HowfvekngscamentothslandtowaraganstKngArthur,andwhatcounselArthurhadaganstthem。
ANDasKngArthurrodetoCamelot,andheldthereagreatfeastwthmrthandjoy,sosoonafterhereturneduntoCardole,andtherecameuntoArthurnewtdngsthatthekngofDenmark,andthekngofrelandthatwashsbrother,andthekngoftheVale,andthekngofSolese,andthekngofthesleofLongtans,allthesefvekngswthagreathostwereenteredntothelandofKngArthur,andburntandslewcleanaforethem,bothctesandcastles,thattwasptytohear。Alas,sadArthur,yethadneverrestonemonthsncewascrownedkngofthsland。Nowshallneverresttllmeetwththosekngsnafarfeld,thatmakemneavow;formytruelegepeopleshallnotbedestroyednmydefault,gowthmewhowll,andabdewhothatwll。ThenthekngletwrteuntoKngPellnore,andprayedhmnallhastetomakehmreadywthsuchpeopleashemghtlghtlestrearandhehmafternallhaste。Allthebaronswereprvlywroththatthekngwoulddepartsosuddenly;butthekngbynomeanwouldabde,butmadewrtnguntothemthatwerenotthere,andbadethemheafterhm,suchaswerenotatthattmenthecourt。ThenthekngcametoQueenGuenever,andsad,Lady,makeyouready,foryeshallgowthme,formaynotlongmssyou;yeshallcausemetobethemorehardy,whatadventuresobefallme;wllnotwtmyladytobennojeopardy。Sr,sadshe,amatyourcommandment,andshallbereadywhattmesoyebeready。Soonthemornthekngandthequeendepartedwthsuchfellowshpastheyhad,andcamentothenorth,ntoaforestbesdeHumber,andtherelodgedthem。Whenthewordandtdngcameuntothefvekngsabovesad,thatArthurwasbesdeHumbernaforest,therewasaknght,brotheruntooneofthefvekngs,thatgavethemthscounsel:YeknowwellthatSrArthurhaththeflowerofchvalryoftheworldwthhm,astsprovedbythegreatbattleheddwththeelevenkngs;andthereforeheuntohmnghtanddaytllthatwebenghhm,forthelongerhetarreththebggerhes,andweevertheweaker;andhessocourageousofhmselfthathescometothefeldwthlttlepeople,andthereforeletussetuponhmordayandweshallslaydown;ofhsknghtsthereshallnoneescape。
HowKngArthurhadadowththemandoverthrewthem,andslewthefvekngsandmadetheremnanttoflee。
UNTOthscounselthesefvekngsassented,andsotheypassedforthwththerhostthroughNorthWales,andcameuponArthurbynght,andsetuponhshostasthekngandhsknghtswerentherpavlons。KngArthurwasunarmed,andhadladhmtorestwthhsQueenGuenever。Sr,sadSrKay,tsnotgoodwebeunarmed。Weshallhavenoneed,sadSrGawaneandSrGrflet,thatlaynalttlepavlonbythekng。Wththattheyheardagreatnose,andmanycred,Treason,treason!
Alas,sadKngArthur,webebetrayed!Untoarms,fellows,thenhecred。Sotheywerearmedanonatallponts。Thencamethereawoundedknghtuntothekng,andsad,Sr,saveyourselfandmyladythequeen,forourhostsdestroyed,andmuchpeopleofoursslan。Soanonthekngandthequeenandthethreeknghtstooktherhorses,androdetowardHumbertopassovert,andthewaterwassoroughthattheywereafradtopassover。Nowmayyechoose,sadKngArthur,whetheryewllabdeandtaketheadventureonthssde,foranyebetakentheywllslayyou。tweremelefer,sadthequeen,todenthewaterthantofallnyourenemes’handsandtherebeslan。
Andastheystoodsotalkng,SrKaysawthefvekngscomngonhorsebackbythemselvesalone,wththerspearsntherhandseventowardthem。Lo,sadSrKay,yonderbethefvekngs;letusgotothemandmatchthem。Thatwerefolly,sadSrGawane,forwearebutthreeandtheybefve。Thatstruth,sadSrGrflet。Noforce,sadSrKay,wllundertakefortwoofthem,andthenmayyethreeundertakefortheotherthree。Andtherewthal,SrKaylethshorserunasfastashemght,andstruckoneofthemthroughthesheldandthebodyafathom,thatthekngfelltotheearthstarkdead。
ThatsawSrGawane,andranuntoanotherkngsohardthathesmotehmthroughthebody。AndtherewthalKngArthurrantoanother,andsmotehmthroughthebodywthaspear,thathefelltotheearthdeadThenSrGrfletranuntothefourthkng,andgavehmsuchafallthathsneckbrake。AnonSrKayranuntotheffthkng,andsmotehmsohardonthehelmthatthestrokeclavethehelmandtheheadtotheearth。Thatwaswellstrcken,sadKngArthur,andworshpfullyhastthouholdenthypromse,thereforeshallhonourtheewhlethatlve。AndtherewthaltheysetthequeennabargentoHumber;butalwaysQueenGueneverprasedSrKayforhsdeeds,andsad,Whatladythatyelove,andsheloveyounotagansheweregreatlytoblame;andamonglades,sadthequeen,shallbearyournoblefame,foryespakeagreatword,andfulflledtworshpfully。
Andtherewththequeendeparted。
Thenthekngandthethreeknghtsrodentotheforest,fortheretheysupposedtohearofthemthatwereescaped;andtherehefoundthemostpartofhspeople,andtoldthemallhowthefvekngsweredead。Andthereforeletusholdustogethertlltbeday,andwhentherhosthaveespedthatthercheftansbeslan,theywllmakesuchdolethattheyshallnomorehelpthemselves。Andrghtsoasthekngsad,sotwas;forwhentheyfoundthefvekngsdead,theymadesuchdolethattheyfellfromtherhorses。TherewthalcameKngArthurbutwthafewpeople,andslewonthelefthandandontherghthand,thatwell-nghthereescapednoman,butallwereslantothenumberthrtythousand。Andwhenthebattlewasallended,thekngkneeleddownandthankedGodmeekly。Andthenhesentforthequeen,andsoonshewascome,andshemadegreatjoyoftheovercomngofthatbattle。
Howthebattlewasfnshedorhecame,andhowKngArthurfoundedanabbeywherethebattlewas。
THEREWTHALcameonetoKngArthur,andtoldhmthatKngPellnorewaswthnthreemlewthagreathost;andhesad,Gountohm,andlethmunderstandhowwehavesped。SowthnawhleKngPellnorecamewthagreathost,andsalutedthepeopleandthekng,andtherewasgreatjoymadeoneverysde。
Thenthekngletsearchhowmuchpeopleofhspartytherewasslan;andtherewerefoundbutlttlepasttwohundredmenslanandeghtknghtsoftheTableRoundntherpavlons。Thenthekngletrearanddevsenthesameplacewhereatthebattlewasdoneafarabbey,andendowedtwthgreatlvelhood,andlettcalltheAbbeyofLaBealeAdventure。Butwhensomeofthemcamentothercountres,whereofthefvekngswerekngs,andtoldthemhowtheywereslan,therewasmadegreatdole。AndallKngArthur’senemes,astheKngofNorthWales,andthekngsoftheNorth,[whenthey]wstofthebattle,theywerepassngheavy。AndsothekngreturneduntoCamelotnhaste。
AndwhenhewascometoCamelothecalledKngPellnoreuntohm,andsad,YeunderstandwellthatwehavelosteghtknghtsofthebestoftheTableRound,andbyyouradvcewewllchooseeghtaganofthebestwemayfndnthscourt。Sr,sadPellnore,shallcounselyouaftermyconcetthebest:therearenyourcourtfullnobleknghtsbothofoldandyoung;andthereforebymneadvceyeshallchoosehalfoftheoldandhalfoftheyoung。Whchbetheold?sadKngArthur。Sr,sadKngPellnore,meseemeththatKngUrensthathathweddedyourssterMorganleFay,andtheKngoftheLake,andSrHervsedeRevel,anobleknght,andSrGalagars,thefourth。
Thsswelldevsed,sadKngArthur,andrghtsoshalltbe。
Now,whcharethefouryoungknghts?sadArthur。Sr,sadPellnore,thefrstsSrGawane,yournephew,thatsasgoodaknghtofhstmeasanysnthsland;andthesecondasmeseemethbestsSrGrfletleFsedeDeu,thatsagoodknghtandfulldesrousnarms,andwhomayseehmlveheshallproveagoodknght;andthethrdasmeseemethswelltobeoneoftheknghtsoftheRoundTable,SrKaytheSeneschal,formanytmeshehathdonefullworshpfully,andnowatyourlastbattleheddfullhonourablyfortoundertaketoslaytwokngs。Bymyhead,sadArthur,hesbestworthtobeaknghtoftheRoundTableofanythatyehaverehearsed,anhehaddonenomoreprowessnhslfedays。
HowSrTorwasmadeknghtoftheRoundTable,andhowBagdemaguswasdspleased。
NOW,sadKngPellnore,shallputtoyoutwoknghts,andyeshallchoosewhchsmostworthy,thatsSrBagdemagus,andSrTor,myson。ButbecauseSrTorsmysonmaynotprasehm,butelse,anhewerenotmyson,durstsaythatofhsagetheresnotnthslandabetterknghtthanhes,norofbettercondtonsandloathtodoanywrong,andloathtotakeanywrong。Bymyhead,sadArthur,hesapassnggoodknghtasanyyespakeofthsday,thatwotwell,sadthekng;forhaveseenhmproved,buthesathlttleandhedothmuchmore,forknownonenallthscourtanhewereaswellbornonhsmother’ssdeashesonyoursde,thatslkehmofprowessandofmght:andthereforewllhavehmatthstme,andleaveSrBagdemagustllanothertme。Sowhentheyweresochosenbytheassentofallthebarons,soweretherefoundnthersegeseveryknghts’namesthatherearerehearsed,andsoweretheysetntherseges;whereofSrBagdemaguswaswonderlywroth,thatSrTorwasadvancedaforehm,andthereforesuddenlyhedepartedfromthecourt,andtookhssqurewthhm,androdelongnaforesttlltheycametoacross,andtherealghtedandsadhsprayersdevoutly。Themeanwhlehssqurefoundwrttenuponthecross,thatBagdemagusshouldneverreturnuntothecourtagan,tllhehadwonaknght’sbodyoftheRoundTable,bodyforbody。So,sr,sadthesqure,herefndwrtngofyou,thereforeredeyoureturnagantothecourt。Thatshallnever,sadBagdemagus,tllmenspeakofmegreatworshp,andthatbeworthytobeaknghtoftheRoundTable。Andsoherodeforth,andtherebythewayhefoundabranchofanholyherbthatwasthesgnoftheSangreal,andnoknghtfoundsuchtokensbuthewereagoodlver。
So,asSrBagdemagusrodetoseemanyadventures,thappedhmtocometotherockwhereastheLadyoftheLakehadputMerlnunderthestone,andthereheheardhmmakegreatdole;whereofSrBagdemaguswouldhaveholpenhm,andwentuntothegreatstone,andtwassoheavythatanhundredmenmghtnotlfttup。WhenMerlnwsthewasthere,hebadeleavehslabour,forallwasnvan,forhemghtneverbeholpenbutbyherthatputhmthere。AndsoBagdemagusdepartedandddmanyadventures,andprovedafterafullgoodknght,andcameagantothecourtandwasmadeknghtoftheRoundTable。Soonthemorntherefellnewtdngsandotheradventures。
HowKngArthur,KngUrens,andSrAccolonofGaul,chasedanhart,andofthermarvellousadventures。
THENtbefellthatArthurandmanyofhsknghtsrodea-huntngntoagreatforest,andthappedKngArthur,KngUrens,andSrAccolonofGaul,followedagreathart,fortheythreewerewellhorsed,andsotheychasedsofastthatwthnawhletheythreewerethentenmlefromtherfellowshp。Andatthelasttheychasedsosorethattheyslewtherhorsesunderneaththem。
Thenweretheyallthreeonfoot,andevertheysawthehartaforethempassngwearyandenbushed。Whatwllwedo?sadKngArthur,wearehardbestead。Letusgoonfoot,sadKngUrens,tllwemaymeetwthsomelodgng。Thenweretheywareofthehartthatlayonagreatwaterbank,andabrachetbtngonhsthroat,andmoreotherhoundscameafter。ThenKngArthurblewtheprseanddghtthehart。
Thentheknglookedabouttheworld,andsawaforehmnagreatwateralttleshp,allapparelledwthslkdowntothewater,andtheshpcamerghtuntothemandlandedonthesands。
ThenArthurwenttothebankandlookedn,andsawnoneearthlycreaturetheren。Srs,sadthekng,comethence,andletusseewhatsnthsshp。Sotheywentnallthree,andfoundtrchlybehangedwthclothofslk。Bythentwasdarknght,andtheresuddenlywereaboutthemanhundredtorchessetuponallthesdesoftheshpboards,andtgavegreatlght;
andtherewthaltherecameouttwelvefardamoselsandsalutedKngArthurontherknees,andcalledhmbyhsname,andsadhewasrghtwelcome,andsuchcheerastheyhadheshouldhaveofthebest。Thekngthankedthemfar。Therewthaltheyledthekngandhstwofellowsntoafarchamber,andtherewasaclothlad,rchlybeseenofallthatlongeduntoatable,andthereweretheyservedofallwnesandmeatsthattheycouldthnk;ofthattheknghadgreatmarvel,forhefaredneverbetternhslfeasforonesupper。Andsowhentheyhadsuppedattherlesure,KngArthurwasledntoachamber,archerbeseenchambersawhenevernone,andsowasKngUrensserved,andledntosuchanotherchamber,andSrAccolonwasledntothethrdchamberpassngrchlyandwellbeseen;andsotheywereladntherbedseasly。Andanontheyfellasleep,andsleptmarvellouslysoreallthenght。AndonthemorrowKngUrenswasnCamelotabednhswfe’sarms,MorganleFay。Andwhenheawokehehadgreatmarvel,howhecamethere,forontheevenaforehewastwodays’journeyfromCamelot。AndwhenKngArthurawokehefoundhmselfnadarkprson,hearngabouthmmanycomplantsofwofulknghts。
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