THE DEATH OF KING ARTHUR. From MORTE D'ARTHUR. Sir Thomas Malory. And Sir Mordred and his party fled unto Canterbury. And at the last, Sir Mordred was agreed to have Cornwall and Kent by King Arthur's days, and after the days of King Arthur, to have all England to his obeisance. So then were they condescended that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should meet between both their hosts, and each of them should bring fourteen persons. And they came with this word unto King Arthur. "And then," said he, "I am glad that this is done." And so he went into the field. And when King Arthur should depart, he warned all his host that, and they saw any sword drawn, "look that ye come on fiercely, and slay that traitor, Sir Mordred, for I in nowise trust him." In likewise Sir Mordred did warn his host that "if ye see any manner of sword drawn, look that ye come on fiercely, and so slay all that ever standeth before you; for in nowise I will not trust for this treaty, for I know well that my father will be avenged upon me." And so they were agreed, and accorded thoroughly. Right so came an adder out of a little heath bush, and stung a knight on the foot. And when the knight felt him stung, he looked down and saw the adder, and then he drew his qword to glow the odden and thought of no other berm rode to his post. And so Sir Mordred did in like wise, and never was there seen a dolefuller battle in Christian land. And ever they fought still till it was nigh night, and by that time was there an hundred thousand laid dead upon the down. Then was King Arthur wroth out of measure, when he saw his people so slain from him. Then the King looked about him, and then was he ware that of all his host, and of all his good knights, were left no more alive but two knights: that were Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere, his brother, and they were right sore wounded. : "Jesu mercy," said King Arthur; "where are all my noble knights become? Alas! that ever I should see this doleful day for now," said King Arthur; "I am come unto mine end. But would to God that I wist where that traitor, Sir Mordred, is, which hath caused all this mischief!" Then was King Arthur ware where Sir Mordred leaned upon his sword, among a heap of dead men. "Now give me my spear," said King Arthur to Sir Lucan, "for yonder I have espied the traitor which hath wrought all this woe." And when Sir Mordred heard King Arthur, he ran unto him with his sword drawn in his hand, and there King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield with a foin of his spear, throughout the body more than a fathom. And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his death wound, he thrust himself with all the might that he had up to the end of King Arthur's spear and right so he smote his father Arthur with his sword, that he held in both his hands, on the side of the head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the brain-pan. And therewith Sir Mordred fell down stark dead to the earth, and the noble King Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned oftentimes. And Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere oftentimes heaved him up, and so weakly they led him between them both unto a little chapel, not far from the seaside. Then Sir Lucan took up King Arthur on the one part, and Sir Bedivere on the other part, and in the lifting the King swooned. And Sir Lucan fell in a swoon with that lift, and therewith the noble knight's heart burst. And when King Arthur came to himself again, he beheld Sir Lucan how he lay dead. "Alas!" said King Arthur, "this is unto me a full heavy sight, for to see this noble duke so to die for my sake; for he would have holpen me, that had more need of help than I have. Alas! he would not complain him, his heart was so set for to help me. Now, Jesu, have mercy upon his soul." Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of his brother. "Leave this weeping and mourning," said King Arthur, "for all this will not avail me; for wit thou well and I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore. But my time hieth fast," said King Arthur unto Sir Bedivere, "therefore take thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it unto yonder water-side; and when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw my sword into that water, and come again and tell me what thou shalt see there." "My lord," said Sir Bedivere, "your command shall be done, and lightly bring you word again." And so Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld that noble sword, where the pommel and the haft were all of precious stones. And then he said to himself, “If I throw this rich sword into the water, thereof shall never come good, but harm and loss." And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree, and so as soon as he might, he came again unto King Arthur, and said he had been at the water, and had thrown the sword into the water. "What sawest thou there?" said the King. "Sir," said he, "I saw nothing but waves and wind." "That is untruly said of thee," said King Arthur, "therefore go thou lightly and do my command, as thou art returned again, and took the sword in his thought it sin and shame to throw away and so again he hid the sword, and returned e King that he had been at the water and "What saw ye there?" said the King. saw nothing but the water leap and the traitor, untrue," said King Arthur, "now me two times, who would have weened t been unto me so self and dear, and thou knight, and wouldest betray me for the how go again lightly, for thy long tarrying jeopardy of my life, for I have taken cold; O as I command thee, and if ever I may see nee with mine own hands, for thou wouldest see me dead." ere departed, and went to the sword, and and went to the water's side, and there he about the hilts. And then he threw the ter as far as he might, and there came an above the water, and met it, and caught it, hrice and brandished. And then the hand th the sword in the water. e came again to the King, and told him what las!" said the King, "help me from hence; have tarried over long." Then Sir Bedivere rupon his back, and so went with him to the 1, when they were at the water's side, even x hoved a little barge, with many fair ladies g them all was a queen, and all they had d they wept and shrieked when they saw into the barge," said the King. And so he there received him three queens with great mourning; and so these three queens sat them down, and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head. And then that queen said, "Ah! dear brother, why have ye tarried so long from me? Alas! this wound on your head hath taken overmuch cold." And so then they rowed from the land; and Sir Bedivere beheld all those ladies go from him. Then Sir Bedivere cried, "Ah! my lord Arthur, what shall become of me now ye go from me, and leave me here alone among mine enemies?" "Comfort thyself," said King Arthur, "and do as well as thou mayest; for in me is no trust for to trust in: for I will into the vale of Avilion, for to heal me of my grievous wound; and, if thou never hear more of me, pray for my soul." But evermore the queens and the ladies wept and shrieked, that it was pity for to hear them; and, as soon as Sir Bedivere had lost sight of the barge, he wept and wailed, and so took the forest, and so he went all the night; and, in the morning, he was ware, between two hills, of a chapel and a hermitage. THE PASSING OF ARTHUR. From IDYLLS OF THE KING. Alfred, Lord Tennyson. So all day long the noise of battle roll'd Had fall'n in Lyonnesse about their Lord, |