{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart249.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart249.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart249.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER XII\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK X\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER XII\n \n How the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to joust with King\n Mark, and how King Mark refused him.\n \n \n AND then they asked him of his adventures, and whether\n he had seen Sir Tristram or Sir Launcelot. So God me\n help, said Sir Dinadan, I saw none of them sithen I\n departed from Camelot. What knight is that, said Sir\n Brandiles, that so suddenly departed from you, and rode\n over yonder field? Sir, said he, it was a knight of\n Cornwall, and the most horrible coward that ever bestrode\n horse. What is his name? said all these knights. I wot\n not, said Sir Dinadan. So when they had reposed them,\n and spoken together, they took their horses and rode to a\n castle where dwelt an old knight that made all knights-errant\n good cheer. Then in the meanwhile that they were\n talking came into the castle Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu,\n and there was he welcome; and they all asked him whether\n he had seen Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram. Sirs, he\n answered, I saw him not sithen he departed from Camelot.\n So as Sir Dinadan walked and beheld the castle, thereby in\n a chamber he espied King Mark, and then he rebuked\n him, and asked him why he departed so. Sir, said he, for\n I durst not abide because they were so many. But how\n escaped ye? said King Mark. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, they\n were better friends than I weened they had been. Who\n is captain of that fellowship? said the king. Then for to\n fear him Sir Dinadan said that it was Sir Launcelot. O\n Jesu, said the king, might I know Sir Launcelot by his\n shield? Yea, said Dinadan, for he beareth a shield of\n silver and black bends. All this he said to fear the king,\n for Sir Launcelot was not in his fellowship. Now I pray\n you, said King Mark, that ye will ride in my fellowship.\n That is me loath to do, said Sir Dinadan, because ye forsook\n my fellowship.\n \n Right so Sir Dinadan went from King Mark, and went\n to his own fellowship; and so they mounted upon their\n horses, and rode on their ways, and talked of the Cornish\n knight, for Dinadan told them that he was in the castle\n where they were lodged. It is well said, said Sir Griflet,\n for here have I brought Sir Dagonet, King Arthur's fool,\n that is the best fellow and the merriest in the world. Will\n ye do well? said Sir Dinadan: I have told the Cornish\n knight that here is Sir Launcelot, and the Cornish knight\n asked me what shield he bare. Truly, I told him that he\n bare the same shield that Sir Mordred beareth. Will ye\n do well? said Sir Mordred; I am hurt and may not well\n bear my shield nor harness, and therefore put my shield\n and my harness upon Sir Dagonet, and let him set upon\n the Cornish knight. That shall be done, said Sir Dagonet,\n by my faith. Then anon was Dagonet armed him in\n Mordred's harness and his shield, and he was set on a\n great horse, and a spear in his hand. Now, said Dagonet,\n shew me the knight, and I trow I shall bear him down.\n So all these knights rode to a woodside, and abode till\n King Mark came by the way. Then they put forth Sir\n Dagonet, and he came on all the while his horse might\n run, straight upon King Mark. And when he came nigh\n King Mark, he cried as he were wood, and said: Keep\n thee, knight of Cornwall, for I will slay thee. Anon, as\n King Mark beheld his shield, he said to himself: Yonder\n is Sir Launcelot; alas, now am I destroyed; and therewithal\n he made his horse to run as fast as it might through\n thick and thin. And ever Sir Dagonet followed after King\n Mark, crying and rating him as a wood man, through a\n great forest. When Sir Uwaine and Sir Brandiles saw\n Dagonet so chase King Mark, they laughed all as they\n were wood. And then they took their horses, and rode\n after to see how Sir Dagonet sped, for they would not for\n no good that Sir Dagonet were shent, for King Arthur\n loved him passing well, and made him knight with his own\n hands. And at every tournament he began to make King\n Arthur to laugh. Then the knights rode here and there,\n crying and chasing after King Mark, that all the forest\n rang of the noise.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER XII","type":"page"}