Le Morte D'Arthur - Volume I

Hyperion Books

Chapter One

How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again.

IT befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was kingof all England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwallthat held war against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke ofTintagil. And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him tobring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passingwise, and her name was called Igraine.

So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means ofgreat lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this ladywell, and he made them great cheer out of measure, and desired to havelain by her. But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent untothe king. And then she told the duke her husband, and said, I supposethat we were sent for that I should be dishonoured; wherefore, husband,I counsel you, that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may ride allnight unto our own castle. And in like wise as she said so theydeparted, that neither the king nor none of his council were ware oftheir departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing sosuddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privycouncil, and told them of the sudden departing of the duke and his wife.

Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a greatcharge; and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do yourbest, then have ye cause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done,and the messengers had their answers; and that was this shortly, thatneither he nor his wife would not come at him.

Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain wordagain, and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for withinforty days he would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath.

When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and garnishedtwo strong castles of his, of the which the one hight Tintagil, and theother castle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine he put in thecastle of Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of Terrabil, thewhich had many issues and posterns out. Then in all haste came Utherwith a great host, and laid a siege about the castle of Terrabil. Andthere he pight many pavilions, and there was great war made on bothparties, and much people slain. Then for pure anger and for great loveof fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick. So came to the king Uther SirUlfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he was sick. I shall tellthee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for love of fair Igraine,that I may not be whole. Well, my lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shall seekMerlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased. SoUlfius departed, and by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar's array, andthere Merlin asked Ulfius whom he sought. And he said he had little adoto tell him. Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thouseekest Merlin; therefore seek no farther, for I am he; and if KingUther will well reward me, and be sworn unto me to fulfil my desire,that shall be his honour and profit more than mine; for I shall causehim to have all his desire. All this will I undertake, said Ulfius, thatthere shall be nothing reasonable but thou shalt have thy desire. Well,said Merlin, he shall have his intent and desire. And therefore, saidMerlin, ride on your way, for I will not be long behind.



Continues...

Excerpted from Le Morte D'Arthur - Volume Iby Thomas Malory Copyright © 2004 by Thomas Malory. Excerpted by permission.
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