Chapter 1-6, Book 2, Volume 1, of Le Monde d'Artour. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Chris Tierney. Le Monde d'Artour, Volume 1, by Sir Thomas Mallory. Book 2, Chapter 1-6. Chapter 1. After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the witch had great war in his days, for to get all England into his hand. For there were many kings within the realm of England, and in Wales, Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befell on a time when King Arthur was at London. There came a night, and told the king tidings, how that the kingry ants of north Wales had reared a great number of people, and were entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king's true liege people. If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine estate, but that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the lords, knights, and gentlemen of arms should draw unto a castle called Camelot in those days, and there the king would let make a council general and a great jousts. So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as they seemed best, there was comma Damazel, though which was sent on message from the great Lady Lyle of Avelion. And when she came before King Arthur, she told from whom she came, and how she was sent on message unto him for these causes. Then she let her mantle fall that was richly furred, and then was she girt with the noble sword, whereof the king had marvel, and said, Damazel, for what cause are ye girt without sword? It be seemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the Damazel, this sword that I am girt with all doth me great sorrow encumbrance, for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a knight, but he must be a passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and without villainy or treachery, and without treason. And if I may find such a knight that hath all these virtues, he may draw out this sword out of the sheath. For I have been at King Reance's, it was told me, there were passing good knights, and he and all his knights have assayed it, and none can speed. This is a great marvel, said Arthur, if this be sooth, I will myself assay to draw out the sword, not presuming upon myself that I am the best knight, but that I will begin to draw out your sword in giving example to all the barons, that they shall assay ever each one after other when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and by the girdle, and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not out. Sir, said the damazel, you need not to pull half so hard, for he that shall pull it out shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said Arthur, now assay ye all my barons, but beware ye be not defiled with shame, treachery, nor guile. Then it will not avail, said the damazel, for he must be a clean knight without villainy, and of a gentle strain of father side and mother side. Most of all the barons of the round table, that were there at that time, assayed all by row. But there might none speed, wherefore the damazel made great sorrow out of measure, and said, Alas, I weaned in this court had been the best knights without treachery or treason. By my faith, said Arthur, here are good knights, as I deem, as any be in the world. But their grace is not to help you, wherefore I am displeased. Then fell it so that time there was a poor knight with King Arthur, that had been a prisoner with him half a year and more for slaying of a knight, though which was cousin unto King Arthur. The name of this knight was called Balin, and by good means of the barons he was delivered out of prison, for he was a good man named of his body, and he was born in Northumberland. And so he went privily into the court, and saw this adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he would assay it as other knights did. But for he was poor and poorly arrayed, he put him not far in press. But in his heart he was fully assured to do as well, if his grace happed him as any knight that there was. And as the damazel took her leave of Arthur, and of all the barons, so departing, this knight Balin called unto her, and said, Damazel, I pray you of your courtesy, suffer me as well to assay as these lords. Though that I be so poorly clothed, in my heart, misimuth, I am fully assured as some of these others, and misimuth in my heart to speed right well. The damazel beheld the poor knight, and saw he was a likely man, but for his poor arrayment she thought he should be of no worship without villainy or treachery. And then she said unto the knight, Sir, it needeth not to put me to more pain or labour, for it seemeth not you to speed there as other has failed. Ah, fair damazel, said Balin, worthiness, and good taches, and good deeds, are not only in arrayment, but manhood and worship is hid within man's person, and many a worshipful knight is not known unto all people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in arrayment. By God, said the damazel, ye say sooth, therefore ye shall assay to do what ye may. Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath, and drew it out easily, and when he looked on the sword it pleased him much. Then had the king and all the barons great marvel that Balin had done that adventure, and many knights had great despite of Balin. Sirtees, said the damazel, this is a passing good night, and the best that ever I found, and most of worship without treachery or villainy, and many marvels shall he do. Now gentle and courteous knight, give me the sword again. Nay, said Balin, for this sword will I keep, but it be taken from me with force. Well, said the damazel, ye are not wise to keep the sword from me, for ye shall slay with the sword the best friend that ye have, and the man that ye most love in the world, and the sword shall be your destruction. I shall take the adventure, said Balin, that God will ordain me, but the sword ye shall not have at this time by the faith of my body. Ye shall repent it within short time, said the damazel, for I would have the sword more for your avail than for mine, for I am passing heavy for your sake. For ye will not believe that sword shall be your destruction, and that is great pity. With that the damazel departed, making great sorrow. Anon after, Balin sent for his horse and armor, and so would depart from the court, and took his leave of King Arthur. Nay, said the king, I suppose ye will not depart so lightly from this fellowship. I suppose ye are displeased that I have showed you on kindness. Blame me the less, for I was misinformed against you. But I weaned ye had not been such a knight as ye are, of worship and prowess, and if ye will abide in this court among my fellowship, I shall so advance you as ye shall be pleased. God thank you, Highness, said Balin. Your bounty and Highness may no man praise half to the value, but at this time I must needs depart, besieging you always of your good grace. Truly, said the king, I am right wroth for your departing. I pray you, fair knight, that ye tarry not long, and ye shall be right welcome to me and to my barons, and I shall amend all mis that I have done against you. God thank your great lordship, said Balin, and therewith made him ready to depart. Then the most part of the Knights of the Roundtable said that Balin did not this adventure all only by might, but by witchcraft. Chapter 3. The meanwhile that this night was making him ready to depart, there came into the court a lady that hight the lady of the lake, and she came on horseback richly besieged and saluted King Arthur, and there asked him a gift that he promised her when she gave him the sword. That is sooth, said Arthur, a gift I promised you, but I have forgotten the name of my sword that ye gave me. The name of it, said the lady, is ex-caliber, that is as much to say as cut-steel. He say well, said the king, ask what ye will, and ye shall have it, and it lie in my power to give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight that hath won the sword, or else the damacelle's head that brought it. I take no force, though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother a good night and a true, and that gentle woman was causer of my father's death. Truly, said King Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads with my worship, therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfill your desire. I will ask none other thing, said the lady.  Alas, foreshame, said Arthur, why have ye done so? Ye have shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I was beholden to, and hither she came under my safe conduct, I shall never forgive you that trespass. Sir, said Bollen, before thinketh of your displeasure, for this same lady was the untruest lady living, and by enchantment and sorcery she hath been the destroyer of many good knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt, through her falsehood and treachery. What causesoever ye had, said Arthur, ye should have foreworn her in my presence. Therefore, think not the contrary, ye shall repent it, for such another despite had I never in my court, therefore withdraw you out of my court in all haste ye may. Then Bollen took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to his hostelery, and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had displeased King Arthur, and so they rode forth out of the town. Now, said Bollen, we must depart, take thou this head and bare it to my friends, and tell them how I have his bed, and tell my friends in Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them how I am out of prison, and what adventure befell me at the getting of this sword. Alas, said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease King Arthur. As for that, said Bollen, I will hide me in all the haste that I may, to meet with King Rience and destroy him, either else to die, therefore. And if it may happen to me to win him, then will King Arthur be my good and gracious Lord. Where shall I meet you? said the squire. In King Arthur's court, said Bollen. So his squire and he departed at that time. Then King Arthur and all the court made great dull and had shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the King buried her richly. Chapter 4 At that time there was a knight, the witch was the King's son of Ireland, and his name was Lancior, the witch was an orgulous knight, and counted himself one of the best of the court, and he had great despite at Bollen for the achieving of the sword, that any should be accounted more hearty or more of prowess. And he asked King Arthur if he would give him leave to ride after Bollen and to avenge the despite that he had done. Do your best, said Arthur. I am right wroth with Bollen. I would he were quit of the despite that he had done to me and to my court. Then the Lancior went to his hostelry to make him ready. In the meanwhile came Merlin unto the court of King Arthur, and there was told him the adventure of the sword and the death of the Lady of the Lake. Now shall I say you, said Merlin, this same Damazelle that here standeth, that brought the sword unto your court, I shall tell you the cause of her coming. She was the falsest Damazelle that liveth. Say not so, said they.  When this false Damazelle understood this, she went the Lady Lyle of Avelion, and besought her of help, to be avenged on her own brother. And so this Lady Lyle of Avelion took her this sword that she brought with her, and told her there should be no man pull it out of the sheath, but if he be one of the best knights of this realm, and he should be hard and full of prowess, and with that sword he should slay her brother. This was the cause that the Damazelle came into this court, I know it as well as ye. Would God she had not come into this court, but she came never in fellowship of worship to do good, but always great harm, and that night that hath achieved the sword shall be destroyed by that sword, for the witch will be great damage, for there liveth not a night of more prowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my Lord Arthur, great honor and kindness, and it is great pity he shall not endure but a while, for of his strength and hardiness I know not his match living. So the night of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his shield on his shoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his spear in his hand, and rode after a great pace, as much as his horse might go.  When Bollen heard the noise he turned his horse fiercely and said, Fair Knight, what will ye with me? Will ye joust with me? Yea, he said the Irish Knight, therefore come I after you. Per adventure, said Bollen, it had been better to have holden you at home, for many a man weeneth to put his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of what court be ye sent from, said Bollen? I am come from the court of King Arthur, said the night of Ireland, that come hither for to revend the despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his court. Well, said Bollen, I see well I must have a do with you, that me for thinketh for to grieve King Arthur or any of his court, and your quarrel is full simple, said Bollen, unto me, for the lady that is dead did me great damage, and else would I have been loath as any night that liveth for to slay a lady. Make ye ready, said the Night Lancer, and dress ye unto me, for that one shall abide in the field. Then they took their spears, and came together as much as their horses might drive, and the Irish Knight smote Bollen on the shield, that all went shivers off his spear, and Bollen hit him through the shield, and the Hallbrook perished, and so pierced through his body and the horse's croup, and Anon turned his horse fiercely and drew out his sword, and whisked not that he had slain him, and then he saw him lie as a dead corpse. CHAPTER VI Then he looked by him, and was aware of a damazelle that came riding full fast as the horse might ride on a fair palfrey. And when she aspired that Lancer was slain, she made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Bollen, two bodies thou hast slain in one heart, and two hearts in one body, and two souls thou hast lost. And therewith she took the sword from her love that lay dead, and fell to the ground in a swoon. And when she arose, she made great dole out of measure, the witch sorrow grieved Bollen passingly sore, and he went unto her for to have taken the sword out of her hand, but she held it so fast he might not take it out of her hand unless he should have hurt her. And suddenly she set the pommel to the ground, and rove herself through the body. When Bollen aspired her deeds, he was passing heavy in his heart, and ashamed that Sofera damazelle had destroyed herself for the love of his death. Alas, said Bollen, may repentance soar the death of this night for the love of this damazelle, for there was much true love betwixt them both, and for sorrow might not longer behold him, but turned his horse and looked toward a great forest. And there he was where, by the arms of his brother Bollen, and when they were met, they put off their helms and kissed together, and wept for joy and pity. Then Bollen said, I little weaned to have met with you at this sudden adventure. I am right glad of your deliverance out of your dolorous prisonment, for a man told me, in the castle of four stones, that you were delivered, and that man had seen you in the court of King Arthur, and therefore I come hither into this country, for here I supposed to find you. Anon the night Bollen told his brother of his adventure of the sword, and of the death of the lady of the lake, and how King Arthur was displeased with him. Wherefore he sent this night after me, that lieth here dead, and the death of this damazelle grieveeth me soar. So doth it me, said Bollen, but ye must take the adventure that God will ordain you. Truly, said Bollen, I am right heavy that my Lord Arthur is displeased with me, for he is the most worshipful night that reigneth now on earth, and his love will I get, or else will I put my life in adventure. For the king reants lieth at a siege in the castle terra bill, and thither will we draw in all haste, to prove our worship and prowess upon him. I will well, said Bollen, that we do, and we will help each other as brother not to do. End of book two, chapters one to six. Chapter seven to thirteen, book two, volume one, of Le Mordartour. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Chris Tierney. Le Mordartour, volume one, by Sir Thomas Mallory. Book two, chapters seven to thirteen. Chapter seven. Now go we hence, said Bollen, and well be we met. The meanwhile as they talked, there came a dwarf from the city of Camelot on horseback, as much as he might, and found the dead bodies, wherefore he made great dull, and pulled out his hair for sorrow, and said, Which of you knights have done this deed? Whereby askest thou it, said Bollen? For I would wit it, said the dwarf. It was I, said Bollen, that slew this night in my defence. For hither he came to chase me, and either I must slay him, or he me. And this damazelle slew herself for his love, which repenteth me, and for her sake I shall owe all women the better love. Alas, said the dwarf, thou hast done great damage unto thyself. For this night that is here dead was one of the most valiantest men that lived, and trust well, Bollen, the kin of this night will chase you through the world till they have slain you. As for that, said Bollen, I fear not greatly, but I am right heavy that I have displeased my Lord King Arthur for the death of this night. So as they talked together, there came a king of Cornwall riding, the witch height King Mark. And when he saw these two bodies dead and understood how they were dead by the two knights above said, then made the king great sorrow for the true love that was betwixt them, and said, I will not depart till I have on this earth made a tomb. And there he piked his pavilions and sought through all the country to find a tomb, and in a church they found one was fair and rich. And then the king let put them both in the earth and put the tomb upon them, and wrote the names of them both on the tomb. How here lie Atlantior, the king's son of Ireland, that at his own request was slain by the hands of Bollen, and how his lady, Colombey and Paramore, slew herself with her love-sword for dole and sorrow. Chapter 8 The meanwhile, as this was a doing, in came Merland King Mark, and seeing all his doing said, Here shall be in this same place the greatest battle betwixt two knights that was or ever shall be, and the truest lovers, and yet none of them shall slay other. And there Merland wrote their names upon the tomb, with letters of gold that should fight in that place, whose names were Lancelot Delake and Tristram. Thou art a marvellous man, said King Mark unto Merland, that speakest of such marvels. Thou art a boisterous man, and unlikely to tell of such deeds. What is thy name, said King Mark? At this time, said Merland, I will not tell, but at that time when Sir Tristram is taken with his sovereign lady, then ye shall hear and know my name, and at that time ye shall hear tidings that shall not please you. Then said Merland to Bollen, Thou hast done thyself great hurt, because that Thou savest not this lady that slew herself, that might have saved her and Thou wouldest. By the faith of my body, said Bollen, I might not save her, for she slew herself suddenly. Me repenteth, said Merland, because of the death of that lady Thou shalt strike a stroke most dolorous that ever man struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for Thou shalt hurt the truest night and the man of most worship that now liveth. And through that stroke, three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery, and wretchedness twelve years, and the night shall not be whole of that wound for many years. Then Merland took his leave of Bollen.  Therewith Merland vanished away suddenly. And then Bollen and his brother took their leave of King Mark. First, said the King, tell me your name. Sir, said Bollen, ye may see he beareth two swords, thereby ye may call him the knight with the two swords. And so departed King Mark unto Camelot to King Arthur, and Bollen took the way toward King Rience, and as they rode together they met with Merland disguised, and they knew him not. Wither, ride you, said Merland. We have little to do, said the two knights, to tell thee. But what is thy name, said Bollen? At this time, said Merland, I will not tell it thee. It is evil seen, said the knights, that thou art a true man, that thou wilt not tell thy name. As for that, said Merland, be it as it may, I can tell you wherefore ye ride this way, for to meet King Rience, but it will not avail you without ye have my counsel. Ah, said Bollen, ye are Merland, we will be ruled by your counsel. Come on, said Merland, ye shall have great worship, and look that ye do nightly, for ye shall have great need. As for that, said Bollen, dred you not, we will do what we may. Chapter 9 Then Merland lodged them in a wood among leaves beside the highway, and took off the bridles of their horses, and put them to grass, and laid them down to rest them till it was nigh midnight. Then Merland bade them rise and make them ready, for the king was nigh them, that was stolen away from his host with a three-score horses of his best knights, and twenty of them rode to four to warn the lady devance that the king was coming. For that night King Reance should have lain with her. Which is the king, said Bollen? Abide, said Merland, here in a straight way ye shall meet with him, and therewith he showed Bollen and his brother where he rode. Anon Bollen and his brother met with the king, and smote him down, and wounded him fiercely, and laid him to the ground, and there they slew on the right hand and the left hand, and slew more than forty of his men, and a remnant fled. Then went they again to King Reance, and would have slain him had he not yielded him onto their grace. Then said he thus, Knights full of prowess slay me not, for by my life ye may win, and by my death ye shall win nothing. Then said these two knights, ye say sooth and truth, and so laid him on a horse litter. With that Merland was vanished, and came to King Arthur a forehand, and told him how his most enemy was taken and discomfited. By whom, said King Arthur, by two knights in Merland, that would please your lordship, and tomorrow ye shall know what knights they are. A non-after came the knight with the two swords, and ballon his brother, and brought with them King Reance of North Wales, and there delivered him to the porters, and shared them with him, and so they too returned again in the dawning of the day. King Arthur came then to King Reance, and said, Sir King, ye are welcome, by what adventure come ye hither? Sir, said King Reance, I came hither by an hard adventure. Who won you, said King Arthur? Sir said the king, the knight with the two swords, and his brother, which are two marvelous knights of prowess. I know them not, said Arthur, but much am I beholden to them. Ah, Sid Merlin, I shall tell you, it is ballon that achieved the sword, and his brother ballon a good knight. They liveth not a better of prowess and of worthiness, and it shall be the greatest stole of him that ever I knew of knight, for he shall not long endure. Alas, said King Arthur, that is great pity, for I am much beholden unto him, and I have ill deserved it unto him for his kindness. Nay, Sid Merlin, he shall do much more for you, and that shall you know in haste. But, sir, are you pervaded, Sid Merlin, for to mourn the host of Nero, King Riance's brother, will set on you, or noon, with a great host, and therefore make you ready, for I will depart from you. CHAPTER X Then King Arthur made ready his host in ten battles, and Nero was ready in the field for the Castleterra Bill with a great host, and he had ten battles, with many more people than Arthur had. Then Nero had the vanguard with the most part of his people, and Merlin came to King Lott, of the Isle of Orkney, and held him with a tale of prophecy, till Nero and his people were destroyed. And there, Sir Kay of the Seneshel did passingly well, that the days of his life the worship went never from him, and Sir Hervis de Revelle did marvelous deeds with King Arthur, and King Arthur slew that day twenty knights, and maimed forty. At that time came in the night with the two swords, and his brother Balon, but they too did so marvelously that the king and all the knights marveled of them, and all they that beheld them said they were sent from heaven as angels, or devils from hell. And King Arthur said himself, they were the best knights that ever he saw, for they gave such strokes that all men had wonder of them. In the meanwhile came one to King Lott, and told him while he tarried there, Nero was destroyed and slain with all his people. Alas, said King Lott, I am ashamed, for by my default there is many a worshipful man slain, for in we had been together there had been none host under the heaven that had been able for to have matched with us. This fater with his prophecy hath mocked me. All that did Merlin, for he knew well that and King Lott had been with his body there at the first battle, King Arthur had been slain, and all his people destroyed, and well Merlin knew that one of the kings should be dead that day, and Loth was Merlin that any of them should both be slain. But of the twain he had leave for King Lott had been slain then King Arthur. Now what is best to do, said King Lott of Orkney, whether is me better to treat with King Arthur or to fight, for the greater part of our people are slain and destroyed. Sir, said a knight, set on Arthur for they are weary and forefoughten, and we be fresh. As for me, said King Lott, I would every night would do his part as I would do mine. And then they advanced banners, and smote together and all to shiver their spears, and Arthur's knights with the help of the knight with the two swords, and his brother Balon put King Lott and his host to the worse. But always King Lott held him in the foremost front and did marvelous deeds of arms, for all his host was born up by his hands, for he abode all knights. Alas, he might not endure the which was great pity, that so worthy a knight as he was one should be overmatched, that of late time afore had been a knight of King Arthur's, and wedded the sister of King Arthur. And for King Arthur lay by King Lott's wife, the which was Arthur's sister, and got on her mordred, therefore King Lott held against Arthur. So there was a knight that was called the knight with the strange beast, and at that time his right name was called Pelinor, the which was a good man of prowess, and he smote a mighty stroke at King Lott as he fought with all his enemies, and he failed of his stroke and smote the horse's neck, that he fell to the ground with King Lott. And there with an on Pelinor smote him a great stroke through the helm and head, unto the brows. And then all the host of Orkney fled for the death of King Lott, and there were slain many mother's sons. But King Pelinor bear the white of the death of King Lott, wherefore Ser Goyan revenged the death of his father the tenth year after he was made knight and slew King Pelinor with his own hands. Also there were slain at that battle twelve kings on the side of King Lott with Nero, and all were buried in the church of Saint Stevens in Camelot, and the remnant of knights and of others were buried in a great rock. Chapter 11 So at the interment came King Lott's wife Margossa with her four sons Goyan, Agravain, Cajaris, and Gareth. Also there came to their King Irianes Ser Oane's father and Morgan Lafay his wife that was King Arthur's sister. All these came to the interment. But of all these twelve kings King Arthur let make the tomb of King Lott passing richly and made his tomb by his own. And then Arthur let make twelve images of Latin and copper and overguilted with gold in the side of twelve kings and each one of them held a taper of wax that burnt day and night. And King Arthur was made in sign of a figure standing above them with a sword drawn in his hand and all the twelve figures had countenance like unto men that were overcome. All this made Merlin by his subtle craft. And there he told the king, When I am dead these tapers shall burn no longer. And soon after the adventures of the Sangria shall come among you and be achieved. Also he told Arthur how Bollen, the worshipful knight shall give the dollar a stroke whereof shall fall great vengeance. Oh where is Bollen in Bollen and Pellinor said King Arthur? As for Pellinor said Merlin he will meet with you soon and as for Bollen he will not be long from you but the other brother will depart you shall see him no more. By my faith said Arthur there are two marvelous knights and namely Bollen passive of prowess of any knight that ever I found for much beholden to my unto him would God he would abide with me. Sir said Merlin Look ye keep well the scabbard of Excalibur for ye shall lose no blood while ye have the scabbard upon you though ye have as many wounds upon you as ye may have. So after for great trust Arthur betook the scabbard to Morgan Lafay his sister and she loved another knight better than her husband King Irianes or King Arthur and she would have had Arthur her brother slain and therefore she let make another scabbard like it by enchantment and gave the scabbard Excalibur to her love and the knight's name was called Aquilon that after had near slain King Arthur After this Merlin told unto King Arthur of the prophecy that there should be a great battle beside Salisbury and Mordred his own son should be against him also he told him that Bagh de Magus was his cousin and germane unto King Irianes Chapter 12 Within a day or two King Arthur was somewhat sick and he let pitch his pavilion in a meadow and there he laid him down on a pallet to sleep but he might have no rest Right so he heard a great noise of a horse and therewith the king looked out at the porch of the great pavilion and saw a knight coming even by him making great dole Abide fair sir said Arthur and tell me wherefore that make us this sorrow Ye may little lament me said the knight and so passed forth to the castle of Meliot On on after there came Balin and when he saw King Arthur he lighted off his horse and came to the king on foot and saluted him By my head said Arthur ye be welcome Sir right now came riding this way a knight making great mourn for what cause I cannot tell wherefore I would desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness to fetch again that knight either by force or else by his good will I will do more for your lordship than that said Balin and so he rode more than a pace and found the knight with a damsel in a forest and said Sir knight ye must come with me unto King Arthur for to tell him of your sorrow that will I not said the knight for it will scave me greatly and do you none avail Sir said Balin I pray you make you ready for ye must go with me or else I must fight with you and bring you by force and that were me loath to do Will ye be my warrant said the knight and I go with you Ye said Balin or else I will die therefore and so he made him ready to go with Balin and left the damsel still and as there were even a four King Arthur's Pavilion there came one invisible and smote this knight that went with Balin throughout the body with a spear Alas said the knight I am slain under your conduct with a knight called Garlon therefore take my horse that is better than yours and ride to the damsel and follow the quest that I was in as she will lead you and revenge my death when ye may that shall I do said Balin and that I make valent knighthood and so he departed from this knight with great sorrow so King Arthur let buried this knight richly and made a mention on his tomb how there was slain her loose Liberbius and by whom the treachery was done the knight Garlon but ever the damsel bear the truncheon of the spear with her that's her her loose was slain with all Chapter 13 So Balin and the damsel rode into a forest and there met with a knight that had been a hunting and that knight asked Balin for what cause he made so great sorrow me list not to tell you said Balin now said the knight and I were armed as ye be I would fight with you that should little need said Balin I am not a fear to tell you and told him all the cause how it was ah said the knight is this all here I ensure you by the faith of my body never to depart from you while my life lasteth and so they went to the hostelry and armed them and so rode forth with Balin and as they came by an hermitage even by a churchyard there came the knight Garlon invisible and smote this knight Perin de Mapelliard through the body with a spear alas said the knight I am slain by this traitor knight that rideth invisible alas said Balin it is not the first spite he hath done me and there the hermit and Balin buried the knight under a rich stone and a tomb royal and on the mourn they found letters of gold written how Sir Gawain shall revenge his father's death king lot on the king Pelinor and on after this Balin and the damasel rode till they came to a castle and there Balin alighted and he and the damasel went to go into the castle and anon as Balin came within the castle's gate the portcullis fell down at his back and there fell many men about the damasel and would have slain her when Balin saw that he was sore aggrieved for he might not help the damasel then he went up into the tower and leapt over walls into the ditch and heard him not and anon he pulled out his sword and would have fought him with them and they all said nay they would not fight with him for they did nothing but the old custom of the castle and told him how their lady was sick and had lain many years and how she might not be whole but if she had a dish of silver full of blood of a clean maid and a king's daughter and therefore the custom of this castle is there shall no damasel pass this way but she shall bleed of her blood in a silver dish full well said Balin she shall bleed as much as she may bleed but I will not lose the life of her whilst my life lasteth and so Balin made her to bleed by her good will but her blood helped not the lady and so he and she rested there all night and had their right good cheer and on the mourn they passed on their ways and as it telleth after in the Sangriaal that surperseval sister helped that lady with her blood whereof she was dead End of book two chapter seven to thirteen chapters fourteen through nineteen book two volume one of Lamort-Darther this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org read by Chandra Juello Lamort-Darther volume one by Sir Thomas Mallory book two chapters fourteen through nineteen chapter fourteen then they rode three or four days and never met with adventure and by hap they were lodged with a gentle man that it was a rich man and well at ease and as they sat at their supper Balan overheard one complain grievously by him in a chair what is this noise said Balan forsooth said his host I will tell you I was but late at jousting and there I jousted with a knight that his brother under King Pelham and twice smote I him down and then he promised to quit me on my best friend and so he wounded my son that cannot be whole till I have of that knight's blood and he rideth away invisible but I know not his name ah said Balan I know that knight his name is Garland he hath slain two knights of mine in the same manner therefore I had leave for me with that knight and then all the gold in this realm for the despite he hath done me well said his host I shall tell you King Pelham of Lys-Deneys hath made do cry in all this country a great feast that shall be within these twenty days and no knight may come there but if you bring his wife with him or his paramour and that night your enemy in mine ye shall see that day then I behote you said Balan part of his blood to heal your son with all we will be forward to mourn said his host so on the mourn all three rode toward Pelham and they had fifteen days journey and they came thither and that same day began the great feast and so they lighted and stabled their horses and went into the castle but Balan's host might not be let in because he had no lady then Balan was well received and brought unto a chamber and unarmed him and there were brought him robes to his pleasure and would have had Balan leave his sword behind nay said Balan that do I not for it is the custom of my country a knight always keep his weapon with him and that custom will I keep or else I will depart as I came then they gave him leave to wear his sword and so he went unto the castle and was seen among knights of worship and his lady for him soon Balan asked a knight is there not a knight in this court whose name is Garland yonder he goeth said the knight he with the black face he is the marvelous knight that is now living for he destroyed many good knights for he goeth invisible ah well said Balan is that he then Balan advised him long if I slay him here I shall not escape and if I leave him now per adventure I shall never meet with him again at such a Stephen and much harm he will do and he live therewith this Garland aspired that this Balan beheld him and then he came and smote Balan on the face with the back of his hand and said knight why beholdest me so for shame therefore eat thy meat and do that thou came for thou sayest sooth said Balan this is not the first despite that thou hast done me and therefore I will do what I came for and rose up fiercely and clave his head to the shoulders give me the truncheons and Balan to his lady wherewith he slew your knight and on she gave it to him for always she bear the truncheon with her and therewith Balan smote him through the body and said openly with that truncheon thou hast lain a good knight and now it sticketh in thy body and then Balan called on to his host saying now may ye fetch blood enough to heal your son with all Chapter 15 and on all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balan and King Pelham himself arose up fiercely and said knight thou slain my brother thou shall die therefore or thou depart well said Balan do it yourself yes said King Pelham there shall no man have a do with thee but myself for the love of my brother then King Pelham caught in his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly at Balan but Balan put the sword betwixt his head in the stroke and therefore his sword bursteth sunder and when Balan was weaponless he ran into a chamber for to seek some weapon and so from chamber to chamber and no weapon he could find and always King Pelham after him and at the last he entered into a chamber that was marvellously well-dighed and richly and a better raid with cloth of gold and riches that might be thought and one lying therein and thereby stood a table of clean gold with four pillars of silver that bear up the table and upon the table said a marvellous spear strangely wrought and when Balan saw that spear he got it in his hand and turned him to King Pelham and smote him passingly sore with that spear and King Pelham fell down in a swoon and therewith the castle roof and walls break and fell to the earth and Balan fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand and so the most part of the castle that was fallen down through that dullerish stroke lay upon Pelham and Balan three days Chapter 16 Then Merlin came dither and took up Balan and got him a good horse for his was dead and bade him right out of that country I would have my damacelle said Balan Lou said Merlin wha she lieth dead and King Pelham lay so many years sore wounded and might never be whole till Galahad the hout prince healed him in the quest of the Sangreal for in that place was part of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that Joseph of Arimathea brought into this land and there himself lay in that rich bed and that was the same spear that Longaius smote our Lord to the heart and King Pelham was nigh of Joseph's kin and that was the most worshipful man that lived in those days and great pity it was of his hurt for through that stroke turned to great dull trey and teen then departed Balan from Merlin and said in this world we meet never no more so he rode forth through the fair countries and cities and found the people dead slain on every side and all that were alive cried oh Balan now has caused great damage in these countries for the duller stroke thou gave us unto King Pelham three countries are destroyed and doubt not but the vengeance will fall on thee at the last when Balan was past those countries he was passing fame so he rode eight days and he met with adventure and at the last he came into a fair forest in the valley and was wear of a tower and there beside he saw a great horse of war tied to a tree and there besides at a fair night on the ground and made great mourning and he was a likely and well made Balan said God save you why be so heavy tell me and I will amend it and I may to my power Sir Knight said he again thou dost me great grief for I was in merry thoughts and now thou putest me to more pain Balan went a little from him and looked on his horse and then Balan heard him say thus ah fair lady why have you broken my promise for thou promised me to meet me here by noon and I may curse thee that ever ye gave me this sword for with this sword I slay myself and pull it it out and therewith Balan stirred unto him and took him by the hand go my hands at the night or else I shall slay thee that shall not need said Balan for I shall promise you my help to get you your lady and ye will tell me where she is what is your name said the knight my name is Balan the savage ah sir I know you well enough ye are the knight of the two swords and the man with most prowess on your hands living what is your name said Balan my name is garnish of the mount a poor man's son but my prowess and hardiness a duke may have made me a knight and gave me lands his name is Duke Hermel and his daughter is she that I love and she me as I deemed how far is she hence said Balan but six miles at the night now we write hence said these two knights so they rode more than a pace till that they came to a fair castle well walled and ditched I will enter the castles of Balan and look if she be there so he went in and searched from chamber to chamber and found her bed but she was not there then Balan looked into a fair little garden and under a laurel tree he saw her lie upon a quilt of green samite and a knight in her arms fast haulsing each other and under their heads grass and herbs when Balan saw her lie so with the foulest knight that he ever saw and she a fair lady then Balan went through all the chambers again and told the knight how he found her as she had slept fast and so brought him in the place there she lay fast sleeping chapter 17 and when garnish beheld her so lying for pure sorrow his mouth and nose burst out of bleeding and with his sword he smote off both their heads and then he made sorrow out of measure and said oh Balan much sorrow has thou brought unto me for has thou not showed me that sight I should have passed my sorrow for sooth said Balan I did it to this intent that it should better thy courage and that ye might see and know her falsehood and cause you to leave love of such a lady God knoweth I did none other but as I would ye did to me alas said garnish now is my sorrow double that I may not endure now have I slain that I loved most in all my life and therewith suddenly he rowed himself on his own sword unto its hilt when Balan saw that he dressed him there thenceward lest folk should say he had slain them and so he rowed forth and within three days he came by a cross and thereon were letters of gold written that said it is not for no night alone to ride toward this castle then saw he an old horror gentleman coming toward him that said Balan the savage thou passes thy bounds to come this way therefore turn again and it will avail thee then he had vanished away and on and so he heard and horn as it had been the death of a beast that blast said Balan it blown for me for I am the prize and yet am I not dead and on with all he saw a hundred ladies and many nights that welcome him with fair semblant and made him passing good cheer under his sight and led him into the castle and there was dancing and midden strollery and all manners of joy then the chief lady of the castle said night with the two swords he must have a dew and joust with a night he avai that keepeth an island for there may no man pass this way but he must joust or he pass that is an unhappy custom said Balan that a night may not pass this way but if he joust yet shall not have a dew but with one night said the lady well said Balan since I shall there too I am ready but traveling men are oft weary and their horses too but though my horse be weary my heart is not weary I would be feign there my death should be sir said at night to the Balan me thinketh your shield is not good I will lend you a bigger thereof I pray you and so he took the shield that was unknown and left his own and so rode under the island and put him and his horse in a great boat and when he came to the other side he met with a damsel and she said who knight Balan why have you left your own shield alas you have put yourself in great danger for by your shield you should have been known it is great pity of you as ever was of night for of thy prowess and hardiness thou hast no fellow living me repenteth said Balan that ever I came within this country that I may not turn now against for shame and what adventure shall fail to me be it life or death I will take the adventure that shall come unto me and then he looked on his armor and understood he was well armed and therewith blessed him and mounted upon his horse chapter 18 then before him he saw come riding out of the castle a knight and his horse trapped all red and himself in the same color when this knight in the red beheld Balan him thought it should be his brother Balan by cause of his two swords but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed it was not he and so they ventured their spears and came marvelously fast together and they smote each other in the shields but their spears and their course were so big that it bear down horse and man that they lay both in a swoon but Balan was bruised sore with the fall of his horse for he was weary of travel and Balan was the first that rose on foot and drew his sword and went towards Balan and he rose and he went against him but Balan smote Balan first and he put up his shield and smote him through the shield and tamed his helm then Balan smote him again with that unhappy sword and well now he felt his brother Balan and so they fought there together till their breaths failed then Balan looked up to the castle and saw the towers stand full of ladies so they went on to battle again and wounded every each other dolefully and then they breathed off times and so went on to battle that all the place there as they fought was blood red and at that time there was none of them both but they had either smitten other seven great wounds so the last of them might have been the death of the mightiest giant in this world then they went to battle again so marvelously that doubt it was to hear of that battle for the great blood shedding and their harbors unnailed that naked they were on every side at last Balan the younger brother withdrew him a little and laid him down then said Balan le savage what night art thou for now I found never no night that matched me my name is said he Balan brother unto the good night Balan alas said Balan that ever I should see this day and therefore with he fell backward in his room then Balan yeed on all four feet and hands and put off the helm off his brother and might not know him by the visage it was so full hewn and bled but when he awoke he said oh Balan my brother thou hast slain me and I thee wherefore all the wide world shall speak of us both alas said Balan that ever I saw this day that through mishap I might not know you for I aspired well your two swords but by cause he had another shield I deemed ye being another night alas said Balan all that made an unhappy night in the castle for he caused me to leave my own shield that are both destruction and if I might live I would destroy that castle for ill customs that were well done said Balan for I had never graced it apart from him since that I came hither for here it happed me to slay a night that kept this island and since might I never depart and no more should ye, brother and ye might have slain me as ye have and escaped yourself with the life right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six ladies and six yeoman unto them and there she heard how they made their moan either to other and said we both came out of one tomb that is to say one mother's belly and so shall we lie both in one pit so Balan prayed the lady of her gentleness for his true service that she would bury them both in the same place there the battle was done and she granted them with weeping it should be done richly in the best manner now will ye send for a priest that we may receive our sacrament and receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ ye said one lady it shall be done and so she sent for a priest and gave them their rites now said Balan when we are buried in one tomb and the mention made over us how two brethren slew each other there will never good night nor good man see our tomb but they will pray for our souls and so all the ladies and gentle women wept for pity then and on Balan died but Balan died not till the midnight after and so were they buried both and the lady let make a mention of Balan how he was there slain by his brother's hands but she knew not Balan's name Chapter 19 in the morning came Merlin and let write Balan's name on the tomb with letters of gold that here lie Balan Lesavage that was the night with the two swords and he that smote the Dolores stroke also Merlin let there be a bed that there should never man lie therein but he went out of his wit yet launch a lot do lock for did that bed through his no less and then on after Balan was dead Merlin took his sword and took off the pommel and set on another pommel so Merlin made a night that stood before him handle that sword and he assayed and he might not handle it then Merlin laughed why laugh ye said the night this is the cause said Merlin there shall never man handle the sword with the best night in the world and that shall be Sir Lancelot or El Scala had his son and Lancelot with his sword shall slay the man that in the world he loved best that shall be Sir Gawain all this he let write in the pommel of the sword then Merlin let make a bridge of iron and steel into that island but it was but half a foot broad and there shall never man pass that bridge nor have hardiness to go over but if he were a passing good man and a good night without treachery or villainy also discovered a Balan sword Merlin left it on the side of the island that Gala had should find it also Merlin let make a subtlety that Balan sword was put in a marble stone standing upright as great as a millstone and the stone hoved always above the water and did many years and so by adventure it swam down the stream to the city of Camelot that is an English Winchester and that same day Gala had the hot prince came with King Arthur and so Gala had brought with him the scabbard and achieved the sword that was there in the marble stone hoving it upon the water and on which Sunday he achieved the sword as it is rehearsed in the book of Sangreel soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur and told him of the duller stroke that Balan gave to King Pelham and how Balan and Balan fought together the marvelous battle that ever was heard of and how they were buried both in one tomb last said King Arthur this is the greatest pity that ever I heard tell of two nights for in the world I know not such two nights thus endeth the tale of Balan and Balan two brethren born in Northumberland good nights End of Book 2, chapters 14 through 19 of Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory Book 3, Chapter 1, Volume 1 of Le Morte d'Arthur This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina Le Morte d'Arthur, Volume 1 by Sir Thomas Mallory Book 3, Chapter 1 In the beginning of Arthur after he was chosen king by adventure and by grace for the most part of the barons knew not that he was Uther Pendragon's son but as Merlin made it openly known but yet many kings and lords held great war against him for that cause but well Arthur overcame them all for the most part the days of his life he was ruled much by the council of Merlin So it fell on a time King Arthur said unto Merlin My barons will let me have no rest but needs I must take a wife and I will take none but by thy council and by thine advice It is well done, said Merlin, that ye take a wife for a man of your bounty and no bless should not be without a wife Now is there any that ye love more than another? Yey, said King Arthur I love Guinevere, the king's daughter Leota Grants of the land of Chameleard the witch holdeth in his house the table round that ye told he had of my father Uther and this demoiselle is the most valiant and fairest lady that I know living or yet ever I could find Sir, said Merlin, as of her beauty and fairness she is one of the fairest alive but and ye loved her not so well as ye do I should find you a demoiselle of beauty and of goodness that should like you and please you and your heart were not set but there as a man's heart is set he will be loath to return That is truth, said King Arthur But Merlin warned the king covertly that Guinevere was not wholesome for him to take to wife for he warned him that Lancelot should love her and she him again and so he turned his tail to the adventures of Sangreal Then Merlin desired of the king for to have men with him that should inquire of Guinevere and so the king cratted him and Merlin went forth unto King Leota Grants of Chameleard and told him of the desires of the king that he would have unto his wife Guinevere his daughter That is to me, said King Leota Grants the best tidings that ever I heard that so worthy a king of prowess and no bless will wed my daughter and as for my lands I will give him whist I it might please him but he hath lands in ow him needeth none but I shall send him a gift shall please him much more for I shall give him the table round the which Uther Pendragon gave me and when it is full complete there is a hundred nights and fifty and as for an hundred good nights I have myself but I have felt fifty for so many have been slain in my days and so Leota Grants delivered his daughter Guinevere unto Merlin and the table round with a hundred nights and so they rode freshly with great royalty what by water and what by land till that they came nigh unto London Chapter 2 When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guinevere and the hundred nights with the table round then King Arthur made great joy for her coming and that rich present and said openly this fair lady is passing welcome unto me for I have loved her long and therefore there is nothing so leaf to me and these nights with the round table please me more than right great riches and in all haste the King led ordain for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourable wise that could be devised now Merlin said King Arthur go thou and espy me in all this land fifty nights which be of the most prowess and worship within short time Merlin had found such nights that should fulfill twenty and eight nights but no more he could find then the bishop of Canterbury was fetched and he blessed the sieges with great royalty and devotion and there set the eight and twenty nights in their sieges and when this was done Merlin said fair sirs you must all arising come to King Arthur for to do him homage he will have the better will to maintain you and so they arose and did the homage and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of gold that told the night's names that had sit in therein but two sieges were void and so on came young Gawain and offered the King a gift ask said the King and I shall grant it to you sir I ask that ye will make me night that same day ye shall wed Fair Guinevere I will do it with a good will said King Arthur and do unto you all the worship that I may for I must by reason ye are my nephew my sister's son chapter three for with all there came a poor man into the court and brought with him a fair young man of eighteen years of age riding upon a lean mare and the poor man asked all men that he met where shall I find King Arthur yonder he is said the nights will thou anything with him ye said the poor man therefore I came hither anon as he came before the King he saluted him and said oh King Arthur the flower of all nights and kings I beseech jesus save thee sir it was told me that at this time of your marriage ye would give any man the gift that he would ask out except that were unreasonable that is truth said the King such cries I let make and that will I hold so it appear not my realm nor mine estate ye say well and graciously said the poor man sir I ask nothing else but that ye will make my son here a night it is a great thing thou askest of me said the King what is thy name said the King to the poor man sir my name is Aries the cowherd whether cometh this of thee or of thy son said the King nay sir said Aries this desire cometh of my son and not of me for I shall tell you I have thirteen sons and all they will fall to what labor I put them and will be right glad to do labor but this child will not labor for me for anything that my wife or I may do but always he will be shooting or casting darts and glad for to see battles and to behold nights and always day and night he desireth of me to be made a night what is thy name said the King unto the young man sir my name is Tor the King beheld him fast and saw he was passingly well visaged and passingly well made of his years well said King Arthur unto Aries the cowherd fetch all thy sons afore me that I may see them and so the poor man did and all were shaped much like the poor man but Tor was not like none of them all in shape nor in countenance for he was much more than any of them now said King Arthur unto the cowherd where is the sword he shall be made night with all it is here said Tor take it out of the sheath said the King and require me to make you a night then Tor alighted off his mare and pulled out his sword kneeling and requiring the King that he would make him night and that he might be a night of the table round as for a night I will make you and therewith smote him in the neck with the sword saying be ye a good night and so I pray to God so ye may be and if ye be of prowess and of worthiness he shall be a night of the table round now Merlin said Arthur say whether this Tor shall be a good night or no ye sir he ought to be a good night for he has come of as good a man as any is alive and of King's blood how so sir said the King I shall tell you said Merlin this poor man Aries the cowherd is not his father he is nothing to him for King Pelinor is his father I suppose nay said the cowherd fetch thy wife before me said Merlin and she shall not say nay Anon the wife was fetched which was a fair housewife and there she answered Merlin full womanly and there she told the King and Merlin that when she was a maid and went to milk kind there met with her a stern night and half by force he had my maiden head and at that time he begat my son Tor and he took away from me my greyhound that I had that time with me and said that he would keep the greyhound for my love ah said the cowherd I weaned not this but I may believe it well for he had never no tatches of me sir said Tor unto Merlin dishonour not my mother sir said Merlin it is more for your worship than hurt for your father is a good man and a king and he may right well advance you and your mother for ye were begotten or ever she was wedded that is the truth said the wife it is the less grief unto me said the cowherd Chapter 4 So on the mourn King Pelinor came to the court of King Arthur which had great joy of him and told of Tor how he was his son and how he had made him night at the request of the cowherd when Pelinor beheld Tor he pleased him much so the king made Gawain night but Tor was the first he made at the feast what is the cause said King Arthur that there be two places void in the sieges sir said Merlin there shall no man sit in those places but they that shall be of most worship but in the siege perilous there shall no man sit therein but one and if there be any so hardy to do it he shall be destroyed and he that shall sit there shall have no fellow and therewith Merlin took King Pelinor by the hand and in the one hand next the two sieges and the siege perilous he said in open audience this is your place and best ye are worthy to sit therein of any that is here there at sat sir Gawain in great envy and told Gawain his brother yonder night is put to great worship the witch grieveth me soar for he slew our father king lot therefore i will slay him said Gawain with a sword that was sent me that is passing trenchant ye shall not so said Gawain at this time for at this time i am but a squire and when i am made night i will be avenged on him and therefore brother it is best ye suffer till another time that we may have him out of the court for and we did so we should trouble this high feast i will well said Gawain as ye will chapter five when was the high feast made ready and the king was wedded at Camelot unto Dame Guinevere in the church of Saint Stevens with great solemnity and as every man was set after his degree Merlin went to all the nights of the round table and bade them sit still that none of them remove for ye shall see a strange and a marvelous adventure right so as they sat there came running in a white heart into the hall and a white bracket next to him and thirty couple of black running hounds came after with a great cry and the heart went about the table round as he went by other boards the white bracket bit him by the buttock and pulled out a piece where through the heart leaped a great leap and overthrew a night that sat at the board side and therewith the night arose and took up the bracket and so went forth out of the hall and took his horse and rode his way with the bracket right so and on came in a lady on a white palfrey and cried aloud a king Arthur sir suffer me not to have this despite for the bracket was mine that the night led away i may not do therewith said the king with this there came a night riding all armed on a great horse and took the lady away with him with force and ever she cried and made great dull when she was gone the king was glad for she made such a noise nay said merlin he may not leave these adventures so lightly for these adventures must be brought again or else it would be disworship to you and to your feast i will said the king that all be done by your advice then said merlin let call sir gawain for he must bring again the white heart also sir you must let call sir tore for he must bring again the bracket and the night or else slay him also let call king pelinore for he must bring again the lady and the night or else slay him and these three nights shall do marvelous adventures or they come again then were they called all three as it rehearseth the four and each of them took his charge and armed them surely but sir gawain had the first request and therefore we will begin at him chapter six sir gawain rode more than a pace and garrus his brother that rode with him instead of a squire to do him service so as they rode they saw two nights fight on horseback passing sore so sir gawain and his brother rode betwixt them and asked them for what cause they fought so the one night answered and said we fight for a simple matter for we to be two brethren born and begotten of one man and of one woman alas said sir gawain why do you so sir said the elder there came a white heart this way this day and many hounds chased him and a white bracket was always next to him and we understood it was adventure made for the high feast of king arthur and therefore i would have gone after to have won me worship and here my younger brother said he would go after the heart for he was better night than i and for this cause we fell at debate and so we thought to prove which of us both was better night this is a simple cause said sir gawain uncouth men ye should debate with all and not brother with brother therefore but if you will do by my counsel i will have a do with you that is ye shall yield you unto me and that you go unto king arthur and yield you unto his grace sir night said the two brethren we are for fought and much blood have we lost through our willfulness and therefore we would be loath to have a do with you then do as i will have you said sir gawain we will agree to fulfill your will but by whom shall we say that we be thither sent ye may say by the night that followeth the quest of the heart that was white now what is your name said gawain sir loose of the forest said the elder and my name is said the younger brian of the forest and so they departed and went to the king's court and sir gawain on his quest and as gawain followed the heart by the cry of the hounds even before him there was a great river and the heart swam over and as sir gawain would follow after there stood a night over the other side and said sir night come not over after this heart but if thou wilt joust with me i will not fail us for that said sir gawain to follow the quest that i am in and so made his horse to swim over the water and anon they got their spears and ran together full hard but sir gawain smote him off his horse and then he turned his horse and bade him yield him nay said the night not so though thou have the better of me on horseback i pray the valiant night a light afoot and match we together with swords what is your name said sir gawain and lardin of the aisles said the other then either addressed their shields and smoked together but sir gawain smote him so hard through the helm that it went to the brains and the night fell down dead ah said gawain that was a mighty stroke of a young night chapter seven then gawain and gawain rode more than a pace after the white heart and let slip at the heart three couple of greyhounds and so they chased the heart into a castle and in the chief place of the castle they slew the heart sir gawain and kaharis followed after right so there came a night out of a chamber with a sword drawn in his hand and slew two of the greyhounds even in the sight of sir gawain and the remnant he chased them with his sword out of the castle and when he came again he said oh my white heart me repenteth that thou art dead for my sovereign lady gave thee to me and evil have I kept thee and thy death shall be dearbought and I live and anon he went into his chamber and armed him and came out fiercely and there met he with sir gawain why have he slain my hounds said sir gawain for they did but their kind and leafer I had ye had broken your anger upon me than upon a dumb beast thou sayeth truth said the night I have avenged me on thy hounds and so I will on thee or thou go then sir gawain alighted a foot and dressed his shield and struck together mightily and clave their shields and stoned their helms and break their hobberks that the blood ran down to their feet at the last sir gawain smoked the night so hard that he fell to the earth and then he cried mercy and yielded him and he sought him as he was a knight and gentleman to save his life thou shalt die said sir gawain for slaying of my hounds I will make amends said the night unto my power sir gawain would no mercy have but unlaced his helm to have stricken off his head right so came his lady out of a chamber and fell over him and so he smote off her head by misadventure alas said kaharis that is fowly and shamefully done that shame shall never from you also ye should give mercy unto them that ask mercy for a night without mercy is without worship sir gawain was so stoned of the death of this fair lady that he whisked not what he did and said unto the night arise I will give thee mercy nay nay said the night I take no force of mercy now for thou hast slain my love and my lady that I loved best of all earthly things me saw repenteth it said sir gawain for I thought to strike unto thee but now thou shalt go unto king arthur and tell him of thine adventures and how thou art overcome by the night that went in the quest of the white heart I take no force said the night whether I live or I die but so for dread of death he swore to go unto king arthur and he made him to bear one gray helm before him on his horse and another behind him what is your name said sir gawain or we depart my name is said the night ablamar of the marsh so he departed toward camalot chapter eight and sir gawain went into the castle and made him ready to lie there all night and would have unarmed him what will ye do said gawain will you unarm you in this country you may think you have many enemies here they had not sooner said that word but there came four nights well armed and assailed sir gawain hard and said unto him thou new maid night thou hast shamed thy knighthood for a night without mercy is dishonored also thou hast slain a fair lady to thy great shame to the world's end and doubt thou not thou shalt have great need of mercy or thou depart from us and there with one of them smote sir gawain a great stroke that nigh he fell to the earth and ghairas smote him again sore and so they were on the one side and on the other that sir gawain and ghairas were in jeopardy of their lives and one with a bow an archer smote sir gawain through the arm that it grieved him wonderfully sore and as they should have been slain there came four fair ladies and besought the nights of grace for sir gawain and goodly at request of the ladies they gave sir gawain and ghairas their lives and made them to yield them as prisoners then gawain and ghairas made great dole alas said sir gawain my arm grieve with me sore i am like to be maimed and so made his complaint piteously early on the morrow there came to sir gawain one of the fair ladies that had heard all his complaint and said sir knight what cheer not good said he it is your own default said the lady for you have done a passing foul deed in the slaying of the lady the which will be great villainy unto you but be ye not of king arthur's kin said the lady yes truly sings sir gawain but what is your name said the lady you must tell it me or you pass my name is gawain the king lot of orcney's son and my mother is king arthur's sister ah then are ye nephew unto king arthur said the lady and i shall so speak for you that ye shall have conduct to go to king arthur for his love and so she departed and told the four knights how their prisoner was king arthur's nephew and his name is sir gawain king lot's son of orcney and they gave him the heart's head because it was in his quest then anon they delivered sir gawain under this promise that he should bear the dead lady with him in this manner the head of her was hanged around his neck and the whole body of her lay before him on his horse's mane right so wrote he forth unto chemlot and anon as he was come merlin desired of king arthur that sir gawain should be sworn to tell of all his adventures and how he slew the lady and how he would give no mercy unto the night where through the lady was slain then the king and the queen were greatly displeased with sir gawain for the slaying of the lady and there by ordinance of the queen there was set a quest of ladies on the sir gawain and they judged him for ever while he lived to be with all ladies and to fight for their quarrels and that ever he should be courteous and never to refuse mercy to him that asketh mercy thus was gawain sworn upon the four evangelists that he should never be against lady nor gentlewoman but if he fought for a lady and his adversary fought for another and thus ended the adventure of sir gawain that he did at the marriage of king arthur amen end of book three chapter eight chapters nine through fifteen book three volume one of lemur the arthur by sir thomas mallory this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org read by jessica snider july 2007 libra arthur volume one by sir thomas mallory book three chapters nine through fifteen chapter nine when sartor was ready he mounted upon his horseback and rode after the night with the bratchet so as he rode he met with a dwarf suddenly that smote his horse on the head with a staff that he went backward his spear length why dust thou so said sir tore for thou shalt not pass this way but if thou chalced with yonder knights of the pavilions then was tore where where two pavilions were and great spears stood out and two shields hung on trees by the pavilions i may not tarry said sir tore for i am in a quest that i must needs follow thou shalt not pass said the dwarf and there with all he blew his horn then there came one armed on horseback and dressed his shield and came fast towards tore and he dressed him against him and so ran together that tore bear him from his horse and anon the knight yielded him to his mercy but sir i have a fellow in yonder pavilion that will have a do with you anon he shall be welcome said sir tore then he was aware of another knight coming with great rolled on and each of them dressed two other that marvel it was to see but the knight smote sir tore a great stroke in midst of the shield that his spear all to shivered and sir tore smote him through the shield below of the shield that it went through the cost of the night but the stroke slew him not and therewith sir tore a lighted and smote him on the helm a great stroke and therewith the night yielded him and besought him of mercy i will well said sir tore but thou and thy fellow must go unto king arthur and yield you prisoners unto him by whom shall we say we are thither sent you shall say by the night that went in the quest of the night that went with the bratchett now what be your two names said sir tore my name is said the one serve a lot of landuck and my name is said the other sir petty pace of wind chelsea now go ye forth said sir tore and god speed you and me then came the dwarf and said unto sir tore i pray you give me a gift i will well said sir tore ask i ask no more said the dwarf but that ye will suffer me to do you service for i will serve no more requerient knights take an horse said sir tore and ride on with me i want ye ride after the night with the white bratchett and i shall bring you where he is said the dwarf and so they rode throughout a forest and at the last they were aware of two pavilions even by a priory with two shields and the one shield was enewed with white and the other shield was read in chapter nine chapter ten therewith sir tore alighted and took the dwarf his glaive and so he came to the white pavilion and saw three damsels lie in it one on pallet sleeping and so he went to the other pavilion and found a lady lying sleeping therein but there was the white bratchett that bade at her fast and therewith the lady yeet out of the pavilion and all her damsels but anon as sir tore as spied the white bratchett he took her by force and took her to the dwarf what will ye so said the lady take my bratchett from me ye said sir tore this bratchett have i sought from king arthur's court hither well said the lady night ye shall not go far with her but that ye shall be met and grieved i shall abide would adventure that cometh by the grace of god and so mounted upon his horse and passed on his way toward camelot but it was so near night he might not pass but little further know ye any lodging said tore i know none said the dwarf but here beside is an hermitage and there ye must take lodging as ye find and within a while they came to the hermitage and took lodging and was there grass oats and bread for their horses soon it was sped and full hard was their supper but there they rested them all night till on the morn and heard a mass devoutly and took their leave of the hermit and sir tore prayed the hermit to pray for him he said he would and betook him to god and so mounted upon horseback and rode toward camelot a long while with that they heard a night call loud that came after them and he said night abide and yield my bratchett that they'll took from my lady sir tore returned again and beheld him how he was a seamly night and well horsed and well armed at all points then sir tore dressed his shield and took his spear in his hands and the other came fiercely upon him and smote both horse and man to the earth a non they arose lightly and drew their swords as eagerly as lions and put their shields up for them and smote through the shields that the candles fell off both parties also they tamed their helms that the hot blood ran out and the thick males of their hobberks they carved and rove in sundar that the hot blood ran to the earth and both they had many wounds and were passing weary but sir tore aspired that the other night fainted and then he sued fast upon him and doubled his strokes and garnt him go to the earth on the one side then sir tore bade him yield him that will I not said abelius while my life lasteth and the soul is within my body unless that thou wilt give me the brachette that will I not do said sir tore for it was my quest to bring again thy brachette thee or both in chapter 10 chapter 11 with that came a damsel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might drive and cried with a loud voice unto sir tore what will ye with me said sir tore I beseech thee said the damsel for king arthur's love give me a gift I require thee gentle night as thou art a gentleman now said sir tore ask a gift and I will give it you grim mercy said the damsel now I ask the head of the false knight abelius for he is the most outrageous night that liveth and the greatest murderer I am loath said sir tore of that gift I have given you let him make amends in that he hath trespassed unto you now said the damsel he may not for he slew mine own brother before mine own eyes that was a better night than he and he had had grace and I kneeled half an hour up for him in the mire for to save my brother's life that had done him no damage but fought with him by adventure of arms and so for all that I could do he struck off his head wherefore I require thee as thou art a true night to give me my gift or else I shall shame thee in all the court of king arthur or he is the falsest night living and a great destroyer of good nights then when abelius heard this he was more afraid and yielded him and asked mercy I may not now said sir tore but if I should be found false of my promise for while I would have taken you to mercy you would none ask but if he had the bratchet again that was my quest and therewith he took off his helm and he arose and fled and sir tore after him and smote off his head quite now sir said the damsel it is near night I pray you come and lodge with me here at my place it is here fast by I will well said sir tore for his horse and he had fared evil since they departed from camalot and so he rode with her and had passing good cheer with her and she had a passing fair old knight to her husband that made him passing good cheer and well east both his horse and him and on the mourn he heard his mass and break his fast and took his leave of the night and of the lady that besought him tell them his name truly he said my name is sir tore that was late made night and this was the first quest of arms that ever I did to bring again that this night a balious took away from king Arthur's court oh fair night said the lady and her husband and ye come here in our marches come and see our poor lodging and it shall be always at your commandment so sir tore departed and came to camalot on the third day by noon and the king and all the court was passing fain of his coming and made great joy that he was come again where he went from the court with little sucker but as king Pelinor his father gave him an old coarser and king Arthur gave him armor and a sword and else he had none other sucker but rode so forth himself alone and then the king and the queen by Merlin's advice made him to swear to tell of his adventures and so he told and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore rehearsed wherefore the king and the queen made great joy nay nay said Merlin these be but shapes to that he shall do for he shall prove a noble night of prowess as good as any is living and gentle and courteous and of good tatches and passing true of his promise and never shall outrage where through Merlin's words king Arthur gave him an earldom of lands that fell unto him and here endeth the quest of sir tore king Pelinor's son end of chapter 11 chapter 12 then king Pelinor armed him and mounted upon his horse and rode more than a pace after the lady that the night led away and as he rode in a forest he saw in a valley a damsel sit by a well and a wounded knight in her arms and Pelinor saluted her and when she was aware of him she cried over loud help me night for Christ's sake king Pelinor and he would not tarry he was so eager in his quest and ever she cried a hundred times for help when she saw he would not abide she prayed unto God to send him as much need of help as she had and that he would feel it or he died so as the book telleth the night there died that there was wounded wherefore the lady for pure sorrow slew herself with his sword as king Pelinor rode in that valley he met with a poor man a laborer sawest thou not said Pelinor a knight riding and leading away a lady yay said the man i saw that night and the lady that made great dole and yonder beneath in a valley there shall you see two pavilions and one of the knights of the pavilions challenged that lady of that night and said she was his cousin near wherefore he should lead her no farther and so they waged battle in that quarrel the one said he would have her by force and the other said he would have the rule of her by cause he was her kinsman and would lead her to her kin for this quarrel he left them fighting and if you will ride a pace you shall find them fighting and the lady was be left with the two squires in the pavilions god thank thee said king Pelinor then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions and the two knights fighting anon he rode on to the pavilions and saw the lady that was his quest and said fair lady ye must go with me unto the court of king Arthur sir knight said the two squires that were with her yonder are two knights that fight for this lady go thither and depart them and be agreed with them and then ye may have her at your pleasure ye say well said king Pelinor and anon he rode betwixt them and departed them and asked them the causes why that they fought sir knight said the one i shall tell you this lady is my kinswoman nigh my onstotter and when i heard her complain that she was with him magra her head i waged battle to fight with him sir knight said the other whose name was hauntslake of wintland and this lady i got by my prowess of arms this day at arthur's court that is untruly said said king pelinor for ye came in suddenly there as we were at the high feast and took away this lady or any man might make him ready and therefore it was my quest to bring her again and you both or else the one of us to abide in the field therefore the lady shall go with me or i will die for it for i have promised it king arthur and therefore fight ye no more for none of you shall have no part of her at this time and if ye list to fight for her fight with me and i will defend her well said the knights make you ready and we shall assail you with all our power and as king pelinor would have put his horse from them sir hauntslake rove his horse through with a sword and said now art thou on foot as well as we are when king pelinor aspired that his horse was slain lightly he leapt from his horse and pulled out his sword and put his shield up for him and said knight keep well thy head for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse so king pelinor gave him such a stroke upon the helm that he clave the head down to the chin that he fell to the earth dead end chapter 12 chapter 13 and then he turned him to the other night that was sore wounded but when he saw the other's buffet he would not fight but kneeled down and said take my cousin the lady with you at your request and i require you as ye be a true knight put her to no shame nor villainy what said king pelinor will ye not fight for her no sir said the knight i will not fight with such a knight of prowess as ye be well said pelinor ye say well i promise you she shall have no villainy by me as i am a true knight but now me lacketh and horse said pelinor but i will have honeslicks horse you shall not need said the knight for i shall give you such an horse as shall please you so that you will lodge with me for it is near night i will well said king pelinor abide with you all night and there he had with him right good cheer and fared of the best with passing good wine and had merry rest that night and on the morning he heard a mass and dined and then was brought him a fair bay coarser and king pelinor saddle set upon him now what shall i call you said the knight in as much as ye have my cousin at your desire of your quest sir i shall tell you my name is king pelinor of the aisles and knight of the table round now i am glad said the knight that such a noble man shall have the rule of my cousin now what is your name said pelinor i pray you tell me sir my name is sir meliot of logers and this lady my cousin height nim you and the night that was in the other pavilion is my sworn brother a passing good night and his name is brian of the aisles and he is full loath to do wrong and full loath to fight with any man but if he be sore sought on so that for shame he may not leave it it is marvel said pelinor that he will not have a do with me sir he will not have a do with no man but if it be at his request bring him to the court said pelinor one of these days sir we will come together and you shall be welcome said pelinor to the court of king arthur and greatly allowed for your coming and so he departed with the lady and brought her to camelot so as they rode in a valley it was full of stones and there the lady's horse stumbled and threw her down that her arm was sore bruised and near she swooned for pain alas sir said the lady my arm is out of lies where through i must needs rest me ye shall well said king pelinor and so he alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass and he put his horse there too and so laid him under the tree and slept till it was nigh night and when he awoke he would have ridden sir said the lady it is so dark that he may as well ride backward has forward so they abode still and made there their lodging then sir pelinor put off his armor then a little before midnight he heard the trotting of an horse be he still said king pelinor for we shall hear of some adventure end of chapter 13 chapter 14 and therewith he armed him so right even before him there met two knights the one came forward camelot and the other from the north and either saluted other what tidings at camelot said the one by my head said the other there have i been and aspired the court of king arthur and there is such a fellowship they may never be broken and well nigh all the world holdeth with arthur for there is the flower of chivalry now for this cause i am riding into the north to tell our chieftains of the fellowship that is withholding with king arthur as for that said the other night i have brought a remedy with me that is the greatest poison that ever ye heard speak of and to camelot will i with it for we have a friend right nigh king arthur and well cherished that shall poison king arthur for so he hath promised our chieftains and received great gifts for to do it beware said the other night of merlin for he knoweth all things by the devil's craft therefore i will not let it said the night and so they departed asunder a non after pelinor made him ready and his lady and rode toward camelot and as they came by the well there as the wounded night was and the lady there he found the night and the lady eaten with lions or wild beasts all saved the head wherefore he made great sorrow and wept passing sore and said alas her life might i have saved but i was so fierce in my quest therefore i would not abide wherefore make ye such dull said the lady i what not said pelinor but my heart mourn sore of the death of her for she was a passing fair lady and a young now will he do by mine advice said the lady take this night and let him be buried in an hermitage and take the lady's head and bear it with you unto arthur so king pelinor took this dead night on his shoulders and brought him to the hermitage and charged the hermit with the corpse that service should be done for the soul and take this harness for your pain it shall be done said the hermit as i will answer unto god in chapter 14 chapter 15 and therewith they departed and came there as the head of the lady lay with a fair yellow hair that grieved king pelinor passingly sore when he looked on it for much he cast his heart on the visage and so by noon they came to camelot and the king and the queen were passing feign of his coming to the court and there he was made to swear upon the four evangelists to tell the truth of his quest from the one to the other ah sir pelinor said queen guinevere you were greatly to blame that you saved not this lady's life madam said pelinor you were greatly to blame and you would not save your own life and you might but save your pleasure i was so furious in my quest that i would not abide and that repenteth me and shall the days of my life truly said merlin ye ought sore to repent it for that lady was your own daughter begotten on the lady of the rule and that night that was dead was her love and should have wedded her and he was a right good night of a young man and would have proved a good man and to this court he was coming and his name was sir myles of the lawns and a night came behind him and slew him with a spear and his name is lorraine less savage a false night and a coward and she for great sorrow and doll slew herself with his sword and her name was elene and because ye would not abide and help her ye shall see your best friend fail you when ye be in the greatest distress that ever ye were or shall be and that penance god hath ordained you for that deed that he that ye shall most trust to of any man alive he shall leave you there ye shall be slain me for thinketh said king pelanore that this shall me betide but god may foredo well destiny thus when the quest was done of the white heart the witch followed sir gawain and the quest of the brachet followed of sir torre pelanore's son and the quest of the lady that the night took away the witch king pelanore at the time followed then the king established all his knights and them that were of lands not rich he gave them lands and charged them never to do out rigosity nor murder and always to flee treason also by no means to be cruel but to give mercy under him that asketh mercy upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship of king arthur forever more and always should do ladies damsels and gentle women sucker upon pain of death also that no man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law for no world's goods unto this were all the knights sworn of the table round both old and young and every year where they sworn at the high feast of pentecost explicit the wedding of king arthur secutor quarters lieber end of book three chapters nine through fifteen