Le Morte d'Arthur

Book V (vol 2)

CHAPTER V. How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into the water, and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge

BUT I may not stand, mine head works so. Ah Sir Launcelot, said King Arthur, this day have I sore missed thee: alas, that ever I was against thee,for now have I my death, whereof Sir Gawaine me warned in my dream. Then Sir Lucan took up the king the one part, and Sir Bedivere the other part, and in the lifting the king swooned; and Sir Lucan fell in a swoon with the lift, that the part of his guts fell out of his body, and therewith the noble knight's heart brast. And when the king awoke, he beheld Sir Lucan, how he lay foaming at the mouth, and part of his guts lay at his feet. Alas, said the king, this is to me a full heavy sight, to see this noble duke so die for my sake, for he would have holpen me, that had more need of help than I. Alas, he would not complain him, his heart was so set to help me: now Jesu have mercy upon his soul! Then Sir Bedivere weptfor the death of his brother. Leave this mourning and weeping, said the king, for all this will not avail me, for wit thou well an I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast, said the king. Therefore, said Arthur unto Sir Bedivere, take thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comestthere I charge thee throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou there seest. My lord, said Bedivere, your commandment shall be done, and lightly bring you word again.

thee

alas, (what a shame),

thee, you,

whereof (of what/of which/of whom)

swooned fainted

swoon faint

beheld looked/saw

Alas, (what a shame),

for my sake for my benefit

wept cried

mourning suffering (in sadness)

weeping crying

avail get/help

wit clever humor

thou you

grieve suffer (because of death)

evermore forever

yonder there/that

comest come

thee you

seest see

shall will

So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld that noble sword, that the pommel and the haft was all of preciousstones; and then he said to himself: If I throw this rich sword in the water, thereofshall 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 the king, and said he had been at the water, and had thrown the sword in the water. What saw thou there? said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but waves and winds. That is untruly said of thee, said the king, therefore go thou lightly again, and do my commandment; as thou art to me lief and dear, spare not, but throw it in. Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the sword in his hand; and then him thought sin and shame to throw away that noble sword, and so eft he hid the sword, and returned again, and told to the king that he had been at the water, and done his commandment. What saw thou there? said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but the waters wap and waves wan. Ah, traitoruntrue, said King Arthur, now hast thou betrayed me twice. Who would have weened that, thou that hastbeen to me so lief and dear? and thou artnamed a noble knight, and would betray me for the richness of the sword. But now go again lightly, for thy long tarryingputteth me in great jeopardyof my life, for I have taken cold. And but if thou do now as I bid thee, if ever I may see thee, I shall slay thee with mine ownhands; for thou wouldst for my rich sword see me dead.

departed left/gone

precious (very valuable/very dearly loved)

thereof of that/of it

thou art you are

wan. pale.

traitor (person who helps the enemy of a country, friend, etc.)

hast have

thy your

tarrying staying/being late

putteth puts

jeopardy danger

bid thee ask you

slay kill

mine own my own

wouldst would

thrice three-times

brandished held and showed off (a weapon)

vanish disappear

hence because of this

dread fear (of a terrible future)

tarried stayed/was late

shrieked yelled

the barge the big, flat ship

ye you

hath has

thyself yourself

thou mayst you may

vale valley/life

grievous terrible

wailed loudly cried

betwixt between

hoar hairy coating/frost

chapel (place of worship)

hermitage (secret place where people live)

Then Sir Bedivere departed, and went to the sword, and lightly took it up, and went to the water side; and there he bound the girdle about the hilts, and then he threw the sword as far into the water as he might; and there came an arm and an hand above the water and met it, and caught it, and so shook it thriceand brandished, and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the water. So Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told him what he saw. Alas,said the king, help me hence, for I dread me I have tarriedover long. Then Sir Bedivere took the king upon his back, and so went with him to that water side. And when they were at the water side, even fast by the bank hoved a little barge with many fair ladies in it, and among them all was a queen, and all they had black hoods, and all they wept and shrieked when they saw King Arthur. Now put me into the barge, said the king. And so he did softly; and there received him three queens with great mourning; and so they set them down, and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head. And then that queen said: Ah, dear brother, why have ye tarriedso long from me? alas, this wound on your head hathcaught over-much 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 the king, and do as well as thou mayst, for in me is no trust for to trust in; for I will into the vale of Avilion to heal me of my grievouswound: and if thou hear never more of me, pray for my soul.