Le Morte d'Arthur (Complete 21 Book Edition). Thomas Malory

href="#u3434cd51-2884-55c2-8447-2dbb0d809b37">13. How Sir Gawaine jousted and smote down Sir Lionel, and how Sir Launcelot horsed King Arthur

       14. How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how Sir Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur

       15. Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir Launcelot, and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot

       16. Of the communication between Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot, with much other language

       17. How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous Gard over seaward, and what knights went with him

       18. How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made great lords of the knights that went with him

       19. How King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready to go over sea to make war on Sir Launcelot

       20. What message Sir Gawaine sent to Sir Launcelot; and how King Arthur laid siege to Benwick, and other matters

       21. How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together, and how Sir Gawaine was overthrown and hurt

       22. Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of another battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse

       Book XXI

       1. How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be King of England, and would have married the queen, his father’s wife

       2. How after that King Arthur had tidings, he returned and came to Dover, where Sir Mordred met him to let his landing; and of the death of Sir Gawaine

       3. How after, Sir Gawaine’s ghost appeared to King Arthur, and warned him that he should not fight that day

       4. How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where Mordred was slain, and Arthur hurt to the death

       5. How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into the water, and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge

       6. How Sir Bedivere found him on the morrow dead in an hermitage, and how he abode there with the hermit

       7. Of the opinion of some men of the death of King Arthur; and how Queen Guenever made her a nun in Almesbury

       8. How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King Arthur, and of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he came into England

       9. How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the Queen Guenever, and how he found her at Almesbury

       10. How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the Archbishop of Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on him

       11. How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to Almesbury, and found there Queen Guenever dead, whom they brought to Glastonbury

       12. How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose body was borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried

       13. How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and how Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the end of this book

      Book I

       Table of Contents

      Chapter I.

       How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again.

       Table of Contents

      It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine.

      So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means of great lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady well, and he made them great cheer out of measure, and desired to have lain by her. But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent unto the king. And then she told the duke her husband, and said, I suppose that we were sent for that I should be dishonoured; wherefore, husband, I counsel you, that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may ride all night unto our own castle. And in like wise as she said so they departed, that neither the king nor none of his council were ware of their departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing so suddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy council, and told them of the sudden departing of the duke and his wife.

      Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great charge; and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your best, then have ye cause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done, and the messengers had their answers; and that was this shortly, that neither he nor his wife would not come at him.

      Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word again, and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for within forty days he would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath.

      When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and garnished two strong castles of his, of the which the one hight Tintagil, and the other castle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine he put in the castle of Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of Terrabil, the which had many issues and posterns out. Then in all haste came Uther with a great host, and laid a siege about the castle of Terrabil. And there he pight many pavilions, and there was great war made on both parties, and much people slain. Then for pure anger and for great love of fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick. So came to the king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he was sick. I shall tell thee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for love of fair Igraine, that I may not be whole. Well, my lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shall seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased. So Ulfius departed, and by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar’s array, and there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he sought. And he said he had little ado to tell him. Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore seek no farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward