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21 - 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 of Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Jared H. B. Tales
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  Speaker 1: of King Arthur and the Round Table by Andrew Lang
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  Speaker 1: The Fair Maid of Astolat. Soon after this, it befell
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  Speaker 1: that the damosel of the Lake, called by some Nimieux
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  Speaker 1: and by others Vivian, who wedded Sir Pelleas, and came
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  Speaker 1: to the court of King Arthur. And when she heard
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  Speaker 1: the talk of the death of Sir Patrice and how
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  Speaker 1: the Queen had been accused of it, she found out
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  Speaker 1: by means of her magic, that the tale was false,
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  Speaker 1: and told it openly that the Queen was innocent, and
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  Speaker 1: that it was Sir Pinel who had poisoned the apple.
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  Speaker 1: Then he fled into his own country, where none might
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  Speaker 1: lay hands on him. So Sir Patrice was buried in
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  Speaker 1: the Church of Westminster, and on his tomb was written
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  Speaker 1: herelieth Sir Patrice of Ireland, slain by Sir Pinel le Savage,
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  Speaker 1: that impoisoned apples to have slain Sir Gawaine, and by
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  Speaker 1: misfortune Sir Patrice ate one of those apples, and then
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  Speaker 1: suddenly he burst. Also there was put upon the tomb
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  Speaker 1: that Queen Guinevere was accused of the death of Sir
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  Speaker 1: Patrice by Sir Mador de la Porte, and how Sir
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  Speaker 1: Launcelot fought with him and overcame him in battle. All
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  Speaker 1: this was written on the tomb, and daily Sir Mador
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  Speaker 1: prayed to have the Queen's grace once more, and by
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  Speaker 1: means of Sir Launcelot he was forgiven. It was now
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  Speaker 1: the middle of the summer, and King Or proclaimed that
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  Speaker 1: in fifteen days a great at tourney should be held
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  Speaker 1: at Camelot, which is now called Winchester. And many knights
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  Speaker 1: and kings made ready to do themselves honor. But the
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  Speaker 1: Queen said that she would stay behind, for she was
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  Speaker 1: sick and did not care for the noise and hustle
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  Speaker 1: of attorney. It grieves me that you should say that,
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  Speaker 1: said the King, for you will not have seen so
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  Speaker 1: noble a company gathered together this seven years past, save
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  Speaker 1: at the whitsuntide, when Galahad departed from the court. Truly
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  Speaker 1: answered the Queen, the sight will be grand. Nevertheless, you
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  Speaker 1: must hold me excused, for I cannot be there. Sir
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  Speaker 1: Launcelot likewise declared that his wounds were not healed, and
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  Speaker 1: that he could not bear himself an attorney, as he
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  Speaker 1: was wont to do. At this, the King was wroth
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  Speaker 1: that he might not have either his queen or his
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  Speaker 1: best knight with him, and he departed towards Winchester, and
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  Speaker 1: by the way lodged in a town now called Gueldeford,
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  Speaker 1: but then Astalat. And when the king had set forth,
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  Speaker 1: the Queen sent for Sir Launcelot and told him he
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  Speaker 1: was to blame for having excused himself from going with
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  Speaker 1: the King, who set such store by his company. And
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot said he would be ruled by her, and
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  Speaker 1: would ride forth next morning on his way to Winchester.
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  Speaker 1: But I should have you know, said he, that at
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  Speaker 1: the tourney I shall be against the King and his knights.
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  Speaker 1: You must do as you please, replied the Queen. But
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  Speaker 1: if you will be ruled by my counsel, you will
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  Speaker 1: fight on his side. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, I pray
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  Speaker 1: you not to be displeased with me. I will take
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  Speaker 1: the adventure as it comes, And early next morning he
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  Speaker 1: rode away till at eventide he reached Astalat. He went
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  Speaker 1: through the town till they stopped before the house of
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  Speaker 1: an old baron, Sir Bernard of Astolat, and as he
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  Speaker 1: dismounted from his horse, the king spied him from the
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  Speaker 1: gardens of the castle. It is well, he said, smiling
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  Speaker 1: to the knights that were beside him, I see one
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  Speaker 1: man who will play his part in the jousts, and
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  Speaker 1: I will undertake that he will do marvels. Who is it?
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  Speaker 1: Asked they all you must wait to know, that, replied
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  Speaker 1: the king, and went into the castle. Meantime, Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: had entered his lodging, and the old baron bade him welcome,
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  Speaker 1: but he knew not it was Sir Launcelot. Fair sir,
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot, I pray you lend me, if you can,
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  Speaker 1: a shield with a device which no man knows for mine.
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  Speaker 1: They know well, sir, answered Sir Bernard. You shall have
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  Speaker 1: your wish, for you seem one of the goodliest knights
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  Speaker 1: in the world. And Sir, I have two sons, both
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  Speaker 1: but lately knighted Sir Tyrre who was wounded on the
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  Speaker 1: day of his knighthood, and his shield you shall have.
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  Speaker 1: And my youngest Sir Lavain, shall ride with you if
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  Speaker 1: you will have his company to the jousts. For my
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  Speaker 1: heart is much drawn to you. And tell me, I
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  Speaker 1: beseech you what name I shall call you by. You
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  Speaker 1: must hold me excused as to that just now, said
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot. But if I speed well the jousts, I
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  Speaker 1: will come again and tell you. But let me have
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  Speaker 1: Sir Lavain with me and lend me as you have
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  Speaker 1: offered his brother's shield. This shall be done, replied Sir Bernard.
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  Speaker 1: Besides these two sons, Sir Bernard had a daughter whom
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  Speaker 1: every one called the fair Maid of Astolat, though her
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  Speaker 1: real name was Elaine le Blanc. And when she looked
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  Speaker 1: down Sir Launce her love went forth to him, and
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  Speaker 1: she could never take it back, and in the end
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  Speaker 1: it killed her. As soon as her father told her
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  Speaker 1: that Sir Launcelot was going to the tourney, she besought
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  Speaker 1: him to wear her token in the jousts. But he
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  Speaker 1: was not willing, fair damsel. He said, if I did that,
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  Speaker 1: I should have done more for your sake. Than ever
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  Speaker 1: I did for lady or damsel. But then he remembered
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  Speaker 1: that he was to go disguise to the tourney, And
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  Speaker 1: because he had before never worn any manner of token
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  Speaker 1: of any damsel, he bethought him that if he should
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  Speaker 1: take one of hers, none would know him. So he
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  Speaker 1: said to her, fair damsel, I will wear your token
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  Speaker 1: on my helmet if you will show me what it is. Sir.
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  Speaker 1: She answered, it is a red sleeve embroidered in great pearls,
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  Speaker 1: and she brought it to him. Never have I done
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  Speaker 1: so much for any damsel, said he, and gave his
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  Speaker 1: own shield into her keeping till he come again. Sir
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  Speaker 1: Arthur had waited three days in Astlat for some knights
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  Speaker 1: who were long on the road, and when they had arrived,
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  Speaker 1: they all set forth and were followed by Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: and Sir Lavain, both with white shields, and Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: bore besides the red sleeve that was a token. Now
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  Speaker 1: Camelot was filled with a great number of kings and
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  Speaker 1: lords and knights, but Sir Lavaine found means to lodge
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  Speaker 1: both himself and Sir Launcelot secretly with a rich burgess,
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  Speaker 1: and no men knew who they were or whence they came.
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  Speaker 1: And there they stayed till the day of the tourney.
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  Speaker 1: At earliest dawn, the trumpets blew, and King Arthur took
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  Speaker 1: his seat upon a high scaffold, so that he might
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  Speaker 1: see who had done best. But he would not suffer
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  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine to go from his side, for Sir Gawaine
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  Speaker 1: never won the prize when Sir Launcelot was in the field,
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  Speaker 1: and as King Arthur knew, Sir Launcelot oftentimes disguised himself.
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  Speaker 1: Then the knights formed into two parties, and Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: made him ready, and Elaine fastened the red sleeve upon
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  Speaker 1: his helmet. Then he and Sir Lavaine rode into a
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  Speaker 1: little wood that lay behind the knights who should fight
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  Speaker 1: against those of the round table, Sir said Sir Launcelot.
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  Speaker 1: Yonder is a company of good knights, and they hold
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  Speaker 1: together as boars that are vexed with dogs. That is truth,
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Lavaine. Now, said Sir Launcelot, if you will
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  Speaker 1: help me a little, you shall see King Arthur's side,
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  Speaker 1: which is winning. Driven back as fast as they came,
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  Speaker 1: spare not, sir, answered Sir Lavaine, for I shall do
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  Speaker 1: what I may. So they rode into the thickest of
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  Speaker 1: the press and smote so hard both with spear and sword,
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  Speaker 1: for the knights of the round table fell back. Oh mercy,
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  Speaker 1: cried Sir Gawaine, What knight is that yonder who does
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  Speaker 1: such marvelous deeds? I know well who it is, said
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  Speaker 1: King Arthur, But I will not tell you yet, Sir
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  Speaker 1: answered Sir Gawaine. I should say it was Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: by the blows he deals and the manner that he rides.
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  Speaker 1: But it cannot be he, for this man has a
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  Speaker 1: red sleeve upon his helmet, and Sir Launcelot has never
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  Speaker 1: borne the token of any lady. Let him be, said
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  Speaker 1: Sir Arthur. You will find out his name and see
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  Speaker 1: him do greater deeds. Yet before he departs, and the
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  Speaker 1: knights that were fighting against the King's party took heart again,
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  Speaker 1: for before they feared they would be beaten. But when
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  Speaker 1: Sir Bors saw this, he called unto him the knights
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  Speaker 1: that were kin to Sir Launcelot. They banded together to
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  Speaker 1: make a great charge and threw Sir Launcelot's horse to
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  Speaker 1: the ground, and by misfortune, the spear of Sir bors broke,
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  Speaker 1: and its head was left in Sir Launcelot's side. When
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  Speaker 1: Sir Lavain saw that he unhorsed the King of Scots,
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  Speaker 1: and brought his horse to Sir Launcelot and helped him
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  Speaker 1: to mount thereon, and gave him a spear with which
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot smote Sir Boris to the earth, and Sir
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  Speaker 1: Ector de Maris, the foster father of King Arthur, and
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  Speaker 1: buffeted sorely the knights that were with them. Afterward, he
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  Speaker 1: hurled himself into the thick melay of them all and
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  Speaker 1: did the most wonderful deeds that ever were heard of.
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  Speaker 1: And Sir Lavain likewise did well that day, for he
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  Speaker 1: smote down full two knights of the round table. Mercy
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  Speaker 1: again cried Sir Gawaine to Arthur, I marvel, what knight
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  Speaker 1: that is with the red sleeve? That you shall know? Soon?
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  Speaker 1: Said King Arthur, and commanded that the trumpet should be blown,
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  Speaker 1: and declared that the pride belonged to the knight with
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  Speaker 1: the white shield who bare the red sleeve, For he
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  Speaker 1: had unhorsed more than thirty knights, and the kings and
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  Speaker 1: lords who were of his party came round him and
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  Speaker 1: thanked him for the help he had given them, by
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  Speaker 1: which means the honors of the day had been theirs
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  Speaker 1: fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, if I have deserved thanks,
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  Speaker 1: I have paid for them sorely, for I shall hardly
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  Speaker 1: escape with my life. Therefore, I pray you let me depart,
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  Speaker 1: for my hurt is grievous. Then he groaned piteously and
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  Speaker 1: galloped from them to a wood side, followed by Sir Lavain.
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  Speaker 1: Oh help me, Sir Lavain said, he to get this
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  Speaker 1: spear's head out of my side, for it is killing me.
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  Speaker 1: But Sir Lavain feared to touch it lest Sir Launcelot
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  Speaker 1: should bleed to death. I'd charge you, said Sir Launcelot,
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  Speaker 1: if you love me, draw out the head. So Sir
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  Speaker 1: Lavain drew it out, and Sir Launcelot gave a great
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  Speaker 1: and a marvelous, grisly groan, and his blood flowed out
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  Speaker 1: so fast that he fell into a swoon. Oh what
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  Speaker 1: shall I do, cried Sir Lavain, And he loosed Sir
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  Speaker 1: Launcelot's helm and coat of mail, and turned him so
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  Speaker 1: that the wind might blow on him. But for full
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  Speaker 1: half an hour he lay as if he had been dead.
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  Speaker 1: At last, Sir Launcelot opened his eyes and said, oh, Lavaine,
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  Speaker 1: help me on my horse. For two miles from this
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  Speaker 1: place there lives a hermit who once was a knight
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  Speaker 1: of the Round Table, and he can heal my wounds.
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  Speaker 1: Then Sir Lavaine, with much ado, helped him on his
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  Speaker 1: horse and brought him, bleeding to the hermit. The hermit
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  Speaker 1: looked at him as he rode up, leaning piteously on
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  Speaker 1: his saddle bow, and he thought that he should know him,
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  Speaker 1: but could not tell who he was for the paleness
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  Speaker 1: of his face, till he saw, by a wound on
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  Speaker 1: his cheek that it was Sir Launcelot. You cannot hide
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  Speaker 1: your name from me, said the hermit, for you are
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  Speaker 1: the noblest knight in the world, and well I know
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  Speaker 1: you to be, Sir Launcelot. Send you know me, Sir
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  Speaker 1: said he help me for God's sake and for death.
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  Speaker 1: Will life put me out of this pain? Fear nothing,
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  Speaker 1: answered the hermit. Your pain will soon be gone, and
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  Speaker 1: he called his servants to take the armor off the
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  Speaker 1: knight and laid him in bed. After that he dressed
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  Speaker 1: the wound and gave him good wine to drink, and
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot slept and awoke free of his pain. So
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  Speaker 1: we will leave him to be healed of his wound
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  Speaker 1: under the care of the hermit, and go back to
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  Speaker 1: King Arthur. Now it was the custom in those days
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  Speaker 1: that after attorney was finished, a great feast should be held,
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  Speaker 1: at which both parties were assembled. So King Arthur sent
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  Speaker 1: to ask the King of North Galis, where was the
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  Speaker 1: Knight with the red sleeve who had fought on his side?
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  Speaker 1: Bring him before me, he said, that he may have
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  Speaker 1: the prize he has won, which is his right. Then
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  Speaker 1: answered the King with the hundred Knights. We fear the
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  Speaker 1: Knight must have been so hurt, and that neither you
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  Speaker 1: nor we are ever like to see him again, which
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  Speaker 1: is grievous to think of alas said King Arthur, is
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  Speaker 1: he then so badly wounded? What is his name? Truly?
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  Speaker 1: Said they all. We know not his name, nor whence
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  Speaker 1: he came, nor whither he went. As for me, answered
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  Speaker 1: King Arthur, these tidings are the worse that I have
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  Speaker 1: heard these seven years, For I would give all the
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  Speaker 1: lands I hold that no harm had befallen this knight.
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  Speaker 1: Do you know him? Asked they all, whether I know
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  Speaker 1: him or not, said King Arthur, I shall not tell you,
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  Speaker 1: but may Heaven send me good news of him. Amen,
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  Speaker 1: answered they. By my head, says Sir Gawaine. If this
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  Speaker 1: good knight is really wounded unto death, it is a
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  Speaker 1: great evil for all this land. For he is one
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  Speaker 1: of the noblest that ever I saw for handling a
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  Speaker 1: sword or spear. And if he may be found, I
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  Speaker 1: shall find him, for I am sure he is not
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  Speaker 1: far from this town. So he took his squire with him,
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  Speaker 1: and they rode all round Camelot, six or seven miles
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  Speaker 1: on every side, but nothing could they hear of him,
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  Speaker 1: and he returned heavily to the court of King Arthur.
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  Speaker 1: Two days after the King and all his company set
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  Speaker 1: out for London. And by the way, it happened to
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  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine to lodge with Sir Bernard at Astalat, And
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  Speaker 1: when he was in his chamber, Sir Bernard and his
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  Speaker 1: daughter Elaine came unto Sir Gawaine to ask him tidings
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  Speaker 1: of the court and who did best in the tourney
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  Speaker 1: at Winchester. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, there were two knights
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  Speaker 1: that bare white shields, but one of them had a
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  Speaker 1: red sleeve upon his helm, and he was one of
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  Speaker 1: the best knights that ever I saw joust in the field,
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  Speaker 1: for I dare say he smote down forty knights of
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  Speaker 1: the round table. Now, blessed be God, said the maid
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  Speaker 1: of Astalad, that the knight sped so well, For he
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  Speaker 1: is the man in the world that I loved first,
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  Speaker 1: and he will also be the last that ever I
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  Speaker 1: shall love, fair maid, asked Sir Gawaine, Is that knight
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  Speaker 1: your love? Certainly he is my love, said she. Then
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  Speaker 1: you know his name, asked Sir Gawaine. Nay, truly, answered
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  Speaker 1: the damsel. I know neither his name nor whence he cometh,
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  Speaker 1: but I love him for all that. How did you
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  Speaker 1: meet him first, asked Sir Gawaine. At that she told
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  Speaker 1: him the whole story, and how her brother went with
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  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot to do him service and lent him the
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  Speaker 1: white shield of her brother Sir Tyr, and left his
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  Speaker 1: own shield with her. Why did he do that, asked
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  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine. For this cause, said the damosel. His shield
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  Speaker 1: was too well known among many noble knights. Ah, fair damsel,
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Gawaine, I beg of you. Let me have
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  Speaker 1: a sight of that shield, Sir answered she. It is
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  Speaker 1: in my chamber, covered with a case, and if you
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  Speaker 1: will come with me you shall see it. Not so
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Bernard, and he sent his squire for it.
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  Speaker 1: And when Sir Gawaine took off the case and beheld
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  Speaker 1: the shield and saw the arms, he knew it to
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  Speaker 1: be Sir Launcelot's. Oh Mercy, cried he. My heart is
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  Speaker 1: heavier than ever it was before. Why, asked Olaine, I
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  Speaker 1: have great cause, answered Sir Gawaine. Is that knight who
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  Speaker 1: owns this shield your love? Yes, truly, said she. I
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  Speaker 1: would I were his love. You are right, fair, Damsel,
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  Speaker 1: replied Gawaine, For if you love him, you love the
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  Speaker 1: most noble knight in the world. I have known him
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  Speaker 1: for four and twenty years, and never did I or
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  Speaker 1: any other knight see him where a token of either
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  Speaker 1: lady or damsel at a tournament. Therefore, Damsel, he has
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  Speaker 1: paid you great honor. But I fear that I may
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  Speaker 1: never behold him again upon earth, and that is grievous
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  Speaker 1: to think of alas said she, how may this be?
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  Speaker 1: Is he slain? I did not say that, replied Sir Gawaine.
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  Speaker 1: But he is sorely wounded and is more likely to
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  Speaker 1: be dead than alive, and maiden by the shield, I
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  Speaker 1: know that he is Sir Launcelot. How can this be,
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  Speaker 1: said the Maid of Astelet. And what was his hurt? Truly,
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  Speaker 1: answered Sir Gawaine. It was the man that loved him
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  Speaker 1: best to hurt him so, and I am sure that
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  Speaker 1: if that man knew that it was Sir Launcelot whom
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  Speaker 1: he had wounded, he would think it was the darkest
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  Speaker 1: deed that ever he did. Now, dear father, said Elaine,
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  Speaker 1: give me leave to ride and to seek him, for
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  Speaker 1: I shall go out of my mind unless I find
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  Speaker 1: him and my brother. Do as you will, answered her father,
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  Speaker 1: for I am grieved to hear of the hurt of
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  Speaker 1: that noble knight. So the damsel made ready. On the morn,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine came to King Arthur and told him how
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  Speaker 1: he had found the shield in the keeping of the
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  Speaker 1: Maid of Astalat. All that I knew beforehand, said the king,
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  Speaker 1: And that was why I would not suffer you to
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  Speaker 1: fight at the tourney, for I had despied him when
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  Speaker 1: he entered his lodging the night before. But this is
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  Speaker 1: the first time that ever I heard of his bearing
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  Speaker 1: the token of some lady, and much I marvel at
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  Speaker 1: it by my head, answered Sir Gawaine. The fair maiden
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: of Astalat loves him wondrous. Well what it all means
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: or what will be the end I cannot say, but
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: she has ridden after him to seek him. So the
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: king and his company came to London, and every one
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: in the court knew that it was Sir Launcelot who
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: had jousted the best. When the tidings came to Sir Bors,
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: his heart grew heavy, and also the hearts of his kinsmen.
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: But when the Queen heard that Sir Launcelot bore the
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: red sleeve of the fair maid of Astalat, she was
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: nearly mad with wrath and summoned Sir Bors before her
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: in haste. Ah, Sir Bors, she cried when he was come.
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: Have the tidings reached you that Sir Launcelot has been
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: a false knight to me? Madam answered Sir Bors, I
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: pray you say not so, for I cannot hear such
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: language of him. Why is he not false and traitor?
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: When after swearing that for right or wrong, he would
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: be my knight and mine only he bore the red
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: sleeve upon his helm at the Great jousts at Camelot.
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: Madam said, Sir bors I grieve bitterly as to the
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: sleeve bearing, But I think he did it that none
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: of his kin should know him, for no man before
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: that had seen him bear the token of any lady.
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: Be she what she may fye on him, said the Queen,
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: I myself hurt. Sir Gawaine, tell my Lord Arthur of
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: the great love that is between the fair Maiden of
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: Astalat and him. Madam answered, Sir bors I cannot hinder
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine from saying what he pleases. But as for
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, I am sure that he loves no one
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: lady or maiden better than another, and therefore I will
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: hasten to seek him wherever he be. Meanwhile, Fair Elaine
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: came to Winchester to find Sir Launcelot, who lay in
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: peril of his life in the hermit's dwelling. And when
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: she was riding hither and thither, not knowing where she
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: would turn, she fell on her brother, Sir Lavain, who
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: was exercising his horse. How does my lord, Sir Launcelot
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: asked she who told you, sister that my lord's name
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: was Sir Launcelot, answered Sir Lavaine. Sir Gawaine, who came
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: to my father's house to rest after the tourney, knew
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: him by his shield, said she. And they rode on
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: till they reached the hermitage, and Sir Lavain brought her
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: to Sir Launcelot. And when she saw him so pale
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: and in such a plight, she fell to the earth
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: in a swoon. But by and bye she opened her
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: eyes and said, my lord, Sir Launcelot, what has brought
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: you to this? And swooned again. When she came to
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: herself and stood up, Sir Launcelot prayed her to be
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: of good cheer, for if she had come to comfort him,
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: she was right welcome, and that his wound would soon heal.
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: But I'm marvel, said he how you know my name?
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: And the maiden told him how Sir Gawaine had been
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: at Astolat and had seen his shield alas sighed Sir Launcelot,
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: it grieves me that my name is known, for trouble
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: will come of it. For he knew full well that
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: Sir Gawaine would tell Queen Guinevere and that she would
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: be wroth. And Elaine stayed and tended him, and Sir
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: Launcelot begged Sir Lavaine to ride to Winchester and ask
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: if Sir Bors was there, and said that he should
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: know him by token of a wound which Sir Bors
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: had on his forehead. For well, I am sure, said
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot, that Sir Bors will seek me, as he
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: is the same good knight that hurt me. Therefore, as
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot commanded, Sir Lavaine rode to Winchester and inquired
• 23:42
  Speaker 1: if Sir Bors had been seen there, so that when
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: he entered the town, Sir Lavaine readily found him. Sir
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: Bors was overjoyed to hear good tidings of Sir Launcelot,
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: and they rode back together to the hermitage. At the
• 23:56
  Speaker 1: sight of Sir Launcelot lying in his bed, pale and thin,
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: Sir Bor's heart gave way and he wept long without speaking.
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: O my Lord, Sir Launcelot, he said, at last, God
• 24:09
  Speaker 1: send you hasty recovery. Great is my shame for having
• 24:12
  Speaker 1: wounded you. Thus, you who are the noblest knight in
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: the world. I wonder that my arm would lift itself
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: against you, and I ask your mercy, fair cousin, answered
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot. Such words please me not at all, for
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: it is the fault of my pride which would overcome
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: you all that I lie here to day. We will
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: not speak of it any more, for what is done
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: cannot be undone. But let us find a cure so
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: that I may soon be whole. Then Sir Bors leaned
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: upon his bed and told him how the queen was
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: filled with anger against him because he wore the red
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: sleeve at the jousts. I am sorrowful at what you
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: tell me, replied Sir Launcelot, for all I did was
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: to hinder my being known that I said to excuse you,
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: answered Sir Bors, though it was all in vain. But
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: is this damsel that is so busy about you? The
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: fair maid of Astolat? She it is, and she will
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: not go from me. Why should she go from you,
• 25:15
  Speaker 1: asked Sir Bors. She is a passing, fair damsel and
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: of gentle breeding. And I would that you could love her,
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: for it is easy to see by her bearing that
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: she loves you. Entirely. It grieves me to hear that,
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: said Sir Launcelot. After this they talked of other things
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: till in a few days Sir Launcelot's wounds were whole again.
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: When Sir Launcelot felt his strength return, Sir Bors made
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: him ready and departed for the court of King Arthur,
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: and told them how he had left Sir Launcelot. And
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: there was on all hallows a great tournament, and Sir
• 25:50
  Speaker 1: Bors won the prize for the unhorsing of twenty knights,
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: and Sir Gareth did great deeds also, but vanished suddenly
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: from the field, and no man knew where he had gone.
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: After the tourney was over, Sir Bors rode to the
• 26:05
  Speaker 1: hermitage to see Sir Launcelot, whom he found walking on
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: his feet, And on the next morning they bade farewell
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: to the hermit taking with them Elaine le Blanc. They
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: went first askedalat where they were well lodged in the
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: house of Sir Bernard. But when the morrow came and
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot would have departed from them, Elaine called to
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: her father and to her brothers, Sir Tyr and Sir Lavaine,
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: and thus she said, my lord, Sir Launcelot, fair knight,
• 26:35
  Speaker 1: leave me not, I pray you, but have mercy upon
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: me and suffer me not to die of love of thee.
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: What do you wish me to do, asked Sir Launcelot.
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: I would have you for my husband, answered she fed Damsel.
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, But truly I shall
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: never have a wife. But in token and thanks of
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: all your good will towards me, gladly will I give
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: a thousand pounds yearly when you set your heart upon
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: some other knight. Of such gifts I will have none,
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: answered Elaine. And I would have you know, Sir Launcelot,
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: that if you refuse to wed me, my good days
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: are done. Fair Damsel, said Sir Launcelot, I cannot do
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: the thing that you ask. At these words, she fell
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: down in a swoon, and her maids bore her to
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: her chamber, where she made bitter sorrow. Sir Launcelot thought
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: it would be well for him to depart before she
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: came to her senses again, and he asked Sir Lavaine
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: what he would do. What should I do, asked Sir Lavaine,
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: But follow you if you will have me then Sir
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: Bernard came and said to Sir Launcelot, I see well
• 27:53
  Speaker 1: that my daughter Elaine will die for your sake. I
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: cannot marry her, answered Sir Launcelot. And it grieves me sorely,
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: for she is a good maiden, fair and gentle father,
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: said Sir Lavain. She is as pure and good as
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: Sir Launcelot has said. And she is like me, for
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: since first I saw him, I can never leave him.
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: And after that they bade the old man farewell and
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: came unto Winchester, where the King and all the knights
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: of the round Table made great joy of him, save
• 28:28
  Speaker 1: only Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred. But the Queen was
• 28:33
  Speaker 1: angry and would not speak to him, though he tried
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: by all means to make her. Now, when the fair
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: maid of Astalad knew he was gone, she would neither
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: eat nor sleep, but cried after Sir Launcelot all the
• 28:46
  Speaker 1: day long. And when she had spent ten days in
• 28:49
  Speaker 1: this manner, she grew so weak that they thought her
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: soul must quit this world. And the priest came to
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: her and bade her dwell no more unearthly things. She
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: would not listen to him, but cried ever after, Sir Launcelot,
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: and how she had loved none other, no nor ever would,
• 29:10
  Speaker 1: and that her love would be her death. Then she
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: called her father, Sir Bernard, and her brother Sir Tyr,
• 29:18
  Speaker 1: and begged her brother to write her a letter, as
• 29:21
  Speaker 1: she should tell him and her father that he would
• 29:24
  Speaker 1: have her watched till she was dead. And while my
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: body is warm, said she, let this letter be put
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: in my right hand, my hand bound fast with the
• 29:35
  Speaker 1: letter until I be cold. And let me be dressed
• 29:38
  Speaker 1: in my richest clothes, and be lain on a fair
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: bed and driven in a chariot to the Thames. There,
• 29:46
  Speaker 1: let me be put on a barge, and a dumb
• 29:49
  Speaker 1: man with me to steer the barge, which shall be
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: covered over with black samite. Thus, Father, I beseech you
• 29:56
  Speaker 1: let it be done. And her father promised her faithfully
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: that so it should be done to her when she
• 30:03
  Speaker 1: was dead. Next day she died, and her body was
• 30:08
  Speaker 1: lain on the bed and placed in a chariot and
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: driven to the Thames, where the man awaited her with
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: the barge. When she was put on board, he steered
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: the barge to Westminster and rode a great while to
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: and fro before any espied it. At last, King Arthur
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: and Queen Guinevere withdrew into a window to speak together,
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: and espied the black barge and wondered greatly what it meant.
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: The King summoned Sir Kay and bade him take Sir
• 30:38
  Speaker 1: Brandelis and Sir Agrawaine and find out who was lying there.
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: And they ran down to the river side and came
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: and told the King that fair corpse will I see,
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: returned the King, and he took the queen's hand and
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: led her thither. Then he ordered the barge to be
• 30:58
  Speaker 1: made fast, and he entered it, and the queen likewise,
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: and certain knights with them. And there he saw a
• 31:04
  Speaker 1: fair woman on a rich bed, and her clothing was
• 31:07
  Speaker 1: of cloth of gold. As she lay smiling where they looked,
• 31:12
  Speaker 1: all being silent, the queen spied a letter in her
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: right hand and pointed it out to the King, who
• 31:18
  Speaker 1: took it, saying, now, I am sure this letter would
• 31:21
  Speaker 1: tell us what she was and why she came hither. So,
• 31:26
  Speaker 1: leaving the barge in charge of a trusty man, they
• 31:28
  Speaker 1: went into the King's chamber, fouled by many knights, for
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: the King would have the letter read openly. He then
• 31:35
  Speaker 1: broke the seal himself and bade a clerk read it.
• 31:39
  Speaker 1: And this was what it said, most noble knight, Sir Launcelot,
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: I was your lover, whom men call the fair maid
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: of Astlat. Therefore, unto all ladies, I make my moan,
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: ye pray for my soul and bury me. This is
• 31:54
  Speaker 1: my last request. Pray for my soul, Sir Launcelot, as
• 31:59
  Speaker 1: thou art peer. This was all the letter, and the
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: King and Queen and all the knights wept when they
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: heard it. Let Sir Launcelot be sent for presently, said
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: the King. And when Sir Launcelot came, the letter was
• 32:13
  Speaker 1: read to him also. My Lord Arthur, said he after
• 32:18
  Speaker 1: he had heard it all. I am right grieved at
• 32:21
  Speaker 1: the death of this damsel. God knows I was not
• 32:24
  Speaker 1: of my own will guilty of her death, and that
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: I will call on her brother, Sir Lavain, to witness.
• 32:31
  Speaker 1: She was both fair and good, and much was I
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: beholden to her, But she loved me out of measure.
• 32:38
  Speaker 1: You might have been a little gentle with her, answered
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: the Queen, and have found some way to save her life.
• 32:46
  Speaker 1: Madam said Sir Launcelot, she would have nothing but my love,
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: and that I could not give her, though I offered
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: her a thousand pounds yearly if she should set her
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: heart on any other knight. For Madam, I love not
• 32:59
  Speaker 1: to be forced to love. Love must arise of itself,
• 33:04
  Speaker 1: and not by command. That is truth. Replied the King
• 33:09
  Speaker 1: Love is free in himself and never will be bounded,
• 33:13
  Speaker 1: for where he is bounden, he luseth himself. But, Sir Launcelot,
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: be it your care to see that the damsel is
• 33:21
  Speaker 1: buried as is fitting. End of section twenty. Recording by
• 33:29
  Speaker 1: Jared H. B