Back to top

Stanzaic Morte Arthur, Part 2

STANZAIC MORTE ARTHUR: FOOTNOTES

1 From which his armor was nobly (gentylly) fashioned (shore)

2 He does not keep to the high (main) road

3 And since he wants no one to know it

4 At that time it was the custom that, / When young knights were to show their shields for the first time, / They should bear arms all of one color (without any heraldic device) / Until the first year had passed

5 She was most often seen weeping, / So firmly was her heart set

6 He knew well by other signs in addition to her weeping

7 Do not make yourself sick for my sake

8 When they came alone by themselves (those two alone)

9 And then he told them about his amusements

10 Never a greater wonder did it seem to me

11 Even if by doing so he could have won the whole world

12 Sir, would it be your desire not to conceal it

13 That "My (wound) will be seen forevermore!"

14 And tell her not to long sorely for me

15 If only my husband knew this quickly!

16 That I ever had life in this nation (was ever born)!

17 Until I am clasped in cold clay (dead and buried)

18 May she never be so dear to you / That you give up performing deeds of arms; / Since I must remain alone in sorrow, / I would at least like to hear of your deeds of prowess

19 To amuse himself [he went] into the forest, / Which was in flower and had wide branches overhead

20 Adventures will begin very soon

21 I would like to know about her family lineage

22 I would very much like to know the cause

23 Then they wanted to know what it said

24 Though they searched out all the nobleness in the world

25 When I said that he belonged / To a lady or to some other maid

26 That he would not waste his love / In so low a place (a mere maiden) / But would rather love some noble and gay lady

27 He did not want her, as we can well see, / And therefore, that maiden, as white as a swan, is dead

28 I believe he never wronged you so much / That you ought so unjustly / To lie about him so churlishly

29 And, sir, you do not know right wisely (realize) / What harm has and could yet come from what you said

30 Madame, how can you come to us / When you yourself know so well

31 May You save and care for Launcelot

32 There is not one who would have refused this battle / Before her behavior became criminal

33 That he might grant him (Bors) success, / Give him the grace to win the battle

34 You who accuse her of treason, / Quickly see that you are ready to fight

35 Neither would flee nor advance one foot

36 One among all the squires there admitted

37 Of all the nights that you have gone to her, / None ever bothered me in any way / Or made my heart so sick / As this one does tonight

38 He had absolutely no fear of treason (betrayal); / He supposed there was no man on earth / Who would dare attempt to do him harm

39 I know that this news will be widely told

40 Can it be that Gahariet is dead and away from me?

41 Nothing but good ails Gahariet (he is all right)

42 prove [the accusation] false

43 Even if he could not prove it, he would slay some of my men

44 Unless no steel (sword) will go in him

45 Although their great sorrow was for the knight that was dead and away from them

46 Let not my lord (Arthur) be in the field of battle / And see that you yourself do not fight with me

47 And yet he rode about as fast as he could / To see that no man should be slain

48 He would place the land under interdict

49 Until one has sought (with a sword) the other's heart

50 [To see] on the field [of battle] who should have the prize

51 Nay, you may never expect reconciliation

52 Where the men were most eager to stay

53 And knelt and kissed Launcelot's foot and hand / And acknowledged him to be their lord, / And (promised) to obey his decrees / And to heed his laws

54 Arthur would not submit for lack of courage

55 With knobs on the tent poles bright as golden rings

56 Like a knight who was wise in his armor

57 She was very eager to succeed by (means of) her speech

58 That we shall turn aside for no obstacle

59 Each one arranged himself correctly (for battle)

60 But he had no sooner realized that attack, / Than out all his knights rushed

61 Gawain protected himself as he well knows how

62 He lacked not a bit of equipment; / He lacked no garment (armor) for war

63 Until one of them was dead or had surrendered

64 And yet, if you would come near me

65 Because of love (for you) and because you are the king's kinsman

66 Hardly any life remained in him

67 Launcelot proved he knew about war

68 So that she and her maidens could be clad [in new clothes for the wedding]

69 You can be sure it will be paid for

70 Do you expect to forbid me my desire?

71 Therefore he will not stop his evil deeds

72 Which he liked best to dwell in

73 But by the time that perilous battle was ended

74 And stirred the blood and bones of knights

75 Driven through with bright swords

76 They made a mound over each body, / So that all that ever walk or ride by / Might know some of them by their markers (on the mounds)

77 He went ever forth by the south side (of England)

78 And each (of the fiends) caught him by a limb

79 Like a troubled man with a disturbed mind

80 I have been beset by strong (painful) dreams

81 And try to set another day (for the battle), / Or truly this day I must be put to shame

82 By the time all (blows) are dealt on this down

83 And certainly, if we fail to keep our promises, / Let Arthur leap upon a steed

84 Let broad banners be brought forth (as a signal to attack)

85 But they lowered their spears; rushed

86 And fiercely they began to test each other

87 They robbed them of Byzantine coins, brooches, and rings

88 And, you can be sure, it must be paid for

89 You have been too long away from medical attention

90 Whatever may happen to us in this land (as we go) / To hear what lord has lost his life, / See that you do not rush to ride out (to help us)

91 Like one who did not know good from evil (in a daze)

92 Our desire (passion) has been too painfully bought and paid for

93 We must be determined to abstain / From what we once delighted in

94 He who saw that sorrow could tell of it forever

95 knew not evil from (i.e., in a daze)

96 Once I pledged my word to that; / Alas, I repent that I did so!

97 And cleansed himself of his sins by confession

98 Because they were all in a religious ecstasy, / They neither knew him nor did he know them

99 When they closely embrace that fair one (Ector, Bors' brother)

100 He wanted very much to know who this corpse was

101 But decided to dwell with them all and lead his life there

STANZAIC MORTE ARTHUR: NOTES

In the textual notes, corrections and emendations made by J. D. Bruce (see Bibliography) are accepted without comment. Additional changes made by Larry D. Benson in the edition on which this volume is based (see Preface to the Revised Edition) are indicated: Be.
Explanatory notes are Benson's, either verbatim or with minor changes to fit the format of this revision. Additional explanatory material is cited as follows:

F: Edward E. Foster, editor of this revision
M: Charles and Ruth Moorman, An Arthurian Dictionary. Oxford, Mississippi: University of Mississippi Press, 1978.
OED: Oxford English Dictionary

1 Lordinges: a familiar form of address for the audience at the beginning of romances. See, e.g., Havelok and the Pardoner's address to the other pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales. It implies nothing about the social status of the audience. (F)

152 The convention noted in lines 147-152 was not the case in actual life.

284 brown: the word is used in the sense of "shining, gleaming, or burnished" only with regard to swords or steel. (F)

309 MS hitte: hit him. (Be)

hood: "The part of a suit of armor that covers the head; applied to the helmet itself, or to a flexible head-covering inside the helmet" (OED).

361 The stanza beginning at 361 has only seven lines as does the stanza beginning at 1483; the stanza beginning at 3678 has only four lines; the stanzas beginning at 1176, 1318, 1490, 1920, 2318, 2716, 3130, and 3416 have only six lines. Nothing seems lost to the sense by these omissions or variations, although the six line stanzas beginning at 1176 and 1318 are at the beginning and end of the long gap in the MS.

457 The boards are set on trestles to form tables. Permanently assembled tables were still rare at this time.

603 Launcelotes sheld du Lake: Launcelot du Lake's shield. The inflectional ending is placed on the primary noun rather than on the last word of the noun phrase. The construction was disappearing in the fourteenth century but can be observed in Chaucer's "Wyves Tale of Bath" ("Wife of Bath's Tale"). (F)

764 Cross and Rood. The redundancy perhaps implies urgency. Benson notes, however, that the expression Cross on (or and) Rood is frequently used in this poem; the word cross is probably a metathesis of cors - body, as in line 2880, where Cors on Rood does appear.

840 No reason is provided as to why the squire wishes to poison Gawain and, within the narrative conventions of romance, none is needed: our interest is in what the effects will be for Guinevere. (F)

916 Guinevere has two choices: to be "defended" in combat or be tried by a group of the knights. She knows that if the latter occurs she is doomed.

1105 ender (Be). MS: [yogh]ender.

1350 Cross on Rood. See note to line 764.

1377 aguilte (Be). MS: gilte.

1396 Identical to line 1380.

1414 A missing line is provided here by Furnivall's conjecture, accepted by Br and Be. (F)

1472 Sometimes blake has the meaning white and Be glosses it thus. I think, however, that it is more likely that Lancelot is dressed in black and the more ordinary meaning can stand. (F)

1617-18 Compare Priamus's words to Gawain in the Alliterative Morte Arthure, lines 2646-49.

1831 hauberk: "Originally intended for the defense of the neck and shoulders; but already in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries developed into a long coat of mail, or military tunic, usually of ring or chain mail, which adapted itself readily to the motions of the body" (OED).

1951 The smock is a loose, usually white, simple sleeveless dress over which the other garments were put; the counterpart of a modern slip, though it would usually show beneath the vest, sleeves, cloaks, and such that were put over it.

2025 Launcelot apparently thinks Gaheriet fought against him.

2052 Launcelot offers to take part in a judicial duel of the sort he previously fought to prove Guenevere's innocence of the charge of poisoning.

2253 A papal interdict would deny the sacraments of the Church to everyone in the country.

2305 Benwick is Bayonne (or Beune), a city in southwestern France. See Alliterative Morte Arthure, line 587. (F)

2345 Joyous Gard then they (Be). MS: Ioyus gard the they. Joyous Gard is Lancelot's castle (fortress) in Northern England. (F)

2361 The heathen nations are in the Orient, from which silk came.

2466 Caerleon, in South Wales on the River Usk near the Bristol Channel, was one of the chief Arthurian cities. See Alliterative Morte Arthure, note to line 61. (F)

2639 The phrase wise . . . under weed has little real meaning and conveys only the idea of a "good knight."

2837 Gawain is Arthur's nephew.

2934 oute. Br reads cute.

2954 That false traitour, applied here to Mordred, is a commonplace epithet for Satan, who led the rebellion against God. (F)

2955 Mordred was the product of an incestuous union between Arthur and his own sister. Though little is made of it in this poem, Arthur's fall is partly a consequence of his own sin.

2957 The motif of the false steward, who evilly abuses his stewardship, is a familiar literary and folk motif. (F)

2960 Thus Mordred intends to commit incest, made worse since Guenevere is also his father's wife. (Compare line 2987.)

3121 his (Be). MS: hye.

3160 The Feast of the Trinity is the first Sunday after Pentecost.

3179 Besaunt: a coin of Byzantine origin, sometimes used as ornamental jewelry. (F)

3357 fewtered: placed spears against the "fewter," the spear rest on the saddle, into which the spear would be placed when the knight prepared to attack.

3376 Brutus. MS: Britain. Be notes the error but does not emend (F). Brutus is the legendary hero who, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain (Book I), conquered what is now England from a race of giants and founded the nation to which he gave his name.

3413 names seven. The number seven commonly signifies a totality. Thus the seven names implies all the names of Jesus. But traditions reaching far back into the rabbinical commentaries often, in fact, identify seven specific names for God. According to The Jewish Encyclopedia, "The number of divine names that require the scribe's special care is seven: El, Elohim, Adonai, YHWH, Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, Shaddai, and Zeba'ot" (9, 163). The seven names of the Lord are also referred to in The Second Shepherd's Play (lines 190-91), where Mak says: "Now lord, for thy naymes sevyn, that made both moyn and starnes /Well mo then I can neuen thi will, lorde, of me tharnys [is unclear]." See also Brian P. Copenhaver, "Names of God," in A Dictionary of Biblical Traditions in English Literature, ed. David Lyle Jeffrey (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1992), pp. 535-37, who notes more than one hundred and fifty substitute names for God and, in the New Testament, more than forty names and titles for Jesus.

3504 Possibly Morgan le Fay, Arthur's half-sister. Although often antagonistic to Arthur and Guenevere, she often helps heal Arthurian knights and assists in transporting Arthur to Avalon. (M)

3507 leching. In the fourteenth century, leeching had no necessary connection with the therapeutic application of leeches. It means simply "medical care" from OE laece, to heal.

3569 Aumsbury: Almesbury (or Amesbury): a town in Wiltshire where Guenevere retreats to a convent after Arthur's death. (M, F)

3628 nun (Be). MS: man.

3709 black and white (Be). MS: whyte and blak.

3759 The "recent events" are Mordred's treachery and Arthur's death.

3815 ring a bell (Be). MS: a bell ring.

3862 received in this line refers to receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, after having been forgiven (shriven) one's sins.

3896 fifth (Be). MS: fyfty.
 
   
   
   
1470   
   
   
   
   
   
1475   
   
   
   
   
1480   
   
   
   
   
   
1485   
   
   
   
   
   
1490   
   
   
   
   
1495   
   
   
   
   
   
1500   
   
   
   
   
   
1505   
   
   
   
   
1510   
   
   
   
   
   
1515   
   
   
   
   
   
1520   
   
   
   
   
1525   
   
   
   
   
   
1530   
   
   
   
   
1535   
   
   
   
   
   
1540   
   
   
   
   
   
1545   
   
   
   
   
1550   
   
   
   
   
   
1555   
   
   
   
   
   
1560   
   
   
   
   
1565   
   
   
   
   
   
1570   
   
   
   
   
1575   
   
   
   
   
   
1580   
   
   
   
   
   
1585   
   
   
   
   
1590   
   
   
   
   
   
1595   
   
   
   
   
   
1600   
   
   
   
   
1605   
   
   
   
   
   
1610   
   
   
   
   
1615   
   
   
   
   
   
1620   
   
   
   
   
   
1625   
   
   
   
   
1630   
   
   
   
   
   
1635   
   
   
   
   
   
1640   
   
   
   
   
1645   
   
   
   
   
   
1650   
   
   
   
   
1655   
   
   
   
   
   
1660   
   
   
   
   
   
1665   
   
   
   
   
1670   
   
   
   
   
   
1675   
   
   
   
   
   
1680   
   
   
   
   
1685   
   
   
   
   
   
1690   
   
   
   
   
1695   
   
   
   
   
   
1700   
   
   
   
   
   
1705   
   
   
   
   
1710   
   
   
   
   
   
1715   
   
   
   
   
   
1720   
   
   
   
   
1725   
   
   
   
   
   
1730   
   
   
   
   
1735   
   
   
   
   
   
1740   
   
   
   
   
   
1745   
   
   
   
   
1750   
   
   
   
   
   
1755   
   
   
   
   
   
1760   
   
   
   
   
1765   
   
   
   
   
   
1770   
   
   
   
   
1775   
   
   
   
   
   
1780   
   
   
   
   
   
1785   
   
   
   
   
1790   
   
   
   
   
   
1795   
   
   
   
   
   
1800   
   
   
   
   
1805   
   
   
   
   
   
1810   
   
   
   
   
1815   
   
   
   
   
   
1820   
   
   
   
   
   
1825   
   
   
   
   
1830   
   
   
   
   
   
1835   
   
   
   
   
   
1840   
   
   
   
   
1845   
   
   
   
   
   
1850   
   
   
   
   
1855   
   
   
   
   
   
1860   
   
   
   
   
   
1865   
   
   
   
   
1870   
   
   
   
   
   
1875   
   
   
   
   
   
1880   
   
   
   
   
1885   
   
   
   
   
   
1890   
   
   
   
   
1895   
   
   
   
   
   
1900   
   
   
   
   
   
1905   
   
   
   
   
1910   
   
   
   
   
   
1915   
   
   
   
   
   
1920   
   
   
   
   
1925   
   
   
   
   
   
1930   
   
   
   
   
   
1935   
   
   
   
   
1940   
   
   
   
   
   
1945   
   
   
   
   
   
1950   
   
   
   
   
1955   
   
   
   
   
   
1960   
   
   
   
   
1965   
   
   
   
   
   
1970   
   
   
   
   
   
1975   
   
   
   
   
1980   
   
   
   
   
   
1985   
   
   
   
   
   
1990   
   
   
   
   
1995   
   
   
   
   
   
2000   
   
   
   
   
2005   
   
   
   
   
   
2010   
   
   
   
   
   
2015   
   
   
   
   
2020   
   
   
   
   
   
2025   
   
   
   
   
   
2030   
   
   
   
   
2035   
   
   
   
   
   
2040   
   
   
   
   
2045   
   
   
   
   
   
2050   
   
   
   
   
   
2055   
   
   
   
   
2060   
   
   
   
   
   
2065   
   
   
   
   
   
2070   
   
   
   
   
2075   
   
   
   
   
   
2080   
   
   
   
   
2085   
   
   
   
   
   
2090   
   
   
   
   
   
2095   
   
   
   
   
2100   
   
   
   
   
   
2105   
   
   
   
   
   
2110   
   
   
   
   
2115   
   
   
   
   
   
2120   
   
   
   
   
2125   
   
   
   
   
   
2130   
   
   
   
   
   
2135   
   
   
   
   
2140   
   
   
   
   
   
2145   
   
   
   
   
   
2150   
   
   
   
   
2155   
   
   
   
   
   
2160   
   
   
   
   
2165   
   
   
   
   
   
2170   
   
   
   
   
   
2175   
   
   
   
   
2180   
   
   
   
   
   
2185   
   
   
   
   
   
2190   
   
   
   
   
2195   
   
   
   
   
   
2200   
   
   
   
   
2205   
   
   
   
   
   
2210   
   
   
   
   
   
2215   
   
   
   
   
2220   
   
   
   
   
   
2225   
   
   
   
   
   
2230   
   
   
   
   
2235   
   
   
   
   
   
2240   
   
   
   
   
2245   
   
   
   
   
   
2250   
   
   
   
   
   
2255   
   
   
   
   
2260   
   
   
   
   
   
2265   
   
   
   
   
   
2270   
   
   
   
   
2275   
   
   
   
   
   
2280   
   
   
   
   
2285   
   
   
   
   
   
2290   
   
   
   
   
   
2295   
   
   
   
   
2300   
   
   
   
   
   
2305   
   
   
   
   
   
2310   
   
   
   
   
2315   
   
   
   
   
   
2320   
   
   
   
   
   
2325   
   
   
   
   
2330   
   
   
   
   
   
2335   
   
   
   
   
   
2340   
   
   
   
   
2345   
   
   
   
   
   
2350   
   
   
   
   
2355   
   
   
   
   
   
2360   
   
   
   
   
   
2365   
   
   
   
   
2370   
   
   
   
   
   
2375   
   
   
   
   
   
2380   
   
   
   
   
2385   
   
   
   
   
   
2390   
   
   
   
   
2395   
   
   
   
   
   
2400   
   
   
   
   
   
2405   
   
   
   
   
2410   
   
   
   
   
   
2415   
   
   
   
   
   
2420   
   
   
   
   
2425   
   
   
   
   
   
2430   
   
   
   
   
2435   
   
   
   
   
   
2440   
   
   
   
   
   
2445   
   
   
   
   
2450   
   
   
   
   
   
2455   
   
   
   
   
   
2460   
   
   
   
   
2465   
   
   
   
   
   
2470   
   
   
   
   
2475   
   
   
   
   
   
2480   
   
   
   
   
   
2485   
   
   
   
   
2490   
   
   
   
   
   
2495   
   
   
   
   
   
2500   
   
   
   
   
2505   
   
   
   
   
   
2510   
   
   
   
   
2515   
   
   
   
   
   
2520   
   
   
   
   
   
2525   
   
   
   
   
2530   
   
   
   
   
   
2535   
   
   
   
   
   
2540   
   
   
   
   
2545   
   
   
   
   
   
2550   
   
   
   
   
2555   
   
   
   
   
   
2560   
   
   
   
   
   
2565   
   
   
   
   
2570   
   
   
   
   
   
2575   
   
   
   
   
   
2580   
   
   
   
   
2585   
   
   
   
   
   
2590   
   
   
   
   
2595   
   
   
   
   
   
2600   
   
   
   
   
   
2605   
   
   
   
   
2610   
   
   
   
   
   
2615   
   
   
   
   
   
2620   
   
   
   
   
2625   
   
   
   
   
   
2630   
   
   
   
   
2635   
   
   
   
   
   
2640   
   
   
   
   
   
2645   
   
   
   
   
2650   
   
   
   
   
   
2655   
   
   
   
   
   
2660   
   
   
   
   
2665   
   
   
   
   
   
2670   
   
   
   
   
2675   
   
   
   
   
   
2680   
   
   
   
   
   
2685   
   
   
   
   
2690   
   
   
   
   
   
2695   
   
   
   
   
   
2700   
   
   
   
   
2705   
   
   
   
   
   
2710   
   
   
   
   
2715   
   
   
   
   
   
2720   
   
   
   
   
   
2725   
   
   
   
   
   
2730   
   
   
   
   
2735   
   
   
   
   
   
2740   
   
   
   
   
2745   
   
   
   
   
   
2750   
   
   
   
   
   
2755   
   
   
   
   
2760   
   
   
   
   
   
2765   
   
   
   
   
As they came by the forest side,
   Their orisons for to make,
The noblest knight then saw they ride
   That ever was in erthe shape;
His loreme lemed all with pride;
   Steed and armour all was blake;
His name is nought to hele and hide:
   He hight Sir Launcelot du Lake!
   
What wonder was though they were blithe,
   When they their master see with sight!
On knees fell they as swithe,
   And thanked all to God All-might.
Joy it was to here and lithe
   The meeting of the noble knight;
And after he asked also swithe:
   "How now fares my lady bright?"
   
Bors then told him all the right,
   It was no lenger for to hide,
How there died a Scottish knight,
   At the mete the queen beside:
"Today, sir, is her deth all dight,
   It may no lenger be to bide,
And I for her have take the fight.
   
"Sir Mador, strong though that he be,
   I hope he shall well prove his might."
"To the court now wend ye three
   And recomfort my lady bright;
But look ye speke no word of me;
   I will come as a strange knight."
   
Launcelot, that was mikel of might,
   Abides in the forest green;
To the courte went these other knightes
   For to recomfort the queen.
To make her glad with all their might
   Grete joy they made them between;
For-why she ne sholde drede no wight,
   Of good comfort they bade her ben.
   
Bordes were set and clothes spredde;
   The king himself is gone to sit;
The queen is to the table led,
   With cheekes that were wan and wet;
Of sorrow were they never unsad;
   Might they neither drink ne ete;
The queen of dethe was sore adredde,
   That grimly teres gan she let.
   
And as they were at the thridde mese,
   The king and all the court bydene,
Sir Mador all redy was,
   With helm and sheld and hauberk sheen;
Among them all before the dese,
   He bloweth out upon the queen
To have his right withouten lees,
   As were the covenantes them between.
   
The king looked on all his knightes;
   Was he never yet so wo;
Saw he never on him dight
   Against Sir Mador for to go.
Sir Mador swore by Goddes might,
   As he was man of herte thro,
But yif he hastely have his right
   Among them all he sholde her slo.
   
Then spake the king of mikel might,
   That ay was courtais and hende:
"Sir, let us ete and sithen us dight;
   This day nis not yet gone to the end.
Yet might there come such a knight,
   Yif Goddes will were him to send,
To finde thee thy fill of fight
   Ere the sun to grounde wend.
   
Bors then lough on Lionel;
   Wiste no man of their hertes word;
His chamber anon he wendes til,
   Withoute any other word,
Armed him at all his will,
   With helm and hauberk, spere and sword;
Again then comes he full still
   And set him down to the borde.
   
The teres ran on the kinges knee
   For joy that he saw Bors adight;
Up he rose with herte free
   And Bors in armes clippes right,
And said: "Bors, God foryeld it thee,
   In this need that thou wolde fight;
Well acquitest thou it me
   That I have worshipped any knight!"
   
Then as Sir Mador loudest spake
   The queen of tresoun to becall,
Comes Sir Launcelot du Lake,
   Ridand right into the hall.
His steed and armour all was blake,
   His visor over his eyen fall;
Many a man began to quake;
   Adrede of him nigh were they all.
   
Then spake the king, mikel of might,
   That hende was in ich a sithe:
"Sir, is it your will to light,
   Ete and drink and make you blithe?"
Launcelot spake as a strange knight:
   "Nay, sir," he said as swithe,
"I herde tell here of a fight;
   I come to save a ladyes life.
   
"Ivel hath the queen beset her deedes
   That she hath worshipped many a knight,
And she hath no man in her needes
   That for her life dare take a fight.
Thou that her of tresoun gredes 34
   Hastely that thou be dight;
Out of thy wit though that thou wedes,
   Today thou shalt prove all thy might."
   
Then was Sir Mador also blithe
   As fowl of day after the night;
To his steed he went that sithe,
   As man that was of muche might.
To the feld then ride they swithe;
   Them followes both king and knight,
The batail for to see and lithe;
   Saw never no man stronger fight!
   
Unhorsed were bothe knightes keen,
   They metten with so muche main,
And sithe they fought with swordes keen.
   Both on foot, the sooth to sayn.
In all the batailes that Launcelot had been,
   With hard acountres him again,
In pointe had he never been
   So nigh-hand for to have been slain.
   
There was so wonder strong a fight,
   O foot nolde nouther flee ne found, 35
From lowe noon til late night,
   But given many a woful wound.
Launcelot then gave a dint with might;
   Sir Mador falles at last to ground;
"Mercy!" cries that noble knight,
   For he was seke and sore unsound.
   
Though Launcelot were breme as bore,
   Full sternely he gan up stand;
O dint wolde he smite no more;
   His sword he threw out of his hand.
Sir Mador by God then swore:
   "I have fought in many a land,
With knightes both less and more,
   And never yet ere my match I fand;
   
"But, Sir, a prayer I wolde make,
   For thing that ye love most on life,
And for Our Sweete Lady sake,
   Your name that ye wolde me kithe."
Launcelot gan his visor up take,
   And hendely him shewed that sithe;
When he saw Sir Launcelot du Lake,
   Was never man on molde so blithe.
   
"Lord," then said he, "Wele is me,
   Mine avauntement that I may make
That I have stande one dint of thee,
   And foughten with Launcelot du Lake;
My brothers deth forgiven be
   To the queen for thy sake."
Launcelot him kist with herte free,
   And in his armes gan him up take.
   
King Arthur then loude spake
   Among his knightes to the queen:
"Ya, yonder is Launcelot du Lake,
   Yif I him ever with sight have seen!"
They riden and ronne then for his sake,
   The king and all his knightes keen;
In his armes he gan him take;
   The king him kist and court bydene.
   
Then was the queene glad ynow,
   When she saw Launcelot du Lake,
That nigh for joy she fell in swough,
   But as the lordes her gan up take.
The knightes alle wept and loughe
   For joy as they togeder spake;
With Sir Mador, withouten wo,
   Full soon acordement gonne they make.
   
It was no lenger for to abide
   But to the castle they rode as swithe,
With trompes and with mikel pride,
   That joy it was to here and lithe;
Though Sir Mador might not go ne ride,
   To the court is he brought that sithe,
And knightes upon ich a side
   To make him both glad and blithe.
   
The squiers then were taken all,
   And they are put in harde pain,
Which that had served in the hall
   When the knight was with poisun slain.
There he graunted among them all 36
   (It might no lenger be to laine)
How in an apple he did the gall,
   And had it thought to Sir Gawain.
   
When Sir Mador herde all the right,
   That no guilt had the lady sheen,
For sorrow he lost main and might
   And on knees fell before the queen.
Launcelot then him held up right,
   For love that was them between;
He kist both king and knight
   And sithen all the court bydene.
   
The squier then was done to shende,
   As it was bothe law and right,
Drawen and honged and for-brende,
   Before Sir Mador, the noble knight.
In the castel they gonne forth lende,
   The Joyous Gard then was it hight;
Launcelot, that was so hende,
   They honoured him with all their might.
   
A time befell, sooth to sayn,
   The knightes stood in chamber and spake,
Both Gaheriet and Sir Gawain,
   And Mordred, that mikel couthe of wrake,
"Alas!" then said Sir Agravain,
   "How false men shall we us make?
How long shall we hele and laine
   The tresoun of Launcelot du Lake?
   
"Well we wote, withouten ween,
   The king Arthur our eme sholde be,
And Launcelot lies by the queen;
   Again the king traitour is he,
And that wote all the court bydene,
   And iche day it here and see;
To the king we sholde it mene,
   Yif ye will do by the counsel of me."
   
"Well wote we," said Sir Gawain,
   "That we are of the kinges kin,
And Launcelot is so mikel of main
   That suche wordes were better blinne.
Well wot thou, brother Agravain,
   Thereof sholde we but harmes win;
Yet were it better to hele and laine
   Than war and wrake thus to begin.
   
"Well wot thou, brother Agravain,
   Launcelot is hardy knight and thro;
King and court had oft been slain
   Nadde he been better than we mo,
And sithen might I never sayn
   The love that has been between us two;
Launcelot shall I never betrayn,
   Behind his back to be his fo.
   
"Launcelot is kinges son full good,
   And thereto hardy knight and bold,
And sithen, and him need bestood,
   Many a land wolde with him hold.
Shed there sholde be mikel blood
   For this tale, yif it were told;
Sir Agravain, he were full wode,
   That such a thing beginne wolde."
   
Then thus-gates as the knightes stood,
   Gawain and all the other press,
In come the king with milde mood;
   Gawain then said: "Fellowes, pees!"
The king for wrath was nighe wode
   For to wite what it was;
Agravain swore by Cross and Rood:
   "I shall it you tell withoute lees."
   
Gawain to his chamber went;
   Of this tale nolde he nought here;
Gaheriet and Gaheries of his assent,
   With their brother went they there;
Well they wiste that all was shent,
   And Sir Gawain by God then swere:
"Here now is made a comsement
   That beth not finished many a yere."
   
Agravain told all bydene
   To the king with simple cheer,
How Launcelot ligges by the queen,
   And so has done full many a yere,
And that wot all the court bydene
   And iche day it see and here:
"And we have false and traitours been
   That we ne wolde never to you diskere."
   
"Alas!" then said the kinge there,
   "Certes, that were grete pitee;
So as man nadde never yet more
   Of beautee ne of bountee,
Ne man in world was never yet ere
   Of so mikel nobilitee.
Alas, full grete dole it were
   In him sholde any tresoun be!
   
"But sithe it is so, withouten fail,
   Sir Agravain, so God thee rede,
What were now thy best counsel,
   For to take him with the deed?
He is man of such apparail,
   Of him I have full mikel drede;
All the court nolde him assail
   Yif he were armed upon his steed."
   
"Sir, ye and all the court bydene
   Wendeth tomorrow on hunting right,
And sithen send word to the queen
   That ye will dwell without all night,
And I and other twelve knightes keen
   Full prively we shall us dight;
We shall him have withouten ween
   Tomorrow ere any day be light."
   
On the morrow with all the court bydene
   The king gan on hunting ride,
And sithen he sent word to the queen
   That he wolde all night out abide.
Agravain with twelve knightes keen
   Atte home beleft that ilke tide
Of all the day they were not seen,
   So privily they gonne them hide.
   
Tho was the queene wonder blithe
   That the king wolde at the forest dwell;
To Launcelot she sent as swithe
   And bade that he sholde come her til.
Sir Bors de Gawnes began to lithe,
   Though his herte liked ill;
"Sir," he said, "I wolde you kithe
   A word, yif that it were your will.
   
"Sir, tonight I rede ye dwell;
   I drede there be some tresoun dight
With Agravain, that is so fell,
   That waites you both day and night.
Of all that ye have gone her til, 37
   Ne greved me never yet no wight,
Ne never yet gave mine herte to ill,
   So mikel as it doth tonight."
   
"Bors," he said, "holde still;
   Such wordes are not to kithe;
I will wend my lady til,
   Some new tithandes for to lithe;
I ne shall nought but wite her will;
   Look ye make you glad and blithe;
Certainly I nill not dwell,
   But come again to you all swithe."
   
For-why he wend have comen soon
   For to dwell had he not thought,
None armour he did him upon
   But a robe all single wrought;
In his hand a sword he fone,
   Of tresoun dredde he him right nought; 38
There was no man under the moon
   He wend with harm durst him have sought.
   
When he come to the lady sheen
   He kist and clipped that sweete wight;
For sooth, they never wolde ween
   That any tresoun was there dight;
So mikel love was them between
   That they not departe might;
To bed he goeth with the queen,
   And there he thought to dwell all night.
   
He was not busked in his bed,
   Launcelot in the queenes bowr,
Come Agravain and Sir Mordred,
   With twelve knightes stiff in stour;
Launcelot of tresoun they begredde,
   Calld him false and kinges traitour,
And he so strongly was bestedde,
   There-in he had none armour.
   
"Wele-away," then said the queen,
   "Launcelot, what shall worthe of us two?
The love that hath been us between,
   To such ending that it sholde go!
With Agravain, that is so keen,
   That night and day hath been our foe,
Now I wot, withouten ween,
   That all our wele is turned to wo!"
   
"Lady," he said, "thou must blinne;
   Wide I wot these wordes beth rife; 39
But is here any armour in
   That I may have to save my life?"
"Certes, nay," she said then,
   "This aunter is so wonder strife
That I ne may to none armour win
   Helm ne hauberk, sword ne knife."
   
Ever Agravain and Sir Mordred
   Calld him recreant false knight,
Bade him rise out of his bed,
   For he moste needes with them fight.
In his robe then he him cledde,
   Though he none armour gette might;
Wrothly out his sword he gredde;
   The chamber door he set up right.
   
An armed knight before in went
   And wend Launcelot well to slo,
But Launcelot gave him such a dint,
   That to the grounde gan he go;
The other all again then stent;
   After him durste follow no mo;
To the chamber door he sprent
   And clasped it with barres two.
   
The knight that Launcelot has slain,
   His armour fand he fair and bright;
Hastely he hath them off-drayn
   And there-in himselfe dight.
"Now know thou well, Sir Agravain,
   Thou prisouns me no more tonight!"
Out then sprang he with mikel main,
   Himself against them all to fight.
   
Launcelot then smote with herte good;
   Wite ye well, withouten lees,
Sir Agravain to dethe yode,
   And sithen all the other press;
Was none so strong that him withstood,
   By he had made a little rese,
But Mordred fled as he were wode,
   To save his life full fain he was.
   
Launcelot to his chamber yode,
   To Bors and to his other knightes;
Bors, armed, before him stood;
   To bedde yet was he not dight.
The knightes for fere was nighe wode,
   So were they dreched all that night;
But blithe wexed they in their mood
   When they their master saw with sight.
   
"Sir," said Bors, the hardy knight,
   "After you have we thought full long;
To bedde durst I me not dight,
   For drede ye had some aunter strong;
Our knightes have be dreched tonight
   That some naked out of bedde sprong,
For-thy we were full sore affright,
   Lest some tresoun were us among."
   
"Ya, Bors, drede thee no wight,
   But beth of herte good and bold,
And swithe awaken up all my knightes
   And look which wille with us hold;
Look they be armed and redy dight,
   For it is sooth that thou me told;
We have begonne this ilke night
   That shall bring many a man full cold."
   
Bors then spake with drery mood:
   "Sir," he said, "sithe it is so,
We shall be of hertes good,
   After the wele to take the wo."
The knightes sprent as they were wode,
   And to their harnes gonne they go;
At the morrow armed before him stood
   A hundreth knightes and squiers mo.
   
When they were armed and redy dight,
   A softe pas forth gonne they ride,
As men that were of mikel might,
   To a forest there beside.
Launcelot arrayes all his knightes,
   And there they lodgen them to bide.
Til they herde of the lady bright,
   What aunter of her sholde betide.
   
Mordred then took a way full gain,
   And to the forest went he right,
His aunters told, for sooth to sayn,
   That were befallen that ilke night.
"Mordred, have ye that traitour slain,
   Or how have ye with him dight?"
"Nay, sir, but dede is Agravain,
   And so are all our other knightes."
   
When it herde Sir Gawain,
   That was so hardy knight and bold:
"Alas! Is my brother slain?"
   Sore his herte began to colde:
"I warned well Sir Agravain,
   Ere ever yet this tale was told,
Launcelot was so much of main
   Against him was strong to hold."
   
It was no lenger for to bide;
   King and all his knightes keen
Took their counsel in that tide,
   What was best do with the queen.
It was no lenger for to bide;
   That day forbrent sholde she ben.
   
The fire then made they in the feld;
   There-to they brought that lady free;
All that ever might wepen weld
   About her armed for to be.
Gawain, that stiff was under sheld,
   Gaheriet, ne Gaheries ne wolde not see;
In their chamber they them held;
   Of her they hadde grete pitee.
   
The king Arthur that ilke tide
   Gawain and Gaheries for sent;
Their answers were not for to hide;
   They ne wolde not be of his assent;
Gawain wolde never be ner beside
   There any woman sholde be brent;
Gaheriet and Gaheries with little pride,
   All unarmed thider they went.
   
A squier gan tho tithandes lithe,
   That Launcelot to court hath sent;
To the forest he went as swithe,
   There Launcelot and his folk was lente,
Bade them come and haste blithe:
   "The queen is ledde to be brent!"
And they to horse and armes swithe,
   And ich one before other sprent.
   
The queen by the fire stood,
   And in her smok all redy was;
Lordinges was there many and good,
   And grete power, withouten lees;
Launcelot sprent as he were wode;
   Full soone parted he the press;
Was none so stiff before him stood
   By he had made a little rese.
   
There was no steel stood them again,
   Though fought they but a little stound;
Lordinges that were much of main,
   Many good were brought to ground;
Gaheriet and Gaheries both were slain
   With many a doleful dethes wound;
The queen they took withoute laine,
   And to the forest gonne they found.
   
The tithinges is to the kinge brought,
   How Launcelot has tan away the queen:
"Such wo as there is wrought!
   Slain are all our knightes keen!"
Down he fell and swooned oft;
   Grete dole it was to here and seen;
So ner his herte the sorrow sought,
   Almost his life wolde no man ween.
   
"Jesu Crist! What may I sayn?
   In erthe was never man so wo;
Such knightes as there are slain,
   In all this world there is no mo.
Let no man telle Sir Gawain
   Gaheriet his brother is dede him fro,
But wele-away, the rewful reyne,
   That ever Launcelot was my fo!"
   
Gawain gan in his chamber him hold;
   Of all the day he nolde not out go;
A squier then the tithandes told;
   What wonder though his herte were wo?
"Alas," he said, "My brother bold,
   Were Gaheriet be dede me fro?" 40
So sore his herte began to colde,
   Almost he wolde himselfe slo.
   
The squier spake with drery mood
   To recomfort Sir Gawain:
"Gaheriet ailes nought but good; 41
   He will soon come again."
Gawain sprent as he were wode
   To the chamber there they lay slain;
The chamber floor all ran on blood
   And clothes of gold were over them drayn.
   
A cloth he heves then upon height;
   What wonder though his herte were sore,
So dolefully to see them dight,
   That ere so doughty knightes were!
When he his brother saw with sight,
   A word might he speke no more;
There he lost both main and might
   And over him fell in swooning there.
   
Of swooning when he might awake,
   The hardy knight, Sir Gawain,
By God he swore and loude spake,
   As man that muche was of main:
"Betwix me and Launcelot du Lake,
   Nis man on erthe, for sooth to sayn,
Shall trewes set and pees make
   Ere either of us have other slain!"
   
A squier that Launcelot to court had sent
   Of the tithandes gan he lithe;
To the forest is he went
   And told Launcelot also swithe
How lordinges that were rich of rent,
   Fele good had lost their life,
Gaheriet and Gaheries sought their end;
   But then was Launcelot nothing blithe.
   
"Lord," he said, "What may this ben?"
   Jesu Crist! What may I sayn?
The love that hath betwixt us been!
   That ever Gaheriet me was again!
Now I wot for all bydene
   A sorry man is Sir Gawain;
Accordement thar me never ween
   Til either of us have other slain."
   
Launcelot gan with his folk forth wend,
   With sorry herte and drery mood.
To queenes and countesses fele he send
   And grete ladies of gentle blood,
That he had oft their landes defend
   And foughten when them need bestood.
Ichon her power him lend
   And made his party stiff and good.
   
Queenes and countesses that riche were
   Send him erles with grete meyne;
Other ladies that might no more
   Sent him barons or knightes free.
So mikel folk to him gan fare
   Hidous it was his host to see;
To the Joyous Gard went he there
   And held him in that strong citee.
   
Launcelotes herte was full sore
   For the lady fair and bright;
A damesel he did be yare,
   In rich apparail was she dight,
Hastely in message for to fare
   To the king of mikel might,
To prove it false - what might he more? - 42
   But profferes him therefore to fight.
   
The maiden is redy for to ride,
   In a full rich apparailment
Of samite green, with mikel pride,
   That wrought was in the Orient;
A dwarf sholde wende by her side;
   Such was Launcelotes commaundement;
So were the manneres in that tide,
   When a maid on message went.
   
To the castle when she come,
   In the palais gan she light;
To the king her errand she saide soon
   (By him sat Sir Gawain the knight),
Said that lies were said him upon;
   Trew they were by day and night;
To prove it as a knight sholde don
   Launcelot profferes him to fight.
   
The king Arthur spekes there
   Wordes that were keen and thro:
"He ne might prove it never more, 43
   But of my men that he wolde slo.
By Jesu Crist," the king swore
   And Sir Gawain then also,
"His deedes shall be bought full sore,
   But yif no steel nill in him go!" 44
   
The maiden hath her answer;
   To the Joyous Gard gan she ride;
Such as the kinges wordes were
   She told Launcelot in that tide.
Launcelot sighed wonder sore,
   Teres from his eyen gan glide.
Bors de Gawnes by God then swore:
   "In middes the feld we shall them bide!"
   
Arthur wolde no lenger abide,
   But hastes him with all his might.
Messengeres did he go and ride,
   That they ne sholde let for day ne night,
Throughout Yngland by ich a side,
   To erle, baron, and to knight,
Bade them come that ilke tide,
   With horse strong and armour bright.
   
Though the knight that were dede them fro, 45
   Thereof was all their mikel care,
Three hundreth they made mo,
   Out of castle ere they wolde fare,
Of Yngland and Ireland also,
   Of Wales and Scottes that beste were,
Launcelot and his folkes to slo
   With hertes breme as any bore.
   
When this host was all boun,
   It was no lenger for to bide,
Raises spere and gonfanoun,
   As men that were of mikel pride;
With helm and sheld and hauberk brown,
   Gawain himself before gan ride
To the Joyous Gard, that riche town,
   And set a sege on ech a side.
   
About the Joyous Gard they lay
   Seventeen weekes and well more,
Til fell upon a day
   Launcelot home bade them fare:
"Breke your sege! Wendes away!
   You to slay grete pitee it were."
He said: "Alas and wele-away,
   That ever began this sorrow sore!"
   
Ever the king and Sir Gawain
   Calld him false recreant knight,
And said he had his brethern slain,
   And traitour was by day and night,
Bade him come and prove his main
   In the feld with them to fight.
Launcelot sighed, for sooth to sayn;
   Grete dole it was to see with sight.
   
So loud they Launcelot gonne ascry,
   With vois and hidous hornes bere,
Bors de Gawnes standes him by,
   And Launcelot makes ivel cheer.
"Sir," he said, "wherefore and why
   Sholde we these proude wordes here?
Me think ye fare as cowardly
   As we ne durst no man nighe ner.
   
"Dight we us in rich array,
   Both with spere and with sheld,
As swithe as ever that we may,
   And ride we out into the feld.
While my life laste may,
   This day I ne shall my wepen yeld;
Therefore my life I dare well lay
   We two shall make them all to held."
   
"Alas," quod Launcelot, "Wo is me,
   That ever sholde I see with sight
Again my lord for to be,
   The noble king that made me knight!
Sir Gawain, I beseeche thee,
   As thou art man of muche might,
In the feld let not my lord be, 46
   Ne that thyself with me not fight."
   
It may no lenger for to bide,
   But busked them and made all boun;
When they were redy for to ride,
   They raised spere and gonfanoun;
When these hostes gan samen glide,
   With vois and hidous hornes soun,
Grete pitee was on either side,
   So fele good there were laid down.
   
Sir Lionel with muche main,
   With a spere before gan found;
Sir Gawain rides him again,
   Horse and man he bore to ground,
That all men wend he had been slain;
   Sir Lionel had such a wound
Out of the feld was he drayn,
   For he was seke and sore unsound.
   
In all the feld that ilke tide
   Might no man stand Launcelot again,
And sithen as fast as he might ride 47
   To save that no man sholde be slain.
The king was ever ner beside
   And hew on him with all his main,
And he so courtais was that tide
   O dint that he nolde smite again.
   
Bors de Gawnes saw at last,
   And to the king then gan he ride,
And on his helm he hit so fast
   That ner he lost all his pride;
The steede rigge under him brast,
   That he to grounde fell that tide;
And sithen wordes loud he cast,
   With Sir Launcelot to chide:
   
"Sir, shaltou all day suffer so
   That the king thee assail,
And sithe his herte is so thro,
   Thy courtaisy may not avail?
Batailes shall there never be mo,
   And thou wilt do by my counsel:
Giveth us leve them all to slo,
   For thou hast vanquished this batail."
   
"Alas," quod Launcelot, "Wo is me,
   That ever sholde I see with sight
Before me him unhorsed be,
   The noble king that made me knight!"
He was then so courtais and free
   That down of his steed he light;
The king there-on then horses he,
   And bade him flee, yif that he might.
   
When the king was horsed there,
   Launcelot lookes he upon,
How courtaisy was in him more
   Than ever was in any man.
He thought on thinges that had been ere;
   The teres from his eyen ran;
He said, "Alas," with sighing sore,
   "That ever yet this war began!"
   
The parties arn withdrawen away,
   Of knightes were they wexen thin;
On morrow on that other day
   Sholde the batail eft begin;
They dight them on a rich array
   And parted their hostes both in twinne;
He that began this wretched play,
   What wonder though he had grete sin?
   
Bors was breme as any bore,
   And out he rode to Sir Gawain;
For Lionel was wounded sore,
   Venge his brother he wolde full fain.
Sir Gawain gan again him fare,
   As man that muche was of main;
Either through other body bore
   That well ner were they bothe slain.
   
Both to ground they fell in fere;
   Therefore were fele folk full wo.
The kinges party redy were
   Away to take them bothe two.
Launcelot himself come ner,
   Bors rescues he them fro;
Out of the feld men him bere;
   So were they wounded bothe two.
   
Of this batail were to tell
   A man that it well understood,
How knightes under saddles fell
   And sitten down with sorry mood;
Steedes that were bold and snell
   Among them waden in the blood;
But by the time of even-bell
   Launcelot party the better stood.
   
Of this batail was no more,
   But thus departen they that day;
Folk their frendes home led and bore,
   That slain in the feldes lay.
Launcelot gan to his castle fare,
   The batail vanquished, for sooth to say;
There was dole and weeping sore;
   Among them was no childes play.
   
Into all landes north and south
   Of this war the word sprong,
And yet at Rome it was full couthe
   In Yngland was such sorrow strong;
There-of the Pope had grete rewth;
   A letter he seled with his hand:
But they accorded well in trewth 48
   Enterdite he wolde the land.
   
Then was a bishop at Rome,
   Of Rochester, withouten lees;
Til Yngland he, the message, come,
   To Carlisle there the king was;
The Popes letter out he nome,
   In the palais, before the dese,
And bade them do the Popes doom
   And hold Yngland in rest and pees.
   
Redde it was before all bydene,
   The letter that the Pope gan make,
How he must have again the queen
   And accord with Launcelot du Lake,
Make a pees them between
   For ever more, and trewes make,
Or Yngland enterdited sholde ben
   And turn to sorrow for their sake.
   
The king again it wolde not ben,
   To do the Popes commaundement,
Blithely again to have the queen;
   Wolde he not that Yngland were shent;
But Gawain was of herte so keen
   That to him wolde he never assent
To make accord them between
   While any life were in him lente.
   
Through the sent of all bydene,
   Gan the king a letter make;
The bishop in message yede between
   To Sir Launcelot du Lake,
And asked if he wolde the queen
   Courtaisly to him betake,
Or Yngland enterdite sholde ben
   And turn to sorrow for their sake.
   
Launcelot answerd with grete favour,
   As knight that hardy was and keen:
"Sir, I have stand in many a stour,
   Both for the king and for the queen;
Full cold had been his beste towr
   Yif that I nadde myselfe been;
He quites me with little honour,
   That I have served him all bydene."
   
The bishop spake withoute fail,
   Though he were nothing afrought:
"Sir, think that ye have vanquished many a batail,
   Through grace that God hath for you wrought;
Ye shall do now by my counsel;
   Think on Him that you dere bought;
Women are frele of their entail;
   Sir, lettes not Yngland go to nought!"
   
"Sir Bishop, castelles for to hold,
   Wite you well, I have no need;
I might be king, yif that I wolde,
   Of all Benwick, that riche thede,
Ride into my landes bold,
   With my knightes stiff on steed;
The queen, yif that I to them yolde,
   Of her life I have grete drede."
   
"Sir, by Mary, that is maiden flowr,
   And by God that all shall rede and right,
She ne shall have no dishonour;
   There-to my trowth I shall you plight,
But boldly brought into her bowr,
   To ladies and to maidens bright,
And holden in well more honour
   Than ever she was by day or night."
   
"Now, yif I graunt such a thing
   That I deliver shall the queen,
Sir Bishop, say my lord, the king,
   Sir Gawain and them all bydene,
That they shall make me a sekering,
   A trews to holde us between."
   
Then was the bishop wonder blithe
   That Launcelot gave him this answer;
Til his palfrey he went as swithe,
   And til Carlisle gan he fare.
Tithandes soon were done to lithe,
   Which that Launcelotes wordes were;
The king and court was all full blithe;
   A trews they set and sekered there.
   
Through the assent of all bydene
   A seker trews there they wrought;
Though Gawain were of herte keen,
   There-against was he nought,
To hold a trewes them between
   While Launcelot the queen home brought;
But cordement thar him never ween
   Ere either other herte have sought. 49
   
A seker trews gonne they make
   And with their seles they it band;
There-to they three bishoppes gonne take,
   The wisest that were in all the land,
And sent to Launcelot du Lake;
   At Joyous Gard then they him fand;
The lettres there they him betake,
   And there-to Launcelot held his hand.
   
The bishoppes then went on their way,
   To Carlisle there the king was;
Launcelot shall come that other day,
   With the lady proud in press.
He dight him in a rich array,
   Wite ye well, withouten lees;
An hundreth knightes, for sooth to say,
   The best of all his host he chese.
   
Launcelot and the queen were cledde
   In robes of a riche weed,
Of samite white, with silver shredde,
   Ivory saddle and white steed,
Sambues of the same thred,
   That wrought was in the hethen thede;
Launcelot her bridle led,
   In the romaunce as we rede.
   
The other knightes everychone,
   In samite green of hethen land,
And in their kirtels ride alone,
   And iche knight a green garland;
Saddles set with riche stone;
   Ichon a braunch of olive in hand;
All the feld about them shone;
   The knightes rode full loud singand.
   
To the castle when they come
   In the palais gonne they light;
Launcelot the queen off her palfrey nome;
   They said it was a seemly sight.
The king then salues he full soon,
   As man that was of muche might;
Fair wordes were there fone,
   But weeping stood there many a knight.
   
Launcelot spake, as I you mene,
   To the king of mikel might:
"Sir, I have thee brought thy queen,
   And saved her life with the right,
As lady that is fair and sheen
   And trew is both day and night;
If any man sayes she is not clene,
   I proffer me therefore to fight."
   
The king Arthur answeres there
   Wordes that were keen and thro:
"Launcelot, I ne wend never more
   That thou wolde me have wrought this wo;
So dere as we samen were,
   There-under that thou was my fo;
But nought-for-thy me rewes sore
   That ever was war betwixt us two."
   
Launcelot then answerd he,
   When he had listened long:
"Sir, thy wo thou witest me,
   And well thou wost it is with wrong;
I was never fer from thee
   When thou had any sorrow strong;
But liers listenes thou to lie,
   Of whom all this word out sprong."
   
Then bespake him Sir Gawain,
   That was hardy knight and free:
"Launcelot, thou may it not withsayn
   That thou hast slain my brethern three;
For-thy shall we prove our main
   In feld whether shall have the gree. 50
Ere either of us shall other slayn,
   Blithe shall I never be."
   
Launcelot answerd with herte sore,
   Though he were nothing afrought:
"Gawain," he said, "Though I were there,
   Myself thy brethern slogh I nought;
Other knightes fele there were
   That sithen this war dere han bought."
Launcelot sighed wonder sore;
   The teres of his eyen sought.
   
Launcelot spake, as I you mene,
   To the king and Sir Gawain:
"Sir, shall I never of cordement ween,
   That we might frendes be again?"
Gawain spake with herte keen
   As man that muche was of main:
"Nay, cordement thar thee never ween 51
   Til one of us have other slain!"
   
"Sithe it never may betide
   That pees may be us between,
May I into my landes ride,
   Safely with my knightes keen?
Then will I here no lenger bide,
   But take leve of you all bydene;
Where I wend in worlde wide,
   Yngland will I never sen."
   
The king Arthur answerd there -
   The teres from his eyen ran -
"By Jesu Crist," he there swore,
   "That all this world wrought and won,
Into thy landes when thou wilt fare,
   Thee shall let no livand man."
He said, "Alas!" with sighing sore,
   "That ever yet this war began!"
   
"Sithe that I shall wend away,
   And in mine owne landes wonne,
May I safely wonne there ay,
   That ye with war not come me on?"
Sir Gawain then said: "Nay,
   By Him that made sun and moon,
Dight thee well as ever thou may,
   For we shall after come full soon."
   
Launcelot his leve hath taken there;
   It was no lenger for to bide;
His palfrey fand he redy yare,
   Made him redy for to ride;
Out of the castel gonne they fare;
   Grimly teres let they glide;
There was dole and weeping sore;
   At the parting was little pride.
   
To the Joyous Gard, the riche town,
   Rode Launcelot, the noble knight;
Busked them and made all boun,
   As men that were of muche might.
With spere in hand and gonfanoun
   (Let they neither day ne night)
To an haven hight Kerlioun;
   Rich galleys there they fande dight.
   
Now are they shipped on the flood,
   Launcelot and his knightes hende;
Wederes had they fair and good
   Where their will was for to wend,
To an haven there it stood,
   As men were levest for to lende; 52
Of Benwick blithe was their mood,
   When Jesu Crist them thider send.
   
Now are they arrived on the strand;
   Of them was fele folk full blithe;
Grete lordes of the land,
   Again him they come as swithe,
And fellen him to foot and hand; 53
   For their lord they gonne him kithe,
At his doomes for to stand,
   And at his lawes for to lithe.
   
Bors made he king of Gawnes,
   As it was both law and right;
Lionel made king of Fraunce,
   By olde time Gawle hight;
All his folk he gan avaunce
   And landes gave to ich a knight,
And stored his casteles for all chaunce,
   For mikel he hoped more to fight.
   
Ector he crownes with his hand,
   So says the book, withouten lees,
Made him king of his fader land,
   And prince of all the riche press,
Bade nothing him sholde withstand,
   But hold him king, as worthy was,
For there no more himself wolde fonde
   Til he wiste to live in pees.
   
Arthur will he no lenger abide;
   Night and day his herte was sore.
Messengeres did he go and ride,
   Throughout Yngland to fare,
To erles and barons on ich a side,
   Bade them busk and make all yare,
On Launcelot landes for to ride,
   To bren and slee and make all bare.
   
At his knightes all bydene
   The king gan his counsel take,
And bade them ordain them between
   Who beste steward were for to make,
The reme for to save and yeme,
   And beste were for Britaines sake;
Full mikel they drede them all bydene,
   That aliens the land wolde take.
   
The knightes answerd, withoute lees,
   And said, for sooth, that so them thought
That Sir Mordred the sekerest was
   Though men the reme throughoute sought,
To save the reme in trews and pees.
   Was a book before him brought;
Sir Mordred they to steward chese;
   That many a bold sithen abought.
   
It was no lenger for to bide,
   But buskes them and made all boun;
When they were redy for to ride,
   They raised spere and gonfanoun;
Forth they went with mikel pride
   Til an haven hight Kerlioun,
And graithes by the lande side
   Galleys grete of fele fasoun.
   
Now are they shipped on the se
   And wenden over the water wide;
Of Benwick when they mighte see,
   With grete rout they gonne up ride;
Withstood them neither stone ne tree,
   But brent and slogh on ich a side;
Launcelot is in his best citee;
   There he batail will abide.
   
Launcelot clepes his knightes keen,
   His erles and his barons bold;
Bade them ordain them between,
   To wite their will, what they wolde,
To ride again them all bydene
   Or their worthy walles hold,
For well they wiste, withouten ween,
   For no fantysé Arthur nolde fold. 54
   
Bors de Gawnes, the noble knight,
   Sternly spekes in that stound:
"Doughty men, that ye be dight,
   Foundes your worship for to fonde
With spere and sheld and armes bright,
   Again your fomen for to founde;
King and duke, erl and knight,
   We shall them bete and bring to ground!"
   
Lionel spekes in that tide,
   That was of warre wise and bold:
"Lordinges, yet I rede we bide
   And our worthy walles hold;
Let them prik with all their pride,
   Til they have caught both hunger and cold;
Then shall we out upon them ride,
   And shred them down as sheep in fold."
   
Sir Bangdemagew, that bolde king,
   To Launcelot spekes in that tide:
"Sir, courtaisy and your suffering
   Has wakend us wo full wide;
Avise you well upon this thing;
   Yif that they over our landes ride,
All to nought they might us bring,
   While we in holes here us hide."
   
Galyhod, that ay was good,
   To Launcelot he spekes there:
"Sir, here are knightes of kinges blood,
   That long will not droop and dare;
Give me leve, for Cross on Rood,
   With my men to them to fare;
Though they be worse than outlawes wode,
   I shall them slee and make full bare."
   
Of North-Gales were brethern seven,
   Ferly mikel of strength and pride;
Not full fele that men coude neven
   Better durst in batail bide;
And they said with one steven:
   "Lordinges, how long will ye chide?
Launcelot, for Goddes love in Heven,
   With Galyhod forth let us ride!"
   
Then spake the lord that was so hende,
   Himself, Sir Launcelot du Lake:
"Lordinges, a while I rede we lende
   And our worthy walles wake;
A message will I to them send,
   A trews between us for to take;
My lord is so courtais and hende
   That yet I hope a pees to make.
   
"Though we might with worship win,
   Of a thing mine herte is sore:
This land is full of folk full thin,
   Batailes have made it full bare;
Wite ye well it were grete sin
   Cristen folk to slee thus more;
With mildeness we shall begin
   And God shall wisse us well to fare."
   
And at this assent all they were,
   And set a watch for to wake,
Knightes breme as any bore
   And derf of drede as is the drake;
A damesel they did be yare,
   And hastely gonne her lettres make;
A maid sholde on the message fare,
   A trews between them for to take.
   
The maid was full sheen to shew,
   Upon her steed when she was set;
Her parail all of one hew,
   Of a green velvet;
In her hand a braunch new,
   For-why that no man sholde her let;
There-by men messengeres knew,
   In hostes when that men them met.
   
The king was loked in a feld,
   By a river brode and dregh;
A while she hoved and beheld,
   Paviliouns that were pight on high;
She saw there many comely telde,
   With pommels bright as goldes bee; 55
On one hung the kinges sheld;
   That pavilioun she drew her nigh.
   
The kinges banner out was set;
   That pavilioun she drew her ner;
With a knight full soon she met,
   Hight Sir Lucan de Botteler;
She hailsed him and he her grette,
   The maid with full mild cheer;
Her errand was not for to let;
   He wiste she was a messenger.
   
Sir Lucan down gan her take
   And in his armes forth gan lede;
Hendely to her he spake,
   As knight that wise was under weed: 56
"Thou comest from Launcelot du Lake,
   The best that ever strode on steed;
Jesu, for his Moderes sake,
   Give thee grace well to speed!"
   
Fair was pight upon a plain
   The pavilioun in rich apparail;
The king himself and Sir Gawain
   Comely sitten in the hall;
The maiden kneeled the king again,
   So low to grounde gan she fall;
Her lettres were not for to laine;
   They were yredde among them all.
   
Hendely and fair the maiden spake,
   Full fain of speche she wolde be speed: 57
"Sir, God save you all from wo and wrake,
   And all your knightes in riche weed;
You greetes well Sir Launcelot du Lake,
   That with you hath been ever at need;
A twelve-month trews he wolde take,
   To live upon his owne lede,
   
"And sithen, yif ye make an hest,
   He will it hold with his hand
Between you for to make pees,
   Stabely ever for to stand;
He will rap him on a rese
   Mildly to the Holy Land,
There to live, withouten lees,
   While he is man livand."
   
The king then cleped his counsel,
   His doughty knightes all bydene;
First he said, withouten fail:
   "Me think it were best to sen;
He were a fool, withouten fail,
   So fair forwardes for to fleme."
The king the messenger thus did assail:
   "It were pity to set war us between."
   
"Certes, nay!" said Sir Gawain,
   "He hath wrought me wo ynow,
So traitourly he hath my brethern slain,
   All for your love, sir; that is trouth!
To Yngland will I not turn again
   Til he be hanged on a bough;
While me lasteth might or main,
   There-to I shall find peple ynow."
   
The king himself, withouten lees,
   And ich a lord, is not to laine,
All they spake to have pees,
   But himselfe, Sir Gawain;
To batail hath he made his hest,
   Or elles never to turn again.
They made them redy to that rese;
   Therefore was fele folk unfain.
   
The king is comen into the hall,
   And in his royal see him set;
He made a knight the maiden call,
   Sir Lucan de Botteler, withouten let:
"Say to Sir Launcelot and his knightes all,
   Such an hest I have him hette,
That we shall wend for no wall, 58
   Til we with mightes ones have met."
   
The maid had her answer;
   With drery herte she gan her dight;
Her fair palfrey fand she yare,
   And Sir Lucan led her thider right.
So through a forest gan she fare
   And hasted her with all her might,
There Launcelot and his knightes were,
   In Benwick the brough with bemys bright.
   
Now is she went within the wall,
   The worthy damesel fair in weed;
Hendely she came into that hall;
   A knight her took down off her steed.
Among the princes proud in palle
   She took her lettres for to rede;
There was no counsel for to call,
   But redyly buskes them to that deed.
   
As folkes that preste were to fight,
   From felde wolde they never flee;
But by the morrow that day was light,
   About beseged was all their fee;
Ichon them rayed in all rightes; 59
   Neither party thought to flee.
   
Erly as the day gan spring,
   The trompets upon the walles went;
There might they see a wonder thing,
   Of teldes rich and many a tent.
Sir Arthur then, the comely king,
   With his folkes there was lente,
To give assaut, without leesing,
   With alblasters and bowes bent.
   
Launcelot all forwondered was
   Of the folk before the wall;
But he had rather knowen that rese 60
   Out had run his knightes all.
He said: "Princes, beth in pees,
   For follies fele that might befall;
Yif they will not their sege sese,
   Full sore I hope forthink them shall."
   
Then Gawain, that was good at every need,
   Graithed him in his good armour,
And stiffly stert upon a steed,
   That seker was in ilk a stour;
Forth he sprang as spark on glede,
   Before the gates again the towr;
He bade a knight come kithe main,
   A course of war for his honour.
   
Bors de Gawnes buskes him boun,
   Upon a steed that sholde him bere,
With helme, sheld, and hauberk brown,
   And in his hand a full good spere;
Out he rode a grete randoun;
   Gawain kydde he coude of war;
Horse and man both bore he down,
   Such a dint he gave him there.
   
Sir Lionel was all redy then,
   And for his brother was wonder wo;
Redyly with his steed out ran,
   And wend Gawain for to slo.
Gawain him kept as he well can, 61
   As he that ay was keen and thro;
Down he bore both horse and man,
   And every day some served he so.
   
And so more than half a yere,
   As long as they there layn,
Every day men might see there
   Men wounded and some slain;
But how that ever in world it were,
   Such grace had Sir Gawain,
Ever he passed hole and clere;
   There might no man stand him again.
   
prayers
   
created
reins gleamed
(see note)
conceal
   
   
   
   
   
   
hear; listen to
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
meal
prepared
wait
   
   
   
expect
   
comfort
   
foreign
   
   
   
   
comfort
   
   
So that; nothing
be
   
Tables
   
   
   
   
   
afraid
   
   
third course
as well
   
shining
dais (raised platform)
raises an outcry against
   
agreements
   
   
   
anyone prepare himself
   
   
fierce
   
slay
   
   
   
afterwards prepare ourselves
   
   
   
   
   
   
laughed
   
   
   
   
spear
   
   
   
tears
prepared
   
embraces
reward you for it
   
Well do you repay me for it
honored
   
   
accuse
   
Riding directly
   
eyes; was lowered
   
Afraid; nearly
   
   
every occasion
alight
   
foreign
quickly
   
   
   
To no effect; employed
   
   
   
   
   
run mad
   
   
   
bird
   
   
   
   
hear
   
   
   
met; force
   
say
   
encounters; against
   
   
   
   
   
low noon (about ten a.m.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
fierce
   
A blow
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Lady's (i.e., Virgin Mary's)
   
   
   
   
earth
   
   
boast; (see note)
stood; blow
   
   
   
kissed
   
   
   
   
Yea
   
run
   
   
kissed
   
   
   
swoon
   
laughed
   
   
reconcilement
   
   
   
trumpeters
listen to
walk
   
   
   
   
squires
   
Those who
   
   
hide
put the poison
intended for
   
   
bright
   
   
   
   
kissed
   
   
squire; put to death
   
Drawn; hanged; burned
   
castle; remain
called
courteous
   
   
say
   
   
knew much of trouble-making
   
   
conceal and hide
   
   
know; without doubt
uncle
   
   
   
   
tell
   
   
   
   
great; power
stopped
   
   
hide; conceal
   
   
   
fierce
   
Had he not
   
   
betray
   
   
   
   
And, moreover, if he had need
i.e., be his ally
   
   
insane
   
   
in this manner
   
   
be still
   
   
cross
lies
   
   
would not hear any
   
   
lost
   
commencement
will not be
   
   
innocent expression
lies
   
   
   
   
reveal
   
   
   
no man ever had more
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
in the act
accomplishments
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
outside (the court)
   
secretly
doubtless
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
At home remained
   
secretly
   
   
   
   
to her
listen
it ill-pleased his heart
tell
i.e., if you please
   
remain (here)
   
By; fierce
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
make known
   
   
know what she wants
   
will not remain
   
   
Because; return immediately
   
put upon himself
uniquely made
grasped
   
   
   
   
   
kissed; embraced; creature
expect
   
   
   
   
   
   
He had hardly gotten in his bed
   
   
bold in battle
accused
   
set upon
   
   
   
become
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
stop
   
   
   
   
circumstance; very bad
obtain
(see note)
   
   
perjured
   
must; by necessity
clad
   
Fiercely; drew
stood close to
   
   
thought; slay
   
   
stopped
   
leaped
locked; two bars
   
   
   
the armor drawn off
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
went
then the rest of the gang
   
By the time; attack
   
eager
   
went
   
   
bed
fear
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
fierce encounter
disturbed by dreams
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
begun
   
   
dreary
   
   
   
   
harness (equipment)
   
hundred
   
   
At a gentle pace
   
   
arranges in formation
lodge
   
chance
   
direct
   
adventures
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
grow cold
   
   
   
i.e., difficult
   
   
   
   
to do
   
   
   
   
   
weapon
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
heard the news
Whom
   
stayed
hasten quickly
   
   
   
   
   
(see note)
   
   
   
   
   
By the time; attack
   
   
time
   
   
   
   
without doubt
go
   
   
taken
   
   
   
   
   
Almost no one expected him to live
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
pitiful kingdom
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
grow cold
   
   
   
comfort
   
   
   
   
with
drawn
   
lifts; up high
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
There is no man
truce
   
   
   
   
   
   
property
Many
   
   
   
be
   
   
was against me; (see note)
   
   
I may never expect reconciliation
   
   
   
   
many
   
   
   
Each one; granted
   
   
   
company
could (send)
   
   
Hideous (frightening)
   
   
   
   
   
commanded to be ready
   
   
   
(see note)
   
   
   
   
silk
   
travel
   
customs; time
as a messenger
   
   
palace
   
   
   
they (Lancelot and Guinevere)
do
   
   
   
bold
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
stop
on every side
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
ready
   
banner
   
shining
   
fortified place
siege
   
   
   
   
   
Break; Turn
   
   
   
   
   
perjured
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
call at
braying of horns
   
   
   
   
   
As if we dared approach no man
   
dress
   
   
   
   
weapon; surrender
wager
withdraw
   
said
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
hastened; ready
   
banner
together
voice; hideous; sound
   
many; slain
   
strength
   
   
   
thought
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
would not strike in return
   
   
   
   
he (Arthur)
steed's backbone
   
he (Bors)
   
   
shalt thou; allow
   
   
   
   
If
slay
   
   
said
   
   
   
   
alighted
   
   
   
   
   
courtesy
   
   
   
   
   
   
are
   
   
again
   
in two
   
   
   
fierce; boar
   
   
Avenge; eagerly desired
   
   
   
   
   
together
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
fast
wade
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
well known
   
pity
   
Unless; truth; (see note)
   
   
   
   
messenger
   
took
palace; dais
   
   
   
Read; everyone
   
he (Arthur)
   
   
   
   
   
   
against
command
   
destroyed
   
   
   
remained
   
assent
   
as a messenger went
   
   
entrust
interdicted
   
   
   
   
stood; battle
   
Destroyed; castle
If I had not been there
repays
completely
   
   
afraid
   
   
   
   
frail; character
   
   
castles
   
   
nation; (see note)
   
   
yield
   
   
flower of maidens
teach; guide
   
word; pledge
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
give me assurance
truce
   
   
   
   
   
Tidings; proclaimed
   
   
truce; pledged themselves to it
   
   
sure truce
   
   
   
   
reconciliation; expected
   
   
sure truce
seals; bound
   
   
   
found; (see note)
deliver
pledged himself
   
   
   
the next day
amidst the company
   
Know
   
chose
   
clad
material
   
   
Saddle-clothes; thread
heathen lands; (see note)
   
romance (French book)
   
every one
silk; heathen
gowns (i.e., without armor)
   
   
   
   
singing
   
   
alight
took
   
salutes
   
   
   
   
tell
   
   
   
   
   
pure
   
   
   
fierce
supposed
   
were to each other
I.e., despite this
nevertheless it sorely pains me
   
   
   
   
your troubles you blame on me
you know well you do wrongly
far
   
you listen to lying liars
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
slay
   
   
   
afraid
   
slew
many
have
   
ran from his eyes
   
   
   
reconciliation
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
see
   
   
   
   
   
   
No living man shall stop you
   
   
   
   
dwell
   
   
   
   
Prepare yourself
   
   
   
   
quickly
   
castle
   
   
   
   
fortified place
   
Hastened; ready
   
banner
Delayed
named Caerleon; (see note)
found prepared
   
   
   
Weathers (winds)
   
   
   
glad; mind
sent
   
   
   
   
quickly
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Gaul was called
advance
   
supplied; every emergency
   
   
   
   
father's
   
   
   
try [to do]
knew [he could]
   
   
   
commanded; walk
   
   
hurry; ready
   
burn; slay
   
From; together
   
   
   
realm; control
   
   
   
   
   
   
most trustworthy
   
   
   
as
   
   
   
they bustle about
   
banner
   
Caerleon
prepare
many fashions
   
   
   
   
company
   
burned; slew; every
   
   
   
calls
   
   
   
together
   
doubt
   
   
   
time
(see) that
Prepare; test
   
go
   
beat
   
   
war
   
   
spur
   
   
cut
   
   
   
   
brought us great woe
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
crouch from fear
Body (?); Cross
   
   
slay and plunder
   
North Wales
Wondrously great
very many; name
dare
voice
wrangle
   
   
   
   
   
advise; remain
   
   
truce; offer
   
   
   
honor
one
i.e., starving
   
   
slay
   
direct
   
   
guard; watch
   
fearsome as the dragon
   
   
travel
offer
   
be seen
   
apparel
   
branch; i.e., green
stop
By that (i.e., green branch)
   
   
lodged
wide
paused
pavilions; pitched
tents
   
   
   
   
   
nearer
   
Called
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
(see note)
   
   
Mother's
   
   
pitched
   
   
   
   
   
   
read
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
country
   
promise
i.e., swear
   
   
hasten in a rush
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
see (about this)
   
To flee (reject) such fair offers
i.e., address
   
   
   
   
   
truth
   
   
   
people
   
   
doubt
   
   
promise
return
for that attack
unhappy
   
   
seat; (i.e., throne)
   
delay
   
promise; promised
   
   
   
   
prepare
found; ready
   
   
   
   
castle; trumpets brilliant
   
   
   
   
   
costly cloth
offered
   
   
   
eager
   
   
All their holdings were besieged
   
   
   
   
trumpeters
   
rich dwellings (tents)
   
staying
   
cross-bows
   
amazed
   
   
   
be still
many
cease
I suppose they will regret it sorely
   
   
Prepared
   
every battle
live coal
next to
prove his strength
joust
   
makes himself ready
   
shining
   
at a rapid pace
proved he knew of war
   
   
   
   
   
   
went
   
bold
   
   
   
   
lay (remained)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


Go to Stanzaic Morte Arthur, Part III