Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble; Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
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Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble; Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said
Arthur, for many things. Also here was a child, and told me many things
that me seemeth he should not know, for he was not of age to know my
father. Yes, said the old man, the child told you truth, and more would
he have told you and ye would have suffered him. But ye have done a
thing late that God is displeased with you, and your sister shall have
a child that shall destroy you and all the knights of your realm. What
are ye, said Arthur, that tell me these tidings? I am Merlin, and I was
he in the child’s likeness. Ah, said king Arthur, ye are a marvellous
man, but I marvel much of thy words that I must die in battle. Marvel
not, said Merlin, for it is God’s will your body to be punished for
your foul deeds. But I may well be sorry, said Merlin, for I shall die
a shameful death, to be put in the earth quick, and ye shall die a
worshipful death. And as they talked this, came one with the king’s
horse, and so the king mounted on his horse and Merlin on another, and
so rode unto Carlion. And anon the king asked Ector and Ulfius how he
was born. And they told him that Uther Pendragon was his father, and
queen Igraine his mother: then he said to Merlin, I will that my mother
be sent for, that I may speak with her, and if she say so herself, then
will I believe it. In all haste the queen was sent for, and she came
and brought with her Morgan le Fay her daughter, that was as fair a
lady as any might be. And the king welcomed Igraine in the best manner.
CHAP. XIX.
_How Ulfius appeached queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother, of treason: and
how a knight came and desired to have the death of his master
revenged._
Right so came Ulfius and said openly, that the king and all might hear
that were feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and
the most traitress unto the king’s person. Beware, said Arthur, what
thou sayest; thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Sir
Ulfius, what I speak, and here is my glove to prove it upon any man
that will say the contrary, that this queen Igraine is causer of your
great damage, and of your great war. For, and she would have uttered it
in the life of king Uther Pendragon of the birth of you, ye had never
had half the mortal wars that ye have had: for the most part of your
barons of your realm knew never whose son ye were, nor of whom ye were
born. And she that bear you should have made it known openly in
excusing of her worship and yours, and in likewise to all the realm;
wherefore I prove her false to God and to you and to all your realm,
and who will say the contrary I will prove it upon his body.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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