Archive for the ‘Legends of King Arthur’ Category

The Book of Three Worthies: Part 3 – The Story of Sir Gawaine (Conclusion)

So endeth this volume wherein hath been told, with every circumstance of narration, the history of those Three Worthies who were of the Court of King Arthur.
And now, if God will give me the grace to do so, I will some time, at no very great time from this, write the further history of sundry [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 3 – The Story of Sir Gawaine (Chapter 3)

Now, when King Arthur came to the castle, the gateway thereof was immediately opened to him and he entered. And when he had entered, sundry attendants came and conducted him into the hall where he had aforetime been. There he beheld the knight of that castle and a great many people who had come to [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 3 – The Story of Sir Gawaine (Chapter 2)

Now, it befell upon a time some while after this, that King Arthur was at Tintagalon upon certain affairs of state. And Queen Guinevere and her Court and the King’s Court made progression from Camelot unto Carleon, and there they abided until the King should be through his business at Tintagalon and should join them [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 3 – The Story of Sir Gawaine (Chapter 1)

Upon a certain time King Arthur, together with Queen Guinevere and all of his Court, were making progression through that part of his kingdom which was not very near to Camelot. At this time the King journeyed in very great state, and Queen Guinevere had her Court about her, so there were many esquires and [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 2 – The Story of Sir Pelias (Chapter 6)

Now, when the next morning had come, Sir Gawaine summoned his esquire unto him and said, “Fetch hither my armor and case me in it.” And the esquire did so. Then Sir Gawaine said, “Help me unto my horse,” and the esquire did so. And the morning was still very early, with the grass all [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 2 – The Story of Sir Pelias (Chapter 5)

Now, after that wonderful lady had disappeared from their sight in that manner, those three knights stood for a little while altogether astonished, for they wist not how to believe what their eyes had beheld. Then, by and by, Sir Gawaine spake, saying, “Certes, that was a very wonderful thing that happened to us, for [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 2 – The Story of Sir Pelias (Chapter 4)

Now, in the same measure that Queen Guinevere felt high regard for Sir Pellias, in that same degree she felt misliking for Sir Gawaine. For, though Sir Gawaine was said of many to have a silver tongue, and whiles he could upon occasion talk in such a manner as to beguile others unto his will, [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 2 – The Story of Sir Pelias (Chapter 3)

Now, Sir Pellias and his party and the damsel Parcenet and her party travelled onward until after awhile in the afternoon they came unto the utmost boundaries of the forest, where the woodlands ceased altogether and many fields and meadows, with farms and crofts and plantations of trees all a-bloom with tender leaves and fragrant [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 2 – The Story of Sir Pelias (Chapter 2)

Now, after that wonderful happening, they journeyed continuously for a great while. Nor did they pause at any place until they came, about an hour after the prime of the day, to a certain part of the forest where charcoal-burners were plying their trade. Here Sir Pellias commanded that they should draw rein and rest [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 2 – The Story of Sir Pelias (Chapter 1)

Now it befell upon a pleasant day in the spring-time, that Queen Guinevere went a-Maying with a goodly company of Knights and Ladies of her Court. And among those Knights were Sir Pellias, and Sir Geraint, and Sir Dinadan, and Sir Aglaval, and Sir Agravaine, and Sir Constantine of Cornwall, and sundry others, so that [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 1 – The Story of Merlin (Conclusion)

Now shortly after that combat betwixt King Arthur and Sir Accalon the news thereof was brought to Queen Morgana le Fay, and the next day thereafter she heard that Sir Accalon was dead, and she wist not how it could be that her designs could have so miscarried. Then she was a-doubt as to how [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 1 – The Story of Merlin (Chapter 4)

Here followeth the account of what happened unto Sir Accalon the morning after he went aboard that magic ship with King Arthur as aforetold.


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 1 – The Story of Merlin (Chapter 3)

Now, after Merlin had quitted the Court with Vivien in that manner aforetold, Queen Morgana le Fay returned again to Camelot. There she came unto King Arthur and kneeled before him, bowing her face, with an appearance of great humility. And she said, “Brother, I have meditated much upon these matters that have passed and [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 1 – The Story of Merlin (Chapter 2)

So, Merlin and Vivien and those who were with them travelled for three days to the eastward, until, toward the end of the third day, they reached the confines of a very dark and dismal forest. And there they beheld before them trees so thickly interwoven together that the eyes could not see anything at [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Part 1 – The Story of Merlin (Chapter 1)

Now Morgana le Fay was a very cunning enchantress, and was so much mistress of magic that she could, by means of potent spells, work her will upon all things, whether quick or dead. For Merlin himself had been her master in times past, and had taught her his arts whilst she was still a [...]


The Book of Three Worthies: Prologue

Upon a certain day King Arthur sat in the Royal Hall of Camelot with the Queen and all of his Court and all of her Court. And there was great joy and mirth at that place.


The Book of King Arthur: Part 3 – The Winning of a Queen (Conclusion)

So endeth this Book of King Arthur which hath been told by me with such joyousness of spirit that I find it to be a very great pleasure, in closing this first volume of my work, to look forward to writing a second volume, which now presently followeth.
In that volume there shall be told the [...]


The Book of King Arthur: Part 3 – The Winning of a Queen (Chapter 6)

And now was come the early fall of the year; that pleasant season when the meadow-land and the wold were still green with summer that had only just passed; when the sky likewise was as of summer-time – extraordinarily blue and full of large floating clouds; when a bird might sing here and another there, [...]


The Book of King Arthur: Part 3 – The Winning of a Queen (Chapter 5)

Now, when the next day had come, the Duke of North Umber and six knights-companion appeared upon the field in front of the castle of Cameliard as he had duly declared that he and they would do. And those seven champions appeared in very great estate; for in front of them there rode seven heralds [...]


The Book of King Arthur: Part 3 – The Winning of a Queen (Chapter 4)

Now, when King Arthur returned to Cameliard once more (which fell upon the afternoon of a second day), he found the gardener waiting for him, exceedingly filled with wrath. And the gardener had a Iong birchen rod which he had fetched thither for to punish his boy withal, when that he should have returned to [...]