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Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur






CHAPTER IV

How Sir Tor was known for son of King Pellinore,
and how Gawaine was made knight.

SO on the morn King Pellinore came to the court of King Arthur,
which had great joy of him, and told him of Tor, how he was his
son, and how he had made him knight at the request of the
cowherd. When Pellinore beheld Tor, he pleased him much. So the
king made Gawaine knight, but Tor was the first he made at the
feast. What is the cause, said King Arthur, that there be two
places void in the sieges? Sir, said Merlin, there shall no man
sit in those places but they that shall be of most worship. But
in the Siege Perilous there shall no man sit therein but one, and
if there be any so hardy to <84>do it he shall be destroyed, and
he that shall sit there shall have no fellow. And therewith
Merlin took King Pellinore by the hand, and in the one hand next
the two sieges and the Siege Perilous he said, in open audience,
This is your place and best ye are worthy to sit therein of any
that is here. Thereat sat Sir Gawaine in great envy and told
Gaheris his brother, yonder knight is put to great worship, the
which grieveth me sore, for he slew our father King Lot,
therefore I will slay him, said Gawaine, with a sword that was
sent me that is passing trenchant. Ye shall not so, said
Gaheris, at this time, for at this time I am but a squire, and
when I am made knight I will be avenged on him, and therefore,
brother, it is best ye suffer till another time, that we may have
him out of the court, for an we did so we should trouble this
high feast. I will well, said Gawaine, as ye will.



CHAPTER V

How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever,
a white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple
hounds, and how a brachet pinched the hart which
was taken away.

THEN was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at
Camelot unto Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen's, with
great solemnity. And as every man was set after his degree,
Merlin went to all the knights of the Round Table, and bade them
sit still, that none of them remove. For ye shall see a strange
and a marvellous adventure. Right so as they sat there came
running in a white hart into the hall, and a white brachet next
him, and thirty couple of black running hounds came after with a
great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round as he went by
other boards. The white brachet bit him by the buttock and
pulled out a piece, wherethrough the hart leapt a great leap and
overthrew a knight that sat at the <85>board side; and therewith
the knight arose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out
of the hall, and took his horse and rode his way with the
brachet. Right so anon came in a lady on a white palfrey, and
cried aloud to King Arthur, Sir, suffer me not to have this
despite, for the brachet was mine that the knight led away. I
may not do therewith, said the king.

With this there came a knight riding all armed on a great horse,
and took the lady away with him with force, and ever she cried
and made great dole. When she was gone the king was glad, for
she made such a noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye may not leave these
adventures so lightly; for these adventures must be brought again
or else it would be disworship to you and to your feast. I will,
said the king, that all be done by your advice. Then, said
Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, for he must bring again the white
hart. Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor, for he must bring
again the brachet and the knight, or else slay him. Also let
call King Pellinore, for he must bring again the lady and the
knight, or else slay him. And these three knights shall do
marvellous adventures or they come again. Then were they called
all three as it rehearseth afore, and each of them took his
charge, and armed them surely. But Sir Gawaine had the first
request, and therefore we will begin at him.



CHAPTER VI

How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the hart, and how
two brethren fought each against other for the hart.

SIR GAWAINE rode more than a pace, and Gaheris his brother that
rode with him instead of a squire to do him service. So as they
rode they saw two knights fight on horseback passing sore, so Sir
Gawaine and his brother rode betwixt them, and asked them for
what cause they fought so. The one knight answered and said, We
fight <86>for a simple matter, for we two be two brethren born
and begotten of one man and of one woman. Alas, said Sir
Gawaine, why do ye so? Sir, said the elder, there came a white
hart this way this day, and many hounds chased him, and a white
brachet was alway next him, and we understood it was adventure
made for the high feast of King Arthur, and therefore I would
have gone after to have won me worship; and here my younger
brother said he would go after the hart, for he was better knight
than I: and for this cause we fell at debate, and so we thought
to prove which of us both was better knight. This is a simple
cause, said Sir Gawaine; uncouth men ye should
debate withal, and not brother with brother; therefore but if you
will do by my counsel I will have ado with you, that is ye shall
yield you unto me, and that ye go unto King Arthur and yield you
unto his grace. Sir knight, said the two brethren, we are
forfoughten and much blood have we lost through our wilfulness,
and therefore we would be loath to have ado with you. Then do as
I will have you, said Sir Gawaine. We will agree to fulfil your
will; but by whom shall we say that we be thither sent? Ye may
say, By the knight that followeth the quest of the hart that was
white. Now what is your name? said Gawaine. Sorlouse of the
Forest, said the elder. And my name is, said the younger, Brian
of the Forest. And so they departed and went to the king's
court, and Sir Gawaine on his quest.

And as Gawaine followed the hart by the cry of the hounds, even
afore him there was a great river, and the hart swam over; and as
Sir Gawaine would follow after, there stood a knight over the
other side, and said, Sir knight, come not over after this hart
but if thou wilt joust with me. I will not fail as for that,
said Sir Gawaine, to follow the quest that I am in, and so made
his horse to swim over the water. And anon they gat their spears
and ran together full hard; but Sir Gawaine smote him off his
horse, and then he turned his horse and bade him yield him. Nay,
said the knight, not so, though thou have the better of me on
horseback. I pray thee, valiant <87>knight, alight afoot, and
match we together with swords. What is your name? said Sir
Gawaine. Allardin of the Isles, said the other. Then either
dressed their shields and smote together, but Sir Gawaine smote
him so hard through the helm that it went to the brains, and the
knight fell down dead. Ah! said Gaheris, that was a mighty
stroke of a young knight.



CHAPTER VII
How the hart was chased into a castle and there slain, and
how Sir Gawaine slew a lady.

THEN Gawaine and Gaheris rode more than a pace after the white
hart, and let slip at the hart three couple of greyhounds, and so
they chased the hart into a castle, and in the chief place of the
castle they slew the hart; Sir Gawaine and Gaheris followed
after. Right so there came a knight out of a chamber with a
sword drawn in his hand and slew two of the greyhounds, even in
the sight of Sir Gawaine, and the remnant he chased them with his
sword out of the castle. And when he came again, he said, O my
white hart, me repenteth that thou art dead, for my sovereign
lady gave thee to me, and evil have I kept thee, and thy death
shall be dear bought an I live. And anon he went into his
chamber and armed him, and came out fiercely, and there met he
with Sir Gawaine. Why have ye slain my hounds? said Sir Gawaine,
for they did but their kind, and liefer I had ye had wroken your
anger upon me than upon a dumb beast. Thou sayest truth, said
the knight, I have avenged me on thy hounds, and so I will on
thee or thou go. Then Sir Gawaine alighted afoot and dressed his
shield, and struck together mightily, and clave their shields,
and stoned their helms, and brake their hauberks that the blood
ran down to their feet.

At the last Sir Gawaine smote the knight so hard that <88>he fell
to the earth, and then he cried mercy, and yielded him, and
besought him as he was a knight and gentleman, to save his life.
Thou shalt die, said Sir Gawaine, for slaying of my hounds. I
will make amends, said the knight, unto my power. Sir Gawaine
would no mercy have, but unlaced his helm to have stricken off
his head. Right so came his lady out of a chamber and fell over
him, and so he smote off her head by misadventure. Alas, said
Gaheris, that is foully and shamefully done, that shame shall
never from you; also ye should give mercy unto them that ask
mercy, for a knight without mercy is without worship. Sir
Gawaine was so stonied of the death of this fair lady that he
wist not what he did, and said unto the knight, Arise, I will
give thee mercy. Nay, nay, said the knight, I take no force of
mercy now, for thou hast slain my love and my lady that I loved
best of all earthly things. Me sore repenteth it, said Sir
Gawaine, for I thought to strike unto thee; but now thou shalt go
unto King Arthur and tell him of thine adventures, and how thou
art overcome by the knight that went in the quest of the white
hart. I take no force, said the knight, whether I live or I die;
but so for dread of death he swore to go unto King Arthur, and he
made him to bear one greyhound before him on his horse, and
another behind him. What is your name? said Sir Gawaine, or we
depart. My name is, said the knight, Ablamar of the Marsh. So
he departed toward Camelot.



CHAPTER VIII

How four knights fought against Gawaine and Gaheris,
and how they were overcome, and their lives saved at
request of four ladies.

AND Sir Gawaine went into the castle, and made him ready to lie
there all night, and would have unarmed him. What will ye do,
said Gaheris, will ye unarm you in this <89>country? Ye may
think ye have many enemies here. They had not sooner said that
word but there came four knights well armed, and assailed Sir
Gawaine hard, and said unto him, Thou new-made knight, thou hast
shamed thy knighthood, for a knight without mercy is dishonoured.
Also thou hast slain a fair lady to thy great shame to the
world's end, and doubt thou not thou shalt have great need of
mercy or thou depart from us. And therewith one of them smote
Sir Gawaine a great stroke that nigh he fell to the earth, and
Gaheris smote him again sore, and so they were on the one side
and on the other, that Sir Gawaine and Gaheris were in jeopardy
of their lives; and one with a bow, an archer, smote Sir Gawaine
through the arm that it grieved him wonderly sore. And as they
should have been slain, there came four fair ladies, and besought
the knights of grace for Sir Gawaine; and goodly at request of
the ladies they gave Sir Gawaine and Gaheris their lives, and
made them to yield them as prisoners. Then Gawaine and Gaheris
made great dole. Alas! said Sir Gawaine, mine arm grieveth me
sore, I am like to be maimed; and so made his complaint
piteously.

Early on the morrow there came to Sir Gawaine one of the four
ladies that had heard all his complaint, and said, Sir knight,
what cheer? Not good, said he. It is your own default, said the
lady, for ye have done a passing foul deed in the slaying of the
lady, the which will be great villainy unto you. But be ye not
of King Arthur's kin? said the lady. Yes truly, said Sir
Gawaine. What is your name? said the lady, ye must tell it me or
ye pass. My name is Gawaine, the King Lot of Orkney's son, and
my mother is King Arthur's sister. Ah! then are ye nephew unto
King Arthur, said the lady, and I shall so speak for you that ye
shall have conduct to go to King Arthur for his love. And so she
departed and told the four knights how their prisoner was King
Arthur's nephew, and his name is Sir Gawaine, King Lot's son of
Orkney. And they gave him the hart's head because it was in his
quest. Then anon they delivered Sir Gawaine under this promise,
that he should bear the dead lady with him in <90>this manner;
the head of her was hanged about his neck, and the whole body of
her lay before him on his horse's mane. Right so rode he forth
unto Camelot. And anon as he was come, Merlin desired of King
Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be sworn to tell of all his
adventures, and how he slew the lady, and how he would give no
mercy unto the knight, wherethrough the lady was slain. Then the
king and the queen were greatly displeased with Sir Gawaine for
the slaying of the lady. And there by ordinance of the queen
there was set a quest of ladies on Sir Gawaine, and they judged
him for ever while he lived to be with all ladies, and to fight
for their quarrels; and that ever he should be courteous, and
never to refuse mercy to him that asketh mercy. Thus was Gawaine
sworn upon the Four Evangelists that he should never be against
lady nor gentlewoman, but if he fought for a lady and his
adversary fought for another. And thus endeth the adventure of
Sir Gawaine that he did at the marriage of King Arthur. Amen.



CHAPTER IX

How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the brachet, and
of his adventure by the way.

WHEN Sir Tor was ready, he mounted upon his horseback, and rode
after the knight with the brachet. So as he rode he met with a
dwarf suddenly that smote his horse on the head with a staff,
that he went backward his spear length. Why dost thou so? said
Sir Tor. For thou shalt not pass this way, but if thou joust
with yonder knights of the pavilions. Then was Tor ware where
two pavilions were, and great spears stood out, and two shields
hung on trees by the pavilions. I may not tarry, said Sir Tor,
for I am in a quest that I must needs follow. Thou shalt not
pass, said the dwarf, and therewithal he blew his horn. Then
there came one armed on horseback, and dressed his shield,
<91>and came fast toward Tor, and he dressed him against him, and
so ran together that Tor bare him from his horse. And anon the
knight yielded him to his mercy. But, sir, I have a fellow in
yonder pavilion that will have ado with you anon. He shall be
welcome, said Sir Tor. Then was he ware of another knight coming
with great raundon, and each of them dressed to other, that
marvel it was to see; but the knight smote Sir Tor a great stroke
in midst of the shield that his spear all to-shivered. And Sir
Tor smote him through the shield below of the shield that it went
through the cost of the knight, but the stroke slew him not. And
therewith Sir Tor alighted and smote him on the helm a great
stroke, and therewith the knight yielded him and besought him of
mercy. I will well, said Sir Tor, but thou and thy fellow must
go unto King Arthur, and yield you prisoners unto him. By whom
shall we say are we thither sent? Ye shall say by the knight
that went in the quest of the knight that went with the brachet.
Now, what be your two names? said Sir Tor. My name is, said the
one, Sir Felot of Langduk; and my name is, said the other, Sir
Petipase of Winchelsea. Now go ye forth, said Sir Tor, and God
speed you and me. Then came the dwarf and said unto Sir Tor, I
pray you give me a gift. I will well, said Sir Tor, ask. I ask
no more, said the dwarf, but that ye will suffer me to do you
service, for I will serve no more recreant knights. Take an
horse, said Sir Tor, and ride on with me. I wot ye ride after
the knight with the white brachet, and I shall bring you where he
is, said the dwarf. And so they rode throughout a forest, and at
the last they were ware of two pavilions, even by a priory, with
two shields, and the one shield was enewed with white, and the
other shield was red.



<92>
CHAPTER X

How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a
knight assailed him for the said brachet.

THEREWITH Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so
he came to the white pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it,
on one pallet, sleeping, and so he went to the other pavilion,
and found a lady lying sleeping therein, but there was the white
brachet that bayed at her fast, and therewith the lady yede out
of the pavilion and all her damosels. But anon as Sir Tor espied
the white brachet, he took her by force and took her to the
dwarf. What, will ye so, said the lady, take my brachet from me?
Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have I sought from King Arthur's
court hither. Well, said the lady, knight, ye shall not go far
with her, but that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall abide
what adventure that cometh by the grace of God, and so mounted
upon his horse, and passed on his way toward Camelot; but it was
so near night he might not pass but little further. Know ye any
lodging? said Tor. I know none, said the dwarf, but here beside
is an hermitage, and there ye must take lodging as ye find. And
within a while they came to the hermitage and took lodging; and
was there grass, oats and bread for their horses; soon it was
sped, and full hard was their supper; but there they rested them
all night till on the morn, and heard a mass devoutly, and took
their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed the hermit to pray
for him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And so
mounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while.

With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and
he said, Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from
my lady. Sir Tor returned again, and beheld him how he was a
seemly knight and well horsed, and well armed at all points; then
Sir Tor dressed his shield, and took his spear in his hands, and
the other came fiercely upon him, and smote both horse and man to
the <93>earth. Anon they arose lightly and drew their swords as
eagerly as lions, and put their shields afore them, and smote
through the shields, that the cantels fell off both parties.
Also they tamed their helms that the hot blood ran out, and the
thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove in sunder that
the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many wounds and
were passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight
fainted, and then he sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes,
and gart him go to the earth on the one side. Then Sir Tor bade
him yield him. That will I not, said Abelleus, while my life
lasteth and the soul is within my body, unless that thou wilt
give me the brachet. That will I not do, said Sir Tor, for it
was my quest to bring again thy brachet, thee, or both.



CHAPTER XI

How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head
at the request of a lady.

WITH that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might
drive, and cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye
with me? said Sir Tor. I beseech thee, said the damosel, for
King Arthur's love, give me a gift; I require thee, gentle
knight, as thou art a gentleman. Now, said Tor, ask a gift and I
will give it you. Gramercy, said the damosel; now I ask the head
of the false knight Abelleus, for he is the most outrageous
knight that liveth, and the greatest murderer. I am loath, said
Sir Tor, of that gift I have given you; let him make amends in
that he hath trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel, he may
not, for he slew mine own brother before mine own eyes, that was
a better knight than he, an he had had grace; and I kneeled half
an hour afore him in the mire for to save my brother's life, that
had done him no damage, but fought with him by adventure of arms,
and so for all that I could do he struck off his head; wherefore
I require thee, <94>as thou art a true knight, to give me my
gift, or else I shall shame thee in all the court of King Arthur;
for he is the falsest knight living, and a great destroyer of
good knights. Then when Abelleus heard this, he was more afeard,
and yielded him and asked mercy. I may not now, said Sir Tor,
but if I should be found false of my promise; for while I would
have taken you to mercy ye would none ask, but if ye had the
brachet again, that was my quest. And therewith he took off his
helm, and he arose and fled, and Sir Tor after him, and smote off
his head quite.

Now sir, said the damosel, it is near night; I pray you come and
lodge with me here at my place, it is here fast by. I will well,
said Sir Tor, for his horse and he had fared evil since they
departed from Camelot, and so he rode with her, and had passing
good cheer with her; and she had a passing fair old knight to her
husband that made him passing good cheer, and well eased both his
horse and him. And on the morn he heard his mass, and brake his
fast, and took his leave of the knight and of the lady, that
besought him to tell them his name. Truly, he said, my name is
Sir Tor that was late made knight, and this was the first quest
of arms that ever I did, to bring again that this knight Abelleus
took away from King Arthur's court. O fair knight, said the lady
and her husband, an ye come here in our marches, come and see our
poor lodging, and it shall be always at your commandment. So Sir
Tor departed and came to Camelot on the third day by noon, and
the king and the queen and all the court was passing fain of his
coming, and made great joy that he was come again; for he went
from the court with little succour, but as King Pellinore his
father gave him an old courser, and King Arthur gave him armour
and a sword, and else had he none other succour, but rode so
forth himself alone. And then the king and the queen by Merlin's
advice made him to swear to tell of his adventures, and so he
told and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore rehearsed,
wherefore the king and the queen made great joy. Nay, nay, said
Merlin, these be but japes to that he shall do; for he shall
prove a noble knight of prowess, as good as any is living,
<95>and gentle and courteous, and of good tatches, and passing
true of his promise, and never shall outrage. Wherethrough
Merlin's words King Arthur gave him an earldom of lands that fell
unto him. And here endeth the quest of Sir Tor, King Pellinore's
son.



CHAPTER XII

How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that
led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and
how he fought with two knights for that lady, of whom
he slew the one at the first stroke.

THEN King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and
rode more than a pace after the lady that the knight led away.
And as he rode in a forest, he saw in a valley a damosel sit by a
well, and a wounded knight in her arms, and Pellinore saluted
her. And when she was ware of him, she cried overloud, Help me,
knight; for Christ's sake, King Pellinore. And he would not
tarry, he was so eager in his quest, and ever she cried an
hundred times after help. When she saw he would not abide, she
prayed unto God to send him as much need of help as she had, and
that he might feel it or he died. So, as the book telleth, the
knight there died that there was wounded, wherefore the lady for
pure sorrow slew herself with his sword. As King Pellinore rode
in that valley he met with a poor man, a labourer. Sawest thou
not, said Pellinore, a knight riding and leading away a lady?
Yea, said the man, I saw that knight, and the lady that made
great dole; and yonder beneath in a valley there shall ye see two
pavilions, and one of the knights of the pavilions challenged
that lady of that knight, and said she was his cousin near,
wherefore he should lead her no farther. And so they waged
battle in that quarrel, the one said he would have her by force,
and the other said he would have the rule of her, by cause he was
her kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel he
left them fighting. And if <96>ye will ride a pace ye shall find
them fighting, and the lady was beleft with the two squires in
the pavilions. God thank thee, said King Pellinore.

Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions,
and the two knights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions,
and saw the lady that was his quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must
go with me unto the court of King Arthur. Sir knight, said the
two squires that were with her, yonder are two knights that fight
for this lady, go thither and depart them, and be agreed with
them, and then may ye have her at your pleasure. Ye say well,
said King Pellinore. And anon he rode betwixt them, and departed
them, and asked them the causes why that they fought? Sir
knight, said the one, I shall tell you, this lady is my kinswoman
nigh, mine aunt's daughter, and when I heard her complain that
she was with him maugre her head, I waged battle to fight with
him. Sir knight, said the other, whose name was Hontzlake of
Wentland, and this lady I gat by my prowess of arms this day at
Arthur's court. That is untruly said, said King Pellinore, for
ye came in suddenly there as we were at the high feast, and took
away this lady or any man might make him ready; and therefore it
was my quest to bring her again and you both, or else the one of
us to abide in the field; therefore the lady shall go with me, or
I will die for it, for I have promised it King Arthur. And
therefore fight ye no more, for none of you shall have no part of
her at this time; and if ye list to fight for her, fight with me,
and I will defend her. Well, said the knights, make you ready,
and we shall assail you with all our power. And as King
Pellinore would have put his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake rove
his horse through with a sword, and said: Now art thou on foot
as well as we are. When King Pellinore espied that his horse was
slain, lightly he leapt from his horse and pulled out his sword,
and put his shield afore him, and said, Knight, keep well thy
head, for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse.
So King Pellinore gave him such a stroke upon the helm that he
clave the head down to the chin, that he fell to the earth dead.

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