The Story of the Grail and the Passing of ArthurPyle, Howard
General
The Story of the Grail and the Passing of Arthur
Pyle, Howard
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Grail -- Legends; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
Then Sir Ewaine’s division overlapped the army of Sir Mordred, and he
charged up that hill both before and behind. And he doubled Sir
Mordred’s party up upon itself and threw it into great confusion.
But that wing of Sir Mordred’s army could not retreat to the rear by
reason that Sir Ewaine’s knights were there; wherefore, it fled back
upon the centre of the army and threw that centre also into confusion.
Then King Arthur charged for the fourth time, and this time he took the
centre hill of the three, and with that the army of Sir Mordred broke
and fled. And the army of Sir Mordred fled toward Salisbury, and a great
many knights were slain in that flight. And the army of Sir Mordred took
up its station not far from Salisbury, and not far distant from the sea.
So King Arthur won the battle of Baremdown, but with sad and bitter
loss. For many knights fell in that assault and amongst them was Sir
Ewaine, who was mortally hurt.
[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine is wounded._]
Now when King Arthur heard that Sir Ewaine was hurt, he went to where
the wounded knight lay in his pavilion. And Sir Ewaine’s face was very
wan and hollow and pale, and the dew of death stood upon his forehead.
Then King Arthur went to the couch of Sir Ewaine and he kneeled beside
the couch and embraced Sir Ewaine about the body with his arms. And the
tears ran down King Arthur’s face and wet the face of Sir Ewaine that
was beneath him. And Sir Ewaine said, “Art thou there, my king? For I
cannot see thee, and yet meseems I feel thee weeping upon me.” And King
Arthur said, “Ewaine, it is I.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine biddeth King Arthur to send for Sir Launcelot._]
Then Sir Ewaine said, “Sir, send for Sir Launcelot to aid thee in this
war. For Sir Launcelot is the best of all thy knights and he has with
him several knights that are very good and strong. These will come to
thine aid if thou wilt ask it of them, and so thou wilt easily overthrow
Sir Mordred. For many of the knights also are friends with Sir Launcelot
who are now in the army of Sir Mordred, thinking that thou art at enmity
with Sir Launcelot. But if Sir Launcelot cometh to thee, then will
those knights quit Sir Mordred and will cleave to thee. But if thou dost
not send for Sir Launcelot then it may be that Sir Mordred will
overthrow thee. Wherefore I beseech thee to send for Sir Launcelot and
for his knights to aid thee.”
Quoth King Arthur, “How shall I send for him? And by what right shall I
ask him to come to mine aid? Sir Launcelot is my foe, for he took from
me my wife and held her from me for several months. And he hath slain my
nephews and he slew Sir Gawaine, who was my best beloved of all. How,
then, shall I now ask him to come to mine aid?”
[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine writeth a letter to Sir Launcelot._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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