Before You Read.

Le Morte d'Arthur
Selected Excerpts from Chapters 5-7
How Arthur Became King
by Thomas Malory (circa 1400-1471)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

History seems to indicate that Sir Thomas Malory became involved in the violent polit-
ical struggles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York in the 15th centu-
ry.It is known that he was imprisoned, and that he was accused of many violent crimes,
but it is uncertain whether these accusations were genuine or whether they were polit-
ically motivated. In any event, this 15th-century knight, a former member of Parliament,
wrote his eight-volume compilation of Arthurian legends while in jail, completing it
around 1470. Fortunately, Malory was a contemporary of William Caxton, the "Father of
English Printing," who edited the work, gave it a title, added a preface extolling the value
of Arthurian tradition, and published it as Le Morte d'Arthur* in 1485. Though many
modern versions of King Arthur have been written in later centuries, Malory's Le Morte
d' Arthur has remained the definitive source for the Arthurian legends.

ABOUT THE SELECTION

ENGLISH FOLKLORE AND LEGEND

The imaginative expression by a nation of its deeply held beliefs, yearnings, atti-
tudes, and culture is frequently transmitted through its music, oral literature, art, and
dance. Legends can usually boast a long oral history, including many variations from the
original version, before they are deemed worthy of being transcribed. The heroes of the
most popular folklore and legends probably did exist, and their exploits may have had
some basis in historical fact, but we should not forget that most folklore is, in the main,
the product of many varied transmissions, embellished by generation after generation.
Thus, legendary English folk-heroes, such as Beowulf, King Arthur, and Robin Hood, can
be viewed more as literary heroes than as historical ones.
In England, during the past 1500 years, a prolific corpus* of both art and literature
featuring the legendary King Arthur has evolved. The Arthurian tradition, a collection
of medieval stories centering on King Arthur, represents a compendium of stories about
this legendary figure, told variously by the British, the Welsh, the Scots, and the Picts.*

TAELPFUL
Le Morte d'Arthur (French) the death of Arthur.

(Latin) body, here referring to the complete collection of works

JEFINITIONS corpus a particular
or writings on subject.
Picts a non-Celtic people who inhabited part of Britain during Roman

times, and who amalgamated with the Scots by the 9th century.

LE MORTE D'ARTHUR 85
 have been grafted together to
As the years passed, many different
legends arose that King Arthur's palace and
literary tradition
featuring Camelot
create one glorious
court - and those who peopled it.
The and shore who pr on aioind the lofegendany found alifs, with
was built in the
Without a "head" to
round so that there would be no
question precedence in During peaceful times,
Scene iv).
the table, ail were seated equaly (see Macbeth, ActIlI,
searches for
elusive goals that embodied high
quests
chivalric code that glorified qualities such
the knights would set out on
as
moral purpose and that brought to life a Accompanying Arthur on his quests
courage.

were his instiaes. tirdtbe.hiouints,slatoousandisorMerin,themoepicon,

honor, faithfulness, fidelity, kindness,
Galahad, and
Sir
and his brave

knights, such as Sir Launcelot, Sir Gawain,

Clarifying the Allusion

out of a stone, thus ensuring that he will be
The first sword, the sword that Arthur alone can pull
in battle, but is not the true
crowned king las described in the selection that follows), is later broken
the genuine sword, the real Excalibur, from the
Excalibur (according to Malory). Rather, Arthur receives
Lady of the Lake, another mythical figure who figures prominently in the Arthurian legends after the first
page 455). The word Excalibur means
sword becomes useless (see Tennyson's " The Passing of Arthur,'
powers.
"cut steel." According to the legend, its scabbard possesses magical

crisis for the tribes that inhabited

Arthurian legends originated during a time of
Britain. After the Roman armies left Britain about the year
410, the vulnerable Celts

were subjected to periodic raids by aggressive tribes from northern

and invasions
Celtic war chief-
Europe. Onto this dark scene arrives Arthur, reputedly a 5th-century
tain, who brilliantly deters a Saxon invasion. The earliest written acknowledgment of
Arthur's existence is found in the 5th- or 6th-century Welsh poem, "Gododdin,' in

which a fallen soldier is described as 'no Arthur." Other Welsh poems of that time men-
tion Arthur in passing, such as this line from a battle poem: "In Llongborth I saw
Arthur's heroes who cut with steel." In 800, the somewhat inventive Welsh historian,
Nennius, lists 12 battles that Arthur supposedly won. It is not until the 12th century that
a British writer named Geoffrey of Monmouth transfers Arthur from history and from
the oral tradition, "crowns" him king, and describes his empire. In the 15th century, Sir
Thomas Malory produces the definitive collection of the tales of King Arthur and the
Knights of the Round Table, titled, Le Morte d'Arthur (The Death of Arthur). Both the
Monmouth and Malory versions feature a variety of anachronisms* such as the inclu-
sion of castles, chivalry, and knighthood, none of which existed in Britain until after the
Norman invasion in 1066. Modern renditions of the
tales have been told by such illus-
trious authors as Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Mark Twain, and John Steinbeck.
It is easy to comprehend
why Arthurian legends have exercised such a compelling
fascination for countless generations of readers. Arthur was an authentic hero and
anachronisms -
references that have been worked into a text
In
chronologically inaccurate fashion,
Rome, in e.g., chimneys and clocks in ancient
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

86 IMPLICATIONS OF LITERATURE / UNIT TWO

truthful, just, and wise leader. He was the one
warrior-king who had been able to bring
order and prosperity to a dark time marked by brutality and
death,
and he had,
at his
command, an elite group of fearless,
loyal knights committed to fighting injustice. It is
small wonder then, that Camelot has become symbolic of
happier, more focused, less
complicated, almost dream-like world.
The title Le
Morte d'Arthur is really a misnomer, since the text itself is concerned with
the life of King Arthur, rather than with his ultimate death. It was Caxton who named
the work, utilizing the subtitle of the last of the poem's eight books. Written in prose
at time when epics were traditionally poetic, Malory's compilation of Arthurian legend
drew mostly on the French Romantic tradition and on
the writings of Geoffrey of
Monmouth (circa 1100-1154). Instantly pular, it has been imitated, analyzed, and
parodied for over five centuries. Chapters 5-7 are excerpted in this text, and follow ear-
lier episodes that have
already established the genealogy of the young Arthur.

vant
and 10
elated

Mine honor is my life, both grow in one.

Take honor from me, and my life is done.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

LE MORTE D'ARTHUR 87
 Le Morte
rthur
Sir Thomas Malory
FocuS: EARLY PROSE NARRATIVE

THE LEGEND BEGINS_ infant son and heir, is

of Britain, Arthur, his
Just prior to the death of King Uther Pendragon
the wise sorcerer Merlin. In the years that follow, chaos
secretly whisked away for safety by
noblemen feud with each other, and England is sub-
descends on the land as power-hungry
a strong king to restore order
jected to invasions by barbaric tribes. Britons are desperate for out the sword deeply
and defend the land, but according to tradition, only he who can pull
embedded in stone will be the rightful
leader of all England.

New Year's Day, when the ride for his sword. I will well, said Arthur,
So upon

service was done, the barons rode unto and rode fast after the sword, and when

the field, some to joust* and some to he came home, the lady* and all were out
tourney,* and so it happened that Sir to see the jousting.
Ector, that had great livelihood about

London, rode unto the jousts, and with

him rode Sir Kay his son, and young

Arthur that was his nourished brother*;
and Sir Kay was made knight at All

Hallowmass* afore.* So as they rode to

the jousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword,

for he had left it at his father's lodging,
and so he prayed* young Arthur for to

to engage in combat as knights on horseback with lances.

to participate in a tournament.

nourished brother -a foster brother.

All
Hallowmass - November first.
afore (archaic) previously.
prayed - entreated.

lady here, the innkeeper.

88 IMPLICATIONS OF LITERATURE / UNIT TWO

 Kay swear upon a book how he came to
times of peace, knights
that sword.
maintained their strength and
skills in Sir, said Sir
warfare by participating Kay, by my brother Arthur,
in tourneys tournaments. Essentially, tourna- for he brought it to me. How gat ye this
ments were mock battles observed by large audi- sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I will
ences of nobles. The medieval knight was the
tell you. When I came home for my broth-
equivalent of a modern tank! Dressed in armor
er's sword, found nobody at home to
that could weigh 60 pounds, he had to bear
deliver me his sword; and so I thought my
sword or
lance that weighed another 30 pounds.
brother Sir Kay should not be swordless,
The greatest challenge for the knight was to stay
seated on his horse; if he were to fall, he would
and so I came hither eagerly and pulled it
be unable to remount without considerable help. out of the stone without any pain. Found
Contestants were supposed to fight with wood- ye any knights about this sword? said Sir
enor blunted weapons SO as to reduce the risk of Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir
hurting their opponents. Nevertheless, that was Ector to Arthur, I understand ye must be
frequently not the case, and many knights were king of this land. Wherefore 1, said Arthur,
injured or killed during these sporting events.
and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, for
God will have it so; for there should never
Then was Arthur wroth,* and said to man have drawn out this sword, but he
himself, I will ride to the churchyard, and that shall be rightwise king of this land.
take the sword with me that sticketh in Now let me see whether ye can put the
the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not sword there as it was, and pull it out
be without a sword this day. So when he again. That is no mastery,* said Arthur,
came Sir Arthur alighted and tied his and so he put it in the stone; wherewith- What can be learned
about Arthur's
horse to the stile,* and so he went to the
al Sir Ector assayed* to pull out the sword character from his
tent, and found no knights there, for they and failed. reaction to the fact
that Sir Kay's sword
were at the jousting. And so he handled Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. is inaccessible?
the sword by the handles, and lightly and And anon he pulled at the sword with all

fiercely pulled it out of the stone, and his might; but it would not be. Now shall
took his horse and rode his way until he ye assay, said Sir Ector to Arthur. I will

came to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered well, said

Arthur, and pulled it out easily.
him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay And therewithal Sir Ector knelt down to
saw the sword, he wist* well it was the the earth, and Sir Kay. Alas, said Arthur,
sword of the stone, and so he rode to his my own dear father and brother, why
father Sir Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is kneel ye to me? Nay, nay, my lord Arthur,
the sword of the stone, wherefore I must it is not so; I was never your father nor of
be king of this land. When Sir Ector your blood, but wot* well ye are of an

beheld the sword, anon he made Sir higher blood than I weened* ye were.

wroth - (archaic) intensely angry.

stile a set of steps, usually between two fields, to enable one to cross
the hedge or fence.

wist (archaic) knew.

mastery great skill.
assayed - (archaic) tried; attempted.
wot - (archaic) know.
weened (archaic) imagined.

LE MORTE D'ARTHUR 89
 was great shame unto them all
and said it
And then Sir Ector told
him all, how
he
and the realm, to be overgoverned with &
him,
for to nourish
blood born. And SO
no high they
was betaken* him boy of
and by that time that it was put off till
How did Arthur and by whose
commandment, fell out* at
come to be in and then all the barons
Merlin's deliverance. Candlemas*
Sir Ector's care?
dole* when there again; but always the
Then Arthur made great should meet
Sir Ector was not his were ordained to watch the
he understood that ten knights
unto Arthur, will ye and night, and so they Set a
father. Sir, said Ector sword day
lord when ye
be my good and gracious over the stone and the sword,
blame, said pavilion
to watched.
are king? Else were and five always
the world
Arthur, for ye are the man in Candlemas many more great
So at
and my good
that am most beholden to, thither for to have* won the
well as
lords came
What further
lady and mother your wife, that as sword, but there might none prevail. And
characteristics are her own hath fostered me and kept. And pulled out the sword easily,
Arthur
revealed about
if ever it be God's will that
be king as ye
Arthur in his verbal whereof the barons were sore aggrieved*
exchanges with say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, delay till the high feast of
God forbid and put it off in
Sir Ector and Sir Kay?
and I shall not fail you;
will Easter. And as Arthur sped* before, so did
should fail you Sir, said Sir Ector,
he at Easter; yet there were some of the
ask no more of you, but that ye will make
foster brother, Sir Kay, great lords had indignation that Arthur
my son, your
be should be king, and put it off in a delay till
seneschal* of all your lands. That shall
the faith the feast of Pentecost.
done, said Arthur, and more, by
have Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by
of my body, that never man shall
Merlin's providence* let purvey* then of
that office but he, while he and I live.
Therewithal they went unto the the best knightsthat they might get, and

Archbishop,* and told him how the sword such knights as Uther Pendragon* loved
best and most trusted in his days. And
was achieved, and by whom; and on
Twelfth-day* all the barons came thither, such knights were put about Arthur as Sir

Why was it
and to assay to take the sword, who that Baudwin of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, Sir
necessary to surround
Arthur with strong, would assay. But there afore them all, Brastias. All these, with many other, were
trustworthy knights? till
there might none take it out but Arthur; always about Arthur, day and night,
wherefore there were many lords wroth, the feast of Pentecost.

betaken - here, taken into his care.

• (archaic) grief.
seneschal -(archaic) a steward in charge of a lord's estate.
Archbishop - the highest office clergyman could have held in England at
that time. In the absence of
a king, the Archbishop was the political leader.
Twelfth-day - January 5.
fell out (archaic) quarreled.
Candlemas
February 2.
for to have (archaic) in order to.
aggrieved upset.
sped - here, met with success.

providence prudence.
purvey provide.
Uther Pendragon Arthur's true father.

90 IMPLICATIONS OF LITERATURE , UNIT TWO

 forth the days of this life. Also then he made
all lords that held of the crown to come in,

and to do service as they ought to do. And

many complaints were made unto Sir

Arthur of great wrongs that were done

since the death of King Uther, of many

lands that were bereaved lords, knights,
ladies, and gentlemen. Wherefore King
Arthur made the lands to be given again
unto them that owned them.

Primogeniture insured that the

eldest son would inherit his
father's title and lands. But
what about the noble-born second sons? Many
chose to become knights, thereby earning
themselves a title and property, for as long as
Uther Pendragon, they served a lord. The process of becoming a
father of King Arthur knight began when an eight-year-old son of a
nobleman would be sent to a neighboring castle
And at the feast of Pentecost all manner
for education and training. At about the age of
of men assayed to pull at the sword that
fourteen, the boy would become a squire in serv-
would assay; but none might prevail but knight.
ice to a His duties included dressing his
Arthur, and pulled it out afore all the lords
master, assisting him with his armor, and serving
and commons* that were there, wherefore him, as well as accompanying and assisting him
all the commons cried at once, We willl at tournaments or on the battlefield. When the

have Arthur unto our king, we will put him squire proved himself worthy, his lord would

no more in delay, for we all see that it is knight him in a dubbing ceremony. The ritual

God's will that he shall be involved the squire kneeling in front of his lord,
our king, and
who tapped him lightly on each shoulder with
who that holdeth against it, we will slay his sword, and proclaimed himbe a knight.
to
him. And therewithal they kneeled at once,
King Arthur's knighthood was achieved irregular-
both rich and poor, and cried Arthur mercy* ly, but no one dared to contest his title, since he
because they had delayed him so long, and alone could extricate the sword from the stone

Arthur forgave them, and took the sword that held it fast.
Why was it necessary
for the Archbishop to
between both his hands, and offered it
make Arthur a knight
upon the altar where the Archbishop was, When this was done, that the king had before his coronation?
and so was he made knight of the best man stablished* all the countries about
that was there. And so anon was the coro- London, then he let make Sir Kay
nation made. And there was he swor unto seneschal of England; and Sir Baudwin of
his lords and the commons for to be a true Britain was made constable*: and Sir

king, to stand with true justice from thence- Ulfius was made chamberlain*; and Sir

commons - commoners; those not of noble birth.

Arthur mercy - begged Arthur's pardon; apologized.

stablished established.

constable a high officer responsible for keeping the peace.

chamberlain a treasurer.

LE MORTE D'ARTHUR 91
 under their obeissance *
that were Also
Brastias was made warden* to wait Wales, a part
of it, held against Arthurbut
With what were
upon* the north from Trent forwards, for
he
overcame them
all, as he did the
rem.
king's noble prowess of
that time the most party the
King Arthur and the
Knights of the Round
it was
after
nant, through the him.
Table occupied during enemies. But within few years self and his knights of the Round Table
the early years of
Arthur won all the north, Scotland, and all
Arthur's reign?

LITERARY CRITIQUE

1. Although his is not the first, Malory's text has become the accepted blueprint for
he have that his predecessors did not?
Arthurian legend. What advantage did
is already great in deeds.
2. Though Arthur is young as the Malory selection begins, he
the end of the selection?
What fine qualities are evident in the legendary leader at
the inn advance the plot?
3. How does the fact that Sir Kay left his sword at
4. What do we learn about Sir Kay's character?

WRITING WORKSHOP

The character of King Arthur established in the excerpts you have read. Are the
is

characteristics of King Arthur's personality appropriate for a leader today? In a defini-

tion essay of three to four paragraphs, define the qualities of leadership that you feel
are important in today's society.

A JOURNAL WORKSHOP
Create a journal entry in which you describe Arthur's coronation. You may
choose to
be a noble, a knight, or a commoner. Be sure to
include details that will interest
your

contemporary audience.

warden - a guardian.
wait upon - oversee
obeissance
(archaic) here, control.

92 IMPLICATIONS OF LITERATURE / UNIT TWO