第19章 BOOK I(15)

So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain,and the rich pavilion there by it.Then King Arthur was ware where sat a knight armed in a chair.Sir knight,said Arthur,for what cause abidest thou here,that there may no knight ride this way but if he joust with thee?said the king.I rede thee leave that custom,said Arthur.This custom,said the knight,have I used and will use maugre who saith nay,and who is grieved with my custom let him amend it that will.I will amend it,said Arthur.

I shall defend thee,said the knight.Anon he took his horse and dressed his shield and took a spear,and they met so hard either in other's shields,that all to-shivered their spears.Therewith anon Arthur pulled out his sword.Nay,not so,said the knight;it is fairer,said the knight,that we twain run more together with sharp spears.I will well,said Arthur,an I had any more spears.I have enow,said the knight;so there came a squire and brought two good spears,and Arthur chose one and he another;so they spurred their horses and came together with all their mights,that either brake their spears to their hands.Then Arthur set hand on his sword.Nay,said the knight,ye shall do better,ye are a passing good jouster as ever I met withal,and once for the love of the high order of knighthood let us joust once again.I assent me,said Arthur.Anon there were brought two great spears,and every knight gat a spear,and therewith they ran together that Arthur's spear all to-shivered.But the other knight hit him so hard in midst of the shield,that horse and man fell to the earth,and therewith Arthur was eager,and pulled out his sword,and said,I will assay thee,sir knight,on foot,for I have lost the honour on horseback.I will be on horseback,said the knight.Then was Arthur wroth,and dressed his shield toward him with his sword drawn.When the knight saw that,he alighted,for him thought no worship to have a knight at such avail,he to be on horseback and he on foot,and so he alighted and dressed his shield unto Arthur.And there began a strong battle with many great strokes,and so hewed with their swords that the cantels flew in the fields,and much blood they bled both,that all the place there as they fought was overbled with blood,and thus they fought long and rested them,and then they went to the battle again,and so hurtled together like two rams that either fell to the earth.So at the last they smote together that both their swords met even together.But the sword of the knight smote King Arthur's sword in two pieces,wherefore he was heavy.Then said the knight unto Arthur,Thou art in my daunger whether me list to save thee or slay thee,and but thou yield thee as overcome and recreant,thou shalt die.As for death,said King Arthur,welcome be it when it cometh,but to yield me unto thee as recreant I had liefer die than to be so shamed.And therewithal the king leapt unto Pellinore,and took him by the middle and threw him down,and raced off his helm.

When the knight felt that he was adread,for he was a passing big man of might,and anon he brought Arthur under him,and raced off his helm and would have smitten off his head.

CHAPTER XXIV

How Merlin saved Arthur's life,and threw an enchantment on King Pellinore and made him to sleep.

THEREWITHAL came Merlin and said,Knight,hold thy hand,for an thou slay that knight thou puttest this realm in the greatest damage that ever was realm:for this knight is a man of more worship than thou wotest of.Why,who is he?said the knight.

It is King Arthur.Then would he have slain him for dread of his wrath,and heaved up his sword,and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment to the knight,that he fell to the earth in a great sleep.Then Merlin took up King Arthur,and rode forth on the knight's horse.Alas!said Arthur,what hast thou done,Merlin?

hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts?There liveth not so worshipful a knight as he was;I had liefer than the stint of my land a year that he were alive.Care ye not,said Merlin,for he is wholer than ye;for he is but asleep,and will awake within three hours.I told you,said Merlin,what a knight he was;here had ye been slain had I not been.Also there liveth not a bigger knight than he is one,and he shall hereafter do you right good service;and his name is Pellinore,and he shall have two sons that shall be passing good men;save one they shall have no fellow of prowess and of good living,and their names shall be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of Wales,and he shall tell you the name of your own son,begotten of your sister,that shall be the destruction of all this realm.

CHAPTER XXV

How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword of the Lady of the Lake.