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Little is known of English translator Sir Thomas Malory, and there is even some doubt as to whether Malory is in fact the author of Le morte d’Arthur (The Death of Arthur, 1469-1470). The book is a translation and retelling of a diverse collection of tales that developed in 13th-century France into a body of work known as Arthurian romance. The stories are about the semilegendary King Arthur and his knight-adventurers, who followed the chivalric code of idealized love and the violent enforcement of right against wrong. Foremost among these knights is Lancelot, whose allegiance to Arthur is compromised by his love for Queen Guinevere (also spelled Guenevere). When the malice of two jealous knights, Sir Mordred and Sir Agravain, brings the affair into the open, a catastrophic chain of events follows.
By Sir Thomas Malory
In May when every lusty heart flourisheth and burgeoneth, for as the season is lusty to behold and comfortable, so man and woman rejoiceth and gladdeth of summer coming with his fresh flowers, for winter with his rough winds and blasts causeth lusty men and women to cower and sit fast by the fire—so this season it befell in the month of May a great anger and unhap that stinted not till the flower of chivalry of all the world was destroyed and slain. And all was long upon two unhappy knights which were named Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, that were brethren unto Sir Gawain. For this Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred had ever a privy hate unto the Queen, Dame Guinevere and to Sir Lancelot, and daily and nightly they ever watched upon Sir Lancelot.
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So it misfortuned Sir Gawain and all his brethren were in King Arthur’s chamber, and then Sir Agravain said thus openly, and not in counsel, that many knights might hear: “I marvel that we all be not ashamed both to see and to know how Sir Lancelot lieth daily and nightly by the Queen. And all we know well that it is so, and it is shamefully suffered of us all that we should suffer so noble a king as King Arthur is so to be shamed.”
Then spoke Sir Gawain, and said: “Brother, Sir Agravain, I pray you and charge you, move no such matters no more afore me, for wit you well, I will not be of your counsel.”
“So God me help,” said Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, “we will not be known of [be party to] your deeds.”
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“Then will I!” said Sir Mordred.
“I lieve you well,” said Sir Gawain, “for ever unto all unhappiness, sir, ye will grant. And I would that ye left all this and made you not so busy, for I know,” said Sir Gawain, “what will fall of it.”
“Fall whatsoever fall may,” said Sir Agravain, “I will disclose it to the King.”
“Not by my counsel,” said Sir Gawain, “for an [if] there rise war and wrack betwixt Sir Lancelot and us, wit you well, brother, there will many kings and great lords hold with Sir Lancelot. Also, brother, Sir Agravain,” said Sir Gawain, “ye must remember how often times Sir Lancelot hath rescued the King and the Queen. And the best of us all had been full cold at the heart-root had not Sir Lancelot been better than we, and that hath he proved himself full oft. And as for my part,” said Sir Gawain, “I will never be against Sir Lancelot for one day’s deed, when he rescued me from King Carados of the Dolorous Tower, and slew him, and saved my life. Also, brother, Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, in like wise Sir Lancelot rescued both you and threescore and two from Sir Tarquin. And therefore, brother, methinks such noble deeds and kindness should be remembered.”
“Do as ye list,” said Sir Agravain, “for I will layne [conceal] it no longer.”
So with these words came in Sir Arthur.
“Now, brother,” said Sir Gawain, “stint your noise.”
“That I will not,” said Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred.
“Well, will ye so?” said Sir Gawain. “Then God speed you, for I will not hear your tales, neither be of your counsel.”
“No more will I,” said Sir Gaheris.
“Neither I,” said Sir Gareth, “for I will never say evil by that man that made me knight.” And therewithal they three departed, making great dole.
“Alas!” said Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, “now is this realm wholly destroyed and mischieved, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table shall be disparbeled.”
So they departed, and then Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made.
“My lord,” said Sir Agravain, “I shall tell you, for I may keep it no longer. Here is I and my brother Sir Mordred broke unto my brother Sir Gawain, Sir Gaheris, and to Sir Gareth—for this is all, to make it short—how that we know all that Sir Lancelot holdeth your Queen, and hath done long; and we be your sister-sons, we may suffer it no longer. And all we woot that ye should be above Sir Lancelot, and ye are the king that made him knight, and therefore we will prove it that he is a traitor to your person.”
“If it be so,” said the King, “wit you well, he is none other. But I would be loath to begin such a thing but I might have proofs of it, for Sir Lancelot is an hardy knight, and all ye know he is the best knight among us all. And but if he be taken with the deed, he will fight with him that bringeth up the noise, and I know no knight that is able to match him. Therefore an it be sooth as ye say, I would that he were taken with the deed.”
For, as the French book saith, the King was full loath that such a noise should be upon Sir Lancelot and his queen. For the King had a deeming of it, but he would not hear of it, for Sir Lancelot had done so much for him and for the Queen so many times that, wit ye well, the king loved him passingly well.
“My lord,” said Sir Agravain, “ye shall ride tomorn on hunting, and doubt ye not, Sir Lancelot will not go with you. And so when it draweth toward night, ye may send the Queen word that ye will lie out all that night, and so may ye send for your cooks. And then, upon pain of death, that night we shall take him with the queen, and we shall bring him to you, quick or dead.”
“I will well,” said the King. “Then I counsel you to take with you sure fellowship.”
“Sir,” said Sir Agravain, “my brother, Sir Mordred, and I will take with us twelve knights of the Round Table.”
“Beware,” said King Arthur, “for I warn you, ye shall find him wight.”
“Let us deal!” said Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred.
So on the morn King Arthur rode on hunting, and sent word to the Queen that he would be out all that night. Then Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred got to them twelve knights, and hid themself in a chamber in the castle of Carlisle. And these were their names: Sir Colgrevance, Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Guingalen, Sir Meliot de Logres, Sir Petipace of Winchelsea, Sir Galeron of Galway, Sir Melion de la Mountain, Sir Ascamore, Sir Gromore Somyr Jour, Sir Curselayne, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovell. So these twelve knights were with Sir Mordred and Sir Agravain, and all they were of Scotland, or else of Sir Gawain’s kin, or well-willers to his brother.
So when the night came, Sir Lancelot told Sir Bors how he would go that night and speak with the Queen.
“Sir,” said Sir Bors, “ye shall not go this night by my counsel.”
“Why?” said Sir Lancelot.
“Sir,” said Sir Bors, “I dread me ever of Sir Agravain, that waiteth upon you daily to do you shame and us all; and never gave my heart against no going that ever ye went to the Queen so much as now, for I mistrust that the King is out this night from the Queen because peradventure he hath lain some watch for you and the Queen. Therefore I dread me sore of some treason.”
“Have ye no dread,” said Sir Lancelot, “for I shall go and come again, and make no tarrying.”
“Sir,” said Sir Bors, “that me repents, for I dread me sore that your going this night shall wrath us all.”
“Fair nephew,” said Sir Lancelot, “I marvel me much why ye say thus, sithen the Queen hath sent for me. And wit ye well, I will not be so much a coward, but she shall understand I will see her good grace.”
“God speed you well,” said Sir Bors, “and send you sound and safe again.”
So Sir Lancelot departed, and took his sword under his arm, and so he walked in his mantle, that noble knight, and put himself in great Jeopardy. And so he passed on till he came to the Queen’s chamber, and so lightly he was had into the chamber. And then, as the French book saith, the Queen and Lancelot were together. And whether they were abed or at other manner of disports, me list not thereof make no mention, for love that time was not as love is nowadays.
But thus as they were together, there came Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred with twelve knights with them of the Round Table, and they said with great crying and scaring voice: “Thou traitor, Sir Lancelot, now are thou taken!” And thus they cried with a loud voice that all the court might hear it. And these fourteen knights were armed at all points, as they should fight in a battle.
“Alas!” said Queen Guinevere, “now are we mischieved both!”
“Madam,” said Sir Lancelot, “is there here any armour within your chamber, that I might cover my poor body withal? And if there be any, give it me, and I shall soon stint their malice, by the grace of God!”
“Now, truly,” said the Queen, “I have none armour, neither helm, shield, sword, neither spear, wherefore I dread me sore our long love is come to a mischievous end. For I hear by their noise there be many noble knights, and well I woot they be surely armed, and against them ye may make no resistance. Wherefore ye are likely to be slain, and then shall I be burned! For an ye might escape them,” said the Queen, “I would not doubt but that ye would rescue me in what danger that ever I stood in.”
“Alas,” said Sir Lancelot, “in all my life thus was I never bestead that I should be thus shamefully slain for lack of mine armour.”
But ever in one Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred cried: “Traitor knight, come out of the Queen’s chamber! For wit thou well thou art so beset that thou shalt not escape.”
“Ah, Jesu mercy!” said Sir Lancelot, “this shameful cry and noise I may not suffer, for better were death at once than thus to endure this pain.” Then he took the Queen in his arms, and kissed her, and said: “Most noble Christian queen, I beseech you, as ye have been ever my special good lady, and I at all times your poor knight and true unto my power, and as I never failed you in right nor in wrong sithen the first day King Arthur made me knight, that ye will pray for my soul if that I be slain. For well I am assured that Sir Bors, my nephew, and all the remnant of my kin, with Sir Lavaine and Sir Urry, that they will not fail you to rescue you from the fire. And therefore, mine own lady, recomfort yourself, whatsoever come of me, that ye go with Sir Bors, my nephew, and Sir Urry, and they all will do you all the pleasure that they may, and ye shall live like a queen upon my lands.”
“Nay, Sir Lancelot, nay!” said the Queen. “Wit thou well that I will not live long after thy days. But an ye be slain I will take my death as meekly as ever did martyr take his death for Jesu Christ’s sake.”
“Well, Madam,” said Sir Lancelot, “sith it is so that the day is come that our love must depart, wit you well I shall sell my life as dear as I may. And a thousandfold,” said Sir Lancelot, “I am more heavier for you than for myself! And now I had liefer than to be lord of all Christendom, that I had sure armour upon me, that men might speak of my deeds ere ever I were slain.”
“Truly,” said the Queen, “and it might please God, I would that they would take me and slay me and suffer you to escape.”
“That shall never be,” said Sir Lancelot, “God defend me from such a shame! But Jesu Christ, be Thou my shield and mine armour!” And therewith Sir Lancelot wrapped his mantle about his arm well and surely; and by then they had gotten a great form out of the hall, and therewith they all rushed at the door. “Now, fair lords,” said Sir Lancelot, “leave your noise and your rushing, and I shall set open this door, and then may ye do with me what it liketh you.”
“Come off then,” said they all, “and do it, for it availeth thee not to strive against us all. And therefore let us into this chamber, and we shall save thy life until thou come to King Arthur.”
Then Sir Lancelot unbarred the door, and with his left hand he held it open a little, that but one man might come in at once; and so there came striding a good knight, a much man and a large, and his name was called Colgrevance of Gore. And he with a sword struck at Sir Lancelot mightily. And he put aside the stroke, and gave him such a buffet upon the helmet that he fell grovelling dead within the chamber door. Then Sir Lancelot, with help of the Queen and her ladies, he was lightly armed in Colgrevance’s armour. And ever stood Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, crying: “Traitor knight! Come forth out of the Queen’s chamber.”
“Sirs, leave your noise,” said Sir Lancelot, “for wit you well, Sir Agravain, ye shall not prison me this night. And therefore an ye do by my counsel, go ye all from this chamber door, and make not such crying and such manner of slander as ye do. For I promise you by my knighthood, and ye will depart and make no more noise, I shall as tomorn appear afore you all and before the king, and then let it be seen which of you all, other else ye all, that will deprove me of treason; and there I shall answer you as a knight should, that hither I came to the Queen for no manner of mal engine, and that will I prove and make it good upon you with my hands.”
“Fie upon thee, traitor,” said Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, “for we will have thee malgre thine head and slay thee, if we list. For we let thee wit we have the choice of King Arthur to save thee or to slay thee.”
“Ah sirs,” said Sir Lancelot, “is there none other grace with you? Then keep yourself!” And then Sir Lancelot set all open the chamber door, and mightily and knightly he strode in amongst them; and anon at the first stroke he slew Sir Agravain, and after, twelve of his fellows. Within a little while he laid them cold to the earth, for there was none of the twelve knights that might stand [from] Sir Lancelot one buffet. And also he wounded Sir Mordred, and therewithal [then] he fled with all his might.
And then Sir Lancelot returned again unto the Queen, and said, “Madam, now wit you well all our true love is brought to an end, for now will King Arthur ever be my foe. And therefore, Madam, an it like you that I may have you with me, I shall save you from all manner adventurous dangers.”
“Sir, that is not best,” said the Queen, “me seemeth, for now ye have done so much harm, it will be best that ye hold you still with this. And if ye see that as tomorn they will put me unto death, then may ye rescue me as ye think best.”
“I will well,” said Sir Lancelot, “for have ye no doubt, while I am a man living I shall rescue you.” And then he kissed her, and either of them gave other a ring, and so there he left the Queen and went until his lodging.
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Arthurian Legend; Malory, Sir Thomas; English Literature
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