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<h2> BOOK IV. </h2>
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<h2> CHAPTER I. How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of the ladies of the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and there died. </h2>
<p>SO after these quests of Sir Gawaine, Sir Tor, and King Pellinore, it fell
so that Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinore brought
to court, and she was one of the damosels of the lake, that hight Nimue.
But Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would be with her.
And ever she made Merlin good cheer till she had learned of him all manner
thing that she desired; and he was assotted upon her, that he might not be
from her. So on a time he told King Arthur that he should not dure long,
but for all his crafts he should be put in the earth quick. And so he told
the king many things that should befall, but always he warned the king to
keep well his sword and the scabbard, for he told him how the sword and
the scabbard should be stolen by a woman from him that he most trusted.
Also he told King Arthur that he should miss him,—Yet had ye liefer
than all your lands to have me again. Ah, said the king, since ye know of
your adventure, purvey for it, and put away by your crafts that
misadventure. Nay, said Merlin, it will not be; so he departed from the
king. And within a while the Damosel of the Lake departed, and Merlin went
with her evermore wheresomever she went. And ofttimes Merlin would have
had her privily away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that
he should never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will.
And so he sware; so she and Merlin went over the sea unto the land of
Benwick, whereas King Ban was king that had great war against King
Claudas, and there Merlin spake with King Ban's wife, a fair lady and a
good, and her name was Elaine, and there he saw young Launcelot. There the
queen made great sorrow for the mortal war that King Claudas made on her
lord and on her lands. Take none heaviness, said Merlin, for this same
child within this twenty year shall revenge you on King Claudas, that all
Christendom shall speak of it; and this same child shall be the most man
of worship of the world, and his first name is Galahad, that know I well,
said Merlin, and since ye have confirmed him Launcelot. That is truth,
said the queen, his first name was Galahad. O Merlin, said the queen,
shall I live to see my son such a man of prowess? Yea, lady, on my peril
ye shall see it, and live many winters after.</p>
<p>And so, soon after, the lady and Merlin departed, and by the way Merlin
showed her many wonders, and came into Cornwall. And always Merlin lay
about the lady to have her maidenhood, and she was ever passing weary of
him, and fain would have been delivered of him, for she was afeard of him
because he was a devil's son, and she could not beskift him by no mean.
And so on a time it happed that Merlin showed to her in a rock whereas was
a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, that went under a great stone.
So by her subtle working she made Merlin to go under that stone to let her
wit of the marvels there; but she wrought so there for him that he came
never out for all the craft he could do. And so she departed and left
Merlin.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER II. How five kings came into this land to war against King Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them. </h2>
<p>AND as King Arthur rode to Camelot, and held there a great feast with
mirth and joy, so soon after he returned unto Cardoile, and there came
unto Arthur new tidings that the king of Denmark, and the king of Ireland
that was his brother, and the king of the Vale, and the king of Soleise,
and the king of the Isle of Longtains, all these five kings with a great
host were entered into the land of King Arthur, and burnt and slew clean
afore them, both cities and castles, that it was pity to hear. Alas, said
Arthur, yet had I never rest one month since I was crowned king of this
land. Now shall I never rest till I meet with those kings in a fair field,
that I make mine avow; for my true liege people shall not be destroyed in
my default, go with me who will, and abide who that will. Then the king
let write unto King Pellinore, and prayed him in all haste to make him
ready with such people as he might lightliest rear and hie him after in
all haste. All the barons were privily wroth that the king would depart so
suddenly; but the king by no mean would abide, but made writing unto them
that were not there, and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that
time in the court. Then the king came to Queen Guenever, and said, Lady,
make you ready, for ye shall go with me, for I may not long miss you; ye
shall cause me to be the more hardy, what adventure so befall me; I will
not wit my lady to be in no jeopardy. Sir, said she, I am at your
commandment, and shall be ready what time so ye be ready. So on the morn
the king and the queen departed with such fellowship as they had, and came
into the north, into a forest beside Humber, and there lodged them. When
the word and tiding came unto the five kings above said, that Arthur was
beside Humber in a forest, there was a knight, brother unto one of the
five kings, that gave them this counsel: Ye know well that Sir Arthur hath
the flower of chivalry of the world with him, as it is proved by the great
battle he did with the eleven kings; and therefore hie unto him night and
day till that we be nigh him, for the longer he tarrieth the bigger he is,
and we ever the weaker; and he is so courageous of himself that he is come
to the field with little people, and therefore let us set upon him or day
and we shall slay down; of his knights there shall none escape.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER III. How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee. </h2>
<p>UNTO this counsel these five kings assented, and so they passed forth with
their host through North Wales, and came upon Arthur by night, and set
upon his host as the king and his knights were in their pavilions. King
Arthur was unarmed, and had laid him to rest with his Queen Guenever. Sir,
said Sir Kay, it is not good we be unarmed. We shall have no need, said
Sir Gawaine and Sir Griflet, that lay in a little pavilion by the king.
With that they heard a great noise, and many cried, Treason, treason!
Alas, said King Arthur, we be betrayed! Unto arms, fellows, then he cried.
So they were armed anon at all points. Then came there a wounded knight
unto the king, and said, Sir, save yourself and my lady the queen, for our
host is destroyed, and much people of ours slain. So anon the king and the
queen and the three knights took their horses, and rode toward Humber to
pass over it, and the water was so rough that they were afraid to pass
over. Now may ye choose, said King Arthur, whether ye will abide and take
the adventure on this side, for an ye be taken they will slay you. It were
me liefer, said the queen, to die in the water than to fall in your
enemies' hands and there be slain.</p>
<p>And as they stood so talking, Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on
horseback by themselves alone, with their spears in their hands even
toward them. Lo, said Sir Kay, yonder be the five kings; let us go to them
and match them. That were folly, said Sir Gawaine, for we are but three
and they be five. That is truth, said Sir Griflet. No force, said Sir Kay,
I will undertake for two of them, and then may ye three undertake for the
other three. And therewithal, Sir Kay let his horse run as fast as he
might, and struck one of them through the shield and the body a fathom,
that the king fell to the earth stark dead. That saw Sir Gawaine, and ran
unto another king so hard that he smote him through the body. And
therewithal King Arthur ran to another, and smote him through the body
with a spear, that he fell to the earth dead Then Sir Griflet ran unto the
fourth king, and gave him such a fall that his neck brake. Anon Sir Kay
ran unto the fifth king, and smote him so hard on the helm that the stroke
clave the helm and the head to the earth. That was well stricken, said
King Arthur, and worshipfully hast thou holden thy promise, therefore I
shall honour thee while that I live. And therewithal they set the queen in
a barge into Humber; but always Queen Guenever praised Sir Kay for his
deeds, and said, What lady that ye love, and she love you not again she
were greatly to blame; and among ladies, said the queen, I shall bear your
noble fame, for ye spake a great word, and fulfilled it worshipfully. And
therewith the queen departed.</p>
<p>Then the king and the three knights rode into the forest, for there they
supposed to hear of them that were escaped; and there he found the most
part of his people, and told them all how the five kings were dead. And
therefore let us hold us together till it be day, and when their host have
espied that their chieftains be slain, they will make such dole that they
shall no more help themselves. And right so as the king said, so it was;
for when they found the five kings dead, they made such dole that they
fell from their horses. Therewithal came King Arthur but with a few
people, and slew on the left hand and on the right hand, that well-nigh
there escaped no man, but all were slain to the number thirty thousand.
And when the battle was all ended, the king kneeled down and thanked God
meekly. And then he sent for the queen, and soon she was come, and she
made great joy of the overcoming of that battle.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER IV. How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur founded an abbey where the battle was. </h2>
<p>THEREWITHAL came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore was
within three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and let him
understand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore came with a
great host, and saluted the people and the king, and there was great joy
made on every side. Then the king let search how much people of his party
there was slain; and there were found but little past two hundred men
slain and eight knights of the Table Round in their pavilions. Then the
king let rear and devise in the same place whereat the battle was done a
fair abbey, and endowed it with great livelihood, and let it call the
Abbey of La Beale Adventure. But when some of them came into their
countries, whereof the five kings were kings, and told them how they were
slain, there was made great dole. And all King Arthur's enemies, as the
King of North Wales, and the kings of the North, [when they] wist of the
battle, they were passing heavy. And so the king returned unto Camelot in
haste.</p>
<p>And when he was come to Camelot he called King Pellinore unto him, and
said, Ye understand well that we have lost eight knights of the best of
the Table Round, and by your advice we will choose eight again of the best
we may find in this court. Sir, said Pellinore, I shall counsel you after
my conceit the best: there are in your court full noble knights both of
old and young; and therefore by mine advice ye shall choose half of the
old and half of the young. Which be the old? said King Arthur. Sir, said
King Pellinore, meseemeth that King Uriens that hath wedded your sister
Morgan le Fay, and the King of the Lake, and Sir Hervise de Revel, a noble
knight, and Sir Galagars, the fourth. This is well devised, said King
Arthur, and right so shall it be. Now, which are the four young knights?
said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the first is Sir Gawaine, your nephew,
that is as good a knight of his time as any is in this land; and the
second as meseemeth best is Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, that is a good
knight and full desirous in arms, and who may see him live he shall prove
a good knight; and the third as meseemeth is well to be one of the knights
of the Round Table, Sir Kay the Seneschal, for many times he hath done
full worshipfully, and now at your last battle he did full honourably for
to undertake to slay two kings. By my head, said Arthur, he is best worth
to be a knight of the Round Table of any that ye have rehearsed, an he had
done no more prowess in his life days.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER V. How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round Table, and how Bagdemagus was displeased. </h2>
<p>NOW, said King Pellinore, I shall put to you two knights, and ye shall
choose which is most worthy, that is Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Tor, my son.
But because Sir Tor is my son I may not praise him, but else, an he were
not my son, I durst say that of his age there is not in this land a better
knight than he is, nor of better conditions and loath to do any wrong, and
loath to take any wrong. By my head, said Arthur, he is a passing good
knight as any ye spake of this day, that wot I well, said the king; for I
have seen him proved, but he saith little and he doth much more, for I
know none in all this court an he were as well born on his mother's side
as he is on your side, that is like him of prowess and of might: and
therefore I will have him at this time, and leave Sir Bagdemagus till
another time. So when they were so chosen by the assent of all the barons,
so were there found in their sieges every knights' names that here are
rehearsed, and so were they set in their sieges; whereof Sir Bagdemagus
was wonderly wroth, that Sir Tor was advanced afore him, and therefore
suddenly he departed from the court, and took his squire with him, and
rode long in a forest till they came to a cross, and there alighted and
said his prayers devoutly. The meanwhile his squire found written upon the
cross, that Bagdemagus should never return unto the court again, till he
had won a knight's body of the Round Table, body for body. So, sir, said
the squire, here I find writing of you, therefore I rede you return again
to the court. That shall I never, said Bagdemagus, till men speak of me
great worship, and that I be worthy to be a knight of the Round Table. And
so he rode forth, and there by the way he found a branch of an holy herb
that was the sign of the Sangreal, and no knight found such tokens but he
were a good liver.</p>
<p>So, as Sir Bagdemagus rode to see many adventures, it happed him to come
to the rock whereas the Lady of the Lake had put Merlin under the stone,
and there he heard him make great dole; whereof Sir Bagdemagus would have
holpen him, and went unto the great stone, and it was so heavy that an
hundred men might not lift it up. When Merlin wist he was there, he bade
leave his labour, for all was in vain, for he might never be holpen but by
her that put him there. And so Bagdemagus departed and did many
adventures, and proved after a full good knight, and came again to the
court and was made knight of the Round Table. So on the morn there fell
new tidings and other adventures.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul, chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures. </h2>
<p>THEN it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into a
great forest, and it happed King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of
Gaul, followed a great hart, for they three were well horsed, and so they
chased so fast that within a while they three were then ten mile from
their fellowship. And at the last they chased so sore that they slew their
horses underneath them. Then were they all three on foot, and ever they
saw the hart afore them passing weary and enbushed. What will we do? said
King Arthur, we are hard bestead. Let us go on foot, said King Uriens,
till we may meet with some lodging. Then were they ware of the hart that
lay on a great water bank, and a brachet biting on his throat, and more
other hounds came after. Then King Arthur blew the prise and dight the
hart.</p>
<p>Then the king looked about the world, and saw afore him in a great water a
little ship, all apparelled with silk down to the water, and the ship came
right unto them and landed on the sands. Then Arthur went to the bank and
looked in, and saw none earthly creature therein. Sirs, said the king,
come thence, and let us see what is in this ship. So they went in all
three, and found it richly behanged with cloth of silk. By then it was
dark night, and there suddenly were about them an hundred torches set upon
all the sides of the ship boards, and it gave great light; and therewithal
there came out twelve fair damosels and saluted King Arthur on their
knees, and called him by his name, and said he was right welcome, and such
cheer as they had he should have of the best. The king thanked them fair.
Therewithal they led the king and his two fellows into a fair chamber, and
there was a cloth laid, richly beseen of all that longed unto a table, and
there were they served of all wines and meats that they could think; of
that the king had great marvel, for he fared never better in his life as
for one supper. And so when they had supped at their leisure, King Arthur
was led into a chamber, a richer beseen chamber saw he never none, and so
was King Uriens served, and led into such another chamber, and Sir Accolon
was led into the third chamber passing richly and well beseen; and so they
were laid in their beds easily. And anon they fell asleep, and slept
marvellously sore all the night. And on the morrow King Uriens was in
Camelot abed in his wife's arms, Morgan le Fay. And when he awoke he had
great marvel, how he came there, for on the even afore he was two days'
journey from Camelot. And when King Arthur awoke he found himself in a
dark prison, hearing about him many complaints of woful knights.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER VII. How Arthur took upon him to fight to be delivered out of prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were in prison. </h2>
<p>WHAT are ye that so complain? said King Arthur. We be here twenty knights,
prisoners, said they, and some of us have lain here seven year, and some
more and some less. For what cause? said Arthur. We shall tell you, said
the knights; this lord of this castle, his name is Sir Damas, and he is
the falsest knight that liveth, and full of treason, and a very coward as
any liveth, and he hath a younger brother, a good knight of prowess, his
name is Sir Ontzlake; and this traitor Damas, the elder brother will give
him no part of his livelihood, but as Sir Ontzlake keepeth thorough
prowess of his hands, and so he keepeth from him a full fair manor and a
rich, and therein Sir Ontzlake dwelleth worshipfully, and is well beloved
of all people. And this Sir Damas, our master is as evil beloved, for he
is without mercy, and he is a coward, and great war hath been betwixt them
both, but Ontzlake hath ever the better, and ever he proffereth Sir Damas
to fight for the livelihood, body for body, but he will not do; other-else
to find a knight to fight for him. Unto that Sir Damas had granted to find
a knight, but he is so evil beloved and hated, that there is never a
knight will fight for him. And when Damas saw this, that there was never a
knight would fight for him, he hath daily lain await with many knights
with him, and taken all the knights in this country to see and espy their
adventures, he hath taken them by force and brought them to his prison.
And so he took us separately as we rode on our adventures, and many good
knights have died in this prison for hunger, to the number of eighteen
knights; and if any of us all that here is, or hath been, would have
foughten with his brother Ontzlake, he would have delivered us, but for
because this Damas is so false and so full of treason we would never fight
for him to die for it. And we be so lean for hunger that unnethe we may
stand on our feet. God deliver you, for his mercy, said Arthur.</p>
<p>Anon, therewithal there came a damosel unto Arthur, and asked him, What
cheer? I cannot say, said he. Sir, said she, an ye will fight for my lord,
ye shall be delivered out of prison, and else ye escape never the life.
Now, said Arthur, that is hard, yet had I liefer to fight with a knight
than to die in prison; with this, said Arthur, I may be delivered and all
these prisoners, I will do the battle. Yes, said the damosel. I am ready,
said Arthur, an I had horse and armour. Ye shall lack none, said the
damosel. Meseemeth, damosel, I should have seen you in the court of
Arthur. Nay said the damosel, I came never there, I am the lord's daughter
of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one of the damosels of
Morgan le Fay.</p>
<p>Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him how he would do battle for him,
and so he sent for Arthur. And when he came he was well coloured, and well
made of his limbs, that all knights that saw him said it were pity that
such a knight should die in prison. So Sir Damas and he were agreed that
he should fight for him upon this covenant, that all other knights should
be delivered; and unto that was Sir Damas sworn unto Arthur, and also to
do the battle to the uttermost. And with that all the twenty knights were
brought out of the dark prison into the hall, and delivered, and so they
all abode to see the battle.</p>
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