Le Morte dArthur Retold

The Complete Story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

by Sir Thomas Mallory

Retold in modern English by C. David Claudon

Book I

Book II

Book III

Chapter One: Guenever and the Table Round

As we have seen, when King Arthur first came to the throne, most of the barons did not know he was son of King Uther, and so many plotted and warred against him. Finally one day, King Arthur called for Merlin and told him, “My barons will not rest until I take a wife. Your counsel I prize the most, so tell me what I should do.”

“It is a good thing,” said Merlin, “that a man of your wealth and nobility should take a wife. Is there a woman you love more than the others?”

“Yes,” said King Arthur, “I love Guenever the king's daughter, King Leodegrance of the land of Cameliard who has the Round Table that he was my father Uther's. And this damsel is the most valiant and fairest lady that I know.”

“Sir,” said Merlin, “as for her beauty and fairness, she is one of the fairest women alive, but if you did not love her as you do, I would find you a damsel of equal beauty who would please you even more. But as a man's heart is set, he refuses to look elsewhere.”

“That is true,” said King Arthur.

But Merlin warned the king that Guenever was not wholesome for him to take to wife, for he warned that a knight to come, Sir Lancelot, who would love her and she him. And so he described the adventures of the Sangreal.

As King Arthur would not change his mind, Merlin suggested to the king that he should go to Cameliard to inquire about Guenever. The king agreed and Merlin went to King Leodegrance and told him of the king's desire that he take his daughter Guenever as his wife.

“These are great tidings,” said the king, “that a king of such prowess and nobility should wed my daughter. As for my lands, I will give him whatever he wishes, though I know he has lands aplenty and needs none. I will send him a gift that will please him more. I will give him the Table Round, which his father Uther Pendragon gave me, which when complete seats a hundred-fifty knights. I myself had a hundred good knights but over fifty have died during my time.”

And so Leodegrance delivered his daughter Guenever to Merlin along with the Table Round and a hundred knights. So they made their way to London by water and by land with great ceremony.

When King Arthur heard that Guenever had come with the hundred knights and the Table Round, he welcomed her with a rich present and greeted her saying, “This beautiful lady is welcome to me, for I have loved her long and there is nothing as dear to me as her. And these knights with the Round Table please me more than wealth and riches.”

“Now, Merlin,” said King Arthur, “go and find me fifty more knights of prowess and might.” In a short time, Merlin had found twenty-eight knights. Then the Bishop of Canterbury was fetched and he blessed the sieges, which is what the thrones of knights are called, with reverence and devotion, and the twenty-eight knights took their places on their seiges.

When this was done, Merlin said, “Fair sirs, you must all rise and do homage to King Arthur who will maintain you all.” So they arose and went to do homage to the king. While they were gone, Merlin wrote in letters of gold the name of each knight on the front of his seige.

Two thrones were empty. Soon young Gawaine asked the king for a gift.

“Ask,” said the king, “and I will give it to you.”

“Sir, I ask that you will make me a knight the same day you marry fair Guenever.”

“I will happy grant that to you,” said King Arthur, “as you are my beloved nephew, my sister's son.”

Chapter Two: The Coming of Tor

Soon after a poor man came to court and brought with him a fair young man of eighteen, riding a lean mare. The poor man asked all the men he met, “Where shall I find King Arthur?”

“Yonder he is,” said the knights, “what do you want with him?”

“He is why I came,” replied the poor man. So when he came before the king, he saluted him and said, “O King Arthur, flower of all the knights and king, I beseech Jesu to save you. Sir, it was told me that at the time of your marriage, you would give any man the gift that he asked for, unless it were unreasonable.”

“That is true,” said the king, “I will gladly give anything that would not impair my realm nor my estate.”

“Well said and graciously,” said the poor man. “Sir, I ask nothing more than you make my son here a knight.”

“It is a great thing you ask of me,” said the king. “What is your name?”

“Sir, my name is Aries the cowherd.”

“So is this something you desire or something your son wants?”

“No, sire, it is something my son wants. I have thirteen sons and all will do whatever labors I ask them, but this child will not labor for me, nor for anything my wife or I ask of him. He is always shooting or casting darts, wanting to see battles and watch knights, and day and knight he asked me to help him be made a knight.”

“What is your name?” asked the king of the young man.

“Sir, my name is Tor.”

The king looked him over and saw he was handsome and well-made for his youth.

“Well,” said King Arthur to the cowherd, “bring all your sons to me so that I can see them.”

And so the poor man did, and when they came they were all shaped much like the poor man. But Tor was not like any of them in shape or countenance, for he was better than all of them.

“Now,” said King Arthur to the cowherd, “where is the sword that he shall be made knight with?”

“It is here,” said Tor.

Turning to the young man, the king said, “Take it out the sheath and ask me to make you a knight.”

So Tor alit off his mare and pulled out his sword, kneeled before the king, and asked the king to make him a knight so that he could join the Table Round.”

“I make you a knight,” said the king and struck him on the neck with his sword, saying, “Be a good knight, and I pray to God you may be, and if you show you have prowess and worthiness, you shall be a knight of the Table Round.” Turning to Merlin, he asked, “Will this Tor be a good knight or no?”

“Yes, sir,” answered Merlin, “he will be a good knight for he is as good a man as any alive and of king's blood.”

“How is that possible?” asked the king.

“I will tell you,” replied Merlin. “This poor man, Aries the cowherd, is not his father. He is no kin of his, for King Pellinore is his father.”

“I don't believe it,” protested the poor man.

“Fetch your wife to me,” said Merlin, “and she will not say no.”

So the wife was fetched, a pretty housewife, and she answered Merlin's question.

“When I was a maid, I went to milk the cows and met a stern knight who forced himself on me and took my maidenhead. At that time he begat my son Tor. He took from me my greyhound that I had with me and said that he would keep the greyhound as a token of my love.”

“Ah,” said the cowherd, “I never knew this, but I do believe it for the boy has never showed any affection for me.”

“Sir,” said Tor to Merlin, “do not dishonor my mother.”

“Sir,” said Merlin, “this does more for your honor than hurt, for your father is a good man and a king, and he may well advance you and your mother, for you were begotten before she ever married.”

“That is true,” said the wife.

“It means less grief for me,” said the cowherd.

So on the morning that King Pellinore came to the court of King Arthur, who welcomed him with great joy, King Arthur told him of Tor, how he was his son, and how he had made him a knight at the request of the cowherd. When Pellinore saw Tor, he was very pleased with him.

So the king made Gawaine a knight, but Tor was the first he made at the feast.

“What is the reason,” asked King Arthur of Merlin, “that there are two places empty among the thrones?”

“Sir,” said Merlin, “no man will sit in those places for they are most holy. But in the Perlious Siege, no man may sit there except one, and if there be any foolish enough to try, he will be destroyed. He that sits there will have no equal.”

And then Merlin took King Pellinore by the hand, and in the seat next to the two empty thrones and the Perlious Seige he said in front of all, “Here is your place since you are more worthy to sit here than any man here.”

Sir Gawaine sat filled with envy and told Gaheris his brother, “It grieves me to see them honoring that knight who killed our father King Lot. I vow I will slay him with a sword that was sent to me.”

“Don't do it right now,” said Gaheris, “for I am only a squire. When I am made a knight we can both be avenged on him. Therefore brother, it is best that you wait until another time when he is out of the court, for we should now disrupt this high feast.”

“I will wait,” said Gawaine, “as you say.”

Chapter Three: The White Hart and the White Hound

Then the high feast was ready, and the king wedded at Camelot with great solemnity to Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen. And as every man was seated according to his importance, Merlin went to the all the knights of the Round Table, and bid them to sit in their place.

“For you shall see a strange and marvelous adventure,” said Merlin.

As they sat, a white hart came running into the hall chased by a white hound and thirty black hounds running after them barking loudly. As the hart ran around the Table Round, the white hound bit him on the rump, pulling out a piece. With a great leap, the hart knocked over a knight that sat on the opposite side, and the knight arose and took the hound and went out of the hall. He took his horse and followed the hounds.

Immediately a lady on a white horse came in and cried to King Arthur, “Sir, don't let me suffer this insult, for the white hound was mine that the knight stole it.”

“I may not help,” said the king.

With this there came a knight riding all in armor, on a great horse, and took the lady away with him by force while she cried and moaned. When she was gone, the king was glad, for she was very loud.

“No,” said Merlin, “you may not leave these adventures so easily, for these adventures must be completed, else it would disgrace you and your feast.”

“I will,” said Arthur, “follow your advice.”

“Then,” said Merlin, “call forth Sir Gawaine, for he must bring the white hart.”

“Alas, sir, you must call Sir Tor, for he must bring the white hound and the knight or else slay him. Also call King Pellinore, for he must bring the lady and the knight, or else slay him. And these three knights shall do marvelous deeds before they come again.”

Then were they all three called, and each took his charge and armed themselves. But Sir Gawaine had the first request, and we will begin with him.

Chapter Four: Sir Gawaine and the Quest of the White Hart

Sir Gawaine rode out with his brother Gaheris acting as his squire. As they rode, they saw two knights fight on horseback. Sir Gawaine and his brother rode between them and asked them why they were fighting. One knight answered, “We fight for a simple reason, for we two are brothers born and begotten of the same man and woman.”

“Alas,” said Gawaine, “why do you do so?”

“Sir,” said the elder, “there came a white hart this way and many hounds were chasing him, and there was a white hound always beside him. We were told it was an adventure made for the high feast of King Arthur and I would have gone after it to win it, but my younger brother said he would go after the hart, for he was a better knight than I. As we quarreled over which was the better.”

“Then do as I tell you,” said Sir Gawaine.

“We will follow your will; but by whom have you been sent?”

“Say by the knight that follows the quest of the white hart,” said Sir Gawine. “What is your name?”

“Sorlouse of the Forest,” said the elder.

“And I am called Brian of the Forest,” said the younger.

So they departed and went to the king's court while Sir Gawine continued on his quest. As Gawaine followed the hart by listening for the cry of the hounds, he came upon a great river over which the hart had swam. And as Sir Gawaine went to cross it, there stood a knight on the other side who said, “Sir Knight, do not follow this hart unless you would joust with me.”

“I will must follow my quest,” and had his horse swim over the water. As soon as they got their spears ready, they ran at each other. But Sir Gawaine knocked him off his horse and then turned his horse away and asked the knight to yield to him.

“No,” said the knight, “never, even though you have the better of me by being on horseback.”

“I pray you, valiant knight, dismount and we will fight each other with swords.”

“What is your name?” asked Sir Gawaine.

“Allardin of the Isles,” said the other.

Then they dressed their shields and struck at each other, but Sir Gawaine struck him so hard through the helmet that it went into the brains and the knight fell down dead.

“Ah!” said Gaheris, “that was a mighty stroke of a young knight.”

Then Gawaine and Gaheris rode further after the hart, and sent forth their pack of grey hounds which chased the hart into a castle and in the central hall of the castle they killed the hart. Sir Gawaine and Gaheris followed after. A knight came out of an adjoining chamber with a drawn sword in his hand with which he killed two of the greyhounds, as Sir Gawaine watched. The remainder he chased out of the castle. When he returned, he said, “O my white hart, I am sorry you are dead, for my sovereign lady gave you to me, and your death brings me pain while I live.” And he went into his chamber, armed himself and came out fiercely confronting Sir Gawaine.

“Why have you slain my hounds?” asked Sir Gawaine, “for they did only what their kind is bred to do and I would rather you had taken your angry out on me than on a dumb animal.”

“You speak true,” said the knight, “I have avenged myself on your hounds and now I will avenge myself on you.”

Sir Gawaine got down off his horse and dressed his shield, and they struck each other loudly, cleaving their shields and their helmets and breaking their hauberks until the blood ran down at their feet. At last, Sir Gawaine hit the knight so hard that he fell to the ground, crying mercy and yielding to him, asking him as he was a knight and gentleman to save his life.

“You shall die,” said Sir Gawaine, “for killing my hounds.”

“I will make amends,” said the knight “within my power.”

Sir Gawaine refused to show mercy and unlaced the man's helmet to cut off his head. Just as Gawaine raised his blade toward the man, his lady ran out of the chamber and threw herself on him, and so that he struck off her head by mistake.

“Alas,” said Gaheris, “that was a foul and shameful act, a shame you will never amend for. You should have shown mercy when I asked for mercy, for a knight without mercy is a knight without honor.” Sir Gawaine was so horrified by the death of this fair lady that he wished he had not done it and said to the knight, “Arise, I will give you mercy.”

“No, no,” said the knight, “I wish no mercy now for you have killed my love and my lady whom I loved above all earthly things.”

“I do totally repent it,” said Gawaine, “for I meant to strike you. Go now to King Arthur and tell him of these adventures and how you were overcome by the knight on the quest of the white hart.”

“I care not whether I live or die,” said the knight, but fearing death he swore to go to King Arthur and was made to bear one greyhound before him on his horse and one behind him.”

“What is your name before you leave?” asked Sir Gawaine.

“My name is,” said the knight, “Ablamar of the Marsh.”

So he departed to Camelot.

After he left, Sir Gawaine went into the castle and made ready to lie down there for the night. As he prepared to disarm himself, Gaheris stopped him.

“What,” asked Gaheris, “will you be unarmed in this country? I think you have many enemies here.”

No sooner had he said it than four well armed knights appeared and berated Sir Gawaine, saying “You new made knight, you have shamed all knighthood, for a knight without mercy is dishonorable. Also you have slain a fair lady, a shame that you will carry with you to the world's end. You will find yourself in great need of mercy before you leave us here.”

And one of the knights struck Sir Gawaine a great stroke so that he fell to the earth. Gaheris struck him, and so they were both on separate sides of Gawaine, and both were in danger of their lives. Then one with a bow, an archer, struck Sir Gawaine through the arm so that he was gravely wounded. And as the two were about to be slain, four beautiful ladies appeared and asked the knights to save Sir Gawaine. Sir Gawaine and Gaheris were given their lives and made to yield themselves as prisoners.

Gawine and Gaheris bemoaned their fate. “Alas!” said Sir Gawaine, “my arm is in great pain and I am surely maimed.”

Early the next morning, there came to Sir Gawaine one of the four ladies who had heard his complaining and said, “Sir Knight, what cheer?”

“Not good,” said he.

“It is your own fault,” said the lady, “for you have done a foul deed by slaying a lady, a villainy you will surely pay for. But are you not King Arthur's kin?”

“Yes, truly,” said Gawaine.

“What is your name?” asked the lady, “for you must tell me before I can let you pass.”

“My name is Gawaine, the King Lot of Orkney's son, and my mother is King Arthur's sister.”

“Ah! Then you are Arthur's nephew,” said the lady, “and I will speak for you that you may have safe conduct to go to King Arthur.”

And so she departed and told the four knights how their prisoner was King Arthur's nephew and his name was Sir Gawaine, King Lot's son of Orkney. And they gave him the hart's head because of his quest. Then they made Sir Gawine promise that he would also bear the dead lady with him in the following manner; her head would hang from about his neck while the rest of her body lay before him on his horse's mane.

So Sir Gawaine rode shamefully back to Camelot. And as he arrived, Merlin asked King Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be made to tell of his adventures and how he slew the lady and how he would give no mercy to a knight, which was how the lady was slain.

The king and the queen were greatly displeased with the news that Sir Gawaine had slayed a lady. The queen commanded that Sir Gawaine set out on a quest of ladies and they determined that while he lived he should be with ladies and should always fight their quarrels, and that ever he should be courteous and never refuse mercy to anyone who asked for mercy. Thus Gawaine swore upon the four Evangelists that he should never be against lady nor gentlewoman and would always fight for a lady. Thus ends the adventure of Sir Gawaine which he did at the marriage of King Arthur. Amen.

Chapter Five: Sir Tor and the Quest for the Knight with the White Hound

When Sir Tor was ready, he mounted his horse and rode after the knight with the white hound. As he rode, he met a dwarf who suddenly struck his horse on the head with a staff, which knocked the beast back a spear length.

“Why did you do that?” asked Sir Tor.

“So that you would not pass this way, unless you joust with yonder knights of the pavilions.”

Sir Tor looked and saw where two pavilions were, and great spears stood, and two shields hung on the trees by the pavilions.

“I may not tarry,” said Sir Tor, “for I am on a quest that I must needs follow.”

“You shall not pass,” said the dwarf and drew forth a horn which he blew.

Then there appeared on horseback, a knight who dressed his shield and came fast toward Tor. Tor quickly dressed himself and ran together. Tor knocked him from his horse. Then the knight yielded himself to his mercy.

“But, sir, I have a fellow in yonder pavilion who will face you now.”

“He is welcome to try,” said Sir Tor.

Then he saw another knight coming with great speed. The two dressed themselves, which was a marvel to see, but the knight struck Sir Tor such a great stroke in the midst of his shield that his spear shivered. And Sir Tor struck him below the shield so that it hit the armor of the knight, knocking him off his horse, but the stroke didn't kill him.

Sir Tor alit from his horse and struck a great blow to his helmet, whereby the knight yielded to him and asked him for mercy.

“I will do that,” said Sir Tor, “but you and your fellow must go to King Arthur and yield yourselves prisoners to him.”

“By whom shall we say we are sent?”

“You shall say by the knight that went on the quest of the knight that went with the white hound. Now what are your names?” asked Sir Tor.

“My name is Sir Felot of Langduk,” said one.

“And my name is Sir Petipase of Winchelsea.”

“Now go your way, “said Sir Tor, “and God speed you and me.”

The dwarf came and said to Sir Tor, “I pray you give me a gift.”

“I will,” said Sir Tor, “ask.”

“I ask no more,” said the dwarf, "but that you will take me into your service, for I will serve no cowardly knights.”

“Take a horse,” said Sir Tor, “and ride on with me.”

“I know you ride after the knight with the white hound, and I shall bring you to where he is,” said the dwarf.

And so they rode through a vast forest. At last they spied near a priory, two pavilions with two shields, one of white and the other of red. Sir Tor alit and took from the dwarf his spear. Coming to the white pavilion, he saw three damsels lying inside together on one pallet sleeping. So then he went to the other pavilion and found a single lady sleeping within, but the white hound bayed at his approach, and the lady ran out of her pavilion and the others came from theirs.

Sir Tor found the white hound and took her by force, leading her to the dwarf.

“What, will you take my white hound from me?” asked the lady.

“Yes,” said Sir Tor, "for this white hound I have sought from King Arthur's court.

“Well,” said the lady, “Knight, you shall not go far with her before you are met and find your grief.”

“I shall accept whatever adventure comes by the grace of God.” And so he mounted his horse and started toward Camelot. But soon night fell and he could go no further.

“Know you of any lodging around here?” asked Sir Tor of the dwarf.

“I know of none,” said the dwarf, "but there is a hermitage close and you might take lodging there, and there will be grass, oats and bread for the horses.”

Soon they arrived and they were greeted and fed their supper. They rested there the night until morn when they devoutly heard a mass and took their leave of the hermit. Sir Tor asked the hermit to pray for him. He said that he would and gave him a blessing.

So Sir Tor mounted upon horseback, carrying the white hound in front of him, and rode towards Camelot for a long while. They heard a knight call loud that rode after them, saying, “Knight, stop and give me my white hound which you took from my lady.”

Sir Tor saw that he was a handsome knight on a good horse and well armed. Sir Tor gave the dwarf the hound, dressed his shield and took his spear in hand as the other came fiercely upon him, striking both horse and man to the ground. They both rose and drew their swords as eagerly as lions, putting their shields in front them and striking sword to shield. Hot blood ran out from each helmet and the hauberks carved into the thick mail that protected them, sending hot blood running to the ground. Both had many wounds and were weary. Sir Tor saw that the other knight fainted and pinned him to the ground. Sir Tor commanded him to yield.

“That I will not,” said Abelleus, “while my life lasts and the soul is within my body unless you will give me the white hound.”

“That I can not do,” said Sir Tor, “for it was my quest to bring back the white hound, or you, or both.”

With that came a damsel riding on a small horse as fast as she could ride, crying in a loud voice to Sir Tor.

“What do you want with me?” asked Sir Tor.

“I beg you,” said the damsel, “for King Arthur's love, give me a gift. I believe you to be a gentle knight as you are also a gentleman.”

“Now,” said Tor, “ask a gift and I will give it to you.”

“Gramercy,” said the damsel. “I ask for the head of this false knight Abelleus, for he is the most villainous knight who ever lived, and the greatest murderer.”

“I am unwilling to give you that gift,” said Sir Tor. “Let him make amends for how he has wronged you.”

“That is impossible,” said the damsel, “for he slew my own brother before my very eyes, who was a better knight than he and had more grace. I kneeled half an hour before him in the mud begging him to save my brother's life, who had done him no damage, but he fought with him just for sport. And so for that I could strike off his head. If you are a true knight, give me my gift or else I will tell all of the court of King Arthur of your shame. For he is the falsest knight living and a great destroyer of good knights.”

When Abelleus heard this he was afraid and yielded to Sir Tor, begging for mercy.

“I may not give it now,” said Sir Tor, “for if I did I should be false toward my promise.”

And Abelleus took off his helmet, arose and fled. Sir Tor ran after him and struck off his head as he ran.

“Now sir,” said the damsel, “it is near night. I pray you come and lodge with me here at my place, which is close by.”

“I will,” said Sir Tor, for he and his horse had fared poorly since they had left Camelot. So he rode with her and found himself feeling in good spirits, for she was a beautiful woman who had an old knight for a husband who greeted both he and his horse. In the morning he heard his mass, broke his fast and took his leave of the knight and the lady who asked him to tell them his name.

“Truly,” he said, “my name is Sir Tor, who was recently made a knight, and this was the first quest of arms I have ever undertaken, to bring again what this knight Abelleus took away from King Arthur's court."

“O fair knight,” said the lady, “and you come here to our estate and see our poor lodging. It will always be at your command.”

So Sir Tor departed and come to Camelot on the third day by noon, and the king and the queen and all the court eagerly greeted his coming again, for he had gone from the court with little comfort, only an old hunting dog King Pellinore his father had given him and armor and a sword that King Arthur gave him as he rode forth alone. He returned in good spirits with a dwarf and the white hound. After he was rested, the king and the queen, upon Merlin's urging, made him tell them of his adventures. And so he told and showed proofs of his deeds, which delighted both the king and the queen.

“No, no,” said Merlin. “These are only minor tricks. He shall prove a noble knight of great prowess, as good as any living, and gentle and courteous, and of true to his promises.” With Merlin's praise, King Arthur gave Sir Tor an earldom of lands.

So ends the quest of Sir Tor, King Pellinore's son.

Chapter Six: King Pellinore and the Quest for the Lady Taken

When Sir Tor had set out on his quest, his father armed himself, mounted upon his horse, and rode after the lady that the knight led away. As he rode in the forest, he saw a valley where a damsel with fair yellow hair sitting by a well, cradling a wounded knight in her arms. Pellinore saluted her. When she saw him, she cried, “Help me, knight, for Christ's sake, King Pellinore” -- for she recognized him from his armor and shield.

But Pellinore would not stop, because he was eager to deal with his quest, so even as she implored him he ignored her.

When she saw he would not help her, she prayed to God to send him as much need of help as she had, and that he might feel it or die. So, as the French book tells us, the knight then died from his wounds, whereupon the lady out of sorrow threw herself upon his sword and died.

As King Pellinore continued through the valley, he met a poor man, a laborer.

“Have you seen,” asked Pellinore, “a knight riding, leading a lady behind his horse?”

“Indeed,” said the man, “I saw that knight and the lady was moaning and weeping. Yonder, beneath here is a valley where you will see two pavilions, and one of the knights of the pavilions challenged that lady. She said he was her close cousin and that he should take her no farther. So they waged battle in a quarrel. The one said he would take her by force; the other said he would take her as she was his kinsman and lead to her to her kin. I left them fighting. If you will ride that way, you will find them still fighting, and the lady left with two squires in the pavilions.”

“God thank you,” said King Pellinore. Then he rode quickly until the saw the two pavilions and the two knights fighting. When he came upon the pavilions, he saw the lady who was his quest and said, “Fair lady, you must go with me to the court of King Arthur.”

“Sir knight,” said one of the squires who was with her, “yonder are two knights who fight for this lady. Go fight them, and if you win, you may take her at your pleasure.”

“You speak well,” said King Pellinore who turned and rode between the two knights who were on foot and asked why they fought.

“Sir knight,” said one, “I shall tell you. This lady is my kinswoman, my aunt's daughter, and when I heard her complain that she was with him against her will, I waged battle on him.”

“Sir knight,” said the other, “My name is Hontzlake of Wentland, and this lady I got by my prowess of arms today at King Arthur's court.”

“That is untrue,” said King Pellinore, “for you came suddenly into the high feast and took away this lady before any man could stop you, and therefore it is my quest to bring her back again, and you too, else one of us should die here on this field. Therefore, the lady goes with me, or I will die trying, as I have promised King Arthur. Therefore stop this fight, for neither of you will have part of her at this time unless you fight me, her defender."

“Well,” said the knights, “make ready and we will see who is greater.”

And as King Pellinore made to turn his horse around, Sir Hontzlake drove his sword into the horse's side and the horse fell with the king.

“Now you are on foot as well as we are.”

When King Pellinore saw that his horse was slain, he leapt off the horse and pulled out his sword and drew his shield in front of him, saying “Knight, keep well your head, for you will pay for killing my horse.” And King Pellinore struck him such a blow to the helmet that he cleaved the head down to the chin and Hontzlake fell down dead.

He turned to the other knight and saw he was badly wounded. But when he saw the other's fortune, he refused to fight, but kneeled down and said, “Take my cousin, the lady, with you at your request, and promise as a true knight that you will cause no shame nor villainy to her.”

“What,” asked King Pellinore, “you will not fight for her?”

“No, sir,” said the knight, “I will not fight one with such prowess as you.”

“Well said,” said Pellinore, “I promise you she have no villainy by me, as I am a true knight; but now I have no horse, so I must take Hontzlake's horse.”

“You will not need it,” said the knight, “for I will give you a horse to please you if you will but lodge with me, at my pavilion.”

“That is good,” said King Pellinore, “I will stay with you the night.” And the knight welcomed him to his pavilion with good wine and a comfortable bed. The next morning after attending mass and breaking fast, the knight brought Pellinore a fair bay charger with King Pellinore's saddle upon him.

“What shall I call you” asked the knight, “inasmuch as you have my cousin as your quest?”

“My name is King Pellinore of the Isles and a Knight of the Table Round.”

“I am glad,” said the knight, “that such a noble man shall have rule of my cousin.”

“But what is your name?” asked Pellinore, “Pray, tell me.”

“Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logura, and this lady is my cousin Nimue, and the knight in the other pavilion is my sworn brother, a passing good knight named Brian of the Isles, and he hates doing wrong and loathes fighting with any man, but he will fight to wrong any shame.”

“It is a surprise,” said Pellinore, “that he will not have anything to do with me.”

“Sir, he will not have anything to do with other men unless he choses.”

“Bring him to the court one of these days,” said Pellinore.

“Sir, we will come together.”

“And you shall be very welcome,” said Pellinore, “to the court of King Arthur.”

And so he departed with the lady, and brought her to Camelot.

As they rose rode in the valley, it was full of stones, and there the lady's horse stumbled and it threw her down, so that her arm was sorely bruised and she almost fainted from pain.

“Alas! Sir,” cried the lady, “my arm feels broken. I must rest here.”

“We will,” said King Pellinore who alit from off his horse under a fair tree by long grass. He let his horse graze and he laid down under the tree and slept until it was full night. The moon awoke him, and he would have ridden then, but the lady cautioned him.

“Sir,” said the lady, “it is so dark, that you may well go backwards than forwards. Let us wait till daylight.”

So they lay under the tree to make their bed. Sir Pellinore took off his armor. A little before midnight, they heard the trotting of a horse.

“Be still,” said King Pellinore, “for we shall hear of some adventure.” And he drew his sword.

Right before them met two knights, one from Camelot and the other from the north. They saluted each other.

“What tidings at Camelot?” asked one.

“By my head,” said the other, “there I have just been and spied on the court of King Arthur. There is such a feeling of fellowship that will not be broken, and it seems all the world holds Arthur as the flower of chivalry.”

“The reason I ride to the north is to tell our chieftains of the fellowship that Arthur commands.”

“As for that,” said the other knight, “I have a remedy with me which is the greatest poison you have ever heard tell of, and I go to Camelot to take it to a friend we have near King Arthur, who is well cherished by him, and who will the king; for he has promised our chieftains to do this in return for great gifts.”

“Beware,” said the other knight, “of Merlin, for he knows all things by the devil's craft.”

“I will not let him know of it,” said the knight.

And so they parted.

Quickly Pellinore made ready and with his lady rode toward Camelot. As morning dawned, they came near the well where the wounded knight was and his lady, he found the body of the knight but the lady had been eaten by lions or wild beasts, all save her head. King Pellinore got off his horse and felt great sorrow and wept bitter tears, saying, “Alas! Your life I might have saved had I not been so stubborn regarding my quest.”

“Why do you weep so?” asked the lady.

“My heart mourns the death of her, a passing fair and young lady.”

“Will you follow my advice?” asked the lady. "Take this knight and let him be buried in a hermitage, and then take the lady's head and bear it with you to Arthur.”

So King Pellinore took the dead knight on his shoulders and took him to the hermitage, and charged the hermit with the corpse, that service should be done for the soul. “Take his harness for your pains,” he instructed him.

“It shall be done,” said the hermit, “or I will answer to God”

And then they departed and King Pellinore grieved for the lady of the fair yellow hair, and he cast his heart on her fair face.

By noon, they came to Camelot; and the king and the queen were glad to see him arrive. And there he was made to swear upon the four Evangelists to tell the truth of his quest from one to the other.

“Ah! Sir Pellinore,” said Queen Guenever, “you were greatly at fault that you failed to save this woman's life.”

“Madam,” said Pellinore, “I was so intent upon my quest for you that I did not think. And that I shall repent all the rest of my life.”

“Truly,” said Merlin, “you ought to repent it, for that lady was your own daughter, begotten on the lady of the Rule, and that knight beside her was her love, who should have wedded her. He was a good knight and a fine young man who would have proved a good man. He was on his way to this court, and his name was Sir Miles of the Launds. A knight came behind him and slew him with a spear. His name was Loraine le Savage, a false knight and a coward. She found him in great sorrow and slew herself with his sword. Her name was Eleine. And because you would not help her, you will see your best friend fail you when you are in your greatest distress. And that penance God has ordained you for that deed, that you the person you most trust among the living will leave you where you will be slain.”

“I think this will be soon, but God alone knows my destiny.”

Thus, when the quest was done of the white hart, which Sir Gawaine followed; and the quest of the white hound, followed by Sir Tor, Pellinore's son; and the quest of the lady that the knight took away, which King Pellinore followed; then the king established all his knights and gave those who were without land, lands, and charged them never to do murder nor treason; nor be cruel but always give mercy, upon the pain of forfeiture of their lordship from King Arthur; and always to bring ladies, damsels, and gentlewomen relief, upon the pain of death. Also no man was to take battle in a wrongful quarrel neither for law nor goods. All the knights swore to this at the Table Round, both old and young. And every year they were sworn at the high feast of Pentecost.

End of Book III and the Wedding of King Arthur

To be continued

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Book I

Book II

Book III