them for almost twelve months throughout England, Wales, and Scotland; he had been ordered that if he ever should find Sir Gawain and Sir Uwain he should quickly bring them back to court.
CIV.29
They were all glad, and asked Sir Marhalt to ride with them to the king’s court.
Within twelve days they came to Camelot, and the king was very glad of their coming, as was all the court. The king then made them swear upon a book to tell him all the adventures that had befallen them in the previous twelve months, and so they did. Marhalt was well-known, for the knights he had defeated were there, and he was accounted one of the best knights living.
At the next feast of Pentecost the Damsel of the Lake came, bringing with her Sir Pelleas, and there was great jousting at the high feast. Out of all the knights who jousted, Sir Pelleas won the prize, and Sir Marhalt was second. Sir Pelleas was so strong that there were only a few knights who could land a serious blow on him with a spear.
At the next feast, Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhalt were made knights of the Round Table, for there were two empty seats, as two of the knights had been slain that year. King Arthur had great joy of Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhalt; Sir Pelleas had no love for Sir Gawain, but spared him on account of his love for the king. But oftentimes at jousts and tournaments Sir Pelleas defeated Sir Gawain, as it tells in the French book.
Many days later, Sir Tristram fought with Sir Marhalt on an island; there they fought a great battle, but in the end, Sir Tristram slew him. Sir Tristram was so severely wounded that it seemed he would not recover, and he stayed in a nunnery for half a year.
Sir Pelleas was a worshipful knight, and later he became one of the knights who achieved the Holy Grail. The Damsel of the Lake worked her magic so that he never had ado with Sir Lancelot du Lake; whenever Sir Lancelot was at any joust or tournament, she would not allow Sir Pelleas to be there that day unless he fought on the side of Sir Lancelot.
Here ends this tale, as the French book records it from the marriage of King Uther to the reign of King Arthur and the many battles that he fought. This book ends at the moment when Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram come to court. He who wishes to know more, let him seek out other books of Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram.
This was written by a knight-prisoner, Sir Thomas Malory; may God send him swift deliverance. Amen. EXPLICIT.
16 The Challenge from Rome
After King Arthur had married Queen Guenevere and the Round Table was complete, Arthur and his marvelous knights had vanquished most of his enemies. Soon after this, Sir Lancelot du Lake and Sir Tristram came to court.
C V.1; V II
Then the Roman Emperor Lucius sent messengers to Arthur commanding him to pay the duty that his ancestors paid to Rome before him. When King Arthur understood what they were saying, he looked at the messengers furiously with his gray eyes.
Then the messengers were afraid, and stayed kneeling, daring not to arise, so afraid of his grim countenance were they. Then one of the messengers spoke aloud, saying, “Crowned king, do not punish the messengers, for we have come at the commandment of our lord, as servants should.”
Then the conqueror spoke. “You faint-hearted and cowardly knights, why do you fear my countenance? There are men in this hall who, if they were angry, you would not dare look in their eyes, even for a dukedom of lands.”
“Sir,” said one of the senators, “so help me Christ, I was so afraid when I looked at your face that my heart would not allow me to speak my message. But since I intend to complete my errand: the Emperor Lucius of Rome greets you well, and commands you upon certain pain that you send to him the tribute of this realm which your father Uther Pendragon paid, or else he will bereave you of all the realms that you possess.”
“You speak well,” said Arthur, “but for all your brave words, I will not reply over-hastily. Therefore, you and your fellows shall stay here seven days while I shall call to council my most trusty knights and dukes and kings and earls and barons, and my wisest advisors. When we have conferred you shall have your answer plainly, and it will be one by which I will abide.”
Then the noble king commanded Sir Cliges to see that these men were lodged and served well, so that no luxury was spared for them, and that down to their serving boys and their horses, they lacked for nothing, “for they are full royal people. And though they have insulted me and my court, we must keep our honor in mind.” So they were led into their chambers and served with the finest food and drink that could be procured. And the Romans had great marvel at this.
Then the king called his nobles and knights to a council and within a tower most of the knights of the Round Table assembled. The king asked them to give him their best advice.
“Sir,” said Sir Cador of Cornwall, “as for me, I am not upset at this message, for we have been at rest for many days now. I like well the letter of Lucius the Emperor, for now we shall have war and worship.”
“By Christ, I well believe,” said the king, “that you like this message, Sir Cador. But they may not be answered thus, for their contemptuous speech grieves my heart. I will never pay that tribute to Rome. Therefore, advise me, my knights, for the love of Christ in heaven. I have found this in the chronicles: Sir Belyn and Sir Bryne, and other elders of my blood, born in Britain, ruled as emperors for 160 years after Constantine, our kinsman and son of Dame Helena of England, conquered Rome and became emperor. He recovered the cross on which Christ died. The empire was ruled by my ancestors, and thus we have enough evidence that I should rule over the whole of the Roman Empire.”
Then King Anguishaunce answered Arthur. “Sir, you ought to be held above all other Christian kings because of the knighthood and noble counsel that is always present in you; Scotland has had no trouble since you were crowned king. When the Romans attacked us they ransomed our elders and took our lives. Therefore, I swear to mild Mary and to Jesus Christ that I shall be avenged upon the Romans. To further the fight I will bring to you twenty thousand fierce men of arms. I shall pay them wages to go and fight the Romans, to destroy them. Within a short time they will be ready to go wherever you like.”
C V.2
Then the King of Brittany said to King Arthur, “Sir, answer these messengers, and I will summon all my people so that you shall have thirty thousand men, and I will cover the cost and their wages.”
“You say well,” said King Arthur.
Then a mighty duke who was lord of West Wales spoke. “Sir, I swear before God to be avenged upon the Romans. I will take the vanguard and there vanquish with victory the viscount of Rome. For once as I passed on pilgrimage by Pontremoli, the viscount was in Tuscany and captured my knights, ransoming them for an unreasonable sum. I complained to the Pope himself, but I had nothing but pleasant words in return. I could get no other justice in Rome, so I went on my way very upset. Therefore, to be avenged I will raise an army of my strongest Welshmen, covering their wages myself, and I will bring you thirty thousand men.”
Then Sir Uwain and his son Ider who were close cousins to the conqueror, holding Ireland and Argyle and all the Outer Isles, spoke. “Sir,” they said to King Arthur, “here we swear to Christ that we will manfully ride into Lombardy to the walls of Milan and over Pontremoli into the Vale of Viterbo; there we will provision our knights. To be revenged, we will bring thirty thousand strong men.”
Then young Sir Lancelot du Lake leapt in with a light heart and said to King Arthur, “Although my lands border on those of your enemies, I shall yet swear
