Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XIX CHAPTER XI

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CHAPTER XI

How King Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many
other knights of the Round Table


THEN King Arthur looked upon Sir Urre, and the king
thought he was a full likely man when he was whole;
and then King Arthur made him to be taken 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 Urre, 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 Clarence of
Northumberland searched, and it would not be.  And
then Sir Barant 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 Anguish
of Ireland; so did King Nentres of Garloth; so did King
Carados of Scotland; so did the Duke Galahad, the haut
prince; so did Constantine, that was Sir Carados' son of
Cornwall; so did Duke Chaleins of Clarance; so did the
Earl Ulbause; so did the Earl Lambaile; so did the Earl
Aristause.

Then came in Sir Gawaine 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 Agravaine, 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 Blamore
de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, 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 Bruin le Noire, that
Sir Kay named La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Kay le
Seneschal, Sir Kay de Stranges, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir
Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion
of the Mountain, Sir Cardok, Sir Uwaine les Avoutres,
and Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy.

Then came in Sir Astamor, and Sir Gromere, Grummor's son,
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
Urre: to that intent the king did it, to wit which was
the noblest knight among them.

Then came Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir Tor, that
was begotten upon Aries, the cowherd's wife, but he was
begotten afore Aries wedded her, and King Pellinore begat
them all, first Sir Tor, Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir
Lamorak, the most noblest knight one that ever was in
Arthur's days as for a worldly knight, and Sir Percivale
that was peerless except Sir Galahad in holy deeds, but
they died in the quest of the Sangreal.  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 Cleremont,
Sir Cloddrus, Sir Hectimere, Sir Edward of Carnarvon,
Sir Dinas, Sir Priamus, that was christened by Sir
Tristram the noble knight, and these three were brethren;
Sir Hellaine le Blank that was son to Sir Bors, he begat
him upon King Brandegoris' daughter, and Sir Brian de
Listinoise; Sir Gautere, Sir Reynold, Sir Gillemere, were
three brethren that Sir Launcelot won upon a bridge in
Sir Kay's arms.  Sir Guyart le Petite, Sir Bellangere 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 Gawaine and his
brethren.  And this Sir Bellangere revenged the death of
his father Alisander, and Sir Tristram slew King Mark,
and La Beale Isoud died swooning upon the corse 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 Morganore, Sir Sentraile,
Sir Suppinabilis, Sir Bellangere le Orgulous, that the good
knight Sir Lamorak won in plain battle; Sir Neroveus
and Sir Plenorius, two good knights that Sir Launcelot
won; Sir Darras, Sir Harry le Fise Lake, Sir Erminide,
brother to King Hermaunce, 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 Gareth won for the love of Dame Liones, Sir
Arrok de Grevaunt, Sir Degrane Saunce Velany that
fought with the giant of the black lowe, Sir Epinogris,
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 Melleaus de Lile, Sir Bohart le
Cure Hardy that was King Arthur's son, Sir Mador de la
Porte, Sir Colgrevance, Sir Hervise de la Forest Savage,
Sir Marrok, the good knight that was betrayed with his
wife, for she made him seven year a wer-wolf, Sir Persaunt,
Sir Pertilope, 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 Urre's wounds by the commandment of
King Arthur.