Le Morte Darthur

"The Accolade" (1901), by Edmund Blair Leighton, 1853-1922.

Generally considered to be one of the most important medieval texts, and one of the most important recountings of the Arthurian legend, Sir Thomas Malory's work, written in prison in the 1470's, was published in 1485 under the middle French spelling of "Le Morte Darthur".


In Book VII of our adventure, things are heating up.

Book VII opens with Lancelot and Guinevere having a secret meeting in her bedroom, its true meaning unclear, though adultery had been strongly suggested (even referred to directly, in one brief sentence) in earlier books.

King Arthur, however, seems to have bigger fish to fry, such as the holding together of a fragile alliance of squabbling knights and a kingdom that is constantly fraying at the edges. Since, as Malory tells us "love was not then as it is now", and since their marriage is seldom discussed on any level in Malory's work, we can make assumptions about the relationship that existed, if any, between Arthur and Guinevere.

In any case, Modred and Agravaine, two knights of the Round Table who have long been trying to force Arthur's hand into some kind of action on the Guinevere/Lancelot front, trap the two "lovers" in Guinevere's bedroom. Lancelot, weaponless and without armour, nevertheless obtains a sword and kills several of the knights, escaping the trap and fleeing from Arthur's court.

He offers to take Guinevere with him, but she states that she will stay and face Arthur's wrath, because to leave with Lancelot would be treasonous on both their parts. Lancelot leaves, but promises to rescue her if Arthur orders her to be burned at the stake.

***

Surprise, surprise, here's our lady tied to a big pile of wood and surrounded by disguised Round Table knights. Looks like her goose is cooked, so to speak.

Suddenly, however, Lancelot arrives on the scene, this time armed to the teeth, and in a bloodbath reminiscent of the wedding scene in "Holy Grail", kills pretty much anyone who gets in his way.

Among those he kills, unbeknownst to him, are several close friends, including Gareth and Gaheris, brothers to Sir Gawain, who is one of the most valiant knights and a lifelong ally of Lancelot.

Lancelot, full of grief, leaves with Guinevere, but sends word to Gawain that he had no idea the men he killed were his brothers, since they were in disguise. Your brothers and I have saved each other many times in battle, Lancelot says, and offers to build chapels in their honour, as an act of pennance.

Gawain responds by saying: You can build whatever you want. It means nothing to me, because I am going to hunt you down, find you, and I'm going to kill you.

end part 1 of our adventure...