Chapter Chapter 52 · How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a

. How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a

white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, and how a

brachet pinched the hart which was taken away.

Then was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at Camelot

unto Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen’s, with great

solemnity. And as every man was set after his degree, Merlin went to

all the knights of the Round Table, and bade them sit still, that none

of them remove. For ye shall see a strange and a marvellous adventure.

Right so as they sat there came running in a white hart into the hall,

and a white brachet next him, and thirty couple of black running hounds

came after with a great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round as

he went by other boards. The white brachet bit him by the buttock and

pulled out a piece, wherethrough the hart leapt a great leap and

overthrew a knight that sat at the board side; and therewith the knight

arose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out of the hall, and

took his horse and rode his way with the brachet. Right so anon came in

a lady on a white palfrey, and cried aloud to King Arthur, Sir, suffer

me not to have this despite, for the brachet was mine that the knight

led away. I may not do therewith, said the king.

With this there came a knight riding all armed on a great horse, and

took the lady away with him with force, and ever she cried and made

great dole. When she was gone the king was glad, for she made such a

noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye may not leave these adventures so lightly;

for these adventures must be brought again or else it would be

disworship to you and to your feast. I will, said the king, that all be

done by your advice. Then, said Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, for he

must bring again the white hart. Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor,

for he must bring again the brachet and the knight, or else slay him.

Also let call King Pellinore, for he must bring again the lady and the

knight, or else slay him. And these three knights shall do marvellous

adventures or they come again. Then were they called all three as it

rehearseth afore, and each of them took his charge, and armed them

surely. But Sir Gawaine had the first request, and therefore we will

begin at him.