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22 - Part 4 Story 1 Lancelot And Guenevere · Tales Of King Arthur And The Round Table

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