Le Morte D'Arthur (Book IV) Week 9: Medieval Heroes - Assignments - Reading - Resources - Images

CHAPTER XIX How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three damosels, and each of them took one. Reading time: 2 minutes. Word count: 400 words.

NOW shall everych of us choose a damosel. I shall tell you, said Sir Uwaine, I am the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I will have the eldest damosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help me when I have need, for I have most need of help of you both.

Now, said Sir Marhaus, I will have the damosel of thirty winter age, for she falleth best to me.

Well, said Sir Gawaine, I thank you, for ye have left me the youngest and the fairest, and she is most liefest to me.

Then every damosel took her knight by the reins of his bridle, and brought him to the three ways, and there was their oath made to meet at the fountain that day twelvemonth an they were living, and so they kissed and departed, and each knight set his lady behind him. And Sir Uwaine took the way that lay west, and Sir Marhaus took the way that lay south, and Sir Gawaine took the way that lay north.

Now will we begin at Sir Gawaine, that held that way till that he came unto a fair manor, where dwelled an old knight and a good householder, and there Sir Gawaine asked the knight if he knew any adventures in that country.

I shall show you some to-morn, said the old knight, and that marvellous. So, on the morn they rode into the forest of adventures to a laund, and thereby they found a cross, and as they stood and hoved there came by them the fairest knight and the seemliest man that ever they saw, making the greatest dole that ever man made. And then he was ware of Sir Gawaine, and saluted him, and prayed God to send him much worship.

As to that, said Sir Gawaine, gramercy; also I pray to God that he send you honour and worship.

Ah, said the knight, I may lay that aside, for sorrow and shame cometh to me after worship.

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read: which damsel did Uwaine choose and why? what about Marhaus? Gawaine? where and when were the three knights going to meet again? what did Gawaine find when he rode out with the old knight in quest of adventure? Source: Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, published by William Caxton (1485), with spelling modernized. Weblink. The original Caxton text is also available online: weblink.