第 六十五 章 · How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur

. How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur

founded an abbey where the battle was.

Therewithal came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore

was within three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and

let him understand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore

came with a great host, and saluted the people and the king, and there

was great joy made on every side. Then the king let search how much

people of his party there was slain; and there were found but little

past two hundred men slain and eight knights of the Table Round in

their pavilions. Then the king let rear and devise in the same place

whereat the battle was done a fair abbey, and endowed it with great

livelihood, and let it call the Abbey of La Beale Adventure. But when

some of them came into their countries, whereof the five kings were

kings, and told them how they were slain, there was made great dole.

And all King Arthur’s enemies, as the King of North Wales, and the

kings of the North, [when they] wist of the battle, they were passing

heavy. And so the king returned unto Camelot in haste.

And when he was come to Camelot he called King Pellinore unto him, and

said, Ye understand well that we have lost eight knights of the best of

the Table Round, and by your advice we will choose eight again of the

best we may find in this court. Sir, said Pellinore, I shall counsel

you after my conceit the best: there are in your court full noble

knights both of old and young; and therefore by mine advice ye shall

choose half of the old and half of the young. Which be the old? said

King Arthur. Sir, said King Pellinore, meseemeth that King Uriens that

hath wedded your sister Morgan le Fay, and the King of the Lake, and

Sir Hervise de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Galagars, the fourth.

This is well devised, said King Arthur, and right so shall it be. Now,

which are the four young knights? said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the

first is Sir Gawaine, your nephew, that is as good a knight of his time

as any is in this land; and the second as meseemeth best is Sir Griflet

le Fise de Dieu, that is a good knight and full desirous in arms, and

who may see him live he shall prove a good knight; and the third as

meseemeth is well to be one of the knights of the Round Table, Sir Kay

the Seneschal, for many times he hath done full worshipfully, and now

at your last battle he did full honourably for to undertake to slay two

kings. By my head, said Arthur, he is best worth to be a knight of the

Round Table of any that ye have rehearsed, an he had done no more

prowess in his life days.