Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur - Sir Thomas Malory Renaissance and Medieval Studies

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very terrible in the killing of this lady, which will be a great shame unto you. But are you not of King Arthur’s court?” said the lady.

      “Yes, truly,” said Sir Gawain.

      “What is your name?” said the lady. “You must tell me before you leave.”

      “Fair lady, my name is Sir Gawain, the son of King Lot of Orkney, and my mother is King Arthur’s sister.”

      “Then you are the king’s nephew,” said the lady. “Well,” said the lady, “for the love of King Arthur I shall speak on your behalf so that you may be allowed to return to the king.” She then departed and told the four knights how the prisoner was King Arthur’s nephew, named Gawain, son of King Lot of Orkney.

      So they allowed him to depart, taking with him the hart’s head, since that had been his quest. They let him go on the condition that he promise to bear the dead lady with him, with her head hanging around his neck and the rest of her body lying in front of him across the horse’s mane. Gawain did as they commanded, and thus rode forth to Camelot.

      As soon as he arrived, Merlin had King Arthur make Gawain swear to tell of his adventure: how he slew the lady, and how he would not grant mercy to the knight, which caused the death of the lady. The king and queen were greatly displeased with Sir Gawain on account of the death of the lady, and by ordinance of the queen Gawain was charged with a quest of ladies: he was ordered for the rest of his life to always side with ladies, and to fight on their behalf in any quarrel. He was also charged to be always courteous, and never refuse mercy to one who asked for it. Sir Gawain swore upon the four Gospels that he would never be against a lady or gentlewoman, unless he was fighting for one lady and his adversary was fighting for another.

      Thus ends the adventure that Sir Gawain had on the occasion of Arthur’s marriage.

      8 The Adventure of Sir Tor

      When Sir Tor was ready he mounted on horseback and rode after the knight with the brachet. As he was riding, he suddenly encountered a dwarf who struck his horse on the head with a staff so hard that he reeled backward the length of a spear.

      CIII.9

      “Why did you do that?” said Sir Tor.

      “Because you may not pass this way unless you joust with the knights in yonder pavilions.” Then Sir Tor noticed two pavilions, with great spears resting outside them, and two shields hanging on trees near the pavilions.

      “I cannot delay,” said Sir Tor, “for I am on a quest that I must complete.”

      “You may not pass this way,” said the dwarf, and then blew his horn.

      Then an armed man on horseback came toward him, his shield at the ready, and came quickly at Sir Tor. Then he took up the position opposite him, and they ran together. Sir Tor knocked him off his horse, and then the other knight yielded to his mercy.

      “But sir, I have a fellow in yonder pavilion that would like to have ado with you next.”

      “He shall be welcome,” said Sir Tor, and he noticed another knight coming at him fiercely, and each faced off against the other, so that it was a marvel to see. This knight struck Sir Tor in the middle of shield so that his sword splintered. Sir Tor struck him underneath his shield, so that the blow went right through his side, but it did not kill him. Then Sir Tor dismounted and smote him on the helmet with a great stroke. At that, the knight yielded himself and asked for mercy.

      “Gladly,” said Sir Tor. “But you and your fellow must go to King Arthur and yield yourselves as prisoners to him.”

      “By whom shall we say we have been sent?”

      “You shall say, ‘by the knight that went in quest of the knight with the brachet.’ Now what are your names?” said Sir Tor.

      “My name is,” said one, “Sir Phelot of Languedoc.”

      “And my name is,” said the other, “Sir Petipace of Winchelsea.”

      “Now go forth,” said Sir Tor, “and godspeed, to you and me.”

      Then the dwarf came up to Sir Tor and said, “I pray you, grant me a boon.”

      “I will gladly,” said Sir Tor. “Ask and you shall have it.”

      “I ask no more,” said the dwarf, “but that you will allow me to serve you, for I wish to serve no more recreant knights.”

      “Well, take a horse,” said Sir Tor, “and ride on with me.”

      “I believe,” said the dwarf, “that you are riding after the knight with the white brachet, and I shall bring you to where he is,” said the dwarf.

      So they rode through a forest, and at last they saw two pavilions set up near a priory with two shields: one shield was colored white and the other was colored red. Sir Tor dismounted and took his glaive from the dwarf, and went up to the white pavilion. He saw therein three damsels lying asleep on a pallet.

      CIII.10

      He went to the other pavilion and found a lady sleeping there, but he also found the white brachet, which, when it saw him, began to bark. Then Sir Tor picked up the brachet and went on his way and brought it to the dwarf. At the noise, the lady came out of the pavilion, as did her damsels.

      She said, “Do you wish to take my brachet from me?”

      “Yes,” said Sir Tor, “I have sought this brachet all the way from King Arthur’s court.”

      “Well,” said the lady, “sir knight, you shall not get far with her! You will be met and challenged.”

      “I will take whatever adventure comes, by the grace of God.” Then he mounted his horse and turned toward Camelot. It was almost night, though, so he could not go very far.

      “Do you know of any lodging near here?” said Sir Tor.

      “I know of none,” said the dwarf, “except that near here there is an hermitage, where we will have to take whatever lodging we may find.” So within a short while they came to the hermitage, and accepted whatever lodging was there, and got grass and oats and other provisions for their horses.

      They rested there all night until morning, when they heard mass and took their leave of the hermit. Sir Tor asked the hermit to pray for him; he said he would, and commended him to God.

      Mounted on horseback, they rode toward Camelot for a long while, until they heard a knight call loudly after them. He said, “Knight, stop and give me my brachet which you took from my lady!”

      Sir Tor turned and saw that he was a handsome knight, on a good horse and well-armed at all points. Then Sir Tor raised his shield and took his glaive in his hands. They came at each other fiercely as freshly rested men, and drove both men and horses to the earth.

      Then they jumped up quickly and drew their swords as eagerly as lions, and put their shields before them, and struck through each other’s shields, so that each of them lost pieces of their shields. They also cut through one another’s helmets, so that hot blood ran out, and the thick mail of their hauberks they cut and rent asunder, so that their hot blood ran out to the earth.

      They both had many wounds and were very weary, and Sir Tor saw that the other knight fainted. Then he set upon him quickly, doubling his strokes, and struck him to the earth. Then Sir Tor ordered him to yield.

      “I will not do that,” said Abellus, “while my life lasts and my soul remains in my body, unless you give me the brachet.”

      “I will not do that,” said Sir Tor, “for it was my quest to bring back the brachet, you, or both.”

      At that moment a damsel came riding on a palfrey as fast as she could go, and cried out to Sir Tor in a loud voice.

      CIII.11

      “What do you want with me?” said Sir Tor.

      “I

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