[Le morte darthur]

¶Capitulum xv

THenne by the lycence of Kynge Arthur / they went to hym and spak with hym / for whyle the troncheon of the spere stake in his body / he spak / A fayr damoysels said Amant / recommaūde me vnto la Beale Isoud / and telle her that I am slayn for the loue of her and of sir Tristram / And there he told the damoysels how cowardly Kyng Mark had slayne hym and sire Bersyles his felawe / ¶And for that dede I appeled hym of treason / and here am I slayne in a ryghtuous quarel / and alle was by cause of sir Bersyles & I wold not consente by treason to flee the noble knyght sir tris¦tram / Thenne the two maydens cryed alowde that alle the co∣urte myght here it / and said O swete lord Ihesu that knowest alle hydde thynges / why suffrest thow soo fals a traytour to vaynquysshe and slee a trewe knyght that fought in a ryght∣uous quarel / Thenne anone hit was spronge to the Kyng and the quene and to alle the lordes that it was kynge Mark that had slayne syr Amant / and sire Bersules afore hand / wher∣for they dyd theire bataille / Thenne was Kyng Arthur wroth oute of mesure / and so were alle the other knyghtes

But whanne sire Tristram knewe alle the matere / he maade grete dole and sorowe oute of mesure / and wepte for sorou for the losse of the noble knyghtes syr Bersyles & of sir Aman••

¶Whanne sir Launcelot aspyed sir Tristram wepe / he wente hastely to Kynge Arthur and said syre I pray you gyue me leue to retorne ageyne to yonder fals kynge and knyghte / I pray yow said kynge Arthur / fetche hym ageyne / but I wold not that ye slewe hym for my worship / Thenne sir launcelot armed hym in alle haste / and mounted vpon a grete hors / & toke a spere in his hand and rode after kynge Marke / And from thens a thre myle englysshe / sir launcelot ouertook hym / and badde hym torne recreaunt kyng and knyght / For why∣der thou wilt or not thow shalt go with me to kyng Arthurs Courte / Kynge Marke retorned and loked vpon sir Launce∣lot / and said Faire syr what is your name / wete thou wel sa¦id he my name is sire Launcelot / and therfor defende the / And whanne Kynge Marke wiste that it was sire Launcelot / and came soo fast vpon hym with a spere / he cryed thenne on lowde I yelde me to the sir launcelot / honourable Knyghte / But sire Launcelot wold not here hym / but came fast vpon hym / kyng Marke sawe that / and maade no defence but tombled adoune out of his sadel to the erthe as a sak / and there he lay stylle / and cryed sire launcelot mercy / Aryse recreaunt knyghte and Kynge / I wylle not fyghte said Kynge Marke / But whe∣ther that ye wille I wil goo with yow /

Allas Allas said sire Launcelot that I maye not gyue the one buffet for the loue of sire Trestram and of la Beale Isoud And for the two knyghtes that thou hast slayne traitourly / And soo he mounted vpon his hors and brouʒt hym to kyng Arthur / and there Kynge Marke alyghte in that same place and threwe his helme from hym vpon the erthe / and his suerd and fylle flat to the erthe of kynge Arthurs feet and putte hym in his grace and mercy / ¶Soo god me help said Arthur ye are welcome in a maner / and in a maner ye ar not welcome / In this maner ye are welcome that ye come hyder maulgre thy hede as I suppose / ¶That is trouthe said kynge Marke / and els I had not ben here / For my lord sir launce∣lot brought me hyder thurgh his fyne force / and to hym am I yolden to as recreaunt / ¶Wel said Arthur ye vnderstande ye oughte to doo me seruyse / homage and feaute / And neuer

wold ye doo me none / but euer ye haue ben ageynst me / and a destroyer of my knyghtes / now / how wille ye acquyte you / Sir said Kynge Marke / Ryght as your lordship will requyre me vnto my power / I wille make a large amendys / For he was a fayre speker and fals there vnder / Thenne for grete pleasyr of syr Tristram to make them tweyne accorded / the kyng with¦held kynge Marke / as at that tyme / and made a broken loue day bitwene them /