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
And so on the morn the damsel and Sir Beaumains heard mass and brake
their fast, and so took their leave. Fair damsel, said Persant,
whitherward are ye away leading this knight? Sir, she said, this knight
is going to the siege that besiegeth my sister in the castle dangerous.
Ah, ah, said Persant, that is the knight of the red lawn, the which is
the most perilous knight that I know now living, and a man that is
without mercy, and men say that he hath seven men’s strength. God save
you, said he to Beaumains, from that knight, for he doth great wrong to
that lady, and that is great pity, for she is one of the fairest ladies
of the world, and me seemeth that your damsel is her sister. Is not
your name Linet? said he. Yea, sir, said she, and my lady my sister’s
name is dame Liones. Now shall I tell you, said Sir Persant, this red
knight of the red lawn hath lain long at the siege, well nigh this two
years, and many times he might have had her and he had would, but he
prolongeth the time to this intent for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake to
do battle with him, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, or Sir
Gawaine: and this is his tarrying so long at the siege. Now, my lord
Sir Persant of Inde, said the damsel Linet, I require you that ye will
make this gentleman knight, or ever he fight with the red knight. I
will with all my heart, said Sir Persant, and it please him to take the
order of knighthood of so simple a man as I am. Sir, said Beaumains, I
thank you for your good will, for I am better sped, for certainly the
noble knight Sir Launcelot made me knight. Ah, said Persant, of a more
renowned knight might ye not be made knight. For of all knights he may
be called chief of knighthood: and so all the world saith that betwixt
three knights is parted clearly knighthood that is Launcelot du Lake,
Sir Tristram de Liones, and Sir Lamorak de Galis: these bear now the
renown. There be many other knights, as Sir Palamides the Saracen, and
Sir Sasere his brother; also Sir Bleoberis, and Sir Blamore de Ganis
his brother; also Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir
Percivale de Galis; these and many more be noble knights, but there be
none that pass the three above said; therefore God speed you well, said
Sir Persant, for and ye may match the red knight ye shall be called the
fourth of the world. Sir, said Beaumains, I would fain be of good fame
and of knighthood. And I let you wit I came of good men, for I dare say
my father was a noble man, and so that ye will keep it in close, and
this damsel, I will tell you of what kin I am. We will not discover
you, said they both, till ye command us, by the faith we owe unto God.
Truly then, said he, my name is Gareth of Orkney, and king Lot was my
father, and my mother is king Arthur’s sister; her name is dame
Morgawse, and Sir Gawaine is my brother, and Sir Agravaine, and Sir
Gaheris, and I am the youngest of them all. And yet wot not king Arthur
nor Sir Gawaine what I am.
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