Volume Xiv Part 46 (1/2)

”You mean Sir Lamorak. Him I slew, man to man.”

”Who lies now? You know well that you and the crew that set upon him dared not meet him face to face. You struck him treacherously from behind.”

”A truce to Lamorak. This you may know, that I will never leave you till I deal with you as I did with him.”

”Murder me, you mean! I fancy you might if you caught me in such a strait, which you will not easily do.”

Then others took the cue from Gawaine, and the cry went up from many voices: ”False and recreant knight! how long will you hide behind your castle walls, like a rat in his hole?”

”How long is this to last?” said Bors and others to Lancelot. ”We pray you to keep us no longer within these walls, but let us out to do battle with them. Men will say next that you are afraid. As for fair speech, it is thrown away. Gawaine will never forgive you, nor suffer you to make accord with the king. Therefore fight for your right, for to that it must come.”

”I am loath to do so,” said Lancelot.

Then he called from the wall to the king,--

”My knights demand that I let them sally from the castle. I therefore pray that neither you nor Sir Gawaine come into the field, for to you two I wish no harm.”

”What then? Shall we cower in our tents while others fight our battles?”

cried Gawaine. ”This quarrel is mine and the king's. Shall we not fight in it?”

”If you will, you will; but I seek not battle with either of you.”

Then they drew back, and both sides made ready for battle. And Gawaine, with deadly intent, set aside a strong body of knights, bidding them to attack Lancelot in force, and slay him if they could.

When the next morning came, King Arthur drew up his host against the castle in three great bands. And Lancelot's fellows.h.i.+p issued from the castle at three gates, the three bands being led by Lancelot, Bors, and Lionel. But Lancelot had given strict charge to his knights to avoid harming King Arthur and Sir Gawaine.

Fierce was the battle that followed, and many good knights were slain.

It began with a challenge from Gawaine, who came out before the king's host and dared any knight of Lancelot's to joust with him. This challenge Lionel accepted, but Gawaine thrust him through the body, and dashed him to the earth like a dead man. Then his friends rushed to his rescue and drove back his foes, bearing him from the field into the castle. This affray brought on a hot and fiery battle, and soon the air was filled with shouts, and the earth strewn with dead and wounded men.

In the midst of this fray the king hotly attacked Lancelot; but that faithful knight patiently endured his a.s.sault, and lifted not a hand in defence. But Bors, seeing his danger, rushed in, and, with a spear thrust, hurled King Arthur to the ground. Quickly leaping from his horse, he drew his sword, and said,--

”Shall I make an end of this war?”

”On pain of your head, no! Harm not the king! I shall not stand by and see him slain.”

Then Lancelot sprang to the ground and helped the king to his horse again, saying,--

”My lord Arthur, for G.o.d's sake, end this strife! I will not fight you, though you kill me, nor have I the heart to fight your men. My lord, remember what I have done for you. Is not this an evil reward?”

When Arthur heard these words tears flowed from his eyes, for Lancelot's courtesy had overcome his anger. He turned and rode away, saying sadly,--

”Alas! that this war ever began.”

Then both sides drew off, and parties of each began the sad duty of burying the dead, while the wounded were borne away, and healing salves applied to their wounds.

The next day the battle was renewed, and fought with the same deadly energy as before. On this day Bors led the foremost party, and met Gawaine as Lionel had done the day before. Fiercely together they rode, and both were hurled to the ground with deep and dangerous wounds.

Around them the battle raged with double fierceness, but Lancelot broke in and rescued Bors, and had him borne to the castle, while the other party bore off Gawaine.

Then, as the battle continued, Lavaine and others begged Lancelot to put forth his strength and fight with his full might, for he imperilled them all by his forbearance.