The Death of King Arthur Page 18

  The Reunion of Tristram and Isolde

  In the following years Sir Tristram won the most renown for his exploits and adventures. Isolde had managed to escape from her confinement at the court of her husband, King Mark, and by secret means had travelled across the borders of Cornwall; she had fled to the North, out of the reach of her husband, and had found refuge in a castle owned by Sir Lancelot. It was known as Joyous Garde. When Tristram knew that she was safe there, he rode swiftly to Joyous Garde to be with her. Soon after his arrival Isolde told him that there was to be a great feast at the time of Pentecost to which he was invited as guest of honour. ‘We must go,’ he said, gathering her up in his arms.

  ‘Sir, I do not want to displease you. You are marked down by many knights for challenge because of me. If I am present, I may place you in danger. I would rather stay here.’

  ‘If you stay,’ Tristram told her, ‘then I stay also.’

  ‘God forbid. Then I shall be spoken of as shameful among queens and ladies of estate. You are known to be one of the noblest knights in the world, a worthy member of the Round Table. You must be present at the feast. What will the northern knights say otherwise? “Oh, Tristram is happy to go hunting and hawking. He cowers in a castle, with his lady, and forsakes us. It is a pity that he was ever made a knight and that he ever loved a lady.” And what will the ladies say of me? “It is a pity Isolde is alive. How can she bear to hold back her knight from winning worship?” That is what they will say.’ And Isolde sighed.

  ‘God help me, I will go. You have spoken well, and given me good advice. I understand now how much you love me. I will do as you suggest. On Tuesday next I will go to the feast alone and unafraid. I will wear no armour. I will bear no arms except my spear and sword.’

  When the day came he departed from Joyous Garde. Isolde sent with him four knights, but he ordered them to return to the castle. Within an hour he met Palomides, who had just struck down a knight. Tristram then repented the fact that he had only sword and spear. As soon as Palomides saw him, he cried out, ‘Tristram, we are well met! Before we leave this place, we will have settled our old scores!’

  ‘Ah, pagan Palomides,’ Tristram called to him. ‘No Christian knight has ever been able to boast that I fled from him. No Saracen knight, such as you, will do any better!’ Then he made a charge at him, and broke his spear into a hundred pieces on Palomides’ shield. Palomides sat on his horse, quietly watching Tristram’s madness and folly. He said to himself, ‘If I attack Tristram, without his arms and armour, I will be rewarded with nothing but shame and contempt. What am I to do?’

  Then Tristram cried out to him again, ‘Coward knight, why do you hesitate? Come forward and fight. I can withstand you and all your malice!’

  ‘Sir Tristram,’ Palomides replied, ‘you know very well my reasons. If I fight you, naked and unarmed as you are, I will deserve only dishonour. You have nothing to prove. I know your strength and courage. You have displayed them many times.’

  ‘I accept what you say,’ Tristram told him.

  ‘May I ask you a question?’

  ‘I will give you a true answer.’

  ‘If I was in your place, with no arms or armour, would you wish to fight me?’

  ‘I understand you perfectly. As God is my saviour, I will now withdraw from the fight. Not for any fear of you, Sir Palomides, but for fear of the shame it will bring to you. Let us now go our separate ways. But before you leave, tell me this. Why has so good a knight as yourself not yet been baptized?’

  ‘I made a vow many years ago. In my heart I know that Christ is my Saviour, but I swore an oath that I would not be baptized until I had fought fifteen battles. I have one left to fight.’

  ‘As for that, I will help you,’ Tristram replied. ‘Let it not be on my head that you remain a Saracen for a moment longer. I will fight you for your last battle. There is a knight lying there whom you overthrew. I will ask him for his armour, and then advance against you. Does that satisfy you?’

  ‘Yes indeed.’

  So they both rode over to the knight, sitting disconsolate by the side of a stream. Tristram greeted him, and the knight feebly replied. ‘Sir knight,’ Tristram said. ‘I require you to tell me your right name.’

  ‘I am Sir Galleron of Galloway. I am a knight of the Round Table, although I now sit here in disgrace.’

  ‘I am sorry for your wounds,’ Tristram replied. ‘But may I beg a favour from you? May I borrow your armour? I must fight this knight here.’

  ‘Take it. I give it to you with my good will. But I warn you. This knight is as brave and as strong as any knight I have met before. What is your name, sir? And what is the name of the man who defeated me?’

  ‘I am Sir Tristram. This knight is Sir Palomides. He is a Saracen.’

  ‘It is a pity that so noble a knight should still be unbaptized,’ Sir Galleron said.

  ‘By the end of this day, if God wills, he will be baptized.’

  ‘I am glad to hear it. I know of you, sir. Your name and your deeds are renowned through many kingdoms. God give you strength.’

  So Tristram took off the knight’s armour, and noticed a great bruise on his back where he had been buffeted by a spear. Tristram put on the armour and then, taking spear and shield, mounted his horse. Sir Palomides was waiting for him. They flew on each other like furies. The spear of Palomides was splintered, and he fell on to the ground. He quickly got up, and raised his sword and shield. Tristram alighted from his horse, and tied it to a tree, before advancing on him. They were ferocious in their attacks. Sir Tristram landed so many strokes that Sir Palomides was forced to kneel, but then a moment later Tristram himself was wounded. So it went on, blow exchanged for blow. These were men of war, ferocious combatants who were fast and fearless. After much fighting the sword of Palomides slipped from his hand. He was dismayed, but Tristram paused. ‘I have you at an advantage,’ he told him, ‘but never let it be said that Sir Tristram killed a knight who had no weapon. Pick up your sword, sir, so that we can swiftly make an end of this battle.’

  ‘I am willing to continue,’ Palomides said. ‘But I have no real heart for it. I never did mean you any harm. Surely we should be friends? My only crime was to love Isolde. You know well enough that I never dishonoured her, but sought only to serve her. If I offended you in any way, you have wreaked vengeance upon me with your sword. Look at my wounds. So it is time to forgive and to forget. If you agree, will you lead me to a church where I can be confessed and baptized? Then together we will ride south to Camelot and rejoin our king.’

  ‘I assent to that,’ Sir Tristram told him. ‘This is the time for forgiveness. Within a mile of here resides the Bishop of Carlisle. He will baptize you.’

  Together with Sir Galleron they rode to the palace of the bishop, where they requested that Sir Palomides be baptized. The bishop placed some holy water in a vessel of gold, blessed it, and then performed the rite of baptism. Sir Galleron and Sir Tristram were the godfathers.

  The three knights rode back to Camelot, where the court of Arthur and Guinevere was assembled. The journey took many days. On their arrival the king and queen applauded the fact that Sir Palomides had been baptized. This was the occasion when Sir Galahad, son of Sir Lancelot du Lake, first came to court and sat in the Perilous Seat. You will soon learn that Galahad was the one who went in search of the Holy Grail. After a few days of feasting, Tristram returned to Isolde in the castle of Joyous Garde. Their fate was not a fortunate one.

  THE ADVENTURE OF THE HOLY GRAIL

  Briefly drawn out of French, which is a tale chronicled for one of the truest and one of the holiest that is in this world

  The Miracle of the Holy Grail

  It was the vigil of Pentecost, when the entire fellowship of the Round Table returned to Camelot. On that day they heard mass before sitting down to a great feast in the hall. As they took their seats for dinner, a beautiful lady entered the hall on horseback; she must have ridden fast and furiously, for her horse
was covered in sweat. She dismounted before the king, and saluted him. ‘Lady,’ Arthur said, ‘God bless you on this solemn day.’

  ‘Sir,’ she replied, ‘I thank you. But I must be brief. Tell me where I can find Sir Lancelot.’

  ‘Here. You can see him.’

  She went over to him. ‘Sir Lancelot,’ she said, ‘I greet you in the name of King Pelles. And I require you to come with me now.’ Lancelot then asked her where she lived. ‘I live with King Pelles,’ she replied.

  ‘What do you want from me?’

  ‘I will make that clear once you have accompanied me.’

  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I will gladly go with you.’

  Lancelot ordered his squire to saddle his horse and to bring his armour. Then Guinevere came over to him. ‘Will you leave us, sir, at the time of our high feast?’

  The lady answered for him. ‘Madam,’ she said, ‘Lancelot will have returned here by the time of tomorrow’s dinner.’

  ‘If I thought that you were misleading me,’ the queen said, ‘I would not allow him to leave with you.’

  ‘You have my word, good queen.’

  Wherein Galahad is revealed

  Lancelot left the court, and rode with the lady until they came to a great forest. Within this forest there was a valley. On the side of this valley there was a convent of nuns. They rode into its forecourt, and were greeted by many who flocked around Lancelot. He was led into the chamber of the abbess, and there he disarmed. Then he became aware of two knights sleeping upon a bed; they were his cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and he roused them with the handle of his sword. They were delighted to see him, and jumped down from the bed. ‘Sir,’ Bors said to him, ‘what adventure has brought you here? We were expecting to see you at Camelot tomorrow.’

  ‘A gentlewoman has brought me here,’ Lancelot replied. ‘I do not know the reason yet.’

  As they talked there came into the chamber twelve nuns, leading with them a young man of great beauty and noble bearing. This was Galahad. ‘Sir,’ they said to Lancelot, ‘we bring you here this young man whom we have nourished and brought up.’ All of them were now in tears. ‘We request that you make him a knight. No one is worthier of that honour.’

  Sir Lancelot gazed upon him, and recognized at once that he was a man of grace and goodness. He was as demure and as seemly as a dove. The knight had never seen a fairer form or a finer face. ‘Is this what he also desires?’ he asked the nuns.

  ‘He does so desire.’

  ‘Then shall he receive the Order of Knighthood on the feast of Pentecost.’

  On the following morning, then, at the hour of prime, Galahad was dubbed a knight. ‘God make you a good man,’ Lancelot said to him, ‘for He has given you a good face. Now, fair sir, will you come with me to the court of King Arthur?’

  ‘Not at this time,’ he replied. ‘I am not ready.’

  Lancelot left the convent with his two cousins, and they rode back to Camelot. The king and queen were delighted to see Sir Bors and Sir Lionel again, and the whole fellowship of the Round Table proceeded to the minster, where they heard mass. When they returned from the service, the knights noticed at once that there were letters of gold written on some of the seats of the Round Table. One of them stated that HERE OUGHT TO SIT HE, while another had the words HE OUGHT TO SIT HERE. On the Perilous Seat was written: THIS SEAT WILL BE FILLED FOUR HUNDRED WINTERS AND FOUR AND FIFTY ACCOMPLISHED AFTER THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

  The knights looked at the writing in wonder, at first not understanding its meaning; but they all agreed that it was a marvel. ‘In the name of God,’ Lancelot said, ‘this is the four hundred and fifty-fourth year after the Passion. These letters tell us that this seat is to be filled today. It is best to cover them until the chosen knight comes to us.’ So a cloth of silk was draped over the Perilous Seat to conceal the golden sentence.

  The king then invited them to the feast. ‘Sir,’ Kay said to him, ‘if you go to your meat now, you will be breaking your own tradition. In the old days you never used to dine until you had seen an adventure.’

  ‘True enough,’ Arthur replied. ‘I was so cheered by the arrival of Lancelot and his cousins that I quite forgot the old custom.’

  At that moment a squire came into the hall and addressed the king. ‘Sire, I bring you marvellous news.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘In the river below the castle, a great stone is being swept along with a sword embedded in it.’

  ‘I must see this marvel,’ the king said. ‘It is what we awaited.’ The king and all his knights went down to the riverside. There was the stone, floating on the waters, pierced by a sword that was richly decorated with rare jewels. Letters of gold were also engraved upon it. NO MAN BUT ONE SHALL REMOVE ME. HE WILL BE THE ONE THAT IS MOST WORTHY TO BEAR ME. FOR HE SHALL BE THE BEST KNIGHT IN THE WORLD.

  When the king read these sentences, he turned to Lancelot. ‘Fair sir, surely you are the one to take up this sword? You are the best knight in the world.’

  Lancelot answered him solemnly. ‘This sword is not mine, sir. It does not belong to me. Anyone who tries, and fails, to remove it will regret the attempt. He will receive a wound from this sword that will never heal. I know the signs. On this day the adventure of the Holy Grail will begin.’

  ‘Now, good nephew,’ the king said to Sir Gawain, ‘will you try to remove it?’

  ‘Sir,’ he replied, ‘I would rather not.’

  ‘For the love of me, attempt the task.’

  Gawain took hold of the sword, but by no means could he release it from the stone.

  ‘I thank you,’ the king said.

  Then Lancelot went up to Gawain. ‘You should know this. This sword will touch you so sorely that you would rather have given up the best castle in the kingdom than to have tested it.’

  ‘Sir,’ Gawain replied, ‘I could not withstand my uncle’s will.’

  Then Arthur approached Sir Percival. ‘Sir,’ he said to him, ‘will you test your strength?’

  ‘Gladly, my king.’ Sir Percival was happy to be given the chance. But he could not move the sword. After that, no other knight dared to set his hands upon it.

  ‘Now we may all go into dinner,’ Sir Kay said. ‘We have seen our adventure.’

  Wherein Galahad joins the Round Table

  They settled down to eat, and were served by the younger knights. All the seats were taken, except for the Perilous Seat. After the meal was over, there was a further marvel. The doors and windows of the palace shut of their own accord. Yet the hall was still filled with light. They fell silent, and the king was first to speak. ‘We have seen wonders, my lords, and I am sure that before night we will see further miracles.’

  An old man, dressed all in white, walked into the hall. No one knew from where he had come. With him was a young knight clad in red armour, with an empty scabbard hanging by his side. He had no sword or shield. The old man called out, ‘Peace be with you all, fair lords!’ Then he spoke to King Arthur. ‘Sire, I bring with me a young knight of royal blood. He springs from the lineage of Joseph of Arimathea. He will accomplish such marvels that he will win undying fame for you and for your court.’ He took off the young knight’s armour, and gave him a tunic of red silk; over his shoulders he placed a mantle that was trimmed with ermine. He led him to the Perilous Seat, and took off the silk cloth. The inscription had changed. The words now were THIS IS THE SEAT OF SIR GALAHAD, THE HIGH PRINCE. ‘This is your place,’ the old man told him.

  So Galahad sat down. ‘You may go your way now, sir,’ he said to the old man. ‘You have fulfilled your vow. Commend me to my grandfather, King Pelles, and to my good lord, King Pecherre. Tell them on my behalf that I will visit them as soon as I can.’

  After the old man had left the hall the knights looked on Sir Galahad with wonder. He was so young. And yet he sat in the Perilous Seat without fear or shame. Had he come from God? Sir Kay turned to Sir Percival. ‘This is the one,’ he whispered, ‘who will
win the Holy Grail. Who else could sit there without harm?’

  Sir Bors called to the others across the Round Table. ‘I swear on my life that this knight will be honoured with fame and worship!’

  Lancelot looked on Galahad with great joy, since now he knew him to be his son.

  The clamour grew so loud that it reached the ears of Queen Guinevere. She went into the hall, wondering who it could be that had dared to place himself at the Perilous Seat. She saw at once the resemblance between Lancelot and Galahad. ‘I believe,’ she said to one of her ladies, ‘that this is the offspring of Sir Lancelot and the daughter of King Pelles. She made him lie with her by means of magic. His name is Galahad, I believe. He will be a noble knight, like his father before him.’ Then she went over to him, and read the inscription on his seat. She turned to Sir Gawain, sitting close by. ‘Fair nephew,’ she said, ‘now we have among us Sir Galahad. He will be a garland to this court. As Sir Lancelot once prophesied, this young man will win the Holy Grail.’

  The king himself then went up to Galahad. ‘You are most welcome here. You will inspire many knights to the quest for the Holy Grail. But only you will accomplish it. You will finish what others have begun.’ The king took him by the hand and led him down to the riverside where he could see the sword in the stone. The queen, and her company of ladies, came with them. ‘The sword,’ Arthur said, ‘is bound fast to the stone. Two of my best knights could not lift it.’

  ‘That is not surprising, sir. The sword is for me, not for them. See. I have brought with me an empty scabbard.’ He put his hand on the sword, and drew it out with the utmost ease. He put it in his scabbard. ‘At last it is where it belongs.’

  ‘God willing,’ the king told him, ‘you may also acquire a shield.’

  At that moment a lady rode up on a white palfrey. ‘Is Sir Lancelot here?’ she cried out. Lancelot came forward and saluted her. ‘Ah, Lancelot, how altered are you from the morning!’