 Chapter 6-10, Book 14, Vol. 2 of Le Mor 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, reading by Lars Rolander. Le Mor d'Artour, Vol. 2 by Sir Thomas Mallory, Chapter 6 And when Sir Percival came nigh the brim, and saw the water so boisterous, he doubted to overpass it, and then he made a sign of the cross in his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged, he shook off Sir Percival, and he went into the water crying and roaring, making great sorrow, and it seemed unto him that the water brunt. Then Sir Percival perceived it was a fiend, the which would have brought him unto his perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed our Lord to keep him from all such temptations, and so he prayed all that night, till on the morn that it was day. Then he saw that he was in a wild mountain, the which was closed with a sea nigh all about, that he might see no land about him which might relieve him but wild beasts. And then he went into a valley, and there he saw a young serpent ring a young lion by the neck, and so he came by Sir Percival. With that came a great lion crying and roaring after the serpent, and as fast as Sir Percival saw this he marveled, and he'd him dither, but unknown the lion had overtaken the serpent, and began battle with him. And then Sir Percival thought to help the lion, for he was the more natural beast of the two, and therewith he drew his sword, and set his shield for him, and there he gave the serpent such a buffet that he had a deadly wound. When the lion saw that, he made no resemblance to fight with him, but made him all the chair that a beast might make a man. Then Percival perceived that, and cast down his shield which was broken, and then he did off his helm for to gather wind, for he was greatly in chaffed with the serpent. And the lion went always about him, forning as a spaniel, and then he stroked him on the neck and on the shoulders, and then he thanked God of the fellowship of that beast. And about noon the lion took his little welp and trust him, and bare him there he came from. Then was Sir Percival alone, and as the tale telleth, he was one of the men of the world at that time, which most believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, for in those days there were but few forks that believed in God perfectly. For in those days the son spared not the father, no more than a stranger. And so Sir Percival comforted himself in our Lord Jesus, and besought God no temptation should bring him out of God's service, but to endure as his true champion. Thus when Sir Percival had prayed, he saw the lion come toward him, and then he couched down at his feet, and so all that night the lion and he slept together. And when Sir Percival slept, he dreamt a marvellous dream, that there two ladies met with him, and that one sat upon a lion, and that other sat upon a serpent, and that one of them was young, and the other was old. And the youngest him thought, said, Sir Percival, my Lord saluteth thee, and sendeth thee word that thou array thee and make thee ready, for to mourn thou must fight with the strongest champion of the world. And if thou be overcome, thou shalt not be quit for losing any of thy members, but thou shalt be shamed for ever to the world's end. And then he asked her, what was her Lord? And she said, the greatest Lord of all the world, and so she departed suddenly, that he wist not where. Chapter 7 Then came forth the other lady that rode upon the serpent, and she said, Sir Percival, I complain me of you that ye have done unto me, and have not offended unto you. Certus, madam, he said, unto you, nor no lady, I never offended. Yes, said she, I shall tell you why. I have nourished in this place a great while a serpent, which served me a great while, and yesterday ye slew him as he got his prey. Say me for what cause ye slew him, for the lion was not yours. Madam, said Sir Percival, I know well the lion was not mine, but I did it for the lion is of more gentler nature than the serpent, and therefore I slew him. Me seemeth I did not amiss against you. Madam, said he, what would ye that I did? I would, said she, for the immense of my beast that ye become my man. And then he answered, that I will not grant you. No, said she, truly ye were never but my servant, since ye received the homage of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore I ensure you in what place I may find you without keeping. I shall take you, as he that some time was my man. And so she departed from Sir Percival and left him sleeping, the which was sore travailed of his admission. And on the morning he arose and blessed him, and he was passing feeble. Then was Sir Percival where in the sea, and saw a ship come sailing toward him. And Sir Percival went unto the ship, and found it covered within and without with white summit, and at the board stood an old man clothed in a surplice, in likeness of a priest. Sir, said Sir Percival, ye be welcome. God keep you, said the good man. Sir, said the old man, oh whence be ye? Sir, said Sir Percival, I am of King Arthur's court, and a night on the table round, the which am in the quest of the Sangreal. And here am I in great duress, and never like to escape out of this wilderness. Doubt not, said the good man, and ye be so true a night as the order of chivalry required, and of heart as ye ought to be. Ye should not doubt that none enemy should slay you. What are ye, said Sir Percival? Sir, said the old man, I am of a strange country, and hither I come to comfort you. Sir, said Sir Percival, what signified my dream that I dreamt this night? And there he told him altogether. She which rode upon the lion betoketh the new law of holy church, that is to understand faith, good hope, belief, and baptism. For she seemed younger than the other, it is great reason. For she was born in the resurrection and the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. And for great love she came to thee to warn thee of thy great battle that shall befall thee. With whom, said Sir Percival, shall I fight? With the most champion of the world, said the old man, for as the lady said, But if thou quit thee well, thou shalt not be quit by loosing of one member, but thou shalt be shamed to the world's end. And she that rode on the serpent signified the old law, and that serpent betoketh a fiend. And why she blamed thee, that thou sluiced her servant, it betoketh nothing. The serpent that thou sluiced betoketh the devil, that thou rodeest upon to the rock. And when thou madeest the sign of the cross, there thou sluiced him, and put away his power. And when she asked thee amends and to become her man, and thou saidst thou wouldst not, that was to make thee to believe on her and leave thy baptism. So he commanded Sir Percival to depart, and so he leapt over the board and the ship, and all went away, he was not wither. Then he went up onto the rock, and found the lion which always kept him fellowship, and he stroked him upon the back, and had great joy of him. Chapter 8 By that Sir Percival had abidened there till midday, and he saw a ship came rowing in the sea, as all the wind of the world had driven it, and so it drove under that rock. And when Sir Percival saw this he hired him dither, and found the ship covered with silk more blacker than any bear, and therein was a gentle woman of great beauty, and she was clothed richly that none might be better. And when she saw Sir Percival she said, Who brought you in this wilderness where ye be never like to pass hence, for ye shall die here for hunger and mischief. Damosel said Sir Percival, I serve the best man of the world, and in his service he will not suffer me to die, for who that knocketh shall enter, and who that asketh shall have, and who that seeketh him he hideeth him not. But then she said, Sir Percival, what ye what I am? Yes, said he, now who taught you my name, said she. Now, said Sir Percival, I know you better than ye ween. And I came out of the waste forest where I found the red knight with the white shield, said the Damosel. Ah, Damosel said he, with that knight would I meet passing fame. Sir Knight, said she, and ye will ensure me by the faith that ye owe unto knighthood, that ye shall do my will, what time I summon you, and I shall bring you unto that night. Yes, said he, I shall promise you to fulfill your desire. Well, said she, now shall I tell you, I saw him in the forest chasing two knights unto a water, the witch is called Mortes, and they drove him into the water for dreed of death, and the two knights passed over, and the red knight passed after, and there his horse was drenched, and he, through great strength, escaped unto the land. Thus she told him, and Sir Percival was passing glad thereof. Then she asked him if he had ate any meat late. Nay, madam, truly I ate no meat nigh this three days, but late here I spake with a good man that fed me with his good words and holy, and refreshed me greatly. Ah, Sir Knight, said she, that same man is an enchanter and a multiplier of words, for when ye believe him ye shall plainly be shamed, and die in this rock for pure hunger, and be eaten with wild beasts, and ye be a young man, and a goodly knight, and I shall help you, and ye will. What are ye, said Sir Percival, that profit me thus great kindness? I am, said she, a gentle woman that am disherited, which was sometime the richest woman of the world. Damocel, said Sir Percival, who hath disherited you, for I have great pity of you. Sir, said she, I dwelled with the greatest man of the world, and he made me so fair and clear that there was none like me, and of that great beauty I had a little pride more than I ought to have had. Also I said a word that pleased him not, and then he would not suffer me to be any longer in his company, and so drove me from mine heritage, and so disherited me, and he had never pity of me, nor of none of my counsel, nor of my court, and, sithen, Sir Knight, it hath befallen me so, and through me and mine I have benome him many of his men, and made them to become my men, for they ask never nothing of me, but I give it them, that and much more. Thus I and all my servants were against him night and day. Therefore I know now no good night, nor no good man, but I get them on my side, and I may. And for that I know that thou art a good night, I beseech you to help me, and for ye be a fellow of the round table, wherefore ye ought not to fail no gentle woman, which is disherited, and she besought you of help. Chapter 9 Then Sir Percival promised her all the help that he might, and then she thanked him, and at that time the weather was hot. Then she called unto her a gentle woman, and bade her bring forth a pavilion, and so she did, and pied it upon the gravel. Sir, said she, now may he rest you in this heat of the day. Then he thanked her, and she put off his helm and his shield, and there he slept a great while. And then he awoke and asked her if she had any meat, and she said, Yeah, also ye shall have enough, and so there was set enough upon the table, and thereon so much that he had marvel, for there was all manner of meats that he could think on. Also he drank there the strongest wine that every drank him thought, and therewith he was a little chaffed more than he ought to be. With that he beheld the gentle woman, and him thought she was the fairest creature that ever he saw. And then Sir Percival profoured her love, and prayed her that she would be his. Then she refused him in a manner when he required her, for the course he should be the more ardent on her, and ever he ceased not to pray her of love. And when she saw him well in chaffed, then she said, Sir Percival, which you will I shall not fulfil your will, but if ye swear from henceforth ye shall be my true servant, and to do nothing but that I shall command you. Will ye ensure me this as ye be a true knight? Yes, said he, fair lady, by the faith of my body. Well, said she, now shall ye do with me what so it please you, and now which ye well ye are the knight in the world that I have most desire to. And then two squires were commanded to make a bed in midst of the pavilion, and unknown she was unclothed and laid therein. And then Sir Percival laid him down by her naked, and by adventure and grace he saw his sword lie on the ground naked, in whose pommel was a red cross and the sign of the crucifix therein, and bethought him on his knighthood and his promise made to forehand unto the good man. Then he made a sign of the cross in his forehead, and therewith the pavilion turned up so down, and then it changed unto a smoke and a black cloud, and then he was adreed and cried aloud. Percival ye have betrayed me! And so she went with the wind roaring and gelling, that it seemed all the water brent after her. Then Sir Percival made great sorrow, and drew his sword unto him, saying, Sith and my flesh will be my master, I shall punish it. And therewith he drew himself through the thigh, that the blood stirred about him, and said, Good Lord, take this in recompensation of that I have done against thee, my lord. So then he clothed him and armed him, and called himself a wretch, saying, How nigh was I lost, and to have lost that I should never have gotten again. That was my virginity, for that may never be recovered after it is once lost. And then he stopped his bleeding wound with a piece of his shirt. Thus as he made his moan, he saw the same ship come from Orient, that the good man was in the day afore, and the noble knight was ashamed with himself, and therewith he fell in a swoon. And when he awoke he went unto him weakly, and there he saluted this good man. And then he asked Sir Percival, How hast thou done, sith I departed? Sir said he, here was a gentle woman, and led me into deadly sin, and there he told him altogether. New ye not the maid, said the good man. Sir said he, Nay, but well I want the fin sent her hither to shame me. O good night, said he, thou art a fool, for that gentle woman was the master-fiend of hell, the which hath power above all devils, and that was the old lady that thou sourced in thine admission, riding on the serpent. Then he told Sir Percival how our Lord Jesus Christ beat him out of heaven for his sin, the which was the most brightest angel of heaven, and therefore he lost his heritage. And that was the champion that thou foughtest with all, the which had overcome thee had not the grace of God been. Now beware, Sir Percival, and take this foreign insample. And then the good man vanished away. Then Sir Percival took his arms and entered into the ship, and so departed from thence. Here endeth the fourteenth book, which is of Sir Percival, and here followeth of Sir Lonselot, which is the fifteenth book. End of book fourteen, chapter six to ten, read by Lars Rolander. Chapters one to six, book fifteen, volume two of Le Mor d'Arretour. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Reading by Lars Rolander. Le Mor d'Arretour, volume two, by Sir Thomas Mallory. Chapter one. When the hermit had kept Sir Lonselot three days, the hermit got him an horse, an helm, and a sword, and then he departed about the hour of noon. And then he saw a little house, and when he came near he saw chapel, and there beside he saw an old man that was clothed all in white, full richly. And then Sir Lonselot said, God save you, God keep you, said the good man, and make you a good night. Then Sir Lonselot alighted and entered into the chapel, and he saw an old man dead in a white shirt of passing fine cloth. Sir said the good man, this man that is dead ought not to be in such clothing as ye see him in, for in that he break the oath of his order, for he hath been more than a hundred winter a man of religion. And then the good man and Sir Lonselot went into the chapel, and the good man took a stole about his neck and a book, and then he conjured on that book, and with that they saw in an hijous figure and horrible that there was no man so hard-hearted nor so hard, but he should have been afeard. Then said the Fiend, Thou hast travailed me greatly, now tell me what thou wilt with me. I will, said the good man, that thou tell me how my fellow became dead, and whether he be saved or damned. Then he said with an horrible voice, he is not lost, but saved. How may that be, said the good man? It seemed to me that he lived not well, for he break his order for to wear a shirt where he ought to wear none, and who that trespatheth against our order doth not well? Not so, said the Fiend, this man that lie here dead was come of a great lineage, and there was a Lord that hath the Earl de Valle that held great war against this man's nephew, the witch hath Aguarus, and so this Aguarus saw the Earl was bigger than he. Then he went for to take counsel of his uncle, the witch life here dead, as he may see, and then he asked leave, and went out of his hermitage, for to maintain his nephew against the mighty Earl, and so it happened that this man that lie here dead did so much by his wisdom and hardiness that the Earl was taken, and three of his lords by force of this dead man. Chapter 2 Then was there peace betwixt the Earl in this Aguarus and great surity that the Earl should never war against him. Then this dead man that here life came to this hermitage again, and then the Earl made two of his nephews for to be avenged upon this man. So they came on a day and found this dead man at the sacred ring of his mass, and they abode him till he had said mass, and then they set upon him and threw out swords to have slain him, but there would no sword bite on him more than upon a gad of steel, for the High Lord which he served, he him preserved. Then made they a great fire and did off all his clothes and the hair of his back, and then this dead man hermit said unto them, Wean you to burn me, it shall not lie in your power, nor to perish me as much as a thread, and there were any on my body. No, said one of them, it shall be assaid, and then they despoiled him and put upon him this shirt and cast him in a fire, and there he lay all that night till it was day in that fire, and was not dead, and so in the morn I came and found him dead, but I found neither thread nor skin tamed, and so took him out of the fire with great fear, and laid him here as ye may see, and now may he suffer me to go my way, for I have said you the sooth, and then he departed with a great tempest. Then was the good man and Sir Launcelot more gladder than they were to far, and then Sir Launcelot welled with that good man that night. Sir, said the good man, be ye not Sir Launcelot to luck? Yes, sir, said he. What seek ye in this country? Sir, said Sir Launcelot, I go to seek the adventures of the Sangriaal. Well, said he, seek it ye may well, but though it were here, ye shall have no power to see it, no more than a blind man should see a bright sword, and that is long on your sin, and else ye were more abler than any man living. And then Sir Launcelot began to weep, then said the good man, were ye confessed sith ye entered into the quest of the Sangriaal? Yes, sir, said Sir Launcelot, then upon the morn when the good man had sung his mass, then they buried the dead man. Then Sir Launcelot said, Father, what shall I do? Now said the good man, I require you to take this hair that was this holy man's, and put it next thy skin, and it shall prevail thee greatly. Sir, and I will do it, said Sir Launcelot. Also I charge you that ye eat no flesh as long as ye be in the quest of the Sangriaal, nor ye shall drink no wine, and that ye hear mass daily, and ye may do it. So he took the hair, and put it upon him, and so departed at even songtime. And so rode he into a forest, and there he met with a gentle woman, riding upon a white palfrey, and then she asked him, Sir Knight, wither ride ye? Sir, to Stamosel, said Launcelot, I what not wither I ride, but as fortune leadeth me? Ah, Sir Launcelot, said she, I what what adventure ye seek? For ye were a foretime nearer than ye be now, and yet shall ye see it more openly than ever ye did, and that shall ye understand in short time. Then Sir Launcelot asked her where he might be harbored that night. Ye shall not find this day nor night, but to mourn ye shall find harbour good, and ease of that ye be in doubt of. And then he commanded her unto God. Then he rode till that he came to a cross, and took that for his host, as for that night. Chapter 3 And so he put his horse to pasture, and did off his helm and his shield, and made his prayers unto the cross, that he never fall in deadly sin again. And so he laid him down to sleep, and, unknown as he was to sleep, it befell him there an admission, that there came a man for him all by compass of stars, and that man had a crown of gold on his head, and that man led in his fellowship seven kings and two knights. And all these worshipped the cross kneeling upon their knees, holding up their hands toward the heaven, and all they said, fair sweet father of heaven, come and visit us, and yield unto us every as we have deserved. Then looked Launcelot up to the heaven, and him seemed the clouds did open, and an old man came down with a company of angels, and alighted among them, and gave unto every his blessing, and called them his servants, and good and true knights. And when this old man had said thus, he came to one of those knights, and said, I have lost all that I have set in thee, for thou hast ruled thee against me as a warrior, and used wrong wars with bane glory more for the pleasure of the world than to pleasure me. Therefore thou shalt be confounded without thou yield me my treasure. All this admission saw Launcelot at the cross, and on the morning he took his horse and rode till midday, and thereby adventure he met with the same knight that took his horse, helm and his sword, when he slept when the sangria appeared for the cross. When Launcelot saw him, he saluted him not fair, but cried on high, Knight, keep thee, for thou hast done to me great unkindness. And then they put forth them their spares, and Launcelot came so fiercely upon him, that he smote him and his horse down to the earth, that he had nigh broken his neck. Then Launcelot took the knight's horse that was his own forehand, and descended from the horse he sat upon, and mounted upon his own horse, and tied the knight's own horse to a tree, that he might find that horse when that he was arisen. Then Sir Launcelot rode till night, and by adventure he met an hermit, and each of them saluted other, and there he rested with that good man all night, and gave his horse such as he might get. Then said the good man unto Launcelot, of whence be ye? Sir said he, I am of Arthur's court, and my name is Sir Launcelot de Lac, that am I in the quest of the Sangria, and therefore I pray you to cancel me of a vision the which I had at the cross, and so he told him all. Chapter 4 Lo, Sir Launcelot said the good man, there thou mightest understand the high lineage that thou art come of, and thine admission be tokeneth. After the passion of Jesus Christ forty year, Joseph of Arimatai preached the victory of King Avelay, that he had in the battles the better of his enemies. And of the seven kings and the two knights, the first of them is called Napus, an holy man, and the second, Hyde Nassian, in remembrance of his grandsire, and in him dwelled our Lord Jesus Christ, and the third was called Helias Legros, and the fourth Hyde Lesais, and the fifth Hyde Jonas, he departed out of his country and went into Wales and took there the daughter of Manuel, whereby he had the land of Gaul, and he came to dwell in this country, and of him came King Launcelot, thy grandsire, the witch there wedded the king's daughter of Ireland, and he was as worthy a man as thou art, and of him came King Ban, thy father, the witch was the last of the seven kings, and by thee, Sir Launcelot, it signified that the angels said, thou were none of the seven fellowships, and the last was the ninth night, he was signified to a lion, for he should pass all manner of earthly nights. That is Sir Galahad, the witch thou got on King Pelis' daughter, and thou ought to thank God more than any other man living, for of a sinner earthly thou has no peer as in knighthood, nor never shall be. But little thank hast thou given to God for all the great virtues that God hath lent thee. Sir said Launcelot, ye say that the good night is my son, that oughtest thou to know, and no man better, said the good man, for thou knewst the daughter of King Pelis' fleshly, and on her thou begatest Galahad, and that was he that at the feast of Pentecost sat in the sea Perilius, and therefore make thou it known openly that he is one of thy begetting of King Pelis' daughter, for that will be your worship and honour, and to all thine kindred. And I counsel you in no place press not upon him to have a dough with him. Well said Launcelot, me see myth that good night should pray for me unto the high father, that I fall not to sin again. Trust thou well, said the good man, thou first mickle the better for his prayer, but the son shall not bear the wickedness of the father, nor the father shall not bear the wickedness of the son, but every shall bear his own burden, and therefore beseek thou only God, and he will help thee in all thy needs. And then, Sir Launcelot, not and he went to supper, and so laid him to rest, and the hair pricked so Sir Launcelot's skin, which greed him full sore, but he took it meekly, and suffered the pain, and so on the morn he heard his mass, and took his arms, and so took his sleeve. Chapter 5 And then he mounted upon his horse and rode into a forest filled no highway, and as he looked for him, he saw a fair plain, and beside that a fair castle, and before the castle were many pavilions of silk of diverse hue, and him seemed that he saw their five hundred knights riding on horseback, and there were two parties, they that were of the castle were all on black horses, and their trappings black, and they that were without were all on white horses, and trappings, and every circled to other that it marveled Sir Launcelot, and at the last him thought they of the castle were put to the worse. Then thought Sir Launcelot for to help there the weaker party in increasing of his chivalry, and so Sir Launcelot thrust in among the party of the castle, and smote down a night horse and man to the earth, and then he rushed here and there, and did marvelous deeds of arms, and then he drew out his sword and struck many knights to the earth, so that all those that saw him marvel that ever one night might do so great deeds of arms, but always the white knights held them nigh about Sir Launcelot, for to tire him and wind him, but at the last as a man may not ever endure, Sir Launcelot waxed so faint of fighting and travelling, and was so weary of his great deeds that he might not lift up his arms for to give one stroke, so that he weaned never to have born arms, and then they all took and led him away into a forest, and there made him to alight and to rest him, and then all the fellowship of the castle were overcome for the default of him. Then they said all unto Sir Launcelot, blessed be God that ye be now of our fellowship, for we shall hold you in our prison, and so they left him with few words, and then Sir Launcelot made great sorrow, for never or now was I never at a tournament nor just, but I had the best, and now I am shamed, and then he said, now I am sure that I am more sinfuler than ever I was. Thus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of despair, till that he came into a deep valley, and when Sir Launcelot saw he might not ride up into the mountain, he there alighted under an apple tree, and there he left his helm and his shield and put his horse unto pasture, and then he laid him down to sleep, and then him thought there came an old man for him, the which said, Ah Launcelot of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore is thy will turned so lightly toward thy deadly sin? And when he had said thus he vanished away, and Launcelot was not where he was become. Then he took his horse and armed him, and as he rode by the way he saw a chapel, where was a recluse, which had a window that she might see up to the altar, and all aloud she called Launcelot for that, he seemed a night errand, and then he came and she asked him what he was, and of what place and where about he went to seek. Chapter 6 And then he told her altogether word by word, and the truth how it befell him at the tournament, and after told her his admission that he had had that night in his sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it might mean, for he was not well content with it. Ah Launcelot said she, as long as he were night of earthly knighthood, he were the most marvellous man of the world and most adventurous. Now, said the lady, Siddhand ye be set among the knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure fell the contrary at that tournament, have thou no marvel. For that tournament yesterday was but a tokening of our lord, and not for then there was none enchantment, for they at the tournament were earthly knights. The tournament was a token to see who should have most knights, either Eliasar, the son of King Peles, or Augustus the son of King Harlon. But Eliasar was all clothed in white, and Augustus was covered in black, the which were overcome. All that this betokent I shall tell you. The day of Pentecost when King Arthur held his court, it befell that earthly kings and knights took a tournament together, that is to say the quest of the Sangria. The earthly knights were they the which were clothed all in black, and the covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not confessed, and they were the covering of white betokeneth virginity, and they that chose chastity, and thus was the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld the sinners and the good men, and when thou sourced the sinners overcome, thou inclinest to that party for bobons and pride of the world, and all that must be left in that quest, for in this quest thou shalt have many fellows of thy betters, for thou art so feeble of evil trust and good belief, this made it when thou were there where they took thee and led thee into the forest, and unknown there appeared the Sangria unto the white knights, but thou was so feeble of good belief and faith that thou mightest not abide it for all the teaching of the good man, but unknown thou turned to the sinners, and that caused thy misadventure that thou should snow good from evil and vain glory of the world, the which is not worth a pair. And for great pride thou madeest great sorrow that thou hadst not overcome all the white knights with the covering of white, by whom was betoken virginity and chastity, and therefore God was wroth with you, for God loveth no such deeds in this quest, and this admission signifies that thou were of evil faith and of poor belief, the which will make thee to fall into the deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not. Now have I warned thee of thy vain glory and of thy pride that thou hast many times erred against thy maker, beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly knights I have most pity of thee, for I know well that thou hast not thy pair of any earthly sinful man. And so she commended her lawn-slot to dinner, and after dinner he took his horse and commended her to God, and so rode into a deep valley, and there he saw a river and a high mountain, and through the water he must needs pass the which was hideous, and then in the name of God he took it with good heart, and when he came over he saw an armed knight, horse and man black as any bear, without any words he smote Sir Lawn Slot's horse to the earth, and so he passed on, he wished not where he was become, and then he took his helm and his shield, and thanked God of his adventure. So here leadeth off the story of Sir Lawn Slot, and speak we of Sir Gavain, the which is the sixteenth book. End of book fifteen, chapters one to six, read by Lars Rolander. Chapters one to six, book sixteen, volume two of Le Mor 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. Reading by Lars Rolander. Le Mor d'Artour, volume two by Sir Thomas Mallory. Chapter one When Sir Gavain was departed from his fellowship, he rode long without any adventure, for he found not the tenth part of adventure as he was want to. For Sir Gavain rode from Witzentide until Mickelmas, and found none adventure that pleased him. So on a day it befell Gavain met with Sir Héctor de Marise, and either made great joy of other, that it were marvel to tell. And so they told every other, and complained them greatly, that they could find none adventure. Truly said Sir Gavain unto Sir Héctor, I am nigh weary of this quest and loathe, I am to follow further in strange countries. One thing marveled me, said Sir Héctor. I have met with twenty knights, fellow of mine, and all they complain as I do. I have marveled, said Sir Gavain, where that Sir Lonselot your brother is. Truly, said Sir Héctor, I cannot hear of him, nor of Sir Galahad, Persevel, nor Sir Bors. Let them be, said Sir Gavain, for they four have no peers. And if one thing were not in Sir Lonselot, he had no fellow of none earthly man, but he is as we be, but if he took more pain upon him. But and these four be met together, they will be loathe that any man meet with them, for and they fail of the Sangreal, it is in waste of all the remnant to recover it. Thus Héctor and Gavain rode more than eight days, and on a Saturday they found an old chapel, the which was wasted that there seemed no man dither repaired. And there they elighted and set their spears at the door, and in they entered into the chapel, and there made their horizons a great while, and set them down in the seas of the chapel. And as they spake of one thing and other, for heaviness they fell asleep, and there befell them both marvelous adventures. Sir Gavain him seemed he came into a meadow full of herbs and flowers, and there he saw a rack of bowls, and hundred and fifty, that were proud and black, save three of them were all white. And one had a black spot, and the other two were so fair and so white that they might be no whiter. And these three bowls which were so fair were tied with two strong cords, and the remnant of the bowls said among them, Go we hence to seek better pasture, and so some went, and some came again, but they were so lean that they might not stand upright. And of the bowls that were so white, that one came again and no more. But when this white bowl was come again, among these other there rose up a great cry for lack of wind that failed them. And so they departed one here and another there. This admission befell Gavain that night. Chapter 2 Patu Ector de Marit fell another vision the contrary, for it seemed him that his brother Sir Launcelot and he alighted out of a chair, and leapt upon two horses, and the one said to the other, Go we seek that we shall not find. And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array, the which was all full of knots and set him upon an ass, and so he rode till he came to the fairest well that ever he saw, and Sir Launcelot alighted and would have drunk of that well. And when he stooped to drink of the water, the water sank from him. And when Sir Launcelot saw that, he turned and went thither as the head came from. And in the meanwhile he drew that himself and Sir Ector rode till that they came to a rich man's house where there was a wedding. And there he saw a king, the which said, Sir Knight, here is no place for you. And then he turned again unto the chair that he came from. Thus within a while both Gavain and Ector awaked, and either told other of their admission, the which marvelled them greatly. Truly, said Ector, I shall never be merry till I hear tidings of my brother Launcelot. Now as they sat thus talking, they saw an hand showing unto the elbow, and was covered with red some heat, and upon that hung a bridle, not right rich, and held within the fist a great candle, which burned right clear, and so passed before them and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away, and they whisked not where. And a known came down a voice which said, Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these two things have failed you, and therefore ye may not come to the adventures of the Sangreal. Then first Gavain and said, Ector, have you heard these words? Yes, truly, said Serector. I heard all. Now go we, said Serector, unto some hermit that will tell us of our admission, for it seemeth me with labour all in vain. And so they departed and rode into a valley, and there met with a squire which rode on unhackney, and they saluted him fair. Sir, said Gavain, can thou teach us to any hermit? Here is one in a little mountain, but it is so rough there may no horse go dither, and therefore ye must go upon foot. There shall you find a poor house, and there is Nassin the hermit, which is the holiest man in this country. And so they departed either from other. And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed, which preferred them to just as far as he saw them. In the name of God, said Sir Gavain, sith I departed from Camelot, there was none preferred me to just but once. And now, said Serector, let me just with him. Nay, said Gavain, ye shall not, but if I be beat, it shall not forethink me then if ye go after me. And then either embraced other to just and came together as fast as their horses might run, and brassed their shields and the mails, and the one more than the other. And Gavain was wounded in the left side, but the other night was smitten through the breast, and the spear came out on the other side. And so they fell both out of their saddles, and in the falling they break both their spears. Anon Gavain arose and set his hand to his sword and cast his shield for him. But all for naught was it, for the knight had no power to arise against him. Then, said Gavain, ye must yield you as an overcome man, or else I may slay you. Ah, Sir Knight, said he, I am but dead. For God's sake and for your gentleness, lead me here unto an abbey that I may receive my Creator. Sir, said Gavain, I know no house of religion hereby. Sir, said the knight, set me on a horse to fore you, and I shall teach you. Gavain set him up in the saddle, and he leapt up behind him for to sustain him. And so came to an abbey where they were well received, and Anon he was unarmed and received his Creator. Then he prayed Gavain to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his body. Then Gavain asked him what he was that knew him not. I am, said he, of King Arthur's court and was a fellow of the round table and we were brethren sworn together. And now, Sir Gavain, thou hast slain me. And my name is Oubain, Lys Avut, that some time was son unto King Uriens and was in the quest of the Sangreal. And now forgive it thee, God, for it shall ever be said that the one sworn brother hath slain the other. Chapter 3 Alas, said Gavain, that ever this misadventure is befallen me. No force, said Uvain, sith I shall die this death of a much more worshipfuler man's hand might I not die. But when ye come to the court recommend me unto my Lord King Arthur and all those that be left alive and for all brotherhood think on me. Then began Gavain to weep and Ector also. And then Uvain himself and Sir Gavain drew out the truncheon of the spear, and Anon departed the soul from the body. Then Sir Gavain and Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a king's son and made right upon his name and by whom he was slain. Then departed Gavain and Ector as heavy as they might for their misadventure and so rode till that they came to the rough mountain and there they tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage. And when they were come up they saw a poor house and beside the chapel a little courtelage where Nassian the hermit gathered watch as he which had tasted none other meat of a great while. And when he saw the errant knights he came toward them and saluted them and they him again. Fair Lords said he what adventure brought you hither? Sir said Gavain to speak with you for to be confessed. Sir said the hermit I am ready. Then they told him so much that he wished well what they were and then he thought to cancel them if he might. Then began Gavain first and told him of his admission that he had had in the chapel and Ektor told him all as is afore rehearsed. Sir said the hermit unto Gavain the fair meadow and the rack therein ought to be understood the round table and by the meadow ought to be understood humility and patience those be the things which be always green and quick for men may no time overcome humility and patience therefore was the round table founded and the chivalry hath been at all time so by the fraternity which was there that she might not be overcome for men said she was founded in patience and in humility. The rack ate an hundred and fifty bowls but they ate not in the meadow for their heart should be set in humility and patience and the bowls were proud and black save only three by the bowls is to understand that a fellowship of the round table which for their sin and their wickedness be black blackness is to say but good or virtuous works and the three bowls which were white save only one that was spotted the two white petoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percival for they be maidens clean and without spot and the third that had a spot signified Sir Bors de Ganes which trespassed but once in his virginity but see then he kept himself so well in chastity that all is forgiven him and his misdeeds and why those three were tied by the necks they be three nights in virginity and chastity and there is no pride smitten in them and the black bowls which said go we hence they were those which had pentacost at the high feast upon them to go in the quest to the sangria without confession they might not enter in the meadow of humility and patience and therefore they return into waste countries that signified death for there shall die many of them every show them shall slay other for sin and they that shall escape shall be so lean that he shall be marvel to see them and of the three bowls without spot the one shall come again and the other to never chapter four then spake nasian unto ector sooth it is that launcelot and ye came down of one chair the chair betoketh master ship and lord ship which ye came down from but ye two knights said the hermit ye go to seek that ye shall never find that is the sangria for it is the secret thing of our lord Jesus Christ what is to mean that sir launcelot fell down of his horse he hath left pride and taken him to humility for he hath cried mercy loud for his sin and sore and our lord hath closed him in his clothing which is full of knots that is the hair that he weareth daily and the ass that he rode upon is a beast of humility for God would not ride upon no steed nor upon no palfry so in sample that an ass betoketh meekness thou sourced sir launcelot ride on in thy sleep and the well where is the water sank from him when he should have taken thereof and when he saw he might not have it he returned dither from whence he came for the well betoketh the high grace of God the more men desire it to take it the more shall be their desire so when he came nigh to Sangriaal he meeked him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the holy vessel for he had been so defiled in deadly sin by the space of many years yet when he kneeled to drink of the well there he saw great providence of the Sangriaal and for he had served so long the devil he shall have vengeance for and twenty days long so that he hath been the devil servant for and twenty years and then soon after he shall return unto Camelot out of this country and he shall say a part of such things as he hath found now will I tell you what betoketh the hand with the candle and the bridle that is to understand the holy ghost the charity is ever and the bridle signifies abstinence for when she is bridle in Christian man's heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly sin and the candle with clearness and sight signifies the right way of Jesus Christ and when he went and said wicked belief these three things failed charity abstinence and truth therefore he may not attain that high adventure of the Sangriaal Chapter 5 Sirtus said Gavain soothly have ye said and I see it openly now I pray you good man and holy father tell me why we met not with so many adventures as we were want to do and commonly have the better I shall tell you gladly said the good man the adventure of the Sangriaal which ye and many other have to undertake in the quest of it and find it not the cause is for it appear if not to sinners wherefore marvel not though ye failed thereof untrue night and a great murderer and to good men signify other things than murder for I dare say as sinful as Sir Lonslott hath been since that he went into the quest of the Sangriaal he slew never man nor not shell till that he come unto Camelot again for he hath taken upon him for to forsake sin and near that he is not stable but by his thought he is likely to turn again he should be next to enchieve it save Galahad his son but God knoweth his thought and his unstableness and yet shall he die right and holy man and no doubt he hath no fellow of no earthly sinful man Sir said Gavin it seemeth me by your words that for our sins it will not fail us to travel in this quest truly said the good man there be an hundred such as ye be that never shall prevail but to have shame and when they had heard these voices they commended him unto God then the good man called Gavin and said it is long time past since that ye were made night and never see them thou service thy maker and now thou are so old a tree that in thee is neither life nor fruit wherefore be think thee that thou yield to our lord the bear rind sith the find hath the leaves and the fruit Sir said Gavin and I had leisure I would speak with you but my fellow here Sir Hector is gone and bideth me Jonder beneath the hill well said the good man thou were better to be consoled then departed Gavin and came to Hector and so took their horses and rode till they came to a forester's house which harbored them right well and on the moan they departed from their host and rode along or they could find any adventure Chapter 6 When Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a religious man riding on an ass and Sir Bors saluted him and on the good man knew him that he was one of the night saran that was in the quest of the sangria What are ye said the good man Sir said he I am a knight that feign would be counseled in the quest for he shall have much earthly worship that may bring it to an end Sir Tess said the good man that is sooth for he shall have been the best night of the world and the fairest of all the fellowship but which you well there shall none attain it but by clearness that is pure confession so rode they together till they came to an hermitage and there he prayed Bors to dwell all that night with him and so he lighted and put away his armor and prayed him that he might be confessed and so they went into the chapel and there he was clean confessed and they ate bread and drank water together Now said the good man I pray thee that thou eat none other till thou sit at the table that the Sangreal shall be Sir said he I agree me there too but how witchy that I shall sit there Yes said the good man that know I but there shall be put few of your fellows with you All is welcome said Sir Bors that God sendeth me also said the good man instead of her shirt and in sign of chastisement ye shall wear a garment therefore I pray you do off all your clothes and your shirt and so he did and then he took him a scarlet coat so that should be instead of his shirt till he had fulfilled his quest of the Sangreal and the good man found in him so marvellous alive and so stable that he marvelled and felt that he was never wrapped in fleshly lusts but in one time that he begat Elian Leblanc then he armed him and took his sleeve and so departed and so a little from thence he looked up into a tree and there he saw a passing great bird upon an old tree and it was passing dry without leaves and the bird sat above and had birds that which were dead for hunger so he himself with his beak the which was great and sharp and so the great bird bled till that he died among his birds and the young birds took the life by the blood of the great bird when Bors saw this he wished well it was a great tokening for when he saw the great bird arose not then he took his horse and yeed his way so by even song by adventure he came to a strong tower by and there was he lodged gladly end of book sixteen chapters one to six read by Lash Rolander chapters seven to eleven books sixteen volume two of Le Mordartour this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading by Lash Rolander Le Mordartour volume two by Sir Thomas Mallory chapter seven and when he was unarmed they led him into a high tower where was a lady young lusty and fair and she received him with great joy and made him to sit down by her and so was he to sup with flesh and many dainties and when Sir Bors saw that he bethought him of his penance and bade a squire to bring him water and so he brought him and he made soaps therein and ate them ah said the lady I throw ye like not my meat yes truly said Sir Bors God thank you madam but I may eat none other meat this day then she spake more as at that time for she was loathe to displease him then after supper they spake of one thing and other with that came a squire and said madam ye must purvey you to mourn for a champion for else your sister will have this castle and also your lance except ye can find a knight that will fight to mourn in your quarrel against freedom Lenoir then she made sorrow and said ah Lord God wherefore granted ye to hold my land whereof I should now be disherited without reason and right and when Sir Bors had heard her say thus he said I shall comfort you sir said she I shall tell you there was here a king that hight which held all this land his keeping so it mishapt he loved a gentle woman a great deal elder than I so took ye her and all this land to her keeping and all his men to govern and she brought up many evil customs whereby she put to death a great part of his kinsmen and when he saw that he let chase her out of this land and betook it me and all this land in my dimessness but unknown as that where the king was stead this other lady began to war upon me and hath destroyed many of my men and turned them against me that I have well nigh no man left me and I have not else but this high tower that she left me and yet she hath promised me to have this tower without I can find a night to fight with her champion now tell me said Sir Bors what is that Pridham Lenoir Sir said she he is the most doubted man of this land now may ye send her word that ye have found a night that shall fight with that Pridham Lenoir in God's quarrel and yours then that lady was not a little glad and sent word that she was pervade and that night Bors had good chair but in no bed he would come but laid him on the floor nor never would do otherwise till that he had met with the quest of the Sangreal Chapter 8 And a known as he was asleep him befell a vision that there came to him two birds the one as white as a swan and the other was marvellous black but it was not so great as the other but in the likeness of a raven then the white bird came to him and said and thou wouldst give me meat and sir me I should give the all the riches of the world and I shall make thee as fair as white as I am so the white bird departed and there came the black bird to him and said and thou wilt sir me tomorrow and have me so despite though I be black for with the well that more availeth my blackness than the other's whiteness and then he departed and he had another vision him thought that he came to a great place which seemed a chapel and there he found a chair set on the left side which was worm-eaten and feeble and on the right hand were two flowers like a lily and the one would have been known the other's whiteness but a good man departed them that the one touched not the other and then out of every flower came out many flowers and fruit great plenty then him thought the good man said should not he do great folly that would let these two flowers perish for to secure the rotten tree that it fell not to the earth sir said he it seemeth me that this would might not avail now keep thee said the good man that thou never see such adventure before thee then he awaked and made a sign of the cross in midst of the forehead and so rose and clothed him and there came the lady of the place and she saluted him and he her again and so went to a chapel and heard their service and there came a company of knights that the lady had sent for to lead sir bores unto battle then asked he his arms and when he was armed she prayed him to take a little morsel to dine ne madame said he that shall I not do till I have done my battle by the grace of God and so he leapt upon his horse and departed all the knights and men with him and as soon as these two ladies met together she which bores should fight for complained her and said madame ye have done me wrong to bereave me of my lands that king anios gave me and full loath I am there should be any battle ye shall not choose said the other lady or else your knight withdraw him then there was the cry made which party had the better of the two knights that his lady should rejoice all the land now departed the one knight here and the other there then they came together with such a rondon that they pierced their shields and their hoberks and the spears flew in pieces and they wounded either other sore then hurtled they together so that they fell both to the earth and their horses betwixt their legs and a known they arose and set hands through their swords and smote each other one other upon the heads that they make great wounds and deep that the blood went out of their bodies for there found Ser Bors greater defense in that night more than he weaned for that pridam was a passing good night and he wounded Ser Bors full evil and he him again but ever this pridam held the star in like hard that perceived Ser Bors and suffered him till he was nigh attained and then he ran upon him more and more and the other went back for dreed of death so in his withdrawing he fell upright and Ser Bors drew his helm so strongly that he rented from his head and gave him great strokes with the flat of his sword upon the visage and bade him, gilled him or he should slay him then he cried him mercy and said fair night for God's love slay me not and I shall ensure thee never to war against thy lady but be always toward her then Bors let him be then the old lady fled with all her nights chapter nine so then came Bors to all those that held lands of his lady and said he should destroy them but if they did such service unto her as longed to their lands so they did their homage and they that would not were chased out of their lands then befell that young lady to come to her estate again by the mighty prowess of Ser Bors the Ghanis so when all country was well set in peace then Ser Bors took his leave and departed and she thanked him greatly and would have given him great riches but he refused it then he rode all that day till night and came to an harbor to a lady which knew him well enough and made him great joy upon the morning as soon as the day appeared Bors departed from thence and so rode into a forest unto the hour of midday and there befell him a marvelous adventure so he met at the departing of the two ways two nights that led Lionel his brother all naked bounden upon a strong hackney and his hands bounden to for his breast and every of them held in his hands thorns where which they went beating him so sore that the blood trailed down more than in an hundred places of his body so that he was all blood to for and behind but he said never a word as he which was great of heart he suffered all that ever they did to him as though he had felt none anguish Anon Sir Bors dressed him to rescue him that was his brother and so he looked upon the other side of him and so a night which brought a fair gentle woman and would have set her in the thickest place of the forest for to have been the more sure out of the way from them that sought him and she which was nothing assured cried with a high voice for your maid and Anon she aspired where Sir Bors came riding and when she came nigh him she deemed him a night of the round table where over she hoped to have some comfort and then she conjured him by the faith that he ought unto him in whose service thou art entered in and for the faith ye owe unto the high order of knighthood and for the noble king Arthur's sake and I suppose made the night that thou helped me and suffered with me not to be shamed of this night When Bors heard her say thus he had so much sorrow there he nis not what to do for if I let my brother be in adventure he must be slain and that would I not for all the earth and if I help not the maid she is shamed for ever and also she shall lose her virginity she shall never get again then lift he up his eyes and said weeping fair sweet lord Jesus Christ whose leech man I am keep lying on my brother that this night slay him not and for pity of you and for Mary's sake I shall succour this maid Chapter 10 Then dressed he him unto the night the witch had the gentle woman and then he cried Sir Knight let your hand off that maiden or ye be buck dead and then he set down the maiden and was armed at all pieces save he lacked his spare then he dressed his shield and drew out his sword and Bors smote him so hard that it went through his shield and harbour gone on the left shoulder and through great strength he beat him down to the earth and at the pulling out of Bors spear there he swarmed then came Bors to the maid and said how seemeth it you of this night ye be delivered at this time now sir said she I pray you lead me there as this night had me so shall I do gladly and took the horse of the wounded knight and set the gentle woman upon him and so brought her as she decided sir knight said she ye have better sped than ye wean for and I had lost my maidenhood five hundred men should have died for it what night was he that had you in the forest by my faith said she he is my cousin so what I never with what engine the fiend and chaffed him for yesterday he took me from my father privately for I nor none of my father's men mistrusted him not and if he had had my maidenhood he should have died for the sin and his body shamed and dishonoured forever thus as she stood talking with him there came twelve nights seeking after her and unknown she told them all how Bors had delivered her then they made great joy and besought him to come to her father a great lord and he should be right welcome truly said Bors that may not be at this time for I have a great adventure to do in this country so he commended them unto God and departed then Sir Bors rode after Lionel his brother by the trace of their horses thus he rode seeking a great while then he overtook a man clothed in a religious clothing and rode on a strong black horse blacker than a berry and said Sir Knight what seek you Sir said he I seek my brother that I saw within a while beaten with two knights ah Bors discomfort you not nor fall into no one hope for I shall tell you tidings such as they be for truly he is dead then he showed him a new slain body lying in a bush and it seemed him well that it was the body of Lionel and then he made such sorrow that he fell to the earth all in a swamp and lay a great while there when he came to himself he said fair brother sith the company of you and me is departed shall I never have joy in my heart and now he which I have taken unto my master he be my help and when he had said thus he took his body lightly in his arms and put it upon the arson of his saddle and then he said to the man canst thou tell me unto some chapel where that I may bury this body come on said he here is one fast pie and so long they rode till they saw fair tower and before it there seemed an old feeble chapel and then they alighted both and put him into a tomb of marble chapter 11 now leave we him here said the good man and go we to our harbour till tomorrow we will come here again to do him service sir said borce be ye a priest ye for soothed said he then I pray you tell me a dream that befell to me the last night say on said he then he began so much to tell him of the great bird in the forest and after told him of his birds one white another black and of the rotten tree and of the white flowers sir I shall tell you a part now and the other deal tomorrow the white fowl betokeneth a gentle woman fair and rich which loved thee paramours and hath loved these long and if thou warn her love shall go die anon if thou have no pity on her that signifies the great bird which shall make thee to warn her now for no fear that thou hast near for no dread that thou hast of God thou shall not warn her but thou wouldst not do it for to be holden chaste for to conquer the loose of the vain glory of the world for that shall before thee now and thou warn her that launcelot the good night thy cousin shall die and therefore men shall now say that thou art a manslayer both of thy brother sir Lionel and of thy cousin sir launcelot the luck the which thou mightest have saved and rescued easily but thou we needst to rescue a maid who attaineth nothing to thee now look thou whether it had been greater harm of thy brother's death or else thou have suffered her to have lost her maidenhood then ask to him has thou heard the tokens of thy dream the which I have told to you yeah for sooth said sir Bors all your exposition and declaring of my dream I have well understood and heard then said the man in this black clothing then it is in thy default if sir launcelot the cousin die sir said Bors that were me loathe for which ye well there is nothing in the world but I had leave her do it then to see my lord sir launcelot the luck to die in my default choose ye now the one or the other the good man and then he led sir Bors into a high tower and there he found knights and ladies those ladies said he was welcome and so they unarmed him and when he was in his doublet men brought him a mantle furred with ermine and put it about him and then they made him such share that he had forgotten all his sorrow and anguish and only set his heart in these delights and dainties and took no thought more for his brother sir lionel neither of sir launcelot the luck his cousin and a nun came out of a chamber to him the fairest lady than ever he saw and more richer be seen than ever he saw queen ganiver or any other state lo said they sir Bors here is the lady unto whom we owe all our service and I throw she be the richest lady and the fairest of all the world and the which lo with you best above all other knights for she will have no knight but you and when he understood that language he was abashed not for then she saluted him and he her and then they sat down together and spake of many things in so much that she wanted him to be her love for she had loved him above all earthly men and she should make him richer than ever was man of his age when Bors understood her words he was right evil at ease which he no manner would not break chastity so we snot he how to answer her end of book 16 chapters 7 to 11 read by loch rolander chapters 12 to 17 book 16 volume 2 of l'amour 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 reading by loch rolander chapter 12 alas said she bors shall ye not do my will madame said bors there is no lady in the world whose will I will fulfill as of this thing for my brother life dead which was slain right late ah bors said she I have loved you long for the great beauty I have seen in you and the great hardiness that I have heard of you that needs he must lie by me this night and therefore I shall lie by me truly said he I shall not do it in no manner wise then she made him such sorrow as though she would have died well bors said she unto this have ye brought me nigh to my end and therewith she took him by the hand and bade him behold her and ye shall see how I shall die for your love shall I never see then she departed and went up into an hide battlement and led with her twelve gentle women and when they were above one of the gentle women cried and said ah sir bors gentle knight have mercy on us all and suffer my lady to have her will and if ye do not we must suffer death with our lady for to fall down of this hour and if ye suffer us thus to die for so little a thing all ladies and gentle women will say you dishonour then looked he upward they seemed all ladies of great estate and richly and well be seen then he had of them great pity not for that he was uncancelled in himself that leafery had they all had lost their souls then he his and when that they fell down all at once unto the earth and when he saw that he was all abashed and had there of great marvel with that he blessed his body and his visage and a known he heard a great noise and a great cry as though all the fiends of hell had been about him and therewith he saw neither tower nor lady nor gentle woman nor no chapel where he brought his brother to then held his hands to the heaven and said fair father God I am grievously escaped and then he took his arms and his horse and rode on his way then he heard a clock smite on his right hand and thither he came to an abbey on his right hand closed with high walls and there was let in then they supposed that he was one of the quest of the sangriaal so they led him into a chamber and unarmed him Sirs said Sir Bors if there be any holy man in this house I pray you let me speak with him then one of them led him unto the abbot which was in a chapel and then Sir Bors saluted him and he him again Sir said Bors I am a knight errand and told him all the things that he had seen Sir knight said the abbot I would not what you be for I wean never that a knight of your age might have been so strong in the grace of our lord Jesus Christ not for then you shall go unto your rest for I will not cancel you this day it is too late and tomorrow I shall cancel you as I can chapter 13 and that night was Sir Bors served richly and on the morning early he heard Mass and the abbot came to him and made him good morrow and Bors to him again and then he told him he was a fellow of the quest of the sangriaal and how he had charge of the holy man to eat bread and water then said the abbot Sir Jesus Christ showed him unto you in the likeness of a soul that suffered great anguish for us since he was put upon the cross and bled his heart blood for mankind there was he the token of the likeness of the sangriaal that appeared for you for the blood that the great foul bled revived the chickens from death to life this is betoken the world which is naked and without fruit but if it come of our Lord also the lady for whom you fought for and king anios which was lord there to for betokeneth Jesus Christ which is the king of the world and that you fought with the champion for the lady this is betokeneth for when you took the battle for you shall you understand the new law of Jesus Christ and holy church and by the other lady you shall understand the old law and the fiend which all day warith against holy church therefore you did your battle with right for ye be Jesus Christ's knights but therefore you ought to be defenders of holy church and by the black bird you shall understand holy church which say I am black but he is fair and by the white bird might men understand the fiend and I shall tell you how this one is white without forth and black within it is hypocrisy which is without jello or pale and seameth without forth the servants of Jesus Christ but they be within so horrible faith and sin and beguiled the world evil also when the fiend appears to thee in likeness of a man of religion and blamed thee that thou left thy brother for a lady so led thee where thou seem thy brother was slain but he is yet alive and all was for to put thee in error and bring thee unto one hope and leachery for he knew thou were tender hearted and all was for thou shouldst not find the blessed adventure of the sangria and the third foul betokeneth the strong battle against the fair ladies which were all devils also the dry tree and the white lily the dry tree betokeneth thy brother Lionel which is dry without and therefore many men ought to call him the rotten tree and the worm-eaten tree for he is a murderer and doth contrary to the order of knighthood and the two white flowers signify two maidens the one is a knight which was wounded the other day and the other is the gentle woman which he rescued and why the other flower drew nigh the other that was the knight which would have defiled her and himself both and Sir Bors ye had been a great fool and in great peril for to have seen those two flowers perish for to secure the rotten tree for and they had sinned together they had been damned and for that he rescued them both men might call you a very knight and servant of Jesus Christ Chapter 14 Then when Sir Bors from thence and commended the Abbot unto God and then he rode all that day and harbored with an old lady and on the morning he rode to a castle in a valley and there he met with a yeoman going a great pace toward a forest canst thou tell me of any adventure Sir said he here shall be under this castle a great and a marvelous tournament of what folk shall it be said Sir Bors the Earl of Plains shall be in the one party and the ladies nephew of Harwin on the other party then Bors thought to be there if he might meet with his brother Sir Lionel and the mother of his fellowship which were in the quest of the Sangreal and then he turned to an hermitage that was in the entry of the forest and when he was come dither he found there Sir Lionel his brother which sat all armed at the entry of the chapel door who to abide there harbour till on the morning that the tournament shall be and when Sir Bors saw him he had great joy of him to tell of his joy and then he alighted off his horse and said fair sweet brother when came ye hither and on as Lionel saw him he said ah Bors ye make not make none a want but as for you I might have been slain when ye saw two knights leading me away beating me ye left me for to succour a gentle woman and suffered me in peril of death hither earth ne did no brother to another so great an untruth and for that misdeed now I ensure you but death for well have ye deserved it therefore keep thee from hence forward and that shall ye find as soon as I am armed when Sir Bors understood his brother's wrath he kneeled down to the earth and cried him mercy holding up both his hands and prayed him to forgive him his evil will nay said Lionel that shall never be and I may have the higher hand that I make mine a vow to God thou shalt have death for it for it were pity ye lived any longer right so he went in and took his harness and mounted upon his horse and came to for him and said Bors keep thee from me for I shall do thee as I would to a felon or a traitor for ye be the untruest night that ever came out of so worthy in house as was King Bors the Ghanis which was our father therefore start upon thy horse and so shall ye be most at your advantage and but if ye will I will run upon you there as ye stand upon foot and so the shame shall be mine and the harm yours but of that shame nay wreck I not when Sir Bors saw that he must fight with his brother or else to die he nest what to do then his heart cancelled him not there too inasmuch as Lionel was born or he wherefore he ought to bear him reverence yet kneeled he down for Lionel's horse's feet and said fair sweet brother have mercy upon me and slay me not I have in remembrance the great love which ought to be between us Twain what Sir Bors said to Lionel he wrote not for the fiend had brought him in such a will that he should slay him then when Lionel saw he would none other and that he would not have risen to give him battle he rashed over him so that he smote Bors with his horse feet upward to the earth and hurt him so sore that he would be distressed the which he felt in himself to have died without confession so when Lionel saw this he alighted off his horse to have smitten off his head and so he took him by the helm and would have rented from his head then came the hermit running unto him which was a good man and of great age and well had heard all the words that were between them and so fell down upon Sir Bors Chapter 15 Then he said to Lionel ah gentle night have mercy upon me and on thy brother for if thou slay him thou shalt be dead of sin and that were sorrowful for he's one of the worthiest knights of the world and of the best conditions so God help me said Lionel sir priest but if he free from him I shall slay you and he shall never the sooner be quit Sir Tess said the good man I have leave for you slay me than him for my death shall not be great harm not half so much as of his well said Lionel I am greed and said his hand to his sword and smote him so hard that his head yeet backward for that he restrained him of his evil will but took his brother by the helm and unlaced it to have stricken off his head and had slain him without fail but it so happened Kolgravan's a fellow of the round table came at that time dither as our lord's will was and when he saw the good man slain he marveled much what it might be and then he beheld Lionel would have slain his brother and use her boars which he loved right well then stirred he down and took Lionel by the shoulders and drew him strongly back from boars and said Lionel will ye slay your brother the worthiest knight of the world one and that should no good man suffer why said Lionel will ye let me therefore if ye enter meet you in this I shall slay you and him after why said Kolgravan's is this sooth that ye will slay him slay him will I said he who so say the contrary for he had done so much against me that he had well deserved it and so ran upon him and would have smitten him through the head and so Kolgravan's ran between them and said and ye be so hard ye to do so more shall meddle together when Lionel understood his words he took a shield for him and asked him what that he was and he told him Kolgravan's one of his fellows then Lionel defied him and gave him a great stroke through the helm then he drew his sword for he was a passing good knight and defended him right manfully so long endured the battle that boars rose up all anguishly and beheld how Kolgravan's the good knight fought with his brother for his quarrel then was he full sorry and heavy and thought if Kolgravan slew him that was his brother he should never have joy and if his brother slew Kolgravan's the shame should ever be mine then would he have risen to have departed them but he had not so much might to stand on foot so he abode him so long and once had the words for Lionel was of great chivalry and right-hardy for he had pierced the Horberg and the helm that he abode but death for he had lost much of his blood that it was marvell that he might stand upright then beheld his sir Bors which sat dressing him upward and said ah Bors, why come ye not to cast me out of peril of death wherein I have put me to succor you now nigh the death certus said Lionel that shall not avail you for none of you shall bear others warrant but that ye shall die both of my hand when Bors heard that he did so much he rose and put on his helm then perceived he first the hermit priest which was slain then made him a marvellous sorrow upon him Chapter 16 Then oft Kolgravan's cried upon Sir Bors why will ye let me die here for your sake if it please you that I die for you the death it will please me the better for to save a worthy man with that word Sir Lionel smote off the helm from his head then Kolgravan saw that he might not escape then he said fair sweet Jesus that I have misdone have merged upon my soul sorrow that my heart suffereth for goodness and for alms deeds that I would have done here be to me alignment of penance unto my soul's health at these words Lionel smote him so sore that he bear him to the earth so he had slain Kolgravan's he ran upon his brother as a friendly man and gave him such a stroke that he made him stoop the humility prayed him for God's love to leave this battle for an it befell fair brother that I slew you or ye me we should be dead of that sin never God me help but if I have on you mercy and I may have the better hand then drew Bors his sword all weeping and said fair brother God knoweth mine intent ah fair brother ye have done full evil this day to slay such an holy priest the which never trespassed also ye have slain a gentle night and one of our fellows and well watch ye that I am not affared of you greatly but I dreed the wrath of God and this is an unkindly war therefore God show a miracle upon us both now God have mercy upon me though I defend my life against my brother with that Bors lift up his hand and would have smitten his brother Chapter 17 and then he heard a voice that said flee Bors and touch him not or else thou shalt slay him right so alighted a cloud betwixt them in likeness of a fire and a marvellous flame that both their two shields sprint then were they so afraid that they fell both to the earth and lay there a great while in a swoon and when they came to themself Bors saw that his brother had no harm then he held up both his hands for he dreed God had taken vengeance upon him with that he heard a voice say Bors go hence and bear thy brother no longer fellowship but take thy way and on right to the sea for Sir Percival abideth thee there then he said to his brother fair sweet brother forgive me for God's love all that I have trespassed unto you then he answered God forgive it thee and I do gladdle him so Sir Bors departed from him and rode the next way to the sea and at the last by fortune he came to an abbey which was neither sea that night Bors rested him there and in his sleep there came a voice to him and made him go to the sea then he stirred up and made a sign of the cross of his forehead and took his harness and made ready his horse and mounted upon him and at a broken wall he rode out and rode so long till that he came to the sea and on the strand he found a ship covered all with white summit and he alighted and betook him to Jesus Christ and as soon as he entered into the ship the ship departed into the sea and went so fast that him seemed the ship went flying but it was soon dark so that he might know no man and so he slept till it was day then he awaked and saw in midst of the ship a night lie all armed save his helm then knew he that it was Sir Perseval of Wales and then he made of him right great joy but Sir Perseval was abashed of him and he asked him what he was ah fair sir said Bors no ye me not sir to said he I marvel how ye came hither but if our Lord brought he hither himself then Sir Bors smiled and did of his helm then Perseval knew him and either made great joy of other that it was marvel to hear then Bors told him how he came into the ship and by whose admonishment and either told other of their temptations as ye have heard to forehand so they went downward in the sea one while backward another while forward and average comforted either and oft were in their prayers then said Sir Perseval we lack nothing but Galahad the good night and thus ended the 16th book which is of Sir Gavain Hector the Marys and Sir Bors the Ghanis and Sir Perseval and here follows the 17th book which is of the noble knight Sir Galahad End of book 16 chapters 12 to 17 read by Lars Rolander