AUTHOR. Here may ye se, that women be In love meke, kynde, and stable: But rather pray God that we may To them be comfortable, Which sometyme proveth such as he loveth, For syth men wolde that women sholde Moche more ought they to God obey, MALORY (OUTLINE HISTORY, § 17) THE PASSING OF ARTHUR (From Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI., chapters iv., v.) Now give me my spear, said Arthur unto Sir Lucan, for yonder I have espied the traitor1 that all this woe hath wrought. Sir, let him be, said Sir Lucan, for he is unhappy: and if ye pass this unhappy day, ye shall be right well revenged upon him. Good lord, remember ye of your night's dream, and what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told you this night, yet God of his great goodness hath preserved you hitherto. Therefore, for God's sake, my lord, leave off by this. For blessed be God, ye have won the field: for here we be three on live,2 and with Sir Mordred is none on live. And if ye leave off now, the wicked day of destiny is past. Tide me death, betide me life, saith the King, now I see him yonder alone, he shall never escape mine hands, for at a better avail3 I shall never have him. God speed you well, said Sir Bedivere. Then the King gat his spear in both his hands, and ran toward Sir Mordred, ' Advantage. 1 Sir Mordred. ' Alive. crying, Traitor, now is thy death day come. And when Sir Mordred heard Sir Arthur, he ran until him with his sword drawn in his hand. And then King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield, with a foin1 of his spear throughout the body more than a fathom. And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his death's wound, he thrust himself, with the might that he had, up to the bur2 of King Arthur's spear. And right so he smote his father Arthur with his sword holden in both his hands, on the side of the head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the brain-pan, and therewithal Sir Mordred fell stark dead to the earth. And the noble Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned oft-times. And Sir Lucan de Butlere and Sir Bedivere oft-times heaved him up, and so weakly they led him betwixt them both to a little chapel not far from the sea-side. And when the King was there, he thought him well eased. Then heard they people cry in the field. Now go thou, Sir Lucan, said the King, and do me to wit3 what betokens that noise in the field. So Sir Lucan departed, for he was grievously wounded in many places. And so as he went, he saw and hearkened by the moonlight, how the pillers and robbers were come into the field to pill and to rob many a full noble knight of broaches and beads, of many a good ring, and of many a rich jewel; and who were not dead all out, there they slew them for their harness and their riches. When Sir Lucan understood this work, he came to the King as soon as he might, and told him all what he had heard and seen. Therefore by mine advice, said Sir Lucan, it is best that we bring you to some town. I would it were so, said the King, but I may not stand, my 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 one part, and Sir Bedivere the other part, and in the lifting, the King swooned, and Sir Lucan fell in a swoon with the 1 Thrust. A ring on a spear to prevent the slipping of the hand. 3 Make me to know. Plunderers. 'Quite dead. 4 lift, that the part of his bowels fell out of his body, and therewith the noble knight's heart brast.1 And when King Arthur came to himself again, he beheld Sir Lucan how he lay foaming at the mouth, and part of his bowels lay at his feet. Alas, said the King, this is unto 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 wept for the death of his brother. Leave this mourning and weeping, said the King, for all this will not avail me: for, wit thou well, and 2 I might live myself the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast, said the King. Therefore, said Arthur, take thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there, 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. So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld that noble sword, that the pommel and haft were all of precious stones, and then he said to himself, If I throw this rich sword in the water, thereof shall never come good, but harm and loss. And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree. And as soon as he might he came again unto the King, and said he had been at the water, and had thrown the sword into the water. What sawest 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 command 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 eft3 he hid the sword, and returned again, and told to the King that he had been to the water, and done his commandment. What saw thou there? said the King. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but the waters wap and the waves wan.1 Ah traitor, untrue, said King Arthur, now hast thou betrayed me twice. Who would have wend2 that thou hast been to me so lief and dear, and thou art named a noble knight, and would betray me for the riches of the sword. But now go again lightly, for thy long tarrying putteth me in much jeopardy of 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 own hands, for thou wouldest for my rich sword see me dead. 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 above the hilts, and then he threw the sword as far into the water as he might, and there came an arm and a hand above the water, and met it, and caught it, and so shook it thrice and 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 tarried over 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 him down, and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head, and then that queen said, Ah, dear brother, why have ye tarried so long from me? Alas, this wound on your head hath caught 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 mayest, for in me is no trust for to trust in. For I will into the vale of Avilion, to heal me of my grievous wound. of me, pray for my soul. 1 Wane, ebb. And if thou hear never more But ever the queens and the • Weened, thought. ladies wept and shrieked, that it was pity to hear. And as soon as Sir Bedivere had lost sight of the barge, he wept and wailed, and so took the forest, and so he went all that night, and in the morning he was ware betwixt two holts1 hoar of a chapel and an hermitage. ASCHAM (OUTLINE HISTORY, § 19) THE LEARNING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH It is your shame (I speake to you all, you yong gentlemen of England) that one mayd should go beyond you all, in excellencie of learnyng and knowledge of divers tonges. Pointe forth six of the best given gentlemen of this Court, and all they together shew not so much good will, spend not so much tyme, bestowe not so many houres, dayly, orderly, and constantly, for the increase of learning and knowledge, as doth the Queenes Majestie her selfe. Yea, I believe, that beside her perfit3 readines in Latin, Italian, French, and Spanish, she readeth here now at Windsore more Greeke every day than some Prebendarie of this Church doth read Latin in a whole weeke. And that which is most praise worthie of all, within the walls of her privie chamber she hath obtayned that excellencie of learnyng, to understand, speake and write, both wittely with head, and faire with hand, as scarce one or two rare wittes in both the Universities have in many yeares reached unto. Amongst all the benefites that God hath blessed me with all, next the knowledge of Christes true Religion, I counte this the greatest, that it pleased God to call me to be one poore minister in settyng forward these excellent giftes of learnyng in this most excellent Prince. Whose onely example if the rest of our nobilitie would folow, then myght England be for learnyng and wisedome in nobilitie 1 Wooded hills. ⚫ Perfect. |