Stories from Le Morte DArthur and the Mabinogion | Page 9

and greatly do I desire to keep you with me. Stay with
me and I promise you that ye shall bear sway over a wider realm than
any that ever ye heard of, and I, even I, its mistress, will be at your
command. And what lose ye if ye accept my offer? Little enough, I
ween, for never think that ye shall win the world from evil and men to
loyalty and truth." Then answered the King in anger: "Full well I see
that thou art in league with evil and that thou but seekest to turn me
from my purpose. I defy thee, foul sorceress. Do thy worst; though thou

slay me, thou shalt never sway me to thy will"; and therewith the King
raised his cross-hilted sword before her. Then the lady quailed at that
sight. Her heart was filled with hate, but she said: "Go your way, proud
King of a petty realm. Rule well your race of miserable mortals, since
more it pleasures you than to bear sway over the powers of the air. I
keep you not against your will." With these words, she passed from the
chamber, and the King heard her give command to her squires to set
him without her gates, give him his horse, and suffer him to go on his
way.
And so it came to pass that the King found himself once more at large,
and marvelled to have won so lightly to liberty. Yet knew he not the
depths of treachery in the heart of Annoure; for when she found she
might not prevail with the King, she bethought her how, by mortal
means, she might bring the King to dishonour and death. And so, by
her magic art, she caused the King to follow a path that brought him to
a fountain, whereby a knight had his tent, and, for love of adventure,
held the way against all comers. Now this knight was Sir Pellinore, and
at that time he had not his equal for strength and knightly skill, nor had
any been found that might stand against him. So, as the King drew nigh,
Pellinore cried: "Stay, knight, for none passes this way except he joust
with me." "That is no good custom," said the King; "it were well that ye
followed it no more." "It is my custom, and I will follow it still,"
answered Pellinore; "if ye like it not, amend it if ye may." "I will do my
endeavour," said Arthur, "but, as ye see, I have no spear." "Nay, I seek
not to have you at advantage," replied Pellinore, and bade his squire
give Arthur a spear. Then they dressed their shields, laid their lances in
rest, and rushed upon each other. Now the King was wearied by his
night's vigil, and the strength of Pellinore was as the strength of three
men; so, at the first encounter, Arthur was unhorsed. Then said he: "I
have lost the honour on horseback, but now will I encounter thee with
my sword and on foot." "I, too, will alight," said Pellinore; "small
honour to me were it if I slew thee on foot, I being horsed the while."
So they encountered each other on foot, and so fiercely they fought that
they hewed off great pieces of each other's armour and the ground was
dyed with their blood. But at the last, Arthur's sword broke off short at
the hilt, and so he stood all defenceless before his foe. "I have thee

now," cried Pellinore; "yield thee as recreant or I will slay thee." "That
will I never," said the King, "slay me if thou canst." Then he sprang on
Pellinore, caught him by the middle, and flung him to the ground,
himself falling with him. And Sir Pellinore marvelled, for never before
had he encountered so bold and resolute a foe; but exerting his great
strength, he rolled himself over, and so brought Arthur beneath him.
Then had Arthur perished, but at that moment Merlin stood beside him,
and when Sir Pellinore would have struck off the King's head, stayed
his blow, crying: "Pellinore, if thou slayest this knight, thou puttest the
whole realm in peril; for this is none other than King Arthur himself."
Then was Pellinore filled with dread, and cried: "Better make an end of
him at once; for if I suffer him to live, what hope have I of his grace,
that have dealt with him so sorely?" But before Pellinore could strike,
Merlin caused a deep sleep to come upon him; and raising King Arthur
from the ground, he staunched his wounds and recovered him of his
swoon.
But when the King came to himself, he saw his foe lie, still as in death,
on the ground beside him;