The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

  Then as the hall stirred alive a lady rode into the court mounted on a white palfrey and she called loudly to the king, "Sir, that knight has taken my white brachet. Do not permit this insult, my lord."

  "I have nothing to do with it," said the king. And with that an armed knight on a great war horse galloped in and grasped the reins of the palfrey and pulled the lady by force from the hall, while she cried and screamed with anger and complaint. And when she was gone, the king was glad, for she made a great noise, but Merlin reproached him.

  "You cannot know a venture from its beginning," Merlin said. "Greatness is born little. Do not dishonor your feast by ignoring what comes to it. Such is the law of quest."

  "Very well," said Arthur. "I will follow the law." And he instructed Sir Gawain to hunt down the white stag and bring it to the feast. And he sent Sir Torre to find the knight who took the white brachet. Sir Pellinore was given the order to search out the lady and the forceful knight and return them to the court. "Those are the quests," said Arthur, "and may you have marvelous adventures to tell about when you return."

  The three knights accepted their quests and armed themselves and rode away. And we will tell of each one separately.

  Here begynnith the fyrst batayle that ever Sir Gawayne

  ded after he was made knyght.

  Sir Gawain, with his brother, Gaheris, as squire, rode through the green countryside until they came upon two knights on horseback fighting fiercely. The brothers separated them and asked the reason for the quarrel.

  "It is a simple and a private matter," said one of the knights. "We are brothers."

  "It is not good for brothers to fight each other," Gawain said.

  "That is your opinion," said the knight. "We were riding toward the feast at King Arthur's court when a white stag ran by, chased by a white brachet and a pack of black hounds. We understood that this was a strange adventure fit for telling in the court and I prepared to give chase to win fame before the king. But my brother said he should go because he was a better knight than I. For a time we argued about who was better and then decided that the only proof lay in combat."

  "This is a silly reason," Gawain said. "You should prove your worth on strangers, not on brothers. You must go to Arthur's court and beg his mercy for this foolishness or I will have to fight you both and take you there."

  "Sir Knight," said the brothers, "through our willfulness we are exhausted and we have lost much blood. We could not fight with you."

  "Then do as I say--go to the king."

  "We will, but who shall we say sent us?"

  Sir Gawain said, "You must say you were sent by the knight who follows the Quest of the White Stag. What are your names?"

  "Sorlus of the Forest and Brian of the Forest," they said, and they departed toward the court, and Sir Gawain continued on his quest.

  And as they rode near to a deep forested valley the wind brought to them the full baying of hounds in chase, and they urged their horses to speed and followed the pack down the slope and to a swollen stream, where they saw the white stag swimming across it. And as Gawain prepared to follow, a knight stepped out on the other bank and called to him, "Sir Knight, if you follow this chase you must first joust with me."

  Gawain answered, "I am on quest. I will take any adventure that falls to me," and he urged his horse to swim the deep swift water to the other side, where the knight awaited him with closed visor and couched spear. Then they rode together, and Sir Gawain unhorsed his opponent and called on him to yield.

  "No," said the knight. "You have beaten me on horseback, but I pray you, gallant knight, to dismount and prove if you can do as well with your sword."

  "Willingly," said Gawain. "What is your name?"

  "I am Sir Alardine of the Outer Isles."

  Then Sir Gawain left his horse and dressed his shield before him, and with his first blow he cut through the helm and into the brain and the knight fell dead before him, and without pausing Gawain and his brother took up the chase again, and after a long run the exhausted stag ran into the gates of a castle and the brothers pursued it into the great hall and killed it there. Then a knight came from a side chamber with a sword in his hand and he killed two of the milling hounds and drove the rest of the pack from the hall, and when he returned he kneeled by the beautiful deer and said sadly, "My dear white pet, they have killed you. The sovereign lady of my heart gave you to me and I did not take care of you." And he raised his head in anger. "It was an evil deed," he said. "I will revenge you, my beauty." He ran to his chamber and armed himself and came out fiercely.

  Sir Gawain stepped out to meet him, saying, "Why have you taken your anger out on the hounds? They did only what they were trained to do. I killed the stag; vent your rage on me, not on a dumb beast."

  The knight cried, "That is true. I have vengeance on the hounds and I will have vengeance on you also."

  Sir Gawain engaged him with sword and shield, and they slashed and cut and parried, and each wounded the other so that blood spattered the floor, but gradually Sir Gawain's greater strength began to tell on the failing knight and one last heavy blow drove him to the ground, and he yielded and begged for his life.

  "You shall die for killing my hounds," said Gawain.

  "I will do anything to make amends," said the fallen knight, but Sir Gawain was merciless and he unlaced the helmet to strike off his head. As he raised his sword a lady came running from the chamber, tripped on the helpless knight, and fell full length on him. The descending sword struck her on the neck and cut through her spine, and she lay dead on the fallen knight.

  Then Gaheris said bitterly, "That was a foul deed, my brother, a shameful deed that will stick to your memory. He asked for mercy and you gave him none. A knight without mercy is without honor."

  Gawain was stunned by the accident to the fair lady. He said to the knight, "Arise. I will give you mercy."

  But the knight replied, "How can I believe you when I saw the cowardly blow that killed my dear and beloved lady."

  "I am sorry for it," Gawain said. "I did not strike at her. The cut was meant for you. I release you now on condition that you go to King Arthur and tell him the whole story and tell him you are sent by the knight of the Quest of the White Stag."

  "Why should I care for your conditions," said the knight, "when I do not care whether I live or die now?"

  But when Sir Gawain prepared to kill him, he changed his mind and prepared to obey, and Gawain made him carry one dead hound before him on his horse and the other behind to prove his story. "What is your name, before you go?" Sir Gawain asked.

  "I am Sir Blamoure of the Marys," said the knight, and he rode away toward Camelot.

  When he had gone, Gawain went back into the castle and in a chamber he started to remove his armor, for he was weary and wished to sleep. Gaheris followed him and said, "What are you doing? You cannot disarm in this place. News of your deed will make enemies spring up everywhere."

  And he had no sooner spoken than four well-armed knights came in with shields and drawn swords and they cursed Gawain, saying, "You are a new-made knight and already you have shamed your knighthood, for a merciless knight is dishonored. Also, you have slain a fair lady and your name will carry that burden for all time. You who would not give mercy will need mercy now." And one of the knights aimed a great stroke at Gawain and staggered him, but Gaheris leaped to his brother's aid and the two defended themselves against the four, who attacked them all at once. Then one knight stepped back and took up a bow and shot a steel-tipped arrow into Gawain's arm so that he could not defend himself, and the brothers would have fallen soon, but four ladies came into the hall and pleaded for their lives. And at the request of the fair ladies, the knights granted the brothers mercy and made them prisoners.

  Early in the morning, when Gawain lay moaning in his bed, one of the ladies heard him and went to him. "How do you feel?" she asked.

  "Not good," said Gawain. "I am in pain and I think I may be maimed for life." br />
  "It is your own fault," the lady said. "It was a foul thing to kill the lady of the castle. Are you not one of King Arthur's knights?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "What is your name?"

  "Fair lady, I am Sir Gawain, son of King Lot of Orkney. My mother is King Arthur's sister."

  "You are a nephew of the king," the lady said. "Well, I will plead for your release."

  And when she told the knights who he was they gave him leave to go, because they were loyal to King Arthur. And they gave him the white stag's head to prove that the quest was completed. But in punishment they hung the dead lady's head from his neck and made him carry her headless body before him on his horse.

  And when at last Sir Gawain came to Camelot and stood before the king and the fellowship, he humbly and truthfully told the whole story.

  The king and queen were displeased with him for killing the lady. Then Guinevere set an eternal quest on Gawain that during his whole life he would defend all ladies and fight in their cause. And she further commanded that he should be courteous always and he should grant mercy when it was asked.

  And Sir Gawain swore by the four Evangelists to keep this quest.

  And thus endith the adventure of Sir Gawayne that he did at the mariage of Arthure.

  Now go we to the questing of Sir Torre.

  When he was armed and ready, he went in pursuit of the knight who had taken away the white hunting brachet, and on his way he came upon a dwarf who barred his way, and when Sir Torre tried to pass, the dwarf struck his horse on the head with his staff so that it reared and nearly fell backward.

  "Why did you do that?" Torre demanded.

  "You may not pass this way unless you joust with the two knights yonder," said the dwarf.

  Then Sir Torre saw among the trees two pavilions and two spears leaning against two trees and two shields hanging from the branches. "I cannot stop now," Torre said. "I am on a quest and I must go on."

  "You may not pass," the dwarf replied, and he blew a shrill blast on his horn.

  An armed knight came from behind the tents, took spear and shield, and bore down on Sir Torre, but the young knight met him midway and unhorsed him.

  Then the felled knight yielded and begged mercy and it was granted. "But, sir," he said, "my companion will demand a joust with you."

  "He will be welcome," said Torre.

  The second knight came on at great speed, and at the shock of meeting his spear splintered, but Torre's spear drove below the shield and entered the knight's side but did not kill him. And as he struggled to his feet, Torre quickly dismounted and struck him a great blow on the helm, and he fell to the ground and begged for his life.

  "I give you your life," Torre said, "but both of you must go to King Arthur and yield to him as my prisoners."

  "Who shall we say defeated us?" they asked.

  "Say you were sent by the one who went in quest of the knight with the white brachet--Now be on your way, and God speed you, and me."

  Then the dwarf approached him and begged a favor.

  "What do you wish?" Torre asked.

  "Only to serve you," said the dwarf.

  "Very well, take a horse and come with me."

  The dwarf said, "If you are searching for the knight with the white brachet, I can bring you to where he is."

  "Then lead me to him," said Sir Torre, and they went forward into the forest for a time until they came to a priory, and beside it two tents were set up and in front of one hung a red shield and on the other a white shield.

  Then Sir Torre dismounted and handed his spear to the dwarf and he went to the pavilion of the white shield and inside he saw three damsels sleeping. He looked in the other tent and there a lady slept and beside her was the white hound bitch of his quest and it barked furiously at him. Sir Torre grabbed the dog and took it howling to the dwarf. And the noise awakened the lady and she came from the tent and the damsels followed from their tent. And the lady cried out, "Why do you take my brachet?"

  "I came in quest of this brachet all the way from King Arthur's court," said Torre.

  "Sir Knight," said the lady, "you will not get far with her before you will be met with force."

  "By God's grace, I will accept what comes, my lady," he said, and he mounted and turned back on the way to Camelot, but night began to fall as he rode and he asked the dwarf if he knew of any lodging nearby.

  "There is nothing near but a hermitage," the dwarf said. "We must take what we can find," and he led the way to a dark stone cell beside a chapel and they fed their horses, and the hermit gave them what he had, a little coarse bread for their supper, and they slept on the cold stone floor of the cell. In the morning they heard Mass in the chapel and afterward Sir Torre begged the hermit's blessing and his prayers and then he rode on toward Camelot.

  They had not gone far before a knight came galloping after them, and he called out, "Knight, give back the brachet you took from my lady."

  Sir Torre turned about and saw that the knight was a handsome man, well mounted and well armed at all points. Then he took his spear from the dwarf and set his shield and he met the knight in full career and the shock of meeting drove both horses to the ground. Then both knights stepped clear and drew their swords, and they fought like lions. Their swords cut through shields and armor and each wounded the other severely and thick hot blood poured from the cloven mail and a great weariness fell on both. But Sir Torre felt that his opponent weakened more than he, and he drew on his young strength and redoubled his attack, until at last, under a heavy blow, the knight toppled to the ground, and Sir Torre demanded his surrender.

  "I will never yield while I have life and soul, unless you give me the white brachet."

  "That I cannot do," said Torre. "It is my quest to bring you and the white hound to King Arthur."

  Then a damsel on a palfrey galloped to them and pulled up short and said, "I beg a gift from you, gentle knight. And if you love King Arthur you will grant it."

  And Torre, without thinking, said, "Ask anything you wish. I will grant it."

  "Thank you, noble sir," she said. "This fallen knight is Sir Arbellus and he is a murderer and a false knight. I demand his head."

  "Now I am sorry for my promise," said Torre. "If he has injured you, perhaps he can make amends to your satisfaction."

  "Only his death can make amends," the damsel said. "He fought my brother and overcame him and my brother begged mercy. And I kneeled in the mud and begged for my brother's life, but he refused and killed my brother before my eyes. He is a treacherous man and has wounded many good knights. Now keep your promise to me or I will shame you in King Arthur's court as a breaker of oaths."

  When Arbellus heard this he was filled with dread and he yielded to Sir Torre and asked mercy of him.

  And Torre was puzzled. He said, "A moment ago I offered you mercy and you refused to yield unless I gave the brachet of my quest. But now that I have made a sad promise, you yield and ask the mercy you refused."

  Then in his fear Arbellus turned about and fled among the trees, and Sir Torre pursued him and struck him down and killed him, and stood wearily over his body.

  The damsel came to him and said, "That was well done. He was a murderer. Night is coming and you are weary. Come to my house nearby and take your rest."

  "That I will," said Torre. "My horse and I have had little rest and less food since we left Camelot on this quest." Then he went with her and at her lodging her husband, an old and honorable knight, welcomed him and gave him good food and drink and a pleasant bed, and he fell into the bed and slept soundly. And in the morning after they heard Mass he prepared to leave the old knight and his young wife and they asked his name.

  "I am Sir Torre," he said. "I have only just now been made a knight and this was my first quest, to bring Arbellus and the white brachet to King Arthur's court."

  "Truly you have fulfilled the quest," said the lady. "And when in the future you are nearby, this is your lodging and we will al
ways serve you and give you welcome."

  And then Sir Torre rode on toward Camelot and he came there on the third day at noon when the king and queen and all the fellowship sat in the great hall and they were glad of his coming. And as the custom was, he told his deeds and proved them with the white hound and the body of Arbellus--and the king and queen were pleased with him.

  Merlin said, "He went on his quest with no help and no retainer. Pellinore, his father, gave him an old horse and Arthur worn-out armor and a sword. But this is nothing to what he will do, my lord. He will be a brave and noble knight, gentle and courteous and truthful, and he will never shame his knighthood."

  And when Merlin had spoken, King Arthur gave Sir Torre an earldom of lands and a place of honor in the court.

  And here endith the queste of Sir Torre, Kynge Pellynors sonne.

  Go we now to Sir Pellinore's Quest of the Lady taken by force from the court.

  While King Arthur and his noble fellowship sat in the great dim-lighted hall, feasting and hearing causes and minstrelry, Sir Pellinore went to his lodging and armed himself, and saw his horse well equipped and housed, and then he mounted and rode at a fast mile-covering trot after the lady who had been led away unwilling by an unknown knight. And he entered the forest and came to a little tree-shaded valley where, beside a gushing spring, he saw a damsel sitting on the moss-carpeted earth holding a wounded knight in her arms. And when she saw Pellinore she called out to him, "Help me, Sir Knight, for Jesus's sake."

  But Pellinore was eager for his quest and he would not stop there. And the damsel called after him piteously, but when she saw that he would not pause she cried aloud a prayer to God that Pellinore might someday know a need as great as hers and find no help anywhere. It is said that soon afterwards the hurt knight died in the damsel's arms and that she slew herself in her despair.

  But Pellinore proceeded down the path through the valley until he came to a poor laboring man in the trail, and the knight asked whether he had seen a knight leading an unwilling lady.

  "That I did," said the man. "I saw them both and the lady complained so loudly that her voice rang through the valley. A little below here," the poor man said, "you will see two pavilions, and one of the knights there challenged the lady's companion and said she was his cousin. Then one said the lady was his by right of force and the other that she was his by right of kinship, and when they had argued and insulted and challenged, they fell to fighting. It is not wise for a poor man to be near when knights are battle-minded and so I came away to avoid trouble. But if you will hurry you may find them still fighting. The lady is guarded by two squires in the pavilion awaiting the decision of the combat."