The Boy's King Arthur: Sir Thomas Malory's History of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
General
The Boy's King Arthur: Sir Thomas Malory's History of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
Then Sir Bedivere swooned, and when he awoke he prayed the hermit he
might abide with him still there, to live with fasting and prayers.
"For from hence will I never go," said Sir Bedivere, "by my will, but
all the days of my life here to pray for my lord Arthur."
"Ye are welcome to me," said the hermit, "for I know you better than ye
ween that I do. Ye are the bold Bedivere, and the full noble duke Sir
Lucan the Butler was your brother."
Then Sir Bedivere told the hermit all as ye have heard before. So there
bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit, and there Sir Bedivere put upon
him poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and in
prayers. And when the Queen Guenever understood that King Arthur was
slain, and all the noble knights, Sir Mordred and all the remnant, then
the queen stole away, and five ladies with her, and so she went to
Almesbury, and there she let make herself a nun and wore white clothes
and black. And great penance she took as ever did sinful lady in this
land; and never creature could make her merry, but lived in fastings,
prayers, and alms deeds, that all manner of people marvelled how
virtuously she was changed. Now leave we Queen Guenever in Almsbury,
that was a nun in white clothes and black; and there she was abbess
and ruler, as reason would. And turn we from her, and speak we of Sir
Launcelot du Lake.
* * * * *
And when he heard in his country that Sir Mordred was crowned king
in England, and made war against King Arthur, and would not let him
to land in his own land; also it was told Sir Launcelot how that Sir
Mordred had laid siege about the Tower of London, because the queen
would not wed him; then was Sir Launcelot wondrous wroth.
Then they made them ready in all the haste that might be, with ships
and galleys, with Sir Launcelot and his host for to pass into England.
And so he passed over the sea, and arrived at Dover, and there he
landed with seven kings, and their number was hideous to behold. Then
Sir Launcelot inquired of the men of Dover where King Arthur was become.
Then the people told him how that he was slain, with Sir Mordred, and
an hundred thousand died upon a day, and how Sir Mordred gave King
Arthur there the first battle at his landing, and there was the good
knight Sir Gawaine slain; and on the morrow Sir Mordred fought with
King Arthur upon Barendoune, and there King Arthur put Sir Mordred to
the worst.
"Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "this is the heaviest tidings that ever
came to me. Now fair sirs," said Sir Launcelot, "I beseech you show me
the tomb of Sir Gawaine."
And then certain people of the town brought him to the castle of Dover,
and showed him the tomb of Sir Gawaine. Then Sir Launcelot kneeled
down, and wept, and prayed full heartily for his soul. And that night
he made a dole, and all they that would come had as much flesh and
fish, wine and ale, as they might eat and drink, and every man and
woman had twelve pence, come who would.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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