Produced by Ron McBeth, Stephen Hutcheson, and the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net _Longmansâ Class-Books of English Literature_ TALES OF KING ARTHUR AND THE ROUND TABLE ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK OF ROMANCE BY ANDREW LANG WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, ETC., BY J. C. ALLEN AND TWENTY ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. J. FORD NEW IMPRESSION LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS 1918 _All rights reserved_ INTRODUCTION The tales of King Arthur and his Knights are of Celtic origin. The Celts were the people who occupied Britain at the time when the history of the country opens, and a few words are necessary to explain why the characters in the stories act and speak as though they belonged to a later age. It is believed that King Arthur lived in the sixth century, just after the Romans withdrew from Britain, and when the Britons, left to defend themselves against the attacks of the marauding Saxons, rose and defeated them at Mount Badon, securing to themselves peace for many years. It was probably about this time that King Arthur and his company of Knights performed the deeds which were to become the themes of stories and lays for generations afterwards. In olden times, it was the custom of minstrels and story-tellers to travel through the land from court to court, telling of tales of chivalry and heroism, and for many centuries the tales of King Arthur formed the stock from which the story-teller drew. In this way the stories came to be handed down from father to son, in Brittany (whose people are of the same family as the Welsh) as well as in Wales and England, and by this means alone were they prevented from being lost. But in the reigns of Henry II. and Richard I., they were set down on paper, and so became literature. Before this, however, a British writer had written out some of the tales, and from him as well as from the lips of the bards and story-tellers of their own generation, the writers in the time of Henry II. were able to collect their information. Now, it will be remembered that the second and third crusades were being carried on during the reigns of Henry II. and Richard I., and many English and French Knights were therefore fighting in the fields of Palestine. The story-teller, whose living depended on the welcome his stories met with, instead of telling them according to tradition, altered them to suit the tastes of his hearers. Thus, the old heroes of tradition were placed upon prancing horses, clothed in coats of mail, and armed with lances as if they had been vassals of King Henry or King Richard. And in this way the story-teller called up before the minds of the listeners pictures of deeds of chivalry, such as husbands and brothers were performing for the Christian faith in far-off Palestine. The writers of the time, both English and French, set them down as they heard and knew them, and so in their altered and historically inaccurate form they have reached us at the present day. One of the most famous of the books compiled by old English writers was the âHistoria Britonum,â which was written (in Latin) by Geoffrey, Bishop of Asaph. It contained an account of a war which King Arthur waged in Western Europe, but made no mention of the Holy Grail. From this and other books of romances compiled in England, and very largely, too, from books of French romances, Sir Thomas Malory obtained the material for his âMorte dâArthur,â which was written in 1470. This is the most famous of the early books of Arthurian legend, and it is from the âMorte dâArthurâ that most of the stories in this book are taken. Some, however, are taken from the âHigh History of the Holy Graal,â translated from the French by Dr. Sebastian Evans. The language throughout has been modified with a view to making the legends more easy of study. CONTENTS PART I. PAGE Introduction v, vi The Drawing of the Sword 1 The Sword Excalibur 6 How the Round Table began 7 The Story of Sir Balin 11 What Beaumains asked of the King 18 How Morgan Le Fay tried to kill King Arthur 42 The Passing of Merlin 45 PART II. The Quest of the Holy Graal (Parts I. to XI.) 48 PART III. The Fight for the Queen 78 The Fair Maid of Astolat 88 PART IV. Lancelot and Guenevere 107 The End of it All 136 ILLUSTRATIONS FULL-PAGE PLATES. PAGE How Arthur drew the Sword 4 The Death of Balin and Balan 17 Gareth and Linet 24 Linet and the Black Knight 27 The Lady of Lyonesse sees Sir Gareth 34 Morgan Le Fay casts away the Scabbard 44 Merlin and Vivien 47 Sir Galahad opens the Tomb 56 Sir Percivale slays the Serpent 63 Arthur and Guenevere kiss before all the People 86 Elaine ties her Sleeve round Sir Lancelotâs Helmet 92 The Black Barget 104 The Archers threaten Lancelot 113 Sir Mordred 141 Excalibur returns to the Mere 144 IN TEXT. The Damsel warns Sir Balin 14 How Sir Bors was saved from killing his Brother 68 Sir Mador accuses Guenevere 81 Guenevere sends her Page to Lancelot for help 111 Lancelot comes out of Guenevereâs Room 123 TALES OF KING ARTHUR AND THE ROUND TABLE PART I. THE DRAWING OF THE SWORD. Long, long ago, after Uther Pendragon died, no king reigned in Britain, and every Knight hoped to seize the crown for himself. The country was like to fare ill when laws were broken on every side, and the corn which was to give bread to the poor was trodden underfoot, and there was none to bring the evildoer to justice. Then, when things were at their worst, came forth Merlin the magician, and fast he rode to the place where the Archbishop of Canterbury had his dwelling. They took counsel together, and agreed that all the lords and gentlemen of Britain should ride to London and meet on Christmas Day, now at hand, in the Great Church. So this was done. And on Christmas morning, as they left the church, they saw in the churchyard a large stone, and on it a bar of steel, and in the steel a naked sword was held, and about it was written in letters of gold, âWhoso pulleth out this sword is by right of birth King of England.â They marvelled at these words, and called for the Archbishop, and brought him into the place where the stone stood. Then those Knights who fain would be King took firm hold of the hilt, and they tugged at the sword with all their might; but it never stirred. The Archbishop watched them in silence, but when they were faint from pulling he spoke: âThe man is not here who shall lift out that sword, nor do I know where to find him. But this is my counselâthat two Knights be chosen, good and true men, to keep guard over the sword.â Thus it was done. But the lords and gentlemen-at-arms cried out that every man had a right to try to win the sword, and they decided that on New Yearâs Day a tournament should be held, and any Knight who would, might enter the lists. So on New Yearâs Day, the Knights, according to custom, went to hear service in the Great Church, and after it was over they met in the field to make ready for the tourney. Among them was a brave Knight called Sir Ector, who brought with him Sir Kay, his son, and Arthur, Kayâs foster-brother. Now Kay had unbuckled his sword the evening before, and in his haste to be at the tourney had forgotten to put it on again, and he begged Arthur to ride back and fetch it for him. But when Arthur reached the house the door was locked, for the women had gone out to see the tourney, and, though Arthur tried his best to get in, he could not. Then he rode away in great anger, and said to himself, âKay shall not be without a sword this day. I will take that sword in the churchyard, and give it to him;â and he galloped fast till he reached the gate of the churchyard. He jumped down, tied his horse tightly to a tree, and, running up to the sword, seized the handle, and lightly and fiercely drew it out; then he mounted his horse again, and delivered the sword to Sir Kay. The moment Sir Kay saw the sword he knew it was not his own, but the sword of the stone, and he sought out his father Sir Ector, and said to him, âSir, this is the sword of the stone, therefore I am the rightful King.â Sir Ector made no answer, but signed to Kay and Arthur to follow him, and they all three went back to the church. Leaving their horses outside, they entered the choir, and here Sir Ector took a holy book and bade Sir Kay swear how he came by that sword. âMy brother Arthur gave it to me,â replied Sir Kay. âHow did you come by it?â asked Sir Ector, turning to Arthur. âSir,â said Arthur, âwhen I rode home for my brotherâs sword, I found no one to deliver it to me, and as I resolved he should not be swordless, I thought of the sword in this stone, and I pulled it out.â âWere any Knights present when you did this?â asked Sir Ector. âNo, none,â said Arthur. âThen you are the rightful King of this land,â said Sir Ector. âBut why am I the King?â inquired Arthur. âBecause,â answered Sir Ector, âthis is an enchanted sword, and no man could draw it but he who was born a King. Therefore put the sword back into the stone, and let me see you take it out.â âThat is soon done,â said Arthur, replacing the sword, and Sir Ector himself tried to draw it, but he could not. âNow it is your turn,â he said to Sir Kay, but Sir Kay fared no better than his father, though he tugged with all his might and main. âNow you, Arthur,â and Arthur pulled it out as easily as if it had been lying in its sheath, and as he did so Sir Ector and Sir Kay sank on their knees before him. âWhy do you, my father and brother, kneel to me?â asked Arthur in surprise. âNay, nay, my lord,â answered Sir Ector, âI am not your father, though till to-day I could not tell you who your father really was. You are the son of Uther Pendragon, and you were brought to me when you were born by Merlin himself, who promised that when the time came you should know from whom you sprang.â When Arthur heard that Sir Ector was not his father, he wept bitterly. âIf I am King,â he said at last, âask what you will, and I shall not fail you. For to you, and to my lady and mother, I owe more than to any one in the world, for she loved me and treated me as her son.â âSir,â replied Sir Ector, âI only ask that you will make your foster-brother, Sir Kay, Seneschal of all your lands.â âThat I will readily,â answered Arthur, âand while he and I live no other shall fill that office.â [Illustration: HOW ARTHVR DREW THE SWORD] Sir Ector then bade them seek out the Archbishop with him, and they told him all that had happened concerning the sword, which Arthur had left standing in the stone. And on Twelfth Day the Knights and Barons came again, but none could draw it out but Arthur. When they saw this, many of the Barons became angry and cried out that they would never own a boy for King whose blood was no better than their own. So it was agreed to wait till Candlemas, when more Knights might be there, and meanwhile the same two men who had been chosen before watched the sword night and day; but at Candlemas it was the same thing, and at Easter. And when Pentecost came, the common people who were present, and saw Arthur pull out the sword, cried with one voice that he was their King, and they would kill any man who said differently. Then rich and poor fell on their knees before him, and Arthur took the sword and offered it upon the altar where the Archbishop stood, and the best man who was there made him Knight. After that the crown was put on his head, and he swore to his lords and commons that he would be a true King, and would do them justice all the days of his life. THE SWORD EXCALIBUR. King Arthur, accompanied by Merlin the magician, had left the comfort of the court to seek adventures. He had fought a hard battle with the tallest Knight in all the land, and though he struck hard and well, he would have been slain had not Merlin enchanted the Knight and cast him into a deep sleep, and brought the King to a hermit who had studied the art of healing, and cured all his wounds in three days. Then Arthur and Merlin waited no longer, but gave the hermit thanks and departed. As they rode together Arthur said, âI have no sword,â but Merlin bade him be patient and he would soon give him one. In a little while they came to a large lake, and in the midst of the lake Arthur beheld an arm rising out of the water, holding up a sword. âLook!â said Merlin, âthat is the sword I spoke of.â And the King looked again, and a maiden stood upon the water. âThat is the Lady of the Lake,â said Merlin, âand she is coming to you, and if you ask her courteously she will give you the sword.â So when the maiden drew near, Arthur saluted her and said, âMaiden, I pray you tell me whose sword is that which an arm is holding out of the water? I wish it were mine, for I have lost my sword.â âThat sword is mine, King Arthur,â answered she, âand I will give it to you, if you in return will give me a gift when I ask you.â âBy my faith,â said the King, âI will give you whatever gift you ask.â âWell,â said the maiden, âget into the barge yonder, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbard with you.â For this was the sword Excalibur. âAs for _my_ gift, I will ask it in my own time.â Then King Arthur and Merlin dismounted from their horses and tied them up safely, and went into the barge, and when they came to the place where the arm was holding the sword Arthur took it by the handle, and the arm disappeared. And they brought the sword back to land. As they rode the King looked lovingly on his sword, which Merlin saw, and, smiling, said, âWhich do you like best, the sword or the scabbard?â âI like the sword,â answered Arthur. âYou are not wise to say that,â replied Merlin, âfor the scabbard is worth ten of the sword, and as long as it is buckled on you you will lose no blood, however sorely you may be wounded.â So they rode into the town of Carlion, and Arthurâs Knights gave them a glad welcome, and said it was a joy to serve under a King who risked his life as much as any common man. HOW THE ROUND TABLE BEGAN. After King Arthur had fought and conquered many enemies, he said one day to Merlin, whose counsel he took all the days of his life, âMy Barons will let me have no rest, but bid me take a wife, and I have answered them that I shall take none, except you advise me.â âIt is well,â replied Merlin, âthat you should take a wife, but is there any woman that you love better than another?â âYes,â said Arthur, âI love Guenevere, daughter of Leodegrance, King of Cameliard, in whose house is the Round Table that my father gave him. This maiden is the fairest that I have ever seen, or ever shall see.â âSir,â answered Merlin, âwhat you say as to her beauty is true, but, if your heart was not set on her, I could find you another as fair, and of more goodness, than she. But if a manâs heart is once set it is idle to try to turn him.â Then Merlin asked the King to give him a company of knights and esquires, that he might go to the Court of King Leodegrance and tell him that King Arthur desired to wed his daughter, which Arthur did gladly. Therefore Merlin rode forth and made all the haste he could till he came to the Castle of Cameliard, and told King Leodegrance who had sent him and why. âThat is the best news I have ever had,â replied Leodegrance, âfor little did I think that so great and noble a King should seek to marry my daughter. As for lands to endow her with, I would give whatever he chose; but he has lands enough of his own, so I will give him instead something that will please him much more, the Round Table which Uther Pendragon gave me, where a hundred and fifty Knights can sit at one time. I myself can call to my side a hundred good Knights, but I lack fifty, for the wars have slain many, and some are absent.â And without more words King Leodegrance gave his consent that his daughter should wed King Arthur. And Merlin returned with his Knights and esquires, journeying partly by water and partly by land, till they drew near to London. When King Arthur heard of the coming of Merlin and of the Knights with the Round Table he was filled with joy, and said to those that stood about him, âThis news that Merlin has brought me is welcome indeed, for I have long loved this fair lady, and the Round Table is dearer to me than great riches.â Then he ordered that Sir Lancelot should ride to fetch the Queen, and that preparations for the marriage and her coronation should be made, which was done. âNow, Merlin,â said the King, âgo and look about my kingdom and bring fifty of the bravest and most famous Knights that can be found throughout the land.â But no more than eight and twenty Knights could Merlin find. With these Arthur had to be content, and the Bishop of Canterbury was fetched, and he blessed the seats that were placed by the Round Table, and the Knights sat in them. âFair Sirs,â said Merlin, when the Bishop had ended his blessing, âarise all of you, and pay your homage to the King.â So the Knights arose to do his bidding, and in every seat was the name of the Knight who had sat on it, written in letters of gold, but two seats were empty. After that young Gawaine came to the King, and prayed him to make him a Knight on the day that he should wed Guenevere. âThat I will gladly,â replied the King, âfor you are my sisterâs son.â As the King was speaking, a poor man entered the Court, bringing with him a youth about eighteen years old, riding on a lean mare, though it was not the custom for gentlemen to ride on mares. âWhere is King Arthur?â asked the man. âYonder,â answered the Knights. âHave you business with him?â âYes,â said the man, and he went and bowed low before the King: âI have heard, O King Arthur, flower of Knights and Kings, that at the time of your marriage you would give any man the gift he should ask for.â âThat is truth,â answered the King, âas long as I do no wrong to other men or to my kingdom.â âI thank you for your gracious words,â said the poor man; âthe boon I would ask is that you would make my son a Knight.â âIt is a great boon to ask,â answered the King. âWhat is your name?â âSir, my name is Aries the cowherd.â âIs it you or your son that has thought of this honour?â âIt is my son who desires it, and not I,â replied the man. âI have thirteen sons who tend cattle, and work in the fields if I bid them; but this boy will do nothing but shoot and cast darts, or go to watch battles and look on Knights, and all day long he beseeches me to bring him to you, that he may be knighted also.â âWhat is your name?â said Arthur, turning to the young man. âSir, my name is Tor.â âWhere is your sword that I may knight you?â said the King. âIt is here, my lord.â âTake it out of its sheath,â said the King, âand require me to make you a Knight.â Then Tor jumped off his mare and pulled out his sword, and knelt before the King, praying that he might be made a Knight and a Knight of the Round Table. âAs for a Knight, that I will make you,â said Arthur, smiting him in the neck with the sword, âand if you are worthy of it you shall be a Knight of the Round Table.â Then was the high feast made ready, and the King was wedded to fair Guenevere at Camelot in the Church of St. Stephen with all due observance. And the next day Gawaine was made a Knight also. Sir Tor proved before long by his gallant deeds that he was well worthy to sit in one of the empty seats at the Round Table. THE STORY OF SIR BALIN. In those days many Kings reigned in the Islands of the Sea, and they constantly waged war upon each other, and on their liege lord, and news came to Arthur that Ryons, King of North Wales, had collected a large host and had ravaged his lands and slain some of his people. When he heard this, Arthur rose in anger, and commanded that all lords, Knights, and gentlemen of arms should meet him at Camelot, where he would call a council, and hold a tourney. From every part the Knights flocked to Camelot, and the town was full to overflowing of armed men and their horses. And when they were all assembled, there rode in a damsel, who said she had come with a message from the great Lady Lile of Avelion, and begged that they would bring her before King Arthur. When she was led into his presence she let her mantle of fur slip off her shoulders, and they saw that by her side a richly wrought sword was buckled. The King was silent with wonder at the strange sight, but at last he said, âDamsel, why do you wear this sword? for swords are not the ornaments of women.â âOh, my lord,â answered she, âI would I could find some Knight to rid me of this sword, which weighs me down and causes me much sorrow. But the man who will deliver me of it must be one who is mighty of his hands, and pure in his deeds, without villainy, or treason. If I find a Knight such as this, he will draw this sword out of its sheath, and he only. For I have been at the Court of King Ryons, and he and his Knights tried with all their strength to draw the sword and they could not.â âLet me see if I can draw it,â said Arthur, ânot because I think myself the best Knight, for well I know how far I am outdone by others, but to set them an example that they may follow me.â With that the King took the sword by the sheath and by the girdle, and pulled at it with all his force, but the sword stuck fast. âSir,â said the damsel, âyou need not pull half so hard, for he that shall pull it out shall do it with little strength.â âIt is not for me,â answered Arthur, âand now, my Barons, let each man try his fortune.â So most of the Knights of the Round Table there present pulled, one after another, at the sword, but none could stir it from its sheath. âAlas! alas!â cried the damsel in great grief, âI thought to find in this Court Knights that were blameless and true of heart, and now I know not where to look for them.â âBy my faith,â said Arthur, âthere are no better Knights in the world than these of mine, but I am sore displeased that they cannot help me in this matter.â Now at that time there was a poor Knight at Arthurâs Court who had been kept prisoner for a year and a half because he had slain the Kingâs cousin. He was of high birth and his name was Balin, and after he had suffered eighteen months the punishment of his misdeed the Barons prayed the King to set him free, which Arthur did willingly. When Balin, standing apart beheld the Knights one by one try the sword, and fail to draw it, his heart beat fast, yet he shrank from taking his turn, for he was meanly dressed, and could not compare with the other Barons. But after the damsel had bid farewell to Arthur and his Court, and was setting out on her journey homewards, he called to her and said, âDamsel, I pray you to suffer me to try your sword, as well as these lords, for though I am so poorly clothed, my heart is as high as theirs.â The damsel stopped and looked at him, and answered, âSir, it is not needful to put you to such trouble, for where so many have failed it is hardly likely that you will succeed.â âAh! fair damsel,â said Balin, âit is not fine clothes that make good deeds.â âYou speak truly,â replied the damsel, âtherefore do what you can.â Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath, and pulled it out easily, and when he looked at the sword he was greatly pleased with it. The King and the Knights were dumb with surprise that it was Balin who had triumphed over them, and many of them envied him and felt anger towards him. âIn truth,â said the damsel, âthis is the best Knight that I ever found, but, Sir, I pray you give me the sword again.â âNo,â answered Balin, âI will keep it till it is taken from me by force.â âIt is for your sake, not mine, that I ask for it,â said the damsel, âfor with that sword you shall slay the man you love best, and it will bring about your own ruin.â âI will take what befalls me,â replied Balin, âbut the sword I will not give up, by the faith of my body.â So the damsel departed in great sorrow. The next day Sir Balin left the Court, and, armed with his sword, set forth in search of adventures, which he found in many places where he had not thought to meet with them. In all the fights that he fought, Sir Balin was the victor, and Arthur, and Merlin his friend, knew that there was no Knight living of greater deeds, or more worthy of worship. And he was known to all as Sir Balin le Savage, the Knight of the two swords. One day he was riding forth when at the turning of a road he saw a cross, and on it was written in letters of gold, âLet no Knight ride towards this castle.â Sir Balin was still reading the writing when there came towards him an old man with white hair, who said, âSir Balin le Savage, this is not the way for you, so turn again and choose some other path.â And so he vanished, and a horn blew loudly, as a horn is blown at the death of a beast. âThat blast,â said Balin, âis for me, but I am still alive,â and he rode to the castle, where a great company of knights and ladies met him and welcomed him, and made him a feast. Then the lady of the castle said to him, âKnight with the two swords, you must now fight a Knight that guards an island, for it is our law that no man may leave us without he first fight a tourney.â [Illustration: The Damsel Warns Sir Balin.] âThat is a bad custom,â said Balin, âbut if I must I am ready; for though my horse is weary my heart is strong.â âSir,â said a Knight to him, âyour shield does not look whole to me; I will lend you another;â so Balin listened to him and took the shield that was offered, and left his own with his own coat of arms behind him. He rode down to the shore, and led his horse into a boat which took them across. When he reached the other side, a damsel came to him crying, âO knight Balin, why have you left your own shield behind you? Alas! you have put yourself in great danger, for by your shield you should have been known. I grieve over your doom, for there is no man living that can rival you for courage and bold deeds.â âI repent,â answered Balin, âever having come into this country, but for very shame I must go on. Whatever befalls me, either for life or death, I am ready to take it.â Then he examined his armour, and saw that it was whole, and mounted his horse. As he went along the path he beheld a Knight come out of a castle in front, clothed in red, riding a horse with red trappings. When this red Knight looked on the two swords, he thought for a moment it was Balin, but the shield did not bear Balinâs device. So they rode at each other with their spears, and smote each otherâs shields so hard that both horses and men fell to the ground with the shock, and the Knights lay unconscious on the ground for some minutes. But soon they rose up again and began the fight afresh, and they fought till the place was red with their blood, and they had each seven great wounds. âWhat Knight are you?â asked Balin le Savage, pausing for breath, âfor never before have I found any Knight to match me.â âMy name,â said he, âis Balan, brother to the good Knight Balin.â âAlas!â cried Balin, âthat I should ever live to see this day,â and he fell back fainting to the ground. At this sight Balan crept on his feet and hands, and pulled off Balinâs helmet, so that he might see his face. The fresh air revived Balin, and he awoke and said: âO Balan, my brother, you have slain me, and I you, and the whole world will speak ill of us both.â âAlas,â sighed Balan, âif I had only known you! I saw your two swords, but from your shield I thought you had been another knight.â âWoe is me!â said Balin, âall this was wrought by an unhappy knight in the castle, who caused me to change my shield for his. If I lived, I would destroy that castle that he should not deceive other men.â âYou would have done well,â answered Balan, âfor they have kept me prisoner ever since I slew a Knight that guarded this island, and they would have kept you captive too.â Then came the lady of the castle and her companions, and listened as they made their moan. And Balan prayed that she would grant them the grace to lie together, there where they died, and their wish was given them, and she and those that were with her wept for pity. So they died; and the lady made a tomb for them, and put Balanâs name alone on it, for Balinâs name she knew not. But Merlin knew, and next morning he came and wrote it in letters of gold, and he ungirded Balinâs sword, and unscrewed the pommel, and put another pommel on it, and bade a Knight that stood by handle it, but the Knight could not. At that Merlin laughed. [Illustration: The Death of Balin and Balan] âWhy do you laugh?â asked the Knight. âBecause,â said Merlin, âno man shall handle this sword but the best Knight in the world, and that is either Sir Lancelot or his son Sir Galahad. With this sword Sir Lancelot shall slay the man he loves best, and his name is Sir Gawaine.â And this was later done, in a fight across the seas. All this Merlin wrote on the pommel of the sword. Next he made a bridge of steel to the island, six inches broad, and no man could pass over it that was guilty of any evil deeds. The scabbard of the sword he left on this side of the island, so that Galahad should find it. The sword itself he put in a magic stone, which floated down the stream to Camelot, that is now called Winchester. And the same day Galahad came to the river, having in his hand the scabbard, and he saw the sword and pulled it out of the stone, as is told in another place. WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. As Pentecost drew near King Arthur commanded that all the Knights of the Round Table should keep the feast at a city called Kin-Kenadon, hard by the sands of Wales, where there was a great castle. Now it was the Kingâs custom that he would eat no food on the day of Pentecost, which we call Whit Sunday, until he had heard or seen some great marvel. So on that morning Sir Gawaine was looking from the window a little before noon when he espied three men on horseback, and with them a dwarf on foot, who held their horses when they alighted. Then Sir Gawaine went to the King and said, âSir, go to your food, for strange adventures are at hand.â And Arthur called the other Kings that were in the castle, and all the Knights of the Round Table that were a hundred and fifty, and they sat down to dine. When they were seated there entered the hall two men well and richly dressed, and upon their shoulders leaned the handsomest young man that ever was seen of any of them, higher than the other two by a cubit. He was wide in the chest and large handed, but his great height seemed to be a burden and a shame to him, therefore it was he leaned on the shoulders of his friends. As soon as Arthur beheld him he made a sign, and without more words all three went up to the high daÃ¯s, where the King sat. Then the tall young man stood up straight, and said: âKing Arthur, God bless you and all your fair fellowship, and in especial the fellowship of the Table Round. I have come hither to pray you to give me three gifts, which you can grant me honourably, for they will do no hurt to you or to any one.â âAsk,â answered Arthur, âand you shall have your asking.â âSir, this is my petition for this feast, for the other two I will ask after. Give me meat and drink for this one twelvemonth.â âWell,â said the king, âyou shall have meat and drink enough, for that I give to every man, whether friend or foe. But tell me your name!â âI cannot tell you that,â answered he. âThat is strange,â replied the King, âbut you are the goodliest young man I ever saw,â and, turning to Sir Kay, the steward, charged him to give the young man to eat and drink of the best, and to treat him in all ways as if he were a lordâs son. âThere is little need to do that,â answered Sir Kay, âfor if he had come of gentlemen and not of peasants he would have asked of you a horse and armour. But as the birth of a man is so are his requests. And seeing he has no name I will give him one, and it shall be Beaumains, or Fair-hands, and he shall sit in the kitchen and eat broth, and at the end of a year he shall be as fat as any pig that feeds on acorns.â So the young man was left in charge of Sir Kay, that scorned and mocked him. Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth when they heard what Sir Kay said, and bade him leave off his mocking, for they believed the youth would turn out to be a man of great deeds; but Sir Kay paid no heed to them, and took him down to the great hall, and set him among the boys and lads, where he ate sadly. After he had finished eating both Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawaine bade him come to their room, and would have had him eat and drink there, but he refused, saying he was bound to obey Sir Kay, into whose charge the King had given him. So he was put into the kitchen by Sir Kay, and slept nightly with the kitchen boys. This he bore for a whole year, and was always mild and gentle, and gave hard words to no one. Only, whenever the Knights played at tourney he would steal out and watch them. And Sir Lancelot gave him gold to spend, and clothes to wear, and so did Gawaine. Also, if there were any games held whereat he might be, none could throw a bar nor cast a stone as far as he by two good yards. Thus the year passed by till the feast of Whitsuntide came again, and this time the king held it at Carlion. But King Arthur would eat no meat at Whitsuntide till some adventures were told him, and glad was he when a squire came and said to him, âSir you may go to your food, for here is a damsel with some strange tales.â At this the damsel was led into the hall, and bowed low before the King, and begged he would give her help. âFor whom?â asked the King, âand what is the adventure?â âSir,â answered she, âmy sister is a noble lady of great fame, who is besieged by a tyrant, and may not get out of her castle. And it is because your Knights are said to be the noblest in all the world that I came to you for aid.â âWhat is your sisterâs name, and where does she dwell? And who is the man that besieges her, and where does he come from?â âSir King,â answered she, âas for my sisterâs name, I cannot tell it you now, but she is a lady of great beauty and goodness, and of many lands. As for the tyrant who besieges her, he is called the Red Knight of the Red Lawns.â âI know nothing of him,â said the King. âBut I know him,â cried Sir Gawaine, âand he is one of the most dangerous Knights in the world. Men say he has the strength of seven, and once when we had crossed swords I hardly escaped from him with my life.â âFair damsel,â then said the King, âthere are many Knights here who would go gladly to the rescue of your lady, but none of them shall do so with my consent unless you will tell us her name, and the place of her castle.â âThen I must speak further,â said the damsel. But before she had made answer to the King up came Beaumains, and spoke to Arthur, saying, âSir King, I thank you that for this whole year I have lived in your kitchen, and had meat and drink, and now I will ask you for the two gifts that you promised me on this day.â âAsk them,â answered the King. âSir, these shall be my two gifts. First grant me the adventure of this damsel, for it is mine by right.â âYou shall have it,â said the King. âThen, Sir, you shall bid Sir Lancelot du Lake to make me Knight, for I will receive Knighthood at the hands of no other.â âAll this shall be done,â said the King. âFie on you,â cried the damsel, âwill you give me none but a kitchen boy to rescue my lady?â and she went away in a rage, and mounted her horse. No sooner had she left the hall than a page came to Beaumains and told him that a horse and fair armour had been brought for him, also there had arrived a dwarf carrying all things that a Knight needed. And when he was armed there were few men that were handsomer than he, and the Court wondered greatly whence these splendid trappings had come. Then Beaumains came into the hall, and took farewell of the King, and Sir Gawaine and Sir Lancelot, and prayed Sir Lancelot that he would follow after him. So he departed, and rode after the damsel. Many looked upon him and marvelled at the strength of his horse, and its golden trappings, and envied Beaumains his shining coat of mail; but they noted that he had neither shield nor spear. âI will ride after him,â laughed Sir Kay, âand see if my kitchen boy will own me for his better.â âLeave him and stay at home,â said Sir Gawaine and Sir Lancelot, but Sir Kay would not listen and sprang upon his horse. Just as Beaumains came up with the damsel, Sir Kay reached Beaumains, and said, âBeaumains, do you not know me?â Beaumains turned and looked at him, and answered, âYes, I know you for an ill-mannered Knight, therefore beware of me.â At this Sir Kay put his spear in rest and charged him, and Beaumains drew his sword and charged Sir Kay, and dashed aside the spear, and thrust him through the side, till Sir Kay fell down as if he had been dead, and Beaumains took his shield and spear for himself. Then he sprang on his own horse, bidding first his dwarf take Sir Kayâs horse, and rode away. All this was seen by Sir Lancelot, who had followed him, and also by the damsel. In a little while Beaumains stopped, and asked Sir Lancelot if he would tilt with him, and they came together with such a shock that both the horses and their riders fell to the earth and were bruised sorely. Sir Lancelot was the first to rise, and he helped Beaumains from his horse, and Beaumains threw his shield from him, and offered to fight on foot. And they rushed together like wild boars, turning and thrusting and parrying for the space of an hour, and Sir Lancelot marvelled at the young manâs strength, and thought he was more like a giant than a Knight, and dreading lest he himself should be put to shame, he said: âBeaumains, do not fight so hard, we have no quarrel that forbids us to leave off.â âThat is true,â answered Beaumains, laying down his arms, âbut it does me good, my lord, to feel your might.â âWell,â said Sir Lancelot, âI promise you I had much ado to save myself from you unshamed, therefore have no fear of any other Knight.â âDo you think I could really stand against a proved Knight?â asked Beaumains. âYes,â said Lancelot, âif you fight as you have fought to-day I will be your warrant against any one.â âThen I pray you,â cried Beaumains, âgive me the order of knighthood.â âYou must first tell me your name,â replied Lancelot, âand who are your kindred.â âYou will not betray me if I do?â asked Beaumains. âNo, that I will never do, till it is openly known,â said Lancelot. âThen, Sir, my name is Gareth, and Sir Gawaine is my brother.â âAh, Sir,â cried Lancelot, âI am more pleased with you than ever. I was sure you came of good blood, and that you did not come to the Court for meat and drink only.â And he bade him kneel, and gave him the order of knighthood. After that Sir Gareth wished to go his own ways, and departed. When he was gone, Sir Lancelot went back to Sir Kay and ordered some men that were by to bear him home on a shield, and in time his wounds were healed; but he was scorned of all men, and especially of Sir Gawaine and Sir Lancelot, who told him it was no good deed to treat any young man so, and no one could tell what his birth might be, or what had brought him to the Court. [Illustration: Faugh Sir! You Smell of Y^e Kitchen / Gareth & Linet] Then Beaumains rode after the damsel, who stopped when she saw him coming. âWhat are you doing here?â said she. âYour clothes smell of the grease and tallow of the kitchen! Do you think to change my heart towards you because of yonder Knight whom you slew? No, truly! I know well who you are, you turner of spits! Go back to King Arthurâs kitchen, which is your proper place.â âDamsel,â replied Beaumains, âyou may say to me what you will, but I shall not quit you whatever you may do, for I have vowed to King Arthur to relieve the lady in the castle, and I shall set her free or die fighting for her.â âFie on you, Scullion,â answered she. âYou will meet with one who will make you such a welcome that you would give all the broth you ever cooked never to have seen his face.â âI shall do my best to fight him,â said Beaumains, and held his peace. Soon they entered the wood, and there came a man flying towards them, galloping with all his might. âOh, help! help! lord,â cried he, âfor my master lies in a thicket, bound by six thieves, and I greatly fear they will slay him.â âShow me the way,â said Sir Beaumains, and they rode together till they reached the place where the Knight lay bound. Then Sir Beaumains charged the six thieves, and struck one dead, and another, and another still, and the other three fled, not liking the battle. Sir Beaumains pursued them till they turned at bay, and fought hard for their lives; but in the end Sir Beaumains slew them, and returned to the Knight and unbound him. The Knight thanked Beaumains heartily for his deliverance, and prayed him to come to his castle, where he would reward him. âSir,â said Beaumains, âI was this day made Knight by noble Sir Lancelot, and that is reward enough for anything I may do. Besides, I must follow this damsel.â But when he came near her she reviled him as before, and bade him ride far from her. âDo you think I set store by what you have done? You will soon see a sight that will make you tell a very different tale.â At this the Knight whom Beaumains had rescued rode up to the damsel, and begged that she would rest in his castle that night, as the sun was now setting. The damsel agreed, and the Knight ordered a great supper, and gave Sir Beaumains a seat above the seat of the damsel, who rose up in anger. âFie! fie! Sir Knight,â cried she, âyou are uncourteous to set a mere kitchen page before me; he is not fit to be in the company of highborn people.â Her words struck shame into the Knight, and he took Beaumains and set him at a side table, and seated himself before him. In the early morning Sir Beaumains and the damsel bade farewell to the Knight, and rode through the forest till they came to a great river, where stood two Knights on the further side, guarding the passage. âWell, what do you say now?â asked the damsel. âWill you fight them or turn back?â âI would not turn if there were six more of them,â answered Sir Beaumains, and he rushed into the water and so did one of the Knights. They came together in the middle of the stream, and their spears broke in two with the force of the charge, and they drew their swords, hitting hard at each
{'title': 'Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table, Adapted from the Book of Romance by Lang et al.', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}