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15 Sir Uwain’s Adventure

Now we turn to Sir Uwain, who rode westward with the sixty-year-old damsel. There was a tournament near the border of Wales, and at that tournament Sir Uwain smote down thirty knights. Thus, he was given the prize, which was a gerfalcon and a white steed dressed in trappings of gold. Sir Uwain then had many adventures which the old damsel arranged, and she brought him to a lady who was called the Lady of the Rock.

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In that country there were two knights who were brothers, and they were known to be perilous knights; one was called Sir Edward of the Red Castle, and the other Sir Hugh of the Red Castle. These two brothers had disinherited the Lady of the Rock of a barony of lands through extortion.

When Sir Uwain was staying with this lady, she complained to him of these two knights. “Madame,” said Sir Uwain, “they are to blame, for what they do goes against the high Order of Knighthood and the oath that they took. If you like, I will speak with them, because I am a knight of King Arthur, and I will entreat them to act with fairness. If they will not, I will do battle with them for God’s sake in defense of your rights.”

“Many thanks,” said the lady. “If I am not able to repay you, then God surely shall.”

So in the morning the two knights were sent for and asked to come speak with the Lady of the Rock; you should well know that they did not fail to come, but arrived with a hundred horses. When this lady saw them arrive in such a large company, she would not allow Sir Uwain to go out to them, no matter what fair language they used to assure her; instead, she had Sir Uwain speak to them from a tower. In the end, the two brothers would not agree, and answered that they would keep what they had.

“Well,” said Sir Uwain, “then I will fight with one of you and prove that you do this lady wrong.”

“We will not,” they said. “If we do battle, the two of us will fight together with one knight. Therefore, if you wish to fight us so, we will be ready at whatever time you choose. If you beat us in battle, then she may have her lands back.”

“You say well,” said Sir Uwain. “Therefore, make yourselves ready, and be here tomorrow morning ready to fight over this lady’s rights.” So it was agreed on both sides that there would be no treason, and the knights parted and went to make themselves ready.

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That night Sir Uwain was shown great hospitality, and in the morning he arose early and heard mass and broke his fast, and then rode onto the plain; waiting outside the gates were the two brothers. They ran together fiercely so that Sir Edward and Sir Hugh broke their spears upon Sir Uwain. Sir Uwain smote Sir Edward so that he fell off his horse, but his spear did not break. Then he spurred his horse and came at Sir Hugh and unhorsed him.

But they soon recovered and positioned their shields and drew out their swords, telling Sir Uwain to alight and fight to the utter end. Sir Uwain adroitly dismounted and positioned his shield in front of him and drew his sword. They thrust together and each gave the other great blows.

These two brothers wounded Sir Uwain so seriously that the Lady of the Rock thought that he would die. They fought together five hours like men outraged beyond reason, and finally Sir Uwain smote Sir Edward upon the helmet with such a stroke that his sword carved down to his neck bone. Then Sir Hugh lost his courage, but Sir Uwain pressed his advantage to try and slay him. Sir Hugh then kneeled down and yielded to Sir Uwain, and he courteously received his sword, took him by the hand, and they went into the castle together.

Then the Lady of the Rock was very glad, while Sir Hugh made great sorrow for his brother’s death. This lady had her lands restored to her, and Sir Hugh was commanded to be at King Arthur’s court at the next feast of Pentecost. Sir Uwain dwelt with this lady almost half a year, for it was a long time before he was healed of his many wounds.

So when it drew near to the day when Sir Gawain, Sir Marhalt, and Sir Uwain had agreed to meet at the crossroads, each of the knights headed there in order to keep the promise that they had made. Sir Marhalt and Sir Uwain brought their damsels with them, but Sir Gawain had lost his damsel.

So at the end of twelve months, all three knights met at the fountain with their damsels, but the damsel that Sir Gawain had could say little good of him. So they departed from the damsels and rode through a great forest, and there they met with a messenger coming from King Arthur’s court who had been seeking them for almost twelve months throughout England, Wales, and Scotland; he had been ordered that if he ever should find Sir Gawain and Sir Uwain he should quickly bring them back to court.

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They were all glad, and asked Sir Marhalt to ride with them to the king’s court.

Within twelve days they came to Camelot, and the king was very glad of their coming, as was all the court. The king then made them swear upon a book to tell him all the adventures that had befallen them in the previous twelve months, and so they did. Marhalt was well-known, for the knights he had defeated were there, and he was accounted one of the best knights living.

At the next feast of Pentecost the Damsel of the Lake came, bringing with her Sir Pelleas, and there was great jousting at the high feast. Out of all the knights who jousted, Sir Pelleas won the prize, and Sir Marhalt was second. Sir Pelleas was so strong that there were only a few knights who could land a serious blow on him with a spear.

At the next feast, Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhalt were made knights of the Round Table, for there were two empty seats, as two of the knights had been slain that year. King Arthur had great joy of Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhalt; Sir Pelleas had no love for Sir Gawain, but spared him on account of his love for the king. But oftentimes at jousts and tournaments Sir Pelleas defeated Sir Gawain, as it tells in the French book.

Many days later, Sir Tristram fought with Sir Marhalt on an island; there they fought a great battle, but in the end, Sir Tristram slew him. Sir Tristram was so severely wounded that it seemed he would not recover, and he stayed in a nunnery for half a year.

Sir Pelleas was a worshipful knight, and later he became one of the knights who achieved the Holy Grail. The Damsel of the Lake worked her magic so that he never had ado with Sir Lancelot du Lake; whenever Sir Lancelot was at any joust or tournament, she would not allow Sir Pelleas to be there that day unless he fought on the side of Sir Lancelot.

Here ends this tale, as the French book records it from the marriage of King Uther to the reign of King Arthur and the many battles that he fought. This book ends at the moment when Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram come to court. He who wishes to know more, let him seek out other books of Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram.

This was written by a knight-prisoner, Sir Thomas Malory; may God send him swift deliverance. Amen. EXPLICIT.