Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory

Author:Thomas Malory
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fairy Tales; Folk Tales; Legends & Mythology, Literary Criticism, Medieval, European, English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, Classics, Ancient & Classical
Publisher: Penguin UK
Published: 2004-05-27T05:18:49+00:00

Book XIV

CHAPTER 1: How Sir Percival came to a recluse and asked her counsel, and how she told him that she was his aunt

Now saith the tale, that when Sir Launcelot was ridden after Sir Galahad, the which had all these adventures above said, Sir Percival turned again unto the recluse, where he deemed to have tidings of that knight that Launcelot followed. And so he kneeled at her window, and the recluse opened it and asked Sir Percival what he would.

‘Madam,’ he said, I am a knight of King Arthur’s court, and my name is Sir Percival de Gales.’

When the recluse heard his name she had great joy of him, for mickle she had loved him tofore any other knight, for she ought to do so, for she was his aunt. And then she commanded the gates to be opened, and there he had all the cheer that she might make him, and all that was in her power was at his commandment.

So on the morn Sir Percival went to the recluse and asked her if she knew that knight with the white shield.

‘Sir,’ said she, ‘why would ye wit?’

‘Truly, madam,’ said Sir Percival, ‘I shall never be well at ease till that I know of that knight’s fellowship, and that I may fight with him, for I may not leave him so lightly, for I have the shame yet.’

‘Ah, Percival,’ said she, ‘would ye fight with him? I see well ye have great will to be slain as your father was, through outrageousness.’

‘Madam,’ said Sir Percival, ‘it seemeth by your words that ye know me.’

‘Yea,’ said she, ‘I well ought to know you, for I am your aunt, although I be in a priory place. For some called me sometime the Queen of the Waste Lands, and I was called the queen of most riches in the world; and it pleased me never my riches so much as doth my poverty.’

Then Sir Percival wept for very pity when that he knew it was his aunt.

‘Ah, fair nephew,’ said she, ‘when heard ye tidings of your mother?’

‘Truly,’ said he, ‘I heard none of her, but I dream of her much in my sleep; and therefore I wot not whether she be dead or alive.’

‘Certes, fair nephew,’ said she, ‘your mother is dead, for after your departing from her she took such a sorrow that anon, after she was confessed, she died.’

‘Now, God have mercy on her soul,’ said Sir Percival. ‘It sore forthinketh me; but all we must change the life. Now, fair aunt, tell me what is the knight? I deem it be he that bare the red arms on Whitsunday.’

‘Wit you well,’ said she, ‘that this is he, for otherwise ought he not to do, but to go in red arms, and that same knight hath no peer, for he worketh all by miracle, and he shall never be overcome of none earthly man’s hand.

CHAPTER 2: How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.