CHAPTER VII

_King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul_

Being now happily married, King Arthur for a season took his pleasure,

with great tournaments, and jousts, and huntings. So once upon a time the

king and many of his knights rode hunting in a forest, and Arthur, King

Urience, and Sir Accolon of Gaul, followed after a great hart, and being

all three well mounted, they chased so fast that they outsped their

company, and left them many miles behind; but riding still as rapidly as

they could go, at length their horses fell dead under them. Then being all

three on foot, and seeing the stag not far before them, very weary and

nigh spent--"What shall we do," said King Arthur, "for we are hard

bested?" "Let us go on afoot," said King Urience, "till we can find some

lodging." At that they saw the stag lying upon the bank of a great lake,

with a hound springing at his throat, and many other hounds trooping

towards him. So, running forward, Arthur blew the death-note on his horn,

and slew the hart. Then lifting up his eyes he saw before him on the lake

a barge, all draped down to the water's edge, with silken folds and

curtains, which swiftly came towards him, and touched upon the sands; but

when he went up close and looked in, he saw no earthly creature. Then he

cried out to his companions, "Sirs, come ye hither, and let us see what

there is in this ship." So they all three went in, and found it everywhere

throughout furnished, and hung with rich draperies of silk and gold.

By this time eventide had come, when suddenly a hundred torches were set

up on all sides of the barge, and gave a dazzling light, and at the same

time came forth twelve fair damsels, and saluted King Arthur by his name,

kneeling on their knees, and telling him that he was welcome, and should

have their noblest cheer, for which the king thanked them courteously.

Then did they lead him and his fellows to a splendid chamber, where was a

table spread with all the richest furniture, and costliest wines and

viands; and there they served them with all kinds of wines and meats, till

Arthur wondered at the splendour of the feast, declaring he had never in

his life supped better, or more royally. After supper they led him to

another chamber, than which he had never beheld a richer, where he was

left to rest. King Urience, also, and Sir Accolon were each conducted into

rooms of like magnificence. And so they all three fell asleep, and being

very weary slept deeply all that night.

[Illustration: Came forth twelve fair damsels, and saluted King Arthur by

his name.]

But when the morning broke, King Urience found himself in his own house in

Camelot, he knew not how; and Arthur awaking found himself in a dark

dungeon, and heard around him nothing but the groans of woful knights,

prisoners like himself. Then said King Arthur, "Who are ye, thus groaning

and complaining?" And some one answered him, "Alas, we be all prisoners,

even twenty good knights, and some of us have lain here seven years--some

more--nor seen the light of day for all that time." "For what cause?" said

King Arthur. "Know ye not then yourself?" they answered--"we will soon

tell you. The lord of this strong castle is Sir Damas, and is the falsest

and most traitorous knight that liveth; and he hath a younger brother, a

good and noble knight, whose name is Outzlake. This traitor Damas,

although passing rich, will give his brother nothing of his wealth, and

save what Outzlake keepeth to himself by force, he hath no share of the

inheritance. He owneth, nevertheless, one fair rich manor, whereupon he

liveth, loved of all men far and near. But Damas is as altogether hated as

his brother is beloved, for he is merciless and cowardly: and now for many

years there hath been war between these brothers, and Sir Outzlake

evermore defieth Damas to come forth and fight with him, body to body, for

the inheritance; and if he be too cowardly, to find some champion knight

that will fight for him. And Damas hath agreed to find some champion, but

never yet hath found a knight to take his evil cause in hand, or wager

battle for him. So with a strong band of men-at-arms he lieth ever in

ambush, and taketh captive every passing knight who may unwarily go near,

and bringeth him into this castle, and desireth him either to fight Sir

Outzlake, or to lie for evermore in durance. And thus hath he dealt with

all of us, for we all scorned to take up such a cause for such a false

foul knight--but rather one by one came here, where many a good knight

hath died of hunger and disease. But if one of us would fight, Sir Damas

would deliver all the rest."

"God of his mercy send you deliverance," said King Arthur, and sat

turning in his mind how all these things should end, and how he might

himself gain freedom for so many noble hearts.

Anon there came a damsel to the king, saying, "Sir if thou wilt fight for

my lord thou shalt be delivered out of prison, but else nevermore shalt

thou escape with thy life." "Nay," said King Arthur, "that is but a hard

choice, yet had I rather fight than die in prison, and if I may deliver

not myself alone, but all these others, I will do the battle." "Yea," said

the damsel, "it shall be even so." "Then," said King Arthur, "I am ready

now, if but I had a horse and armour." "Fear not," said she, "that shalt

thou have presently, and shalt lack nothing proper for the fight." "Have I

not seen thee," said the king, "at King Arthur's court? for it seemeth

that thy face is known to me." "Nay," said the damsel, "I was never there;

I am Sir Damas' daughter, and have never been but a day's journey from

this castle." But she spoke falsely, for she was one of the damsels of

Morgan le Fay, the great enchantress, who was King Arthur's half-sister.

When Sir Damas knew that there had been at length a knight found who would

fight for him, he sent for Arthur, and finding him a man so tall and

strong, and straight of limb, he was passingly well pleased, and made a

covenant with him, that he should fight unto the uttermost for his cause,

and that all the other knights should be delivered. And when they were

sworn to each other on the holy gospels, all those imprisoned knights were

straightway led forth and delivered, but abode there one and all to see

the battle.

In the meanwhile there had happened to Sir Accolon of Gaul a strange

adventure; for when he awoke from his deep sleep upon the silken barge, he

found himself upon the edge of a deep well, and in instant peril of

falling thereinto. Whereat, leaping up in great affright, he crossed

himself and cried aloud, "May God preserve my lord King Arthur and King

Urience, for those damsels in the ship have betrayed us, and were

doubtless devils and no women; and if I may escape this misadventure, I

will certainly destroy them wheresoever I may find them." With that there

came to him a dwarf with a great mouth, and a flat nose, and saluted him,

saying that he came from Queen Morgan le Fay. "And she greeteth you well,"

said he, "and biddeth you be strong of heart, for to-morrow you shall do

battle with a strange knight, and therefore she hath sent you here

Excalibur, King Arthur's sword, and the scabbard likewise. And she

desireth you as you do love her to fight this battle to the uttermost, and

without any mercy, as you have promised her you would fight when she

should require it of you; and she will make a rich queen for ever of any

damsel that shall bring her that knight's head with whom you are to

fight."

"Well," said Sir Accolon, "tell you my lady Queen Morgan, that I shall

hold to that I promised her, now that I have this sword--and," said he, "I

suppose it was to bring about this battle that she made all these

enchantments by her craft." "You have guessed rightly," said the dwarf,

and therewithal he left him.

Then came a knight and lady, and six squires, to Sir Accolon, and took him

to a manor house hard by, and gave him noble cheer; and the house belonged

to Sir Outzlake, the brother of Sir Damas, for so had Morgan le Fay

contrived with her enchantments. Now Sir Outzlake himself was at that time

sorely wounded and disabled, having been pierced through both his thighs

by a spear-thrust. When, therefore, Sir Damas sent down messengers to his

brother, bidding him make ready by to-morrow morning, and be in the field

to fight with a good knight, for that he had found a champion ready to do

battle at all points, Sir Outzlake was sorely annoyed and distressed, for

he knew he had small chance of victory, while yet he was disabled by his

wounds; notwithstanding, he determined to take the battle in hand,

although he was so weak that he must needs be lifted to his saddle. But

when Sir Accolon of Gaul heard this, he sent a message to Sir Outzlake

offering to take the battle in his stead, which cheered Sir Outzlake

mightily, who thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart, and joyfully

accepted him.

So, on the morrow, King Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked Sir

Damas, "When shall we go to the field?" "Sir," said Sir Damas, "you shall

first hear mass." And when mass was done, there came a squire on a great

horse, and asked Sir Damas if his knight were ready, "for our knight is

already in the field." Then King Arthur mounted on horseback, and there

around were all the knights, and barons, and people of the country; and

twelve of them were chosen to wait upon the two knights who were about to

fight. And as King Arthur sat on horseback, there came a damsel from

Morgan le Fay, and brought to him a sword, made like Excalibur, and a

scabbard also, and said to him, "Morgan le Fay sendeth you here your sword

for her great love's sake." And the king thanked her, and believed it to

be as she said; but she traitorously deceived him, for both sword and

scabbard were counterfeit, brittle, and false, and the true sword

Excalibur was in the hands of Sir Accolon. Then, at the sound of a

trumpet, the champions set themselves on opposite sides of the field, and

giving rein and spur to their horses urged them to so great a speed that

each smiting the other in the middle of the shield, rolled his opponent to

the ground, both horse and man. Then starting up immediately, both drew

their swords and rushed swiftly together. And so they fell to eagerly, and

gave each other many great and mighty strokes.

And as they were thus fighting, the damsel Vivien, lady of the lake, who

loved King Arthur, came upon the ground, for she knew by her enchantments

how Morgan le Fay had craftily devised to have King Arthur slain by his

own sword that day, and therefore came to save his life. And Arthur and

Sir Accolon were now grown hot against each other, and spared not strength

nor fury in their fierce assaults; but the king's sword gave way

continually before Sir Accolon's, so that at every stroke he was sore

wounded, and his blood ran from him so fast that it was a marvel he could

stand. When King Arthur saw the ground so sore be-blooded, he bethought

him in dismay that there was magic treason worked upon him, and that his

own true sword was changed, for it seemed to him that the sword in Sir

Accolon's hand was Excalibur, for fearfully it drew his blood at every

blow, while what he held himself kept no sharp edge, nor fell with any

force upon his foe.

"Now, knight, look to thyself, and keep thee well from me," cried out Sir

Accolon. But King Arthur answered not, and gave him such a buffet on the

helm as made him stagger and nigh fall upon the ground. Then Sir Accolon

withdrew a little, and came on with Excalibur on high, and smote King

Arthur in return with such a mighty stroke as almost felled him; and both

being now in hottest wrath, they gave each other grievous and savage

blows. But Arthur all the time was losing so much blood that scarcely

could he keep upon his feet yet so full was he of knighthood, that

knightly he endured the pain, and still sustained himself, though now he

was so feeble that he thought himself about to die. Sir Accolon, as yet,

had lost no drop of blood, and being very bold and confident in Excalibur,

even grew more vigorous and hasty in his assaults. But all men who beheld

them said they never saw a knight fight half so well as did King Arthur;

and all the people were so grieved for him that they besought Sir Damas

and Sir Outzlake to make up their quarrel and so stay the fight; but they

would not.

So still the battle raged, till Arthur drew a little back for breath and a

few moments' rest; but Accolon came on after him, following fiercely and

crying loud, "It is no time for me to suffer thee to rest," and therewith

set upon him. Then Arthur, full of scorn and rage, lifted up his sword and

struck Sir Accolon upon the helm so mightily that he drove him to his

knees; but with the force of that great stroke his brittle, treacherous

sword broke short off at the hilt, and fell down in the grass among the

blood, leaving the pommel only in his hand. At that, King Arthur thought

within himself that all was over, and secretly prepared his mind for

death, yet kept himself so knightly sheltered by his shield that he lost

no ground, and made as though he yet had hope and cheer. Then said Sir

Accolon, "Sir knight, thou now art overcome and canst endure no longer,

seeing thou art weaponless, and hast lost already so much blood. Yet am I

fully loth to slay thee; yield, then, therefore, to me as recreant."

"Nay," said King Arthur, "that may I not, for I have promised to do battle

to the uttermost by the faith of my body while my life lasteth; and I had

rather die with honour than live with shame; and if it were possible for

me to die an hundred times, I had rather die as often than yield me to

thee, for though I lack weapons, I shall lack no worship, and it shall be

to thy shame to slay me weaponless." "Aha," shouted then Sir Accolon, "as

for the shame, I will not spare; look to thyself, sir knight, for thou art

even now but a dead man." Therewith he drove at him with pitiless force,

and struck him nearly down; but Arthur evermore waxing in valour as he

waned in blood, pressed on Sir Accolon with his shield, and hit at him so

fiercely with the pommel in his hand, as hurled him three strides

backwards.

This, therefore, so confused Sir Accolon, that rushing up, all dizzy, to

deliver once again a furious blow, even as he struck, Excalibur, by

Vivien's magic, fell from out his hands upon the earth. Beholding which,

King Arthur lightly sprang to it, and grasped it, and forthwith felt it

was his own good sword, and said to it, "Thou hast been from me all too

long, and done me too much damage." Then spying the scabbard hanging by

Sir Accolon's side, he sprang and pulled it from him, and cast it away as

far as he could throw it; for so long as he had worn it, Arthur new his

life would have been kept secure. "Oh, knight!" then said the king, "thou

hast this day wrought me much damage by this sword, but now art thou come

to thy death, for I shall not warrant thee but that thou shalt suffer, ere

we part, somewhat of that thou hast made me suffer." And therewithal King

Arthur flew at him with all his might, and pulled him to the earth, and

then struck off his helm, and gave him on the head a fearful buffet, till

the blood leaped forth. "Now will I slay thee!" cried King Arthur; for his

heart was hardened, and his body all on fire with fever, till for a moment

he forgot his knightly mercy. "Slay me thou mayest," said Sir Accolon,

"for thou art the best knight I ever found, and I see well that God is

with thee; and I, as thou hast, have promised to fight this battle to the

uttermost, and never to be recreant while I live; therefore shall I never

yield me with my mouth, and God must do with my body what he will." And as

Sir Accolon spoke, King Arthur thought he knew his voice; and parting all

his blood-stained hair from out his eyes, and leaning down towards him,

saw, indeed, it was his friend and own true knight. Then said he--keeping

his own visor down--"I pray thee tell me of what country art thou, and

what court?" "Sir knight," he answered, "I am of King Arthur's court, and

my name is Sir Accolon of Gaul." Then said the king, "Oh, sir knight! I

pray thee tell me who gave thee this sword? and from whom thou hadst it?"

Then said Sir Accolon, "Woe worth this sword, for by it I have gotten my

death. This sword hath been in my keeping now for almost twelve months,

and yesterday Queen Morgan le Fay, wife of King Urience, sent it to me by

a dwarf, that therewith I might in some way slay her brother, King Arthur;

for thou must understand that King Arthur is the man she hateth most in

all the world, being full of envy and jealousy because he is of greater

worship and renown than any other of her blood. She loveth me also as much

as she doth hate him; and if she might contrive to slay King Arthur by her

craft and magic, then would she straightway kill her husband also, and

make me the king of all this land, and herself my queen, to reign with me;

but now," said he, "all that is over, for this day I am come to my death."

"It would have been sore treason of thee to destroy thy lord," said

Arthur. "Thou sayest truly," answered he; "but now that I have told thee,

and openly confessed to thee all that foul treason whereof I now do

bitterly repent, tell me, I pray thee, whence art thou, and of what

court?" "O, Sir Accolon!" said King Arthur, "learn that I am myself King

Arthur." When Sir Accolon heard this he cried aloud, "Alas, my gracious

lord! have mercy on me, for I knew thee not." "Thou shalt have mercy,"

said he, "for thou knewest not my person at this time; and though by thine

own confession thou art a traitor, yet do I blame thee less, because thou

hast been blinded by the false crafts of my sister Morgan le Fay, whom I

have trusted more than all others of my kin, and whom I now shall know

well how to punish." Then did Sir Accolon cry loudly, "O, lords, and all

good people! this noble knight that I have fought with is the noblest and

most worshipful in all the world; for it is King Arthur, our liege lord

and sovereign king; and full sorely I repent that I have ever lifted lance

against him, though in ignorance I did it."

Then all the people fell down on their knees and prayed the pardon of the

king for suffering him to come to such a strait. But he replied, "Pardon

ye cannot have, for, truly, ye have nothing sinned; but here ye see what

ill adventure may ofttimes befall knights-errant, for to my own hurt, and

his danger also, I have fought with one of my own knights."

Then the king commanded Sir Damas to surrender to his brother the whole

manor, Sir Outzlake only yielding him a palfrey every year; "for," said he

scornfully, "it would become thee better to ride on than a courser;" and

ordered Damas, upon pain of death, never again to touch or to distress

knights-errant riding on their adventures; and also to make full

compensation and satisfaction to the twenty knights whom he had held in

prison. "And if any of them," said the king, "come to my court complaining

that he hath not had full satisfaction of thee for his injuries, by my

head, thou shalt die therefor."

Afterwards, King Arthur asked Sir Outzlake to come with him to his court,

where he should become a knight of his, and, if his deeds were noble, be

advanced to all he might desire.

So then he took his leave of all the people and mounted upon horseback,

and Sir Accolon went with him to an abbey hard by, where both their wounds

were dressed. But Sir Accolon died within four days after. And when he was

dead, the king sent his body to Queen Morgan, to Camelot, saying that he

sent her a present in return for the sword Excalibur which she had sent

him by the damsel.

So, on the morrow, there came a damsel from Queen Morgan to the king, and

brought with her the richest mantle that ever was seen, for it was set as

full of precious stones as they could stand against each other, and they

were the richest stones that ever the king saw. And the damsel said, "Your

sister sendeth you this mantle, and prayeth you to take her gift, and in

whatsoever thing she hath offended you, she will amend it at your

pleasure." To this the king replied not, although the mantle pleased him

much. With that came in the lady of the lake, and said, "Sir, put not on

this mantle till thou hast seen more; and in nowise let it be put upon

thee, or any of thy knights, till ye have made the bringer of it first put

it on her." "It shall be done as thou dost counsel," said the king. Then

said he to the damsel that came from his sister, "Damsel, I would see this

mantle ye have brought me upon yourself." "Sir," said she, "it will not

beseem me to wear a knight's garment." "By my head," said King Arthur,

"thou shall wear it ere it go on any other person's back!" And so they put

it on her by force, and forthwith the garment burst into a flame and

burned the damsel into cinders. When the king saw that, he hated that

false witch Morgan le Fay with all his heart, and evermore was deadly

quarrel between her and Arthur to their lives' end.