in terms of plot and tone, a result in large measure due to the different sources Malory drew on for each section—the types of divisions are not those of different books, but rather, more similar to those of chapters within a single book. Although the story may seem at times to wander, Malory shapes his material into a single story about the rise and fall of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
In producing this translation, I have returned to the Winchester Manuscript, and, as far as possible, have relied upon it as a guide for structuring this edition. It follows Malory’s intention to craft a single, unified narrative, while also showing contemporary readers that Malory’s method falls somewhat short of the sort of the writing process we associate with the modern novel. I find the general idea of Caxton’s approach—to divide the text up into smaller, manageable units—to be a useful guide in theory, but a bit excessive in practice. Thus, I have walked a line somewhere between Vinaver’s and Caxton’s treatment of the text; I have divided Le Morte Darthur into 90 Chapters, all part of a single “book,” relying first on stylistic and material divisions within the manuscript as a guide, and next dividing the text based on episodic units within the narrative. Because most readers who have already encountered Le Morte Darthur are familiar with either Caxton’s or Vinaver’s editions, I have keyed this translation to both of these versions of the text; thus, there are three Tables of Contents—mine, Vinaver’s and Caxton’s—and within the body of the text, Caxton’s and Vinaver’s Book and Chapter divisions are noted in the margins. I believe that readers will agree with me, however, that my chapter divisions more accurately represent naturally occurring story units in Malory’s text and help make clear how Malory chose portions of his French sources to translate. Many of these sources can be found in the notes to Vinaver’s great edition, and I hope that readers who develop a taste for Malory here may turn there to investigate further how Malory managed to add his magic to his French originals. I should add that as I write this, the pre-eminent living Malory scholar, P. J. C. Field, is putting the finishing touches on his own critical edition of the text; once in print, this monumental work will surely supplant Vinaver’s and become the standard scholarly edition.
No matter how one regards the Le Morte Darthur, however—as one text or many—there is no denying the extraordinary quality of Sir Thomas Malory’s accomplishment. The story of King Arthur’s rise and fall has proved enduring in its popularity and the lessons it can offer, for a medieval as well as a modern audience. It is my hope that this translation makes this remarkable narrative accessible for those who might otherwise be daunted by the late Middle English of Malory’s prose.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Contents Corresponding to Vinaver’s Edition
Contents Corresponding to William Caxton’s Edition
1 How Arthur was Born and Became King
2 Trouble in the Early Years of Arthur’s Reign
3 How Mordred was Born and King Arthur Learned of his Parentage
4 Balin, The Knight with the Two Swords
5 Balin and the Dolorous Stroke
7 The First Adventure of Sir Gawain
9 The Adventure of King Pellinore
10 The War with the Five Kings
11 The Betrayal of Morgan le Fay
13 Sir Gawain in the Forest of Adventure
14 The Adventure of Sir Marhalt
17 Arthur’s Dream and the Fight with the Giant
18 The Battle Against Rome Begins
21 Arthur’s Coronation and Return Home
22 Sir Lancelot and Sir Tarquin
23 Lancelot’s Further Adventures
26 Beaumains Sets off on an Adventure
27 The Siege of the Castle Perilous
29 The Tournament at Castle Perilous
