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22 - Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table by Andrew Lang · Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table

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Speaker 1: Section twenty one of Tales of King Arthur and the
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Speaker 1: Round Table. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
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Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
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Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Tonio Leva. Tales
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Speaker 1: of King Arthur and the Round Table by Andrew Lang
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Speaker 1: Lancelot and Guenevere. Now we come to the sorrowful tale
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Speaker 1: of Lancelot and Guenevere, and of the death of King Arthur.
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Speaker 1: Already it has been told that King Arthur had wedded Guenevere,
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Speaker 1: the daughter of Leo de Grance, King of Cornwall, a
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Speaker 1: damsel who seemed made of all the flowers. So fair
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Speaker 1: was she and slender and brilliant to look upon, and
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Speaker 1: the knights in her father court bowed down before her
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Speaker 1: and smote their hardest in the jousts where Guinevere was present,
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Speaker 1: But none dared ask her in marriage, till Arthur came
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Speaker 1: like the rest he saw, and loved her. But unlike them,
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Speaker 1: he was a king and might lift his eyes even
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Speaker 1: unto Gwenevere. The maiden herself scarcely saw or spoke to him,
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Speaker 1: but did her father's bidding in all things and when
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Speaker 1: he desired her to make everything ready to go clothed
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Speaker 1: as beseemed a princess to King Arthur's court, her heart
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Speaker 1: beat with joy at the sight of rich stuffs and
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Speaker 1: shining jewels. Then one day there rode up to the
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Speaker 1: castle a band of horsemen sent by the king to
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Speaker 1: bring her to his court, and at the head of
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Speaker 1: them Sir Launcelot de Lake, a friend of King Arthur
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Speaker 1: and winner of all the jousts and tournaments where knights
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Speaker 1: meet to gain honor. Day by day they rode together apart,
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Speaker 1: and he told her tales of gallant deeds done for
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Speaker 1: love of beautiful ladies. And they passed under trees gay
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Speaker 1: with the first green of spring, and over hyacinths covering
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Speaker 1: the earth with sheets of blue, till at sunset they
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Speaker 1: drew rein before the silken pavilion, with the banner of
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Speaker 1: Uther Pendragon floating on the top, and Gwinever's heart went
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Speaker 1: out to Lancelot before she knew. One evening she noted
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Speaker 1: far across the plain, towers and buildings shining in the sun,
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Speaker 1: and an array of horsemen ride forth to meet her.
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Speaker 1: One stopped before her, dazzled eyes and leaping from his horse,
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Speaker 1: bowed low. Arthur had come to welcome her and do
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Speaker 1: her honor, and to lead her home, But looking up
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Speaker 1: at him, she thought him cold and timid and alone.
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Speaker 1: Her thoughts turned again to Launcelot. After that, the days
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Speaker 1: and years slipped by, and these two were ever nearest
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Speaker 1: the king, and in every time of danger, the King
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Speaker 1: cried for Launcelot and trusted his honor and the queen's
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Speaker 1: to him. Sir Launcelot spoke truly when he told Elaine
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Speaker 1: that he had never worn the badge of lady or maiden.
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Speaker 1: But for all that, everyone looked on Sir Launcelot as
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Speaker 1: the Queen's knight, who could do no worship to any
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Speaker 1: other woman. The King likewise held Sir Launcelot bound to
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Speaker 1: fight the queen's battles, and if he was absent on
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Speaker 1: adventures of his own, messengers hastened to bring him back,
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Speaker 1: as in the fight with Sir Meador. So things went
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Speaker 1: on for many years, and the King never guess that
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Speaker 1: the Queen loved Lancelot. Best. It befell one spring in
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Speaker 1: the month of May that Queen Guenevere bethought herself that
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Speaker 1: she would like to go a main in the woods
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Speaker 1: and fields that lay round the city of Westminster, on
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Speaker 1: both sides of the river. To this intent, she called
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Speaker 1: her own especial knights, and bade them be ready the
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Speaker 1: next morning, clothed all in green, whether of silk or cloth,
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Speaker 1: and said she I shall bring with me ten ladies,
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Speaker 1: and every night shall have a lady behind him, and
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Speaker 1: be followed by a squire and two yeomen, and I
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Speaker 1: will that you shall all be well horsed. Thus it
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Speaker 1: was done, and the ten knights, arrayed in fresh green,
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Speaker 1: the emblem of the spring, rode with the Queen and
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Speaker 1: her ladies in the early dawn and smelt the sweet
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Speaker 1: of the year, and gathered flowers, which they stuck in
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Speaker 1: their girdles and doublets. The queen was as happy and
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Speaker 1: light of heart as the youngest maiden, but she had
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Speaker 1: promised to be with the king at the hour of ten,
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Speaker 1: and gave the signal for departure. Unwillingly. The knights were
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Speaker 1: mounting their horses when suddenly, out of a wood on
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Speaker 1: the other side, rode Sir Melagrants, who for many years
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Speaker 1: had left the queen and had sought an occasion to
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Speaker 1: carry her off, but found none, so fair as this.
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Speaker 1: Out of the forest. He rode with two score men
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Speaker 1: in armor and a hundred archers behind him, and bade
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Speaker 1: the Queen and her followers stay where they were, or
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Speaker 1: they would fare badly. Traitor, cried the queen, What evil
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Speaker 1: deed would you do? You are a king's son and
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Speaker 1: a knight of the round Table, yet you seek to
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Speaker 1: shame the man who gave you knighthood. But I tell
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Speaker 1: you that you may bring dishonor on yourself, but you
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Speaker 1: will bring none on me. For rather would I cut
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Speaker 1: my throat in twain. As for your threats, Madame, I
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Speaker 1: pay them no heed, returned Sir Melogrance, I have loved
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Speaker 1: you many a year, and never could I get you
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Speaker 1: at such an advantage as I do now, and therefore
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Speaker 1: I will take you as I find you. Then all
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Speaker 1: the knights spoke together, saying, sir melogrants, bethink yourself that
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Speaker 1: in attacking men who are unarm'd, you put not only
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Speaker 1: our lives in peril, but your own honor. Rather than
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Speaker 1: allow the Queen to be shamed, we will each one
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Speaker 1: fight to the death, and if we did aught else,
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Speaker 1: we should dishonor our knighthood forever fight as well as
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Speaker 1: you can, answered Sir Melogrance, and keep the queen if
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Speaker 1: you may so. The knights of the round Table drew
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Speaker 1: their swords, and the men of Sir Melogrants ran at
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Speaker 1: them with spears, but the knights stood fast and clothed
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Speaker 1: the spears in two before they touched them. Then both
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Speaker 1: sides fought with swords, and Sir Kay and five other
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Speaker 1: knights were felled to the ground with wounds all over
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Speaker 1: their bodies. The other four fought long and slew forty
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Speaker 1: of the men and archers of Samelagrants, but in the
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Speaker 1: end they too were overcome. When the Queen saw that,
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Speaker 1: she cried out for pity and sorrow, Sir Melogrants, spare
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Speaker 1: my noble knights, and I will go with you quietly,
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Speaker 1: on this condition that their lives be saved, and that
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Speaker 1: wherever you may carry me, they shall follow. For I
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Speaker 1: give you warning that I would rather slay myself than
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Speaker 1: go with you without my knights, whose duty it is
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Speaker 1: to guard me. Madam, replied Sir Melogrance. For your sake,
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Speaker 1: they shall be led with you into my own castle
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Speaker 1: if you will consent to ride with me. So the
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Speaker 1: queen prayed the four knights to fight no more, and
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Speaker 1: she and they would not part. And to this, though
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Speaker 1: their hearts were heavy, they agreed. The fight being ended,
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Speaker 1: The wounded knights were placed on horseback, some sitting, some
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Speaker 1: lying across the saddle, according as they were hurt. And
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Speaker 1: Sir Meligrans forbade any one to leave the castle, which
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Speaker 1: had been a gift to him from King Arthur. Foresore,
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Speaker 1: he dreaded the vengeance of Sir Launcelot if this thing
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Speaker 1: should reach his ears. But the Queen knew well what
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Speaker 1: was passing in his mind, and she called a little
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Speaker 1: page who served her in her chamber, and desired him
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Speaker 1: to take her ring and hasten with all speed to
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Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, and pray, if he loves me to rescue me,
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Speaker 1: spare not your horse, neither for warden nor for land.
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Speaker 1: And the boy bided his time, then mounted his horse
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Speaker 1: and rode away as fast as he might. Sir Malogrand
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Speaker 1: spied him as he flew, and knew whither he went
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Speaker 1: and who had sent him, and he commended his best
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Speaker 1: archers to ride after him and shoot him. Ere he
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Speaker 1: reached Sir Launcelot, but the boy escaped. Their arrows and
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Speaker 1: vanished from their sight. Then Sir Malogrand said to the Queen,
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Speaker 1: you seek to betray me, madam, But Sir Launcelot shall
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Speaker 1: not so lightly come at you. And he bade his
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Speaker 1: men follow him to the castle in haste, and left
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Speaker 1: an ambush of thirty archers in the road, charging them
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Speaker 1: that if a knight mounted on a white horse came
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Speaker 1: along that way, they were to slay the horse, but
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Speaker 1: to leave the man alone, as he was hard to overcome.
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Speaker 1: After Sir Malogran sad given these orders, his company galloped
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Speaker 1: fast to the castle. But the Queen would listen to
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Speaker 1: nothing that he said, demanding always that her knights and
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Speaker 1: ladies should be lodged with her, and Sir Malograns was
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Speaker 1: forced to let her have her will. The castle of
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Speaker 1: Sir Malogrants was distant seven miles from Westminster, so it
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Speaker 1: did not take long for the boy to find Sir
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Speaker 1: Launcelot and to give him the Queen's ring and her message.
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Speaker 1: I am ashamed forever, said Sir Launcelot, unless I can
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Speaker 1: rescue that noble lady. And while he put on his armor,
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Speaker 1: he called to the boy to tell him the whole adventure.
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Speaker 1: When he was armed and mounted. He begged the page
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Speaker 1: to warn Sir Lavaine where he had gone and for
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Speaker 1: what cause, and to pray him, as he loves me,
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Speaker 1: that he follow me to the castle of Sir Martz,
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Speaker 1: for if I am a living man, he will find
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Speaker 1: me there. Sir Launcelot put his horse into the water
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Speaker 1: at Westminster, and he swam straight over to Lambeth, and
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Speaker 1: soon after he landed he found traces of the fight.
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Speaker 1: He rode along the track till he came to the
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Speaker 1: wood where the archers were lying waiting for him, and
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Speaker 1: when they saw him, they bade him, on peril of
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Speaker 1: his life, to go no further along that path. Why
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Speaker 1: should I, who am a knight of the round table,
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Speaker 1: turn out of any path that pleases me, asked Sir Launcelot.
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Speaker 1: Either you will leave this path or your horse will
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Speaker 1: be slain, answered the archers. You may slay my horse
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Speaker 1: if you will, said Sir Launcelot, But when my horse
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Speaker 1: is slain, I shall fight you on foot, and so
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Speaker 1: would I do if there were five hundred more of you.
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Speaker 1: With that, they smote the horse with their arrows, but
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Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot jumped off and ran into the wood. And
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Speaker 1: they could not catch him. He went on some way,
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Speaker 1: but the ground was rough, and his armor was heavy
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Speaker 1: and sore. He dreaded the treason of Sir Melogrants. His
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Speaker 1: heart was near to fail him when there passed by
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Speaker 1: a cart with two carters that came to fetch wood.
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Speaker 1: Tell me, carter, said Sir Launcelot, What will you take
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Speaker 1: to suffer me to go in your cart till we
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Speaker 1: are within two miles of the castle of Sir Melogrants.
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Speaker 1: I cannot take you at all, answered the carter, For
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Speaker 1: I am come to fetch wood for my lord, Sir Melogrance.
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Speaker 1: It is with him that I would speak. You shall
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Speaker 1: not go with me, said the carter. But hardly had
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Speaker 1: he uttered the words, when Sir Launcelot leaped up into
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Speaker 1: the cart and gave him such a buffet that he
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Speaker 1: fell dead on the ground. At this sight, the other
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Speaker 1: carter cried that he would take the knight where he
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Speaker 1: would if he would only fare his life. Then I
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Speaker 1: charge you, said Sir Launcelot, that you bring me to
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Speaker 1: the castle gate. So the carter drove at a great gallop,
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Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot's horse, who had espied his master, followed
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Speaker 1: the cart, though more than fifty arrows were standing in
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Speaker 1: his body. In an hour and a half they reached
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Speaker 1: the castle gate and were seen of Gwenevere and her ladies,
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Speaker 1: who were standing in a window. Look, Madam, cried one
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Speaker 1: of her ladies in that cart. Yonder is a goodly
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Speaker 1: harm knight. I suppose he is going to his hanging? Where,
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Speaker 1: asked the queen, And as she spoke she espied that
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Speaker 1: it was Sir Launcelot, and that his horse was following
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Speaker 1: Riderless well is he that has a trusty friend, said she,
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Speaker 1: For a noble knight is hard pressed when he rides
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Speaker 1: in a cart. And she rebuked the lady who had
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Speaker 1: declared he was going to his hanging. It was foul
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Speaker 1: talking to liken, the noblest knight in the world, all
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Speaker 1: to one going to a shameful death. By this, Sir
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Speaker 1: Launcelot had come to the gate of the castle, and
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Speaker 1: he got down and called till the castle rang with
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Speaker 1: his voice, where is that false traitor? Sir malogran nid
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Speaker 1: of the round table, Come forth you and your company,
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Speaker 1: For I, Sir Launcelot, du Lake, am here to do
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Speaker 1: battle with you. Then he burst the gate open wide
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Speaker 1: and smote the porter who tried to hold it against him.
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Speaker 1: When Sir Malogrance heard Sir Launcelot's voice, he ran into
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Speaker 1: Queen Guinevere's chamber and fell on his knees before her Mercy.
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Speaker 1: Madam Mercy, I threw myself upon your grace? What else
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Speaker 1: you now? Said she of a truth, I might well
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Speaker 1: expect some good knight to avenge me, though my Lord
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Speaker 1: Arthur knew not of your work, Madam. I will make
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Speaker 1: such amends as you yourself may desire, pleaded Sir Malongrance,
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Speaker 1: and I trust wholly to your grace. What would you
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Speaker 1: have me do? Asked the Queen. Rule in this castle
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Speaker 1: as if it were your own, and give Sir Launcelot
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Speaker 1: cheer till tomorrow, and then you shall all return to Westminster.
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Speaker 1: You say, well, answered the Queen. Peace is ever better
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Speaker 1: than war, and I take no pleasure in fighting. So
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Speaker 1: she went down with her ladies to Sir Launcelot, who
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Speaker 1: still stood full of rage in the inner court, calling,
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Speaker 1: as before, traitor Knight, come forth. Sir Launcelot asked the Queen,
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Speaker 1: what is the cause of all this wrath? Madam replied,
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Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot does such a question come from you. Methinks
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Speaker 1: your wrath should be greater than mine. For all the
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Speaker 1: hurt and the dishonor hath fallen upon you. My own
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Speaker 1: hurt is but little, but the shame is worse than
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Speaker 1: any hurt, you say, truly, replied the Queen. But you
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Speaker 1: must come in with me peaceably as all is put
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Speaker 1: into my hand. And the Knight repents bitterly of his adventure,
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Speaker 1: Madam said Sir Launcelot, Since you have made agreement with him,
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Speaker 1: it is not my part to say nay, although Sir
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Speaker 1: Melogrance has borne himself both shamefully and cowardly towards me.
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Speaker 1: But had I known you would have pardoned him so soon,
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Speaker 1: I should not have made such haste to come to you.
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Speaker 1: Why do you say that, asked the Queen. Do you
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Speaker 1: repent yourself of your good deeds? I only made peace
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Speaker 1: with him to have done with all this noise of
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Speaker 1: Slanderer's talk, and for the sake of my knights, Madam
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Speaker 1: answered Sir Launcelot. You understand full well that I was
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Speaker 1: never glad of slander nor noise. But there is neither King,
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Speaker 1: Queen nor Knight alive save yourself, Madam and my Lord Arthur,
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Speaker 1: that should hinder me from giving Sir melo grants a
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Speaker 1: cold heart before I departed. Hence that I know well,
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Speaker 1: said the Queen. But what would you have more? Everything
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Speaker 1: shall be ordered as you will, Madam, replied Sir Launcelot.
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Speaker 1: As long as you are pleased, that is all I
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Speaker 1: care for. So the Queen led Sir Launcelot into her
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Speaker 1: chamber and commanded him to take off his armor, and
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Speaker 1: then took him to where her ten knights were lying
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Speaker 1: sore wounded. And their souls leapt with joy when they
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Speaker 1: saw him, and he told them how falsely Sir Melogrance
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Speaker 1: had dealt with him, and had set archers to slay
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Speaker 1: his horse, so that he was fain to place himself
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Speaker 1: in a cart. Thus they complained each to the other,
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Speaker 1: and would have avenged themselves on Sir Melogrants, but for
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Speaker 1: the peace made by the Queen. And in the evening
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Speaker 1: came Sir Lavaine, riding in great haste, and Sir Launcelot
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Speaker 1: was glory that he was come. Now, Sir Launcelot was
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Speaker 1: right when he feared to trust Sir Melogrants, for that
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Speaker 1: knight only sought to work ill, both to him and
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Speaker 1: to the Queen for all his fair words. And first
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Speaker 1: he began to speak evil of the Queen to Sir Launcelot,
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Speaker 1: who dared him to prove his foul words. And it
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Speaker 1: was settled between them that a combat should take place
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Speaker 1: in eight days in the field near Westminster. And now,
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Speaker 1: said Sir Melogrance, since it is decided that we must
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Speaker 1: fight together, I beseech you, as you are a noble knight,
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Speaker 1: to do me no treason nor villainy. In the meantime,
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Speaker 1: any knight will bear me witness, answered Sir Launcelot, that
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Speaker 1: never have I broken faith with any man, nor born
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Speaker 1: fellowship with those that have done so. Then let us
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Speaker 1: go to dinner, said Sir Melogrance, and afterwards you may
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Speaker 1: all ride to Westminster. Meanwhile, would it please you to
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Speaker 1: see the inside of this castle? That I will gladly,
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Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot. And they went from chamber to chamber
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Speaker 1: till they reached the floor of the castle. And as
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Speaker 1: he went, Sir Launcelot trod on a trap, and the
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Speaker 1: board rolled, and he fell down in a cave which
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Speaker 1: was filled with straw. And Sir Melogrance departed, and no
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Speaker 1: man knew where Sir Launcelot might be. The Queen bethought
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Speaker 1: herself that he was wont to disappear suddenly, And as
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Speaker 1: Sir Melogrants had first removed Sir Lavaine's horse from the
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Speaker 1: place where it had been tethered, the knights agreed with her.
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Speaker 1: So time passed until dinner had been eaten, and then
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Speaker 1: Sir Lavaine demand and it litters for the wounded knights
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Speaker 1: that they might be carried to Westminster with as little
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Speaker 1: hurt as might be, and the Queen and her ladies followed.
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Speaker 1: When they arrived, the knights told of their adventure and
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Speaker 1: how Sir Melogrance had accused the Queen of treason, and
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Speaker 1: how he and Sir Launcelot were to fight for her
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Speaker 1: good name in eight days. Sir Melagrance has taken a
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Speaker 1: great deal upon him, said the King. But where is
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Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, Sir answered they all we know not, but
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Speaker 1: we think he has ridden to some adventure. Well leave
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Speaker 1: him alone, said the King. He will be here when
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Speaker 1: the day comes, unless some treason has befallen him. All
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Speaker 1: this while Sir Launcelot was lying in great pain within
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Speaker 1: the cave, and he would have died for lack of
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Speaker 1: food had not. One of the ladies in the castle
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Speaker 1: found out the place where he was held captive, and
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Speaker 1: brought him meat and drink, and hoped that he might
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Speaker 1: be brought to love her. But he would not. Sir
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Speaker 1: Launcelot said she, you are not wise, for without my
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Speaker 1: help you will never get out of this prison. And
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Speaker 1: if you do not appear on the day of battle,
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Speaker 1: your lady, Queen Guinevere, will be burnt in default. If
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Speaker 1: I am not there, replied Sir Launcelot, the King and
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Speaker 1: the Queen and all men of worship will know that
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Speaker 1: I am either dead or in prison. And sure I
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Speaker 1: am that there is some good knight who loves me,
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Speaker 1: or is of my kin, that will take my quarrel
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Speaker 1: in hand. Therefore, you cannot frighten me by such words
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Speaker 1: as these. If there was not another woman in the world,
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Speaker 1: I could give you no different answer. Then you will
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Speaker 1: be shamed openly, replied the lady, and left the dungeon.
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Speaker 1: But on the day that the battle was to be fought,
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Speaker 1: she came again and said, Sir Launcelot, if you will
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Speaker 1: only kiss me once, I will deliver you and give
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Speaker 1: you the best horse in Sir Melagrants's stable. Yes, I
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Speaker 1: will kiss you, answered Sir Launcelot, since I may do
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Speaker 1: that honorably. But if I thought it were any shame
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Speaker 1: to kiss you, I would not do it, whatever the cost.
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Speaker 1: So he kissed her, and she brought him his armor,
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Speaker 1: and led him to a stable where twelve noble horses stood,
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Speaker 1: and bade him choose the best. He chose a white courser,
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Speaker 1: and bade the keepers put on the best saddle they had,
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Speaker 1: And with his spear in his hand and his sword
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Speaker 1: by his side, he rode away, thanking the lady for
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Speaker 1: all she had done for him, which some day he
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Speaker 1: would try to repay. As the hours passed on and
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Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot did not come, Sir Melogrance called everon King
23:09
Speaker 1: Arthur to burn the Queen, or else bring forth Sir Launcelot,
23:15
Speaker 1: for he deemed full well that he had Sir Launcelot
23:19
Speaker 1: safe in his dungeon. The King and Queen were sore
23:24
Speaker 1: distressed that Sir Launcelot was missing, and knew not where
23:28
Speaker 1: to look for him or what to do. Then stepped
23:32
Speaker 1: forth Sir Lavaine and said, my Lord Arthur, you know
23:37
Speaker 1: well that some ill fortune has happened to sir Launcelot,
23:40
Speaker 1: and if he is not dead, he is either sick
23:44
Speaker 1: or in prison. Therefore, I beseech you let me do
23:48
Speaker 1: battle instead of my lord and master for my lady,
23:52
Speaker 1: the Queen. I thank you heartily, gentle Knight, answered Arthur,
23:57
Speaker 1: for I am sure that Sir Melogrance accuses the Queen falsely,
24:02
Speaker 1: and there is not one of the ten Knights who
24:05
Speaker 1: would not fight for her were it not for his wounds.
24:09
Speaker 1: So do your best, for it is plain that some
24:13
Speaker 1: evil has been wrought on Sir Launcelot. Sir Lavain was
24:17
Speaker 1: filled with joy when the King gave him leave to
24:20
Speaker 1: do battle with Sir Melogrance, and rode swiftly to his
24:24
Speaker 1: place at the end of the lists. And just as
24:27
Speaker 1: the heralds were about to cry leissiliz Ali, Sir Launcelot
24:32
Speaker 1: dashed into the middle on his white horse hold and
24:36
Speaker 1: abide commanded the King, and Sir Launcelot rode up before
24:41
Speaker 1: him and told before them all how Sir Melagrance had
24:44
Speaker 1: treated him. When the King and Queen and all the
24:48
Speaker 1: lords heard Sir Launcelot's tale, their hearts stirred within them
24:53
Speaker 1: with anger, and the Queen took her seat by the
24:56
Speaker 1: King in great trust of her champion. Sir Launcelot and
25:01
Speaker 1: Sir Melogrants prepared themselves for battle and took their spears
25:06
Speaker 1: and came together as thunder, and Sir Launcelot bore Sir
25:09
Speaker 1: Melagrants right over his horse. Then Sir Launcelot jumped down,
25:15
Speaker 1: and they fought on foot till in the end Sir
25:18
Speaker 1: Melagrance was smitten to the ground by a blow on
25:21
Speaker 1: his head from his enemy. Most noble knight, save my life,
25:26
Speaker 1: cried he, for I yield myself unto you, and put
25:30
Speaker 1: myself into the King's hands and yours. Sir Launcelot did
25:34
Speaker 1: not know what to answer, for he longed above anything
25:38
Speaker 1: in the world to have revenge upon him, so he
25:42
Speaker 1: looked at the Queen to see whether she would give
25:46
Speaker 1: him any sign of what she would have done. The
25:50
Speaker 1: Queen wagged her head in answer, and Sir Launcelot knew
25:53
Speaker 1: by that token that she would have him dead. And
25:57
Speaker 1: he understood and bade Sir Melogrants get up and continue
26:01
Speaker 1: the fight. Nay, said Sir Melogrance, I will never rise
26:07
Speaker 1: till you accept my surrender. Listen, answered Sir Launcelot, I
26:12
Speaker 1: will leave my head, and left side bare, and my
26:15
Speaker 1: left arm shall be bound behind me, and in this
26:19
Speaker 1: guise I will fight with you. At this, Sir Melogrant
26:22
Speaker 1: started to his feet and cried, my Lord Arthur, take
26:27
Speaker 1: heed to this offer, for I will take it. Therefore,
26:32
Speaker 1: let him be bound and unarmed, as he has said.
26:36
Speaker 1: So the knights disarmed Sir Launcelot, first his head and
26:41
Speaker 1: then his side, and his left hand was bound behind
26:44
Speaker 1: his back, and such a manner that he could not
26:47
Speaker 1: use his shield, and full many a knight and lady
26:50
Speaker 1: marvel that Sir Launcelot would risk himself so and Sir
26:55
Speaker 1: Melogrance lifted his sword on high and would have smitten
26:59
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot on his bare head, and he not leapt
27:03
Speaker 1: lightly to one side, And before Sir Malagrance could right himself,
27:08
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot had struck him so hard upon his helmet
27:12
Speaker 1: that his skulls split in two. And there was nothing
27:15
Speaker 1: left to do but to carry his dead body from
27:19
Speaker 1: the field. And because the knights of the round Table
27:22
Speaker 1: begged to have him honorably buried, the king agreed there too,
27:27
Speaker 1: and on his tomb mention was made of how he
27:32
Speaker 1: came by his death, and who slew him. After this,
27:38
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot was more cherished by the King and Queen
27:42
Speaker 1: than ever he was before. Among the many knights at
27:46
Speaker 1: Arthur's court who were the sons of kings were Sir
27:50
Speaker 1: Mordred and Sir Agrawaine, who had three brothers, Sir Gawaine,
27:56
Speaker 1: Sir Gaheris, and Sir Gareth, and their mother was Queen
28:00
Speaker 1: of Orkney, sister to King Arthur. Now Sir Agawaine and
28:05
Speaker 1: Sir Mordred had evil natures and loved both to invent
28:10
Speaker 1: slanders and to repeat them. And at this time they
28:15
Speaker 1: were full of envy of the noble deeds Sir Launcelot
28:19
Speaker 1: had done, and how men called him the bravest knight
28:23
Speaker 1: of the table round, and said that he was the
28:27
Speaker 1: friend of the King and the sworn defender of the Queen.
28:31
Speaker 1: So they cast about how they might ruin him, and
28:35
Speaker 1: found the way by putting jealous thoughts into the mind
28:39
Speaker 1: of Arthur. As was told in the Tale of the
28:42
Speaker 1: Marriage of Arthur, Queen Guenever's heart had gone out to
28:45
Speaker 1: Launcelot on the journey to the court, and ever she
28:49
Speaker 1: loved to have him with her. This was known well
28:52
Speaker 1: to Sir Mordred, who watched eagerly for a chance to
28:56
Speaker 1: work her ill. It came one day when Arthur proclaimed
29:00
Speaker 1: a hunt. Sir Mordred guessed that Sir Launcelot, who did
29:04
Speaker 1: not love hunting, would stay behind and would spend the
29:09
Speaker 1: time holding talk with the Queen. Therefore he went to
29:13
Speaker 1: the King and began to speak evil of the Queen
29:16
Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot. At first, King Arthur would listen to nothing,
29:20
Speaker 1: but slowly his jealousy burned within him, and he let
29:25
Speaker 1: the ill words that accuse the Queen of loving Sir
29:29
Speaker 1: Launcelot the best sink into his mind, and told Sir
29:34
Speaker 1: Mordred and Sir Agrawaine that they might do their worst,
29:39
Speaker 1: and he would not meddle with them. But they let
29:42
Speaker 1: so many of their fellowship into the secret of their
29:46
Speaker 1: foul plot that at last it came to the ears
29:49
Speaker 1: of Sir Boris, who begged Sir Launcelot not to go
29:52
Speaker 1: near the Queen that day or harm would come of it.
29:56
Speaker 1: But Sir Launcelot answered that the Queen had sent for
29:59
Speaker 1: him him and that she was his liege lady, and
30:03
Speaker 1: never would he hold back when she summoned him to
30:06
Speaker 1: her presence Therefore Sir Bores went heavily away by ill fortune.
30:13
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot only wore his sword under his great mantle,
30:17
Speaker 1: and scarcely had he passed inside the door, when Sir
30:20
Speaker 1: Agrowaine and Sir Mordred, and twelve other knights of the
30:24
Speaker 1: table round, all armed and ready for battle, cried loudly
30:28
Speaker 1: upon Sir Launcelot, that all the court might hear. Madam said,
30:34
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, is there any armor within your chamber that
30:38
Speaker 1: I might cover my body withal for if I was
30:41
Speaker 1: armed as they are, I would soon crush them. Alas,
30:46
Speaker 1: replied the Queen, I have neither sword, nor spear, nor armor,
30:50
Speaker 1: And how can you resist them? You will be slain
30:54
Speaker 1: and I shall be burnt. If you could only escape
30:57
Speaker 1: their hands, I know you would deliver me from danger.
31:01
Speaker 1: It is grievous, said Sir Launcelot, that I, who was
31:05
Speaker 1: never conquered in all my life, should be slain for
31:09
Speaker 1: lack of armor. Traitor knight, cried Sir Mordred. Again. Come
31:14
Speaker 1: out and fight us, for you are so sore beset
31:18
Speaker 1: that you cannot escape us. Oh mercy, cried Sir Launcelot,
31:23
Speaker 1: I may not suffer longer this shame and noise, for
31:28
Speaker 1: better were death at once than to endure this pain.
31:32
Speaker 1: Then he took the queen in his arms and kissed her,
31:35
Speaker 1: and said, most noble Christian Queen, I beseech you as
31:40
Speaker 1: you have ever been my special good lady, and I
31:44
Speaker 1: at all times your true poor knight, and as I
31:48
Speaker 1: never failed you in right or in wrong, since the
31:52
Speaker 1: first day that King Arthur made me knight, that you
31:55
Speaker 1: will pray for my soul if I here be slain,
31:59
Speaker 1: For I am well should that Sir Boris my nephew,
32:02
Speaker 1: and Sir Lavaine and many more will rescue you from
32:06
Speaker 1: the fire, and therefore mine own. Lady, comfort yourself whatever
32:11
Speaker 1: happens to me, and go with Sir Boris my nephew,
32:15
Speaker 1: and you shall live like a queen on my lands. Nay, Launcelot,
32:20
Speaker 1: said the Queen. I will never live after your days,
32:24
Speaker 1: but if you are slain, I will take my death
32:26
Speaker 1: as meekly as ever did any Christian queen. Well, Madam,
32:30
Speaker 1: answered Launcelot. Since it is so, I shall sell my
32:34
Speaker 1: life as dear as I may, and a thousandfold. I
32:38
Speaker 1: am more heavy for you than for myself. Therewith Sir
32:42
Speaker 1: Launcelot wrapped his mantle thickly round his arm, and stood
32:46
Speaker 1: beside the door, which the knights without were trying to
32:49
Speaker 1: break in by aid of a stout wooden form. Fair
32:53
Speaker 1: lords said, Sir Launcelot, leave us noise, and I will
32:58
Speaker 1: open the door, and you may do with me what
33:00
Speaker 1: you will open it. Then answered they, for well, you
33:05
Speaker 1: know you cannot escape us, and we will save your
33:08
Speaker 1: life and bring you before King Arthur. So Sir Launcelot
33:12
Speaker 1: opened the door and held it with his left hand
33:16
Speaker 1: so that but one man could come in at once.
33:20
Speaker 1: Then came forward a strong knight, Sir Colgravance of Gore,
33:25
Speaker 1: who struck fiercely at Launcelot with his sword. But Sir
33:29
Speaker 1: Launcelot stepped on one side that the blow fell harmless,
33:33
Speaker 1: and with his arm he gave Sir Colgrivance a buffet
33:37
Speaker 1: on his head, so that he fell dead, and Sir
33:40
Speaker 1: Launcelot drew him into the chamber and barred the door. Hastily.
33:45
Speaker 1: He unbuckled the dead knight's armor, and the Queen and
33:49
Speaker 1: her ladies put it on him, Sir Agrowaine and Sir
33:53
Speaker 1: Mordred Ever calling to him, the while traitor knight come
33:57
Speaker 1: out of that chamber. But Sir Launcelot cried to them
34:01
Speaker 1: all to go away, and he would appear next morning
34:05
Speaker 1: before the King, and they should accuse him of what
34:08
Speaker 1: they would, and he would answer them and prove his
34:12
Speaker 1: words in battle. Fie on you, traitor, said Sir Agrowaine.
34:18
Speaker 1: We have you in our power to save or to slay,
34:22
Speaker 1: for King Arthur will listen to our words and will
34:25
Speaker 1: believe what we tell him. As you like, answered Sir Launcelot,
34:30
Speaker 1: look to yourself. And he flung open the chamber door
34:34
Speaker 1: and strode in amongst them, and killed Sir Agarwaine with
34:37
Speaker 1: his first blow, and in a few minutes the bodies
34:40
Speaker 1: of the other twelve knights lay on the ground beside his,
34:45
Speaker 1: for no man ever withstood that buffet of Sir Launcelot's.
34:50
Speaker 1: He wounded Sir Mordred also, so that he fled away
34:53
Speaker 1: with all his might. When the clamor of the battle
34:56
Speaker 1: was still, Sir Launcelot turned back to the Queen and said,
35:00
Speaker 1: alas madam, they will make King Arthur my foe and
35:05
Speaker 1: yours also. But if you will come with me to
35:08
Speaker 1: my castle, I will save you from all dangers. I
35:12
Speaker 1: will not go with you now, answered the queen. But
35:15
Speaker 1: if you see tomorrow that they will burn me to death,
35:18
Speaker 1: then you may deliver me as you shall think best.
35:22
Speaker 1: While I live, I will deliver you, said Sir Launcelot,
35:27
Speaker 1: and he left her and went back to his lodging.
35:30
Speaker 1: When Sir Boris, who was awaiting him, saw Sir Launcelot,
35:34
Speaker 1: he was gladder than he ever had been in his
35:37
Speaker 1: whole life before mercy, cried Sir Launcelot. Why you are
35:42
Speaker 1: all armed, sir, answered Sir Boris. After you had left us,
35:47
Speaker 1: I and your friends and your kinsmen were so troubled
35:51
Speaker 1: that we felt some great strife was at hand, and
35:54
Speaker 1: that perchance some trap had been laid for you. So
35:58
Speaker 1: we put on armor that we may I help you
36:00
Speaker 1: whatever need you were in. Fair nephew, said Launcelot, but
36:05
Speaker 1: now I have been more hardly beset than ever I
36:09
Speaker 1: was in my life, and yet I escaped, And he
36:12
Speaker 1: told them all that had happened. I pray you, my fellows,
36:17
Speaker 1: that you will be of good courage and stand by
36:20
Speaker 1: me in my need. For war is come to us, all,
36:24
Speaker 1: sir answered Sir Boris. All is welcome that God sends us,
36:31
Speaker 1: And we have had much good with you and much fame.
36:35
Speaker 1: So now we will take the bad as we have
36:39
Speaker 1: taken the good. And so said they all. I thank
36:42
Speaker 1: you for your comfort in my great distress, replied Sir Launcelot,
36:47
Speaker 1: And you, fair nephew, haste to the knights who are
36:51
Speaker 1: in this place, and find who is with me and
36:54
Speaker 1: who is against me, For I would know my friends
36:57
Speaker 1: from my foes, Sir said Sir Boris before seven of
37:03
Speaker 1: the clock in the morning. You shall know by seven o'clock,
37:07
Speaker 1: as Sir bors had promised. Many noble knights stood before
37:11
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot and were sworn to his cause. My lords
37:15
Speaker 1: said he. You know well that since I came into
37:19
Speaker 1: this country, I have given faithful service unto my Lord
37:23
Speaker 1: King Arthur, and done to my lady Queen Guenever last evening,
37:28
Speaker 1: my Lady the Queen sent for me to speak to her,
37:32
Speaker 1: and certain knights that were lying in wait for me
37:35
Speaker 1: cried treason and much ado. I had to escape their blows,
37:40
Speaker 1: but I slew twelve of them, and Sir Agawaine, who
37:45
Speaker 1: is Sir Gawaine's brother, And for this cause I am
37:49
Speaker 1: sure of mortal war. As these knights were ordered by
37:52
Speaker 1: King Arthur to betray me, and therefore the Queen will
37:55
Speaker 1: be judged to the fire, and I may not suffer
37:59
Speaker 1: that she should be but for my sake. And Sir
38:02
Speaker 1: Bors answered Sir Launcelot that it was truly his part
38:06
Speaker 1: to rescue the queen, as he had done so often before,
38:10
Speaker 1: and that if she was burned, the shame would be his.
38:14
Speaker 1: Then they all took counsel together how the thing might
38:18
Speaker 1: best be done, and Sir Bors deemed it wise to
38:21
Speaker 1: carry her off to the Castle of Joyous Guard, and
38:26
Speaker 1: counseled that she should be kept there a prisoner till
38:29
Speaker 1: the King's anger was passed and he would be willing
38:32
Speaker 1: to welcome her back again. To this the other knights agreed,
38:37
Speaker 1: and by the advice of Sir Launcelot, they hid themselves
38:40
Speaker 1: in a wood close by the town till they saw
38:44
Speaker 1: what King Arthur would do. Meanwhile, Sir Mordred, who had
38:48
Speaker 1: managed to escape the sword of Sir Launcelot, rode wounded
38:52
Speaker 1: and bleeding unto King Arthur, and told the king all
38:55
Speaker 1: that had passed, and how of the fourteen knights he
38:59
Speaker 1: only was left alive. The King grieved sore at his tail,
39:04
Speaker 1: which Sir Mordred had made to sound as ill as
39:08
Speaker 1: was possible, for in spite of all Arthur loved Sir Launcelot.
39:14
Speaker 1: It is a bitter blow. He said, that Sir Launcelot
39:19
Speaker 1: must be against me, and the fellowship of the table
39:23
Speaker 1: round is broken for ever as many a noble knight
39:27
Speaker 1: will go within, and as I am the judge, the
39:31
Speaker 1: Queen will have to die, as she is the cause
39:35
Speaker 1: of the death of these thirteen knights. My Lord Arthur said,
39:40
Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine, be not over hasty. Listen not to the
39:43
Speaker 1: foul tongue of Sir Mordred, who laid this trap for
39:47
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, that we all know to be the Queen's
39:51
Speaker 1: own knight, who has done battle for her when none
39:54
Speaker 1: else would. As for Sir Launcelot, he will prove the
39:58
Speaker 1: right on the body of any knight living that shall
40:01
Speaker 1: accuse him of wrong, either him or my Lady Gwinever
40:06
Speaker 1: that I believe well, said King Arthur, for he trusts
40:11
Speaker 1: so much in his own might that he fears no man.
40:15
Speaker 1: And never more shall they fight for the Queen, for
40:18
Speaker 1: she must suffer death by the law. Put on therefore
40:23
Speaker 1: your best armor and go with your brothers, Sir Gaheris
40:27
Speaker 1: and Sir Gareth, and bring the queen to the fire
40:31
Speaker 1: there to have her judgment and suffer her death. Nay,
40:36
Speaker 1: my Lord, that I will never do, cried Sir Gawaine.
40:41
Speaker 1: My heart will never serve me to see her die,
40:44
Speaker 1: and I will never stand by and see so noble
40:47
Speaker 1: a lady brought to her shameful end. Then said the King.
40:53
Speaker 1: Let your brothers, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth be there.
40:57
Speaker 1: My lord, replied Sir Gawaine, I know well how loath
41:01
Speaker 1: they will be, but they are young and unable to
41:05
Speaker 1: say you nay at this, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth
41:08
Speaker 1: spoke to the King, Sir, if you command us, we
41:12
Speaker 1: will obey, but it will be sore against our will.
41:15
Speaker 1: And if we go, we shall be dressed as men
41:18
Speaker 1: of peace, and will no armor. Make yourselves ready, then
41:23
Speaker 1: answered the King, for I would delay no longer in
41:27
Speaker 1: giving judgment. Alas, cried Sir Gawaine, that I should have
41:34
Speaker 1: lived to see this day. And he turned and wept bitterly,
41:38
Speaker 1: and went into his chamber. So the queen was led
41:41
Speaker 1: outside the gates, and her rich dress was taken off.
41:45
Speaker 1: While her lords and ladies wrung their hands in grief,
41:49
Speaker 1: and few men wore armor, For in that day it
41:52
Speaker 1: was held that the presence of mail clad knights made
41:56
Speaker 1: death more shameful. Now among those present were one sent
42:00
Speaker 1: by Sir Launcelot, And when he saw the Queen's dress
42:04
Speaker 1: unclasped and the priest stepped forth to listen to her confession,
42:09
Speaker 1: he rode to warn Sir Launcelot that the hour had come.
42:13
Speaker 1: And suddenly there was heard a sound as of rushing horses,
42:17
Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot dashed up to the fire, and all
42:20
Speaker 1: the knights that stood around were slain. For a few
42:24
Speaker 1: men wore armor. Sir Launcelot looked not where he struck,
42:29
Speaker 1: and Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth were found in the
42:33
Speaker 1: thickest of the throng. At last he reached the Queen, and,
42:37
Speaker 1: throwing a mantl over her, he caught her on to
42:40
Speaker 1: his saddle and rode away with her. Right thankful was
42:44
Speaker 1: the Queen at being snatched from the fire, and her
42:47
Speaker 1: heart was grateful to Sir Launcelot, who took her to
42:50
Speaker 1: his castle of joyous Guard. And many noble knights and
42:54
Speaker 1: kings had fellowship with them. After King Arthur had given
42:58
Speaker 1: judgment for the queen to die, he went back into
43:01
Speaker 1: his palace of Westminster, where men came and told him
43:06
Speaker 1: how Sir Launcelot had delivered her, and of the death
43:09
Speaker 1: of his knights, and in especial of Sir Gaheris and
43:13
Speaker 1: Sir Gareth. And he swooned away from sorrow. Alas he
43:19
Speaker 1: cried when he recovered from his swoon, alas that a
43:23
Speaker 1: crowd was at her on my head. For in these
43:26
Speaker 1: two days I have lost forty knights and the fellowship
43:30
Speaker 1: of Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen, and nevermore will they
43:34
Speaker 1: be of my company. But I charge you that none
43:38
Speaker 1: tells Sir Gawaine of the death of his brothers, for
43:41
Speaker 1: I am sure that when he hears of Sir Gareth,
43:44
Speaker 1: he will go out of his mind. Oh why did
43:47
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot slay them? For Sir Gareth loved Sir Launcelot
43:53
Speaker 1: more than any other man, that is true, answered some
43:56
Speaker 1: of the knights. But Sir Launcelot saw not whom he smote,
44:00
Speaker 1: and therefore were they slain. The death of these two,
44:04
Speaker 1: said Arthur, will cause the greatest mortal war that ever was.
44:11
Speaker 1: I am sure that when Sir Gawaine knows Sir garethus slain,
44:16
Speaker 1: he will never suffer me to rest till I have
44:19
Speaker 1: destroyed Sir Launcelot and all his skin, or till they
44:25
Speaker 1: have destroyed me. My heart was never so heavy as
44:29
Speaker 1: it is now. And far more grievous to me is
44:33
Speaker 1: the loss of my good knights than of my queen.
44:36
Speaker 1: For queen's I might have in plenty, but no man
44:41
Speaker 1: had ever such a company of knights. And it hurts
44:44
Speaker 1: me sore that Sir Launcelot and I should be at war.
44:48
Speaker 1: It is the ill will borne by Sir Gawaine and
44:52
Speaker 1: Sir Mordred to Sir Launcelot that has caused all his sorrow.
44:57
Speaker 1: Then one came to Sir Gawaine and told him Sir
45:00
Speaker 1: Launcelot had borne off the Queen, and that twenty four
45:03
Speaker 1: knights had been slain in the combat. I knew well
45:07
Speaker 1: he would deliver her, said Sir Gawaine, and in that
45:12
Speaker 1: he has but acted as a knight should, and as
45:15
Speaker 1: I would have done myself. But where are my brethren?
45:18
Speaker 1: I marveled that they have not been to seek me, truly,
45:22
Speaker 1: said the man. Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth are slain.
45:27
Speaker 1: Heaven forbid any such thing, returned Sir Gawaine. I would
45:31
Speaker 1: not for all the world that that had happened, especially
45:36
Speaker 1: to my brother Sir Gareth. He is slain, said the man,
45:40
Speaker 1: And it is grievous news who slew him as Sir Gawaine,
45:45
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot slew them both, answered the man. He cannot
45:50
Speaker 1: have slain Sir Gareth, replied Sir Gawaine, for my brother
45:55
Speaker 1: Gareth loved him better than me and all his brethren,
45:58
Speaker 1: and King Arthur too, and had Sir Launcelot desired my
46:02
Speaker 1: brother to go with him, he would have turned his
46:05
Speaker 1: back on us all. Therefore, I can never believe that
46:08
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot slew my brother. Sir, it is in every
46:12
Speaker 1: one's mouth, said the man. At this, Sir Gawaine fell
46:16
Speaker 1: back in a swoon and lay long as if he
46:19
Speaker 1: were dead. Then he ran to the King, crying, O,
46:23
Speaker 1: King Arthur, mine uncle, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain,
46:28
Speaker 1: and Sir Gaheris also, and the King wept with him.
46:32
Speaker 1: At length. Sir Gawaine said, Sir, I will go and
46:36
Speaker 1: see my brother, Sir Gareth, you cannot do that, returned
46:40
Speaker 1: the King, for I have caused him to be buried
46:43
Speaker 1: with Sir Gaheris, as I knew well that the sight
46:46
Speaker 1: would cause you over much sorrow. How came he Sir
46:50
Speaker 1: Launcelot to slay Sir Gareth, asked Sir Gawaine, mine own
46:55
Speaker 1: good lord, I pray you tell me, for neither Sir
46:59
Speaker 1: Gareth nor Sir Harris bore arms against him. It is said,
47:03
Speaker 1: answered the King, that Sir Launcelot slewthed in the thickest
47:08
Speaker 1: of the press and knew them not. Therefore, let us
47:14
Speaker 1: think upon a plan to avenge their deaths my King,
47:19
Speaker 1: my lord, and mine uncle, said Sir Gawaine, I swear
47:24
Speaker 1: to you by my knighthood that from this day I
47:29
Speaker 1: will never rest until Sir Launcelot or I be slain,
47:35
Speaker 1: and I will go to the world's end till I
47:38
Speaker 1: find him. You need not seek him so far, answered
47:43
Speaker 1: the King, for I am told that Sir Launcelot will
47:47
Speaker 1: await me and you in the Castle of Joyous God,
47:52
Speaker 1: and many people are flocking to him. But call your
47:55
Speaker 1: friends together, and I will call mine. And the King
47:59
Speaker 1: ordered letters to be sent throughout all England summoning his
48:03
Speaker 1: knights and vassals to the siege of Joyous Guard. The
48:07
Speaker 1: castle of Joyous Guard was strong, and after fifteen weeks
48:12
Speaker 1: had passed, no breach had been made in its walls.
48:16
Speaker 1: And one day, at the time of harvest, Sir Launcelot
48:20
Speaker 1: came forth on a truce, and the King and Sir
48:23
Speaker 1: Gawaine challenged him to battle. Nay, answered Sir Launcelot, with yourself,
48:30
Speaker 1: I will never strive, and I grieve sorely that I
48:33
Speaker 1: have slain your knights, but I was forced to it
48:37
Speaker 1: for the saving of my life and that of my lady,
48:40
Speaker 1: the Queen. And except yourself, my Lord and Sir Gawaine,
48:45
Speaker 1: there is no man that shall call me traitor, but
48:48
Speaker 1: he shall pay for it with his body. As to
48:51
Speaker 1: Queen Gwenevere, oft times, my lord, you have consented, in
48:55
Speaker 1: the heat of your passion that she should be burnt
48:58
Speaker 1: and destroyed, and it fell to me to do battle
49:01
Speaker 1: for her, and her enemies confessed there untruth and acknowledged
49:06
Speaker 1: her innocent. And at such times, my Lord Arthur, you
49:11
Speaker 1: loved me and thanked me when I saved your queen
49:14
Speaker 1: from the fire, and promised ever to be my good Lord,
49:17
Speaker 1: for I have fought for her many times in other
49:21
Speaker 1: quarrels than my own. Therefore, my gracious Lord, take your
49:26
Speaker 1: queen back into your grace again. To these words of
49:29
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot's, King Arthur answered nothing, but in his heart
49:34
Speaker 1: he would fain have made peace with Sir Launcelot, that
49:37
Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine would not let him. He reproached Sir Launcelot
49:41
Speaker 1: bitterly for the deaths of his brothers and kinsmen, and
49:45
Speaker 1: called Sir Launcelot a craven and other ill names, that
49:48
Speaker 1: he would not fight with King Arthur. So at the
49:51
Speaker 1: last Sir Launcelot's patience and courtesy failed him, and he
49:56
Speaker 1: told them that the next morning he would give them battle.
50:00
Speaker 1: The heart of Sir Gawaine leaped with joy when he
50:03
Speaker 1: heard these words of Sir Launcelot, and he summoned all
50:07
Speaker 1: his friends and his kinsfolk, and bade them watch well
50:11
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, and to slay him if a chance offered.
50:15
Speaker 1: But he knew not that Sir Launcelot had bidden the
50:17
Speaker 1: knights of his following in no wise to touch King
50:21
Speaker 1: Arthur or Sir Gawaine. And when the dawn broke, a
50:26
Speaker 1: great host marched out of the Castle of Joyous Guard,
50:29
Speaker 1: with Sir Launcelot at the head and Sir Boris and
50:33
Speaker 1: Sir Lionel commanding on either side. All that day they fought,
50:38
Speaker 1: and sometimes one army seemed to be gaining, and sometimes
50:42
Speaker 1: the other. Many times King Arthur drew near Sir Launcelot
50:47
Speaker 1: and would have slain him, and Sir Launcelot suffered him
50:50
Speaker 1: and would not strike again. But the King was on
50:54
Speaker 1: horse by Sir Boris and would have been slain but
50:57
Speaker 1: for Sir Launcelot, who stayed his hand. My Lord Arthur,
51:01
Speaker 1: he said, for God's love, stop this strife. I cannot
51:06
Speaker 1: strike you, so you will gain no fame by it,
51:10
Speaker 1: though your friends never cease from trying to slay me.
51:14
Speaker 1: My Lord, remember what I have done in many places,
51:17
Speaker 1: and how evil is now my reward. Then, when King
51:21
Speaker 1: Arthur was on his horse again, he looked on Sir Launcelot,
51:25
Speaker 1: and tears burst from his eyes, thinking of the great
51:28
Speaker 1: courtesy that was in Sir Launcelot, more than in any
51:32
Speaker 1: other man. He sighed to himself, saying softly, alas that
51:37
Speaker 1: ever this war began, and rode away while the battle
51:41
Speaker 1: ended for that time and the dead were buried, but
51:45
Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine would not suffer the King to make peace.
51:49
Speaker 1: And they fought on, now in one place, and now
51:52
Speaker 1: in another, till the Pope heard of the strife, and
51:55
Speaker 1: sent a noble clerk, the Bishop of Rochester, to charge
51:59
Speaker 1: the King King to make peace with Sir Launcelot and
52:02
Speaker 1: to take back unto him his queen, the Lady Guenevere. Now,
52:07
Speaker 1: the King, as has been said, would fain have followed
52:11
Speaker 1: the Pope's council and have accorded with Sir Launcelot, but
52:15
Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine would not suffer him. However, as to the Queen,
52:21
Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine said nothing, and King Arthur gave audience to
52:25
Speaker 1: the Bishop and swore on his Great Seal that he
52:28
Speaker 1: would take back the Queen as the Pope desired, and
52:32
Speaker 1: that if Sir Launcelot brought her, he should come safe
52:36
Speaker 1: and go safe. So the Bishop rode to Joyous Guard
52:41
Speaker 1: and showed Sir Launcelot what the Pope had written. And
52:44
Speaker 1: King Arthur had answered and told him of the perils
52:48
Speaker 1: which would befall him if he withheld the queen. It
52:52
Speaker 1: was never in my thought, answered Sir Launcelot to withhold
52:56
Speaker 1: the Queen from King Arthur. But as she would have
52:58
Speaker 1: been dead for my sake, it was my part to
53:02
Speaker 1: save her life and to keep her from danger till
53:05
Speaker 1: better times came. And I thank God that the Pope
53:08
Speaker 1: has made peace, and I shall be a thousand times
53:11
Speaker 1: gladder to bring her back than I was to take
53:14
Speaker 1: her away. Therefore, ride to the King and say that
53:18
Speaker 1: in eight days I myself will bring the Lady Guenevere
53:21
Speaker 1: unto him. So the Bishop departed and came to the
53:25
Speaker 1: King at Carlisle and told him what Sir Launcelot had answered,
53:31
Speaker 1: And tears burst from the King's eyes once more. A
53:34
Speaker 1: goodly host of a hundred knights rode eight days later
53:38
Speaker 1: from the castle of Joyous Guard. Every knight was clothed
53:42
Speaker 1: in green velvet and held in his hand a branch
53:45
Speaker 1: of olive, and bestrode a horse with trappings down to
53:49
Speaker 1: his heels, and behind the queen were four and twenty
53:52
Speaker 1: gentlewomen clad in green. Likewise, while twelve esquires attended on
53:58
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot. He and the Queen wore dresses of white
54:02
Speaker 1: and gold tissue, and their horses were clothed in housings
54:06
Speaker 1: of the same set with precious stones and pearls, and
54:11
Speaker 1: no man had ever gazed on such a noble pair.
54:15
Speaker 1: As they rode from Joyous Guard to Carlyle. When they
54:19
Speaker 1: reached the castle, Sir Launcelot sprang from his horse and
54:22
Speaker 1: helped the Queen from hers and led her to where
54:26
Speaker 1: King Arthur sat, with Sir Gawaine and many lords around him.
54:31
Speaker 1: He kneeled down, and the Queen kneeled with him, and
54:34
Speaker 1: many knights wept as though it had been their own kin.
54:39
Speaker 1: But Arthur sat still and said nothing. At that, Sir
54:43
Speaker 1: Launcelot rose, and the queen likewise, and looking straight at
54:48
Speaker 1: the King, he spoke, most noble King, I have brought
54:53
Speaker 1: to you my lady the Queen, as right requires, and
54:58
Speaker 1: time hath been, my Lord Arthur, that you have been
55:01
Speaker 1: greatly pleased with me when I did battle for my lady,
55:04
Speaker 1: your queen, and for well. You know that she has
55:08
Speaker 1: been put to great wrong ere this, and it seems
55:12
Speaker 1: to me I had more cause to deliver her from
55:15
Speaker 1: this fire, seeing she would have been burnt for my sake. Well, well,
55:21
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, said the King, I have given you no
55:25
Speaker 1: cause to do to me as you have done, for
55:28
Speaker 1: I have held you dearer than any of my knights.
55:32
Speaker 1: But Sir Gawaine would not suffer the King to listen
55:35
Speaker 1: to anything Sir Launcelot said, and told him roughly that
55:39
Speaker 1: while one of them lived, peace could never be made,
55:43
Speaker 1: and desired on behalf of the king that in fifteen
55:46
Speaker 1: days he should be gone out of the country. And
55:49
Speaker 1: still King Arthur said nothing, but suffered Sir Gawaine to
55:53
Speaker 1: talk as he would, And Sir Launcelot took farewell of
55:57
Speaker 1: him and of the Queen, and rode, grieving sorely, out
56:02
Speaker 1: of the court and sailed to his lands beyond the sea.
56:06
Speaker 1: Though the Queen was returned again, and Sir Launcelot was
56:10
Speaker 1: beyond the sea, the hate of Sir Gawaine towards him
56:15
Speaker 1: was in no ways set at rest. But he raised
56:18
Speaker 1: a great host and persuaded the king to follow him,
56:22
Speaker 1: And after many sieges and long fighting, it befell upon
56:26
Speaker 1: a day that Sir Gawaine came before the gates of
56:29
Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot's town, armed at all points and sitting on
56:34
Speaker 1: a noble horse, with a great spear in his hand,
56:37
Speaker 1: And he cried with a great voice, where art thou
56:42
Speaker 1: now thou false traitor, Sir Launcelot, why hidest within holes
56:47
Speaker 1: and walls like a coward? At this language, Sir Launcelot's
56:53
Speaker 1: kin and ti knights drew round him, and they said,
56:57
Speaker 1: now must you defend yourself like a knight, or be
57:00
Speaker 1: shame forever you have slept already too long and suffered
57:04
Speaker 1: over much. Then Sir Launcelot bade them saddle his strongest
57:08
Speaker 1: horse and fetch his arms, and he spoke aloud to
57:13
Speaker 1: King Arthur, my Lord Arthur, and noble King, I am
57:18
Speaker 1: right sad for your sake. For had I been vengeful,
57:22
Speaker 1: then could I have met you in the field. But
57:25
Speaker 1: for half a year I have forborne to come near you,
57:29
Speaker 1: and now I can endure it no longer. Then Sir
57:34
Speaker 1: Gawaine said, Sir Launcelot, if thou dareest do battle, leave
57:40
Speaker 1: thy babbling and come forth, and let us ease our hearts.
57:45
Speaker 1: Then Sir Launcelot and his noble knights came out of
57:48
Speaker 1: the city, and their number was so great that Arthur
57:51
Speaker 1: marveled and sorrowed that he and Sir Launcelot should be estranged.
57:57
Speaker 1: Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot rode for each other,
58:00
Speaker 1: and that the word came together with a great shock,
58:04
Speaker 1: and smote each other in the middle of the shields.
58:07
Speaker 1: But the knights were so strong and their spears so big,
58:11
Speaker 1: that the horses could not endure their buffets and fell
58:14
Speaker 1: to the earth. Then they fought together and struck each
58:17
Speaker 1: other on their sides, so that the blood burst forth
58:20
Speaker 1: in many places. Now Sir Gawaine, by a gift from
58:24
Speaker 1: a holy man, grew thrice as strong in the three
58:28
Speaker 1: hours before noon than at any other time, And this
58:32
Speaker 1: being the hour of the combat, Sir Gawaine won great
58:35
Speaker 1: honor for his sake. The king had all battles before
58:39
Speaker 1: him take place just before noon, and few knew of
58:43
Speaker 1: this advantage save King Arthur. Thus, Sir Launcelot fought with
58:49
Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine, and felt his might increase, and wondered, dreading
58:54
Speaker 1: that he might be shamed. And he thought that this
58:57
Speaker 1: must be a fiend and no earthly man. So he
59:01
Speaker 1: covered himself with his shield and kept his might and
59:04
Speaker 1: breath until the three hours were past, and Sir Gawaine
59:08
Speaker 1: had no more might than his own might. Then Sir
59:12
Speaker 1: Launcelot doubled his strokes and gave him a buffet on
59:15
Speaker 1: the helmet and Sir Gawaine fell down on his side,
59:19
Speaker 1: and Sir Launcelot returned to his city, and Sir Gawaine
59:22
Speaker 1: was carried to the King's pavilion. While he lay wounded,
59:26
Speaker 1: news came from England that caused King Arthur to give
59:29
Speaker 1: up his war with Sir Launcelot and return in haste
59:33
Speaker 1: to his own country. End of Section twenty one.