Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table 16

Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table 16

"Where?" asked the Queen, and as she spoke she espied that it was Sir

Lancelot, and that his horse was following riderless. "Well is he that

has a trusty friend," said she, "for a noble Knight is hard pressed when

he rides in a cart," and she rebuked the lady who had declared he was

going to his hanging. "It was foul talking, to liken the noblest Knight

in the world to one going to a shameful death." By this Sir Lancelot had

come to the gate of the castle, and he got down and called till the

castle rang with his voice. "Where is that false traitor Sir

Meliagraunce, Knight of the Round Table? Come forth, you and your

company, for I, Sir Lancelot du Lake, am here to do battle with you."

Then he burst the gate open wide, and smote the porter who tried to hold

it against him. When Sir Meliagraunce heard Sir Lancelot's voice, he ran

into Queen Guenevere's chamber and fell on his knees before her: "Mercy,

Madam, mercy! I throw myself upon your grace."

 

"What ails you now?" said she; "of a truth I might well expect some good

Knight to avenge me, though my lord Arthur knew not of your work."

 

"Madame, I will make such amends as you yourself may desire," pleaded

Sir Meliagraunce, "and I trust wholly to your grace."

 

"What would you have me do?" asked the Queen.

 

"Rule in this castle as if it were your own, and give Sir Lancelot cheer

till to-morrow, and then you shall all return to Westminster."

 

"You say well," answered the Queen. "Peace is ever better than war, and

I take no pleasure in fighting." So she went down with her ladies to Sir

Lancelot, who still stood full of rage in the inner court, calling as

before "Traitor Knight, come forth!"

 

"Sir Lancelot," asked the Queen, "what is the cause of all this wrath?"

 

"Madam," replied Sir Lancelot, "does such a question come from you?

Methinks your wrath should be greater than mine, for all the hurt and

the dishonour have fallen upon you. My own hurt is but little, but the

shame is worse than any hurt."

 

"You say truly," replied the Queen, "but you must come in with me

peaceably, as all is put into my hand, and the Knight repents bitterly

of his adventure."

 

"Madam," said Sir Lancelot, "since you have made agreement with him, it

is not my part to say nay, although Sir Meliagraunce has borne himself

both shamefully and cowardly towards me. But had I known you would have

pardoned him so soon, I should not have made such haste to come to you."

 

"Why do you say that?" asked the Queen; "do you repent yourself of your

good deeds? I only made peace with him to have done with all this noise

of slanderous talk, and for the sake of my Knights."

 

"Madam," answered Sir Lancelot, "you understand full well that I was

never glad of slander nor noise, but there is neither King, Queen, nor

Knight alive, save yourself, Madam, and my lord Arthur, that should

hinder me from giving Sir Meliagraunce a cold heart before I departed

hence."

 

"That I know well," said the Queen, "but what would you have more?

Everything shall be ordered as you will."

 

"Madam," replied Sir Lancelot, "as long as you are pleased, that is all

I care for," so the Queen led Sir Lancelot into her chamber, and

commanded him to take off his armour, and then took him to where her ten

Knights were lying sore wounded. And their souls leapt with joy when

they saw him, and he told them how falsely Sir Meliagraunce had dealt

with him, and had set archers to slay his horse, so that he was fain to

place himself in a cart. Thus they complained each to the other, and

would have avenged themselves on Sir Meliagraunce but for the peace made

by the Queen. And in the evening came Sir Lavaine, riding in great

haste, and Sir Lancelot was glad that he was come.

 

Now, Sir Lancelot was right when he feared to trust Sir Meliagraunce,

for that Knight only sought to work ill both to him and to the Queen,

for all his fair words. And first he began to speak evil of the Queen to

Sir Lancelot, who dared him to prove his foul words, and it was settled

between them that a combat should take place in eight days in the field

near Westminster. "And now," said Sir Meliagraunce, "since it is decided

that we must fight together, I beseech you, as you are a noble Knight,

do me no treason nor villainy in the mean time."

 

"Any Knight will bear me witness," answered Sir Lancelot, "that never

have I broken faith with any man, nor borne fellowship with those that

have done so." "Then let us go to dinner," said Sir Meliagraunce, "and

afterwards you may all ride to Westminster. Meanwhile would it please

you to see the inside of this castle?" "That I will gladly," said Sir

Lancelot, and they went from chamber to chamber, till they reached the

floor of the castle, and as he went Sir Lancelot trod on a trap and the

board rolled, and he fell down in a cave which was filled with straw,

and Sir Meliagraunce departed and no man knew where Sir Lancelot might

be. The Queen bethought herself that he was wont to disappear suddenly,

and as Sir Meliagraunce had first removed Sir Lavaine's horse from the

place where it had been tethered, the Knights agreed with her. So time

passed until dinner had been eaten, and then Sir Lavaine demanded

litters for the wounded Knights, that they might be carried to

Westminster with as little hurt as might be. And the Queen and her

ladies followed. When they arrived the Knights told of their adventure,

and how Sir Meliagraunce had accused the Queen of treason, and how he

and Sir Lancelot were to fight for her good name in eight days.

 

"Sir Meliagraunce has taken a great deal upon him," said the King, "but

where is Sir Lancelot?"

 

"Sir," answered they all, "we know not, but we think he has ridden to

some adventure." "Well, leave him alone," said the King. "He will be

here when the day comes, unless some treason has befallen him."

 

All this while Sir Lancelot was lying in great pain within the cave, and

he would have died for lack of food had not one of the ladies in the

castle found out the place where he was held captive, and brought him

meat and drink, and hoped that he might be brought to love her. But he

would not. "Sir Lancelot," said she, "you are not wise, for without my

help you will never get out of this prison, and if you do not appear on

the day of battle, your lady, Queen Guenevere, will be burnt in

default." "If I am not there," replied Sir Lancelot, "the King and the

Queen and all men of worship will know that I am either dead or in

prison. And sure I am that there is some good Knight who loves me or is

of my kin, that will take my quarrel in hand, therefore you cannot

frighten me by such words as these. If there was not another woman in

the world, I could give you no different answer." "Then you will be

shamed openly," replied the lady, and left the dungeon. But on the day

that the battle was to be fought she came again, and said, "Sir

Lancelot, if you will only kiss me once, I will deliver you, and give

you the best horse in Sir Meliagraunce's stable." "Yes, I will kiss

you," answered Sir Lancelot, "since I may do that honourably; but if I

thought it were any shame to kiss you, I would not do it, whatever the

cost." So he kissed her, and she brought him his armour, and led him to

a stable where twelve noble horses stood, and bade him choose the best.

He chose a white courser, and bade the keepers put on the best saddle

they had, and with his spear in his hand and his sword by his side, he

rode away, thanking the lady for all she had done for him, which some

day he would try to repay.

 

As the hours passed on and Sir Lancelot did not come, Sir Meliagraunce

called ever on King Arthur to burn the Queen, or else bring forth Sir

Lancelot, for he deemed full well that he had Sir Lancelot safe in his

dungeon. The King and Queen were sore distressed that Sir Lancelot was

missing, and knew not where to look for him, and what to do. Then

stepped forth Sir Lavaine and said, "My lord Arthur, you know well that

some ill-fortune has happened to Sir Lancelot, and if he is not dead, he

is either sick or in prison. Therefore I beseech you, let me do battle

instead of my lord and master for my lady the Queen."

 

"I thank you heartily, gentle Knight," answered Arthur, "for I am sure

that Sir Meliagraunce accuses the Queen falsely, and there is not one of

the ten Knights who would not fight for her were it not for his wounds.

So do your best, for it is plain that some evil has been wrought on Sir

Lancelot." Sir Lavaine was filled with joy when the King gave him leave

to do battle with Sir Meliagraunce, and rode swiftly to his place at the

end of the lists. And just as the heralds were about to cry "Lesses les

aller!" Sir Lancelot dashed into the middle on his white horse. "Hold

and abide!" commanded the King, and Sir Lancelot rode up before him, and

told before them all how Sir Meliagraunce had treated him. When the King

and Queen and all the Lords heard Sir Lancelot's tale, their hearts

stirred within them with anger, and the Queen took her seat by the King,

in great trust of her champion. Sir Lancelot and Sir Meliagraunce

prepared themselves for battle, and took their spears, and came together

as thunder, and Sir Lancelot bore Sir Meliagraunce right over his horse.

Then Sir Lancelot jumped down, and they fought on foot, till in the end

Sir Meliagraunce was smitten to the ground by a blow on his head from

his enemy. "Most noble Knight, save my life," cried he, "for I yield

myself unto you, and put myself into the King's hands and yours." Sir

Lancelot did not know what to answer, for he longed above anything in

the world to have revenge upon him; so he looked at the Queen to see

whether she would give him any sign of what she would have done. The

Queen wagged her head in answer, and Sir Lancelot knew by that token

that she would have him dead, and he understood, and bade Sir

Meliagraunce get up, and continue the fight. "Nay," said Sir

Meliagraunce, "I will never rise till you accept my surrender."

"Listen," answered Sir Lancelot. "I will leave my head and left side

bare, and my left arm shall be bound behind me, and in this guise I will

fight with you." At this Sir Meliagraunce started to his feet, and

cried, "My lord Arthur, take heed to this offer, for I will take it,

therefore let him be bound and unarmed as he has said." So the Knights

disarmed Sir Lancelot, first his head and then his side, and his left

hand was bound behind his back, in such a manner that he could not use

his shield, and full many a Knight and lady marvelled that Sir Lancelot

would risk himself so. And Sir Meliagraunce lifted his sword on high and

would have smitten Sir Lancelot on his bare head, had he not leapt

lightly to one side, and, before Sir Meliagraunce could right himself,

Sir Lancelot had struck him so hard upon his helmet that his skull split

in two, and there was nothing left to do but to carry his dead body from

the field. And because the Knights of the Round Table begged to have him

honourably buried, the King agreed thereto, and on his tomb mention was

made of how he came by his death, and who slew him. After this Sir

Lancelot was more cherished by the King and Queen than ever he was before.