and presently there came aknocking at the door. Lancelot rose and looked out of the window. It wasbright moonlight, and he saw one knight defending himself against three.Forthwith he put on his armour, and got out of the window; then hecalled out loud, "Turn, you knights, to me, and leave fighting with thatknight," As soon as he said that they all three dismounted, and rushedupon Lancelot on foot with their swords, and there began a great battle.The knight whom they had chased would have helped Sir Lancelot.
"Nay, Sir Kay," said Lancelot, who knew him by the device on his shield,"I ask none of your help; leave them to me." So Sir Kay stood back, andvery soon Sir Lancelot had stricken all of them to the earth. They criedout, "Sir Knight, we yield to thee as a man of might."
"I will not have you yield to me," answered Lancelot. "If you will yieldto Sir Kay the Seneschal, I will spare your lives, but not otherwise."
"Fair Knight," said they, "we are loath to do that, for we should haveovercome Sir Kay had not you been here; therefore to yield to him wehave no reason."
"As for that," said Lancelot, "make your own choice whether you live ordie; but if you yield, it must be to Sir Kay."
So, to save their lives, they did as he commanded, and he swore them togo to King Arthur's court on the next Whitsunday, and put themselvesat the grace and mercy of Queen Guenever, saying that Sir Kay had sentthem. Then Lancelot suffered them to depart; and he and Sir Kay wentinto the lodging. Then Sir Kay saw who it was, and he knelt down andthanked him for having twice saved his life.
"I have done no more than I ought to do," answered Sir Lancelot.
When Sir Kay was unarmed, he asked for meat; and as he was sorehungered, he ate heartily. He was lodged in the same chamber with SirLancelot; but he slept very sound, and in the morning Lancelot rose,leaving him still asleep, took Sir Kay's armour and shield, mounted hishorse, and rode away. When Sir Kay arose, and saw that Sir Lancelot hadgot his armour and left him his own, he said,--
"Now, by my faith, I know well that he will grieve some of King Arthur'sknights, for they will think that it is I, and they will be bold withhim; and because of his armour and shield, I am sure that I shall ridein peace." So then he thanked his hostess, and departed.
Meanwhile Sir Lancelot rode on through the forest till he came to a fairopen country full of rivers and green meadows. On the roadside he sawthree pavilions, with white shields hanging before them and great spearsleaning beside. The knights who lodged in the pavilions were sittingbeside them; and Sir Lancelot rode past, and spoke not a word. Then theknights said to one another, "It is the proud Sir Kay; he thinketh noknight is as good as he, but the contrary is often proved." Then one ofthe knights, who was named Sir Gaunter, said, "By my faith I will rideafter him, and assay him for all his pride, and you may see how I shallspeed." With that he armed him, took his spear and shield, and rode hardafter Sir Lancelot. And when he came near him he called out, "Abide,thou proud knight Sir Kay, for thou shalt not pass quietly."
So Sir Lancelot turned, and when they encountered, Sir Gaunter's spearbroke on his shield, but he smote down Sir Gaunter, horse and man. Thenone of the other knights, whose name was Sir Gilmere, said, "Yonderknight is not Sir Kay; he is far mightier."
"I dare lay my head," said the third brother, that was called SirReynold, "he has slain Sir Kay, and taken his horse and harness."
"Whether it be so or not," said Sir Gilmere, "it behoves us to take ourhorses and rescue our brother Sir Gaunter, though methinks we shall allhave enough to do to match that knight." So they rode to the place ashard as they could; and first Sir Gilmere put forth his spear, andSir Lancelot smote him down, so that he lay in a swoon. Then came SirReynold, and he and Sir Lancelot broke their spears on one another, andthen began a hard battle with their swords. The other two brothers rose,and recovered themselves a little, and came to help Sir Reynold. WhenLancelot saw that, he first smote Sir Reynold so sorely that he fellfrom his saddle, and then he served the other two in like manner. So thethree knights had to yield; but they asked him to tell them his name,for they were sure he was not Sir Kay.
"Let that be as it may," said Lancelot, "I charge ye to come to KingArthur's court on Whitsunday and yield ye to Queen Guenever, and saythat Sir Kay sent you."
This they swore to perform, and then Lancelot rode away from them. In awhile he came to a forest, where he saw four Knights of the Round Tablesitting on their horses under an oak tree. There were his own brotherSir Ector de Maris, Sir Sagramour le Desirous that was a good knight,Sir Gawaine, and Sir Ewaine. As Sir Lancelot passed, they thought bythe device on his shield that it was Sir Kay, and Sir Sagramour said hewould prove Sir Kay's might. Thereupon he rode against Sir Lancelot, whomet him, and smote him to the ground, horse and man.
"Lo, my fellows!" quoth Sir Ector, "yonder you may see what a buffet hehas got. That knight is much bigger than ever was Sir Kay." Then he gothis spear in his hand, and rode toward Sir Lancelot, who served him ashe had done the other, and still his spear held.
"By my faith," said Ewaine, "that is a strong knight. I am sure he hasslain Sir Kay, and I see by his great strength it will be hard to matchhim." So in his turn he rode against Sir Lancelot, but fared no betterthan those who had gone before. "Now," said Gawaine, "I see that I mustneeds encounter with that knight." So he took his spear in his hand, androde hard against Sir Lancelot, and each smote the other in the middleof the shield; but Gawaine's spear broke, and Sir Lancelot's thrust wasso strong that Gawaine's horse reared up and fell over with him. SirLancelot passed on smiling, and said, "God give him joy that made thisspear; for a better held I never in my hand."
Then the four knights went to one another, and helped each other as bestthey might. "What say ye to this jest," said Gawaine, "that one spearhath felled us four?"
"We would he had been elsewhere," answered the others; "for he is a manof great might."
"You may well say that," quoth Gawaine, "for I dare lay my life it isSir Lancelot. I know him by his riding. Howbeit we shall know when wecome to the court."
Sir Lancelot still rode on his way, and encountered many strangeadventures. At last he came to a castle, and there he saw a falcon thatwas caught by the legs, and hung to the bough of a great tree in perilof its life. Then came a lady out of the castle, and said, "O Lancelot,as thou art the f
lower of all the knights in the world, help me to getmy hawk; for if it be lost, my lord will slay me."
"What is your lord's name?" asked Sir Lancelot.
"Sir," she answered, "it is Sir Phelot, a knight of the King ofNorthgalis."
"Fair lady," said Lancelot, "since you know my name, and require me onmy knighthood to help you, I will do what I may to get your hawk, thoughI am but an ill climber." So he alighted, tied his horse to the tree,and prayed the lady to unarm him. When he was unarmed, he put off allhis clothes save his shirt and breeches, and then climbed the tree, andrescued the falcon, the which he tied to a rotten branch and threw itdown to the lady. Suddenly the lady's husband, Sir Phelot, came out ofthe castle all armed, and said, "Now, Sir Lancelot, I have found thee asI would have thee."
"Ah, lady," said Lancelot, "why have you betrayed me?"
"She hath done as I commanded her," answered Sir Phelot. "There is noescape for thee; thine hour hath come when thou must die."
Lancelot entreated him to let him at least have his sword, and then hewould encounter him, even without armour. But Sir Phelot answered, "Iknow thee too well for that; thou shalt get no weapon, if I can preventit."
"Alas," said Lancelot, "that ever knight should die weaponless!" So helooked about him, and saw over his head a great bough of the tree thatwas leafless. This he broke off by pure might, and then suddenly sprangfrom the tree, so that his horse stood between him and Sir Phelot. ThenSir Phelot came round the horse, and struck at him, meaning to haveslain him. But Lancelot cunningly warded the blow with the bough, andthen struck the knight so mightily on the side of the head with it thathe stunned him. Then Lancelot took the sword from his hand, and struckhis head from his body. When the lady saw that her husband was dead, shecried out and swooned away. But Lancelot got on his armour as fast ashe could, for he feared lest more enemies should come from the knight'scastle. Then he got on his horse and rode away, and thanked God that hehad escaped unscathed from that adventure.
So after this Sir Lancelot arrived at the court, two days before theFeast of Pentecost; and King Arthur and all the court were glad of hiscoming. And all the knights that he had rescued from Sir Turquine cameand gave him honour and praise. And those knights whom he had strickendown while he wore Sir Kay's armour were passing glad when they knewit was Sir Lancelot that had put them to the worse. So at that time SirLancelot had the greatest name of any knight in the world, and was themost honoured, both by high and low.