LE MORTE D’ARTHUR
By Sir Thomas Malory

Edited by Janet Cowan

Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1969, vol. II, pp. 446-453

Then as the French book maketh mention, there was a good knight in the land of Hungary, his name was Sir Urré and he was an adventurous knight, and in all places where he might hear of any deeds of worship there would he be.

So it happened in Spain there was an earl’s son, his name was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in Spain this Sir Urré, knight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus of Spain en countered together for very envy; and so either undertook other to the utterance. And by fortune Sir Urré slew Sir Alphegus, the earl’s son of Spain, but this knight that was slain had given Sir Urré or ever he was slain, seven great wounds, three on the head, and four on his body and upon his left hand. And this Sir Alphegus had a mother, the which was a great sorceress; and she, for the despite of her son’s death, wrought by her subtle crafts that Sir Urré should never be whole, but ever his wounds should one time fester and another time bleed, so that he should never be whole until the best knight of the world had searched his wounds: and thus she made her avaunt, wherethrough it was known that Sir Urré should never be whole.

Then his mother let make an horse litter, and put him therein under two palfreys; and then she took Sir Urre’s sister with him, a full fair damosel, whose name was Felelolie; and then she took a page with him to keep their horses, and so they led Sir Urré through many countries. For as the French book saith, she led him so seven year through all lands christened, and never she could find no knight that might ease her son.

So she came into Scotland and into the bounds of England, and by fortune she came nigh the feast of Pentecost until King Arthur’s court, that at that time was holden at Carlisle. And when she came there, then she made it openly to be known how that she was come into that land for to heal her son. Then King Arthur let call that lady, and asked her the cause why she brought that hurt knight into that land.

‘My most noble king,’ said that lady, ‘wit you well I brought him hither for to be healed of his wounds, that of all this seven year he might not be whole.’

And then she told the king where he was wounded, and of whom; and how his mother had discovered in her pride how she had wrought that by enchantment so that he should never be whole until the best knight of the world had searched his wounds. ‘And so I have passed through all the lands christened to have him healed, except this land. And if I fail to heal him here in this land, I will never take more pain upon me, and that is pity, for he was a good knight, and of great nobleness.’

‘What is his name?’ said Arthur.

‘My good and gracious lord,’ she said, ‘his name is Sir Urré of the Mount.’

‘In good time,’ said the king, ‘and sith ye are come into this land, ye are right welcome; and wit you well here shall your son be healed, and ever any Christian man may heal him. And for to give all other men of worship courage, I myself will assay to handle your son, and so shall all the kings, dukes, and earls that be here present with me at this time; thereto will I command them, and well I wot they shall obey and do after my commandment. And wit you well,’ said King Arthur unto Urré’s sister, ‘I shall begin to handle him, and search unto my power, not presuming upon me that I am so worthy to heal your son by my deeds, but I will courage other men of worship to do as I will do.’

And then the king commanded all the kings, dukes, and earls, and all noble knights of the Round Table that were there that time present, to come into the meadow of Carlisle. And so at that time there were but an hundred and ten of the Round Table, for forty knights were that time away. And so here we must begin at King Arthur, as is kindly to begin at him that was the most man of worship that was christened at that time.

Then King Arthur looked upon Sir Urré, and the king thought he was a full likely man when he was whole; and then King Arthur made him to be take down off the litter and laid him upon the earth, and there was laid a cushion of gold that he should kneel upon.

And then noble Arthur said, ‘Fair knight, me repenteth of thy hurt, and for to courage all other noble knights I will pray thee softly to suffer me to handle your wounds.’

‘Most noble christened king,’ said Urré, ‘do as ye list, for I am at the mercy of God, and at your commandment.’

So then Arthur softly handled him, and then some of his wounds renewed upon bleeding.

Then the King Clarivaus of Northumberland searched, and it would not be. And then Sir Berrant le Apres that was called the King with the Hundred Knights, he assayed and failed; and so did King Uriens of the land of Gore; so did King Agwisance of Ireland; so did King Nentres of Garlot; so did King Carados of Scotland; so did the Duke Galahaut, the Haut Prince; so did Constantine, that was Sir Carados’ son of Cornwall; so did Duke Chaleins of Clarance; so did the Earl Ulbawes; so did the Earl Lambaile; so did the Earl Aris tause. Then came in Sir Gawain with his three sons, Sir Gingalin, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovel, these two were begotten upon Sir Brandiles’ sister; and all they failed. Then came in Sir Agravain, Sir Gaheris, Sir Mordred, and the good knight, Sir Gareth, that was of very knighthood worth all the brethren.

So came knights of Launcelot’s kin, but Sir Launcelot was not that time in the court, for he was that time upon his adventures. Then Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahala tine, Sir Galihodin, Sir Menaduke, Sir Villiars the Valiant, Sir Hebes le Renoumes. All these were of Sir Launcelot’s kin, and all they failed.

Then came in Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir Dinadan, Sir Breunor le Noire, that Sir Kay named La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Kay le Seneschal, Sir Kainus de Strangest Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Gaiway, Sir Melion of the Mountain, Sir Cardok, Sir Uwain les Avoutres, and Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy. Then came in Sir Astamor, and Sir Grummor Grummorson, Sir Crosselm, Sir Servause le Breuse, that was called a passing strong knight, for as the book saith, the chief lady of the lake feasted Sir Launcelot and Servause le Breuse, and when she had feasted them both at sundry times she prayed them to give her a boon. And they granted it her. And then she prayed Sir Servause that he would promise her never to do battle against Sir Launcelot du Lake, and in the same wise she prayed Sir Launcelot never to do battle against Sir Servause, and so either promised her. For the French book saith, that Sir Servause had never courage nor lust to do battle against no man, but if it were against giants, and against dragons, and wild beasts.

So we pass unto them that at the king’s request made them all that were there at that high feast, as of the knights of the Table Round, for to search Sir Urré. To that intent the king did it: to wit which was the noblest knight among them.

Then came Sir Agloval, Sir Durnore, Sir Tor, that was begotten upon Aries the cowherd’s wife, but he was begotten afore Aries wedded her (and King Pellinor begat them all, first Sir Tor, Sir Agloval, Sir Dumore, Sir Lamorak, the most noblest knight one that ever was in Arthur’s days as for a worldly knight, and Sir Percival that was peerless except Sir Galahad in holy deeds, but they died in the quest of the Sangrail).

Then came Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Sir Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedevere his brother, Sir Brandiles, Sir Constantine, Sir Cador’s son of Cornwall, that was king after Arthur’s days, and Sir Clegis, Sir Sadok, Sir Dinas le Seneschal of Cornwall, Sir Fergus, Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Clarrus of Clere mont, Sir Clodcfrus, Sir Hectimere, Sir Edward of Caernarvon, Sir Dinas, Sir Priamus, that was christened by Sir Tristram the noble knight, and these three were brethren; Sir Helin le Blank that was son to Sir Bors, he begat him upon King Brandegoris’ daughter, and Sir Brian de Listinoise; Sir Gauter, Sir Arnold, Sir Gilmer, were three brethren that Sir Launcelot won upon a bridge in Sir Kay’s arms; Sir Gumret le Petite, Sir Bellengerus le Beuse, that was son to the good knight, Sir Alisander le Orphelin, that was slain by the treason of King Mark. (Also that traitor king slew the noble knight Sir Tristram, as he sat harping afore his lady La Beale Isoud, with a trenchant glaive, for whose death was much bewailing of every knight that ever were in Arthur’s days; there was never none so bewailed as was Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, for they were traitorously slain, Sir Tristram by King Mark, and Sir Lamorak by Sir Gawain and his brethren. And this Sir Bellengerus revenged the death of his father Alisander and Sir Tristram, slew King Mark, and La Beale Isoud died swooning upon the cross of Sir Tristram, whereof was great pity. And all that were with King Mark that were consenting to the death of Sir Tristram were slain, as Sir Andred and many other.)

Then came Sir Hebes, Sir Morganor, Sir Sentraille, Sir Suppinabiles, Sir Bellengerus le Orgulous, that the good knight Sir Lamorak won in plain battle; Sir Nerovens and Sir Plenorius, two good knights that Sir Launcelot won; Sir Darras, Sir Harry le Fise Lake, Sir Erminide, brother to King Hermance, for whom Sir Palomides fought at the Red City with two brethren; and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower, Sir Edward of Orkney, Sir Ironside, that was called the noble Knight of the Red Launds that Sir Careth won for the love of Dame Lyonesse, Sir Arrok de Grevaunt, Sir Degrane Saunce Velany that fought with the giant of the black lowe, Sir Epinogrus, that was the King’s son of Northumberland, Sir Pelleas that loved the lady Ettard, and he had died for her love had not been one of the ladies of the lake, her name was Dame Nimue, and she wedded Sir Pelleas, and she saved him that he was never slain, and he was a full noble knight; and Sir Lamiel of Cardiff that was a great lover. Sir Plaine de Fors, Sir Melias de Lile, Sir Borre le Cure Hardy that was King Arthur’s son, Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Colgrevaunce, Sir Hervis de la Forest Savage, Sir Marrok, the good knight that was betrayed with his wife, for she made him seven year a werewolf, Sir Persant, Sir Pertelope, his brother, that was called the Green Knight, and Sir Perimones, brother to them both that was called the Red Knight, that Sir Gareth won when he was called Beaumains.

All these hundred knights and ten searched Sir Urré’s wounds by the commandment of King Arthur.

‘Mercy Jesu,’ said King Arthur, ‘where is Sir Launcelot dii Lake that he is not here at this time?’

Thus, as they stood and spake of many things, there was espied Sir Launcelot that came riding toward them, and told the king.

‘Peace,’ said the king, ‘let no manner thing be said until he be come to us.’

So when Sir Launcelot espied King Arthur, he descended from his horse and came to the king, and saluted him and them all.

Anon as the maid, Sir Urré’s sister, saw Sir Launcelot, she ran to her brother there as he lay in his litter, and said, ‘Brother, here is come a knight that my heart giveth greatly unto.’

‘Fair sister,’ said Sir Urré, ‘so doth my heart light against him, and certainly I hope now to be healed, for my heart giveth unto him more than to all these that have searched me.’

Then ‘said Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, ‘Ye must do as we have done;’ and told Sir Launcelot what they had done, and showed him them all, that had searched him.

‘Jesu defend me,’ said Sir Launcelot, ‘when so many kings and knights have assayed and failed, that I should presume upon me to achieve that all ye, my lords, might not achieve.’

‘Ye shall not choose,’ said King. Arthur, ‘for I will command you for to do as we all have done.’

‘My most renowned lord,’ said Sir Launcelot, ‘ye know well I dare not nor may not disobey your commandment, but and I might or durst, wit you well I would not take upon me to touch that wounded knight in that intent that I should pass all other knights; Jesu defend me from that shame.’

‘Ye take it wrong,’ said King Arthur, ‘ye shall not do it for no presumption, but for to bear us fellowship insomuch ye be a fellow of the Table Round; and wit you well,’ said King Arthur, ‘and ye prevail not and heal him, I dare say there is no knight in this land may heal him, and therefore I pray you, do as we have done.’

And then all the kings and knights for the most part prayed Sir Launcelot to search him; and then the wounded knight, Sir Urré, set him up weakly, and prayed Sir Launcelot heartily, saying, ‘Courteous knight, I require thee for God’s sake heal my wounds, for methinketh ever sithen ye came here my wounds grieven me not.’

‘Ah, my fair lord,’ said Sir Launcelot, ‘Jesu would that Imight help you; I shame me sore that I should be thus rebuked, for never was I able in worthiness to do so high a thing.’

Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down by the wounded knight saying. ‘My lord Arthur, I must do your commandment, the which is sore against my heart.’ And then he held up his hands, and looked into the east, saying secretly unto himself, ‘Thou blessed Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I beseech Thee of Thy mercy, that my simple worship and honesty be saved, and Thou blessed Trinity, Thou mayst give power to heal this sick knight by Thy great virtue and grace of Thee, but, good Lord, never of myself.’

And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Urré to let him see his head; and then devoutly kneeling he ransacked the three wounds, that they bled a little, and forthwithal the wounds fair healed, and seemed as they had been whole a seven year. And in likewise he searched his body of other three wounds, and they healed in likewise; and then the last of all he searched the one which was in his hand, and anon it healed fair.

Then King Arthur and all the kings and knights kneeled down and gave thankings and lovings unto God and to his blessed mother. And ever Sir Launcelot wept as he had been a child that had been beaten.

Then King Arthur let array priests and clerks in the most devoutest manner, to bring in Sir Urré within Carlisle, with singing and loving to God. And when this was done, the king let clothe him in the richest manner that could be thought; and then were there but few better made knights in all the court, for he was passingly well made and bigly. And Arthur asked Sir Urré how he felt himself.

‘My good lord,’ he said, ‘I felt myself never so lusty.’

‘Will ye joust and do deeds of arms?’ said King Arthur.

‘Sir,’ said Urré, ‘and I had all that longed unto jousts I would be soon ready.’