Chapter Chapter 67 · How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul,

. How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul,

chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures.

Then it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into

a great forest, and it happed King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon

of Gaul, followed a great hart, for they three were well horsed, and so

they chased so fast that within a while they three were then ten mile

from their fellowship. And at the last they chased so sore that they

slew their horses underneath them. Then were they all three on foot,

and ever they saw the hart afore them passing weary and enbushed. What

will we do? said King Arthur, we are hard bestead. Let us go on foot,

said King Uriens, till we may meet with some lodging. Then were they

ware of the hart that lay on a great water bank, and a brachet biting

on his throat, and more other hounds came after. Then King Arthur blew

the prise and dight the hart.

Then the king looked about the world, and saw afore him in a great

water a little ship, all apparelled with silk down to the water, and

the ship came right unto them and landed on the sands. Then Arthur went

to the bank and looked in, and saw none earthly creature therein. Sirs,

said the king, come thence, and let us see what is in this ship. So

they went in all three, and found it richly behanged with cloth of

silk. By then it was dark night, and there suddenly were about them an

hundred torches set upon all the sides of the ship boards, and it gave

great light; and therewithal there came out twelve fair damosels and

saluted King Arthur on their knees, and called him by his name, and

said he was right welcome, and such cheer as they had he should have of

the best. The king thanked them fair. Therewithal they led the king and

his two fellows into a fair chamber, and there was a cloth laid, richly

beseen of all that longed unto a table, and there were they served of

all wines and meats that they could think; of that the king had great

marvel, for he fared never better in his life as for one supper. And so

when they had supped at their leisure, King Arthur was led into a

chamber, a richer beseen chamber saw he never none, and so was King

Uriens served, and led into such another chamber, and Sir Accolon was

led into the third chamber passing richly and well beseen; and so they

were laid in their beds easily. And anon they fell asleep, and slept

marvellously sore all the night. And on the morrow King Uriens was in

Camelot abed in his wife’s arms, Morgan le Fay. And when he awoke he

had great marvel, how he came there, for on the even afore he was two

days’ journey from Camelot. And when King Arthur awoke he found himself

in a dark prison, hearing about him many complaints of woful knights.