Le Morte D'Arthur, vol 1 - Sir Malory Thomas (most popular ebook readers TXT) 📗

made of his noble acts, than there be in England, as well in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish, as in French. And yet of record remain in witness of him in Wales, in the town of Camelot, the great stones and the marvellous works of iron lying under the ground, and royal vaults, which divers now living have seen.

Wherefore it is a marvel why he is no more renowned in his own country, save only it accordeth to the Word of God, which saith that no man is accepted for a prophet in his own country.

 

Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that there was such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine worthy, and first and chief of the Christian men.

And many noble volumes be made of him and of his noble knights in French, which I have seen and read beyond the sea, which be not had in our maternal tongue. But in Welsh be many and also in French, and some in English but nowhere nigh all. Wherefore, such as have late been drawn out briefly into English I have after the simple conning that God hath sent to me, under <xii>the favour and correction of all noble lords and gentlemen, enprised to imprint a book of the noble histories of the said King Arthur, and of certain of his knights, after a copy unto me delivered, which copy Sir Thomas Malorye did take out of certain books of French, and reduced it into English. And I, according to my copy, have done set it in imprint, to the intent that noble men may see and learn the noble acts of chivalry, the gentle and virtuous deeds that some knights used in those days, by which they came to honour, and how they that were vicious were punished and oft put to shame and rebuke; humbly beseeching all noble lords and ladies, with all other estates of what estate or degree they been of, that shall see and read in this said book and work, that they take the good and honest acts in their remembrance, and to follow the same. Wherein they shall find many joyous and pleasant histories, and noble and renowned acts of humanity, gentleness, and chivalry. For herein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown.

And for to pass the time this book shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give faith and belief that all is true that is contained herein, ye be at your liberty: but all is written for our doctrine, and for to beware that we fall not to vice nor sin, but to exercise and follow virtue, by which we may come and attain to good fame and renown in this life, and after this short and transitory life to come unto everlasting bliss in heaven; the which He grant us that reigneth in heaven, the blessed Trinity.

Amen.

 

Then to proceed forth in this said book, which I direct unto all noble princes, lords and ladies, gentlemen or gentlewomen, that desire to read or hear read of the noble and joyous history of the great conqueror and excellent <xiii>king, King Arthur, sometime king of this noble realm, then called Britain; I, William Caxton, simple person, present this book following, which I have enprised to imprint: and treateth of the noble acts, feats of arms of chivalry, prowess, hardiness, humanity, love, courtesy, and very gentleness, with many wonderful histories and adventures. And for to understand briefly the content of this volume, I have divided it into XXI Books, and every book chaptered, as hereafter shall by God’s grace follow. The First Book shall treat how Uther Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King Arthur, and containeth xxviii chapters. The Second Book treateth of Balin the noble knight, and containeth xix chapters. The Third Book treateth of the marriage of King Arthur to Queen Guenever, with other matters, and containeth xv chapters. The Fourth Book, how Merlin was assotted, and of war made to King Arthur, and containeth xxix chapters. The Fifth Book treateth of the conquest of Lucius the emperor, and containeth xii chapters.

The Sixth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel, and marvellous adventures, and containeth xviii chapters. The Seventh Book treateth of a noble knight called Sir Gareth, and named by Sir Kay Beaumains, and containeth xxxvi chapters. The Eighth Book treateth of the birth of Sir Tristram the noble knight, and of his acts, and containeth xli chapters. The Ninth Book treateth of a knight named by Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille, and also of Sir Tristram, and containeth xliv chapters. The Tenth Book treateth of Sir Tristram, and other marvellous adventures, and containeth lxxxviii chapters. The Eleventh Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad, and containeth xiv chapters. The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his madness, and containeth xiv chapters. The Thirteenth Book treateth how Galahad came first to king Arthur’s court, and the quest how the Sangreal was begun, and containeth xx chapters.

The Fourteenth Book <xiv>treateth of the quest of the Sangreal, and containeth x chapters. The Fifteenth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot, and containeth vi chapters. The Sixteenth Book treateth of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel his brother, and containeth xvii chapters. The Seventeenth Book treateth of the Sangreal, and containeth xxiii chapters. The Eighteenth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and containeth xxv chapters. The Nineteenth Book treateth of Queen Guenever and Launcelot, and containeth xiii chapters. The Twentieth Book treateth of the piteous death of Arthur, and containeth xxii chapters. The Twenty-first Book treateth of his last departing, and how Sir Launcelot came to revenge his death, and containeth xiii chapters. The sum is twenty-one books, which contain the sum of five hundred and seven chapters, as more plainly shall follow hereafter.

 

The Table or Rubrysshe

of the

Content of Chapters

 

Shortly of the First Book of King Arthur.

 

How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again… … … … . . Chap. i.

How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur … … … … … … … … … … . .Chap. ii.

Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture … … … … . Chap. iii.

And of the death of King Uther Pendragon … … … … … . .Chap. iv.

And how Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur… … … … . Chap. v.

How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times… … … … .Chap. vi.

How King Arthur was crowned, and how he made officers… … … . Chap. vii.

How King Arthur held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a great feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast … … … … …Chap. viii.

Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the field … … … … … … … … … … … . .Chap. ix.

How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war … … … … . Chap. x.

Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and the two kings Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea … … … … … . .Chap. xi.

How eleven kings gathered a great host against King Arthur … … . Chap. xii.

Of a dream of the King with the Hundred Knights… … … … .Chap. xiii.

 

<xvi>

How the eleven kings with their host fought against Arthur and his host, and many great feats of the war . . Chap. xiv.

Yet of the same battle … . . Chap. xv.

[Yet more of the same battle] … . Chap. xvi.

Yet more of the said battle, and how it was ended by Merlin Chap. xvii.

How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors rescued King Leodegrance, and other incidents … . Chap. xviii.

How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and of his dream, and how he saw the Questing Beast … . Chap. xix.

How King Pellinore took Arthur’s horse and followed the Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur . . Chap. xx.

How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother, of treason; and how a knight came and desired to have the death of his master revenged .

.

… Chap. xxi.

How Griflet was made knight, and jousted with a knight Chap. xxii.

 

How twelve knights came from Rome and asked truage for this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with a knight . Chap. xxiii.

How Merlin saved Arthur’s life, and threw an enchantment on King Pellinore and made him to sleep … Chap. xxiv.

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

How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur’s beard to trim his mantle Chap. xxvi.

How all the children were sent for that were born on May-day, and how Mordred was saved … . Chap. xxvii.

 

The Second Book.

 

Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard . . Chap. i.

How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the sword, which afterward was cause of his death … Chap. ii.

How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight’s head that had won the sword, or the maiden’s head … Chap. iii.

How Merlin told the adventure of this damosel . Chap. iv.

How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, and how he jousted and slew him … . Chap. v.

 

How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan . . Chap. vi.

<xvii>

How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of Lanceor, and how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb over them Chap. vii.

 

How Merlin prophesied that two the best knights of the world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram Chap. viii.

 

How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of Merlin, took King Rience and brought him to King Arthur . . Chap. ix.

 

How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and King Lot of Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve kings were slain … . . Chap. x.

 

Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke . Chap. xi.

 

How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, and how Balin fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight invisible

 

Chap. xii.

 

How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of a castle Chap. xiii.

 

How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast, and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son of his host … … Chap. xiv.

 

How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how his sword brake, and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke Chap. xv.

 

How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that would have slain himself