Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table 19

Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table 19

Then Sir Lancelot bade them saddle his strongest horse and fetch his

arms, and he spoke aloud to King Arthur.

 

"My lord Arthur and noble King, I am right sad for your sake, for had I

been vengeful then could I have met you in the field. But for half a

year I have forborne to come near you, and now I can endure it no

longer."

 

Then Sir Gawaine said, "Sir Lancelot, if thou darest do battle, leave

thy babbling and come forth, and let us ease our hearts." Then Sir

Lancelot and his noble Knights came out of the city, and their number

was so great that Arthur marvelled, and sorrowed that he and Sir

Lancelot should be estranged. Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Lancelot rode for

each other, and at the word came together with a great shock, and smote

each other in the middle of their shields. But the Knights were so

strong, and their spears so big, that the horses could not endure their

buffets, and fell to the earth. Then they fought together, and struck

each other on their sides so that the blood burst forth in many places.

 

Now, Sir Gawaine, by a gift from a holy man, grew thrice as strong in

the three hours before noon than at any other time, and this being the

hour of the combat, Sir Gawaine won great honour. For his sake the King

had all battles before him take place just before noon, and few knew of

this advantage save King Arthur.

 

Thus Sir Lancelot fought with Sir Gawaine, and felt his might increase

and wondered, dreading that he might be shamed. And he thought that this

must be a fiend and no earthly man, so he covered himself with his

shield, and kept his might and breath until the three hours were past

and Sir Gawaine had no more than his own might. Then Sir Lancelot

doubled his strokes, and gave him a buffet on the helmet, and Sir

Gawaine fell down on his side. And Sir Lancelot returned to his city,

and Sir Gawaine was carried to the King's pavilion. While he lay

wounded, news came from England that caused King Arthur to give up his

war with Sir Lancelot, and return in haste to his own country.

 

 

 

 

THE END OF IT ALL.

 

 

Now, when King Arthur left England to fight with Sir Lancelot, he

ordered his nephew Sir Mordred to govern the land, which that false

Knight did gladly. And as soon as he thought he might safely do so he

caused some letters to be written saying that King Arthur had been slain

in battle, and he had himself crowned King at Canterbury, where he made

a great feast which lasted fifteen days. After it was over, he went to

Winchester and summoned Queen Guenevere, and told her that on a certain

day he would wed her and that she should make herself ready. Queen

Guenevere's soul grew cold and heavy as she heard these words of Sir

Mordred's, for she hated him with all her might, as he hated her; but

she dared show nothing, and answered softly that she would do his

bidding, only she desired that first she might go to London to buy all

manner of things for her wedding. Sir Mordred trusted her because of her

fair speech, and let her go. Then the Queen rode to London with all

speed, and went straight to the Tower, which she filled in haste with

food, and called her men-at-arms round her. When Sir Mordred knew how

she had beguiled him he was wroth out of measure, and besieged the

Tower, and assaulted it many times with battering rams and great

engines, but could prevail nothing, for the Queen would never, for fair

speech nor for foul, give herself into his hands again.

 

The Bishop of Canterbury hastened unto Sir Mordred, and rebuked him for

wishing to marry his uncle's wife. "Leave such desires," said the

Bishop, "or else I shall curse you with bell, book, and candle. Also,

you noise abroad that my lord Arthur is slain, and that is not so, and

therefore you will make ill work in the land." At this Sir Mordred waxed

very wroth, and would have killed the Bishop had he not fled to

Glastonbury, where he became a hermit, and lived in poverty and prayed

all day long for the realm, for he knew that a fierce war was at hand.

Soon word came to Sir Mordred that King Arthur was hurrying home across

the seas, to be avenged on his nephew, who had proved traitor. Wherefore

Sir Mordred sent letters to all the people throughout the kingdom, and

many followed after him, for he had cunningly sown among them that with

him was great joy and softness of life, while King Arthur would bring

war and strife with him. So Sir Mordred drew with a great host to Dover,

and waited for the King. Before King Arthur and his men could land from

the boats and ships that had brought them over the sea Sir Mordred set

upon them, and there was heavy slaughter. But in the end he and his men

were driven back, and he fled, and his people with him. After the fight

was over, the King ordered the dead to be buried; and there came a man

and told him that he had found Sir Gawaine lying in a boat, and that he

was sore wounded. And the King went to him and made moan over him: "You

were ever the man in the world that I loved most," said he, "you and Sir

Lancelot." "Mine uncle King Arthur," answered Sir Gawaine, "my death day

has come, and all through my own fault. Had Sir Lancelot been with you

as he used to be this unhappy war had never begun, and of that I am the

cause, for I would not accord with him. And therefore, I pray you, give

me paper, pen, and ink that I may write to him." So paper and ink were

brought, and Sir Gawaine was held up by King Arthur, and a letter was

writ wherein Sir Gawaine confessed that he was dying of an old wound

given him by Sir Lancelot in the siege of one of the cities across the

sea, and thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Merlin. "Of a more noble man

might I not be slain," said he. "Also, Sir Lancelot, make no tarrying,

but come in haste to King Arthur, for sore bested is he with my brother

Sir Mordred, who has taken the crown, and would have wedded my lady

Queen Guenevere had she not sought safety in the Tower of London. Pray

for my soul, I beseech you, and visit my tomb." And after writing this

letter, at the hour of noon, Sir Gawaine gave up his spirit, and was

buried by the King in the chapel within Dover Castle. Then was it told

King Arthur that Sir Mordred had pitched a new field upon Barham Down,

and the next morning the King rode hither to him, and there was a fierce

battle between them, and many on both sides were slain. But at the last

King Arthur's party stood best, and Sir Mordred and his men fled to

Canterbury.

 

After the Knights which were dead had been buried, and those that were

wounded tended with healing salves, King Arthur drew westwards towards

Salisbury, and many of Sir Mordred's men followed after him, but they

that loved Sir Lancelot went unto Sir Mordred. And a day was fixed

between the King and Sir Mordred that they should meet upon a down near

Salisbury, and give battle once more. But the night before the battle

Sir Gawaine appeared unto the King in a vision, and warned him not to

fight next day, which was Trinity Sunday, as he would be slain and many

of his Knights also; but to make a truce for a month, and at the end of

that time Sir Lancelot would arrive, and would slay Sir Mordred, and all

his Knights with him. As soon as he awoke the King called the Bishops

and the wisest men of his army, and told them of his vision, and took

counsel what should be done. And it was agreed that the King should send

an embassage of two Knights and two Bishops unto Sir Mordred, and offer

him as much goods and lands as they thought best if he would engage to

make a treaty for a month with King Arthur.

 

So they departed, and came to Sir Mordred, where he had a grim host of

an hundred thousand men. For a long time he would not suffer himself to

be entreated, but at the last he agreed to have Cornwall and Kent in

King Arthur's days, and after all England. Furthermore, it was decided

that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should meet in the plain between their

hosts, each with fourteen persons. "I am glad of this," said King

Arthur, when he heard what had been done; but he warned his men that if

they were to see a sword drawn they were to come on swiftly and slay

that traitor, Sir Mordred, "for I in no wise trust him." And in like

wise spake Sir Mordred unto his host. Then they two met, and agreed on

the truce, and wine was fetched and they drank, and all was well. But

while they were drinking an adder crept out of a bush, and stung one of

the fourteen Knights on his foot, and he drew his sword to slay the

adder, not thinking of anything but his pain. And when the men of both

armies beheld that drawn sword, they blew trumpets and horns and shouted

grimly, and made them ready for battle. So King Arthur leaped on his

horse, and Sir Mordred on his, and they went back to their own armies,

and thus began the fight, and never was there seen one more doleful in

any Christian land. For all day long there was rushing and riding,

spearing and striking, and many a grim word was there spoken, and many a

deadly stroke given. And at the end full an hundred thousand dead men

lay upon the down, and King Arthur had but two Knights left living, Sir

Lucan and his brother Sir Bedivere. "Alas! that I should have lived to

see this day," cried the King, "for now I am come to mine end; but would

to God that I knew where were that traitor Sir Mordred that hath caused

all this mischief." Then suddenly he saw Sir Mordred leaning on his

sword among a great heap of dead men.

 

"Give me my spear," said King Arthur unto Sir Lucan.

 

"Sir, let him be," answered Sir Lucan. "Remember your dream, and leave

off by this. For, blessed be God, you have won the field, and we three

be alive, and of the others none is alive save Sir Mordred himself. If

you leave off now, the day of destiny is past."

 

"Tide me death, tide me life," said the King, "he shall not escape my

hands, for a better chance I shall never have;" and he took his spear in

both hands and ran towards Sir Mordred, crying, "Traitor! now is your

death day come," and smote him under the shield, so that the spear went

through his body. And when Sir Mordred felt he had his death wound, he

raised himself up and struck King Arthur such a blow that the sword

clave his helmet, and then fell stark dead on the earth again. When Sir

Lucan and Sir Bedivere saw that sight they carried the King to a little

chapel, but they hoped not to leave him there long, for Sir Lucan had

noted that many people were stealing out to rob the slain of the

ornaments on their armour. And those that were not dead already they

slew.

 

[Illustration: THE LAST BATTLE / Sir Mordred]

 

"Would that I could quit this place to go to some large town," said the

King, when he had heard this, "but I cannot stand, my head works so. Ah,

Lancelot, sorely have I missed thee." At that Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere

tried to lift him, but Sir Lucan had been grievously wounded in the

fight, and the blood burst forth again as he lifted Arthur, and he died

and fell at the feet of the King.

 

"Alas!" said the King, "he has died for my sake, and he had more need of

help than I. But he would not complain, his heart was so set to help me.

And I should sorrow yet more if I were still to live long, but my time

flieth fast. Therefore, Sir Bedivere, cease moaning and weeping, and

take Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water-side, and

when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw my sword in that water, and

come again and tell me what thou hast seen."

 

"My lord," answered Sir Bedivere, "your commandment shall be done," and

he departed. But when he looked at that noble sword, and beheld the

jewels and gold that covered the pommel and hilt, he said to himself,

"If I throw this rich sword into the water no good will come of it, but

only harm and loss;" so he hid Excalibur under a tree, and returned unto

the King and told him his bidding was done. "What did you see there?"

asked the King.

 

"Sir," answered Sir Bedivere. "I saw nothing but the winds and the waves."