{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart411.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart411.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart411.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER V\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK XVII\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER V\n \n How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he\n drew the sword, and other marvellous histories.\n \n \n SIR, said she, there was a king that hight Pelles, the\n maimed king. And while he might ride he supported\n much Christendom and Holy Church. So upon a day he\n hunted in a wood of his which lasted unto the sea; and at\n the last he lost his hounds and his knights save only one:\n and there he and his knight went till that they came toward\n Ireland, and there he found the ship. And when he saw\n the letters and understood them, yet he entered, for he\n was right perfect of his life, but his knight had none\n hardiness to enter; and there found he this sword, and\n drew it out as much as ye may see. So therewith entered\n a spear wherewith he was smitten him through both the\n thighs, and never sith might he be healed, nor nought\n shall to-fore we come to him. Thus, said she, was not\n King Pelles, your grandsire, maimed for his hardiness?\n In the name of God, damosel, said Galahad.\n \n So they went toward the bed to behold all about it, and\n above the head there hung two swords. Also there were\n two spindles which were as white as any snow, and other\n that were as red as blood, and other above green as any\n emerald: of these three colours were the spindles, and of\n natural colour within, and without any painting. These\n spindles, said the damosel, were when sinful Eve came to\n gather fruit, for which Adam and she were put out of\n paradise, she took with her the bough on which the apple\n hung on. Then perceived she that the branch was fair\n and green, and she remembered her the loss which came\n from the tree. Then she thought to keep the branch as\n long as she might. And for she had no coffer to keep it\n in, she put it in the earth. So by the will of Our Lord\n the branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and\n was as white as any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves:\n that was a token a maiden planted it. But after God\n came to Adam, and bade him know his wife fleshly as\n nature required. So lay Adam with his wife under the\n same tree; and anon the tree which was white was full\n green as any grass, and all that came out of it; and in\n the same time that they medled together there was Abel\n begotten: thus was the tree long of green colour. And\n so it befell many days after, under the same tree Caym\n slew Abel, whereof befell great marvel. For anon as\n Abel had received the death under the green tree, it lost\n the green colour and became red; and that was in tokening\n of the blood. And anon all the plants died thereof,\n but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and it was\n the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might\n behold and see; and so died the plants that grew out of\n it to-fore that Abel was slain under it. So long dured\n the tree till that Solomon, King David's son, reigned, and\n held the land after his father. This Solomon was wise\n and knew all the virtues of stones and trees, and so he\n knew the course of the stars, and many other divers things.\n This Solomon had an evil wife, wherethrough he weened\n that there had been no good woman, and so he despised\n them in his books. So answered a voice him once:\n Solomon, if heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne\n reck thou never; for yet shall there come a woman\n whereof there shall come greater joy to man an hundred\n times more than this heaviness giveth sorrow; and that\n woman shall be born of thy lineage. Tho when Solomon\n heard these words he held himself but a fool, and the\n truth he perceived by old books. Also the Holy Ghost\n showed him the coming of the glorious Virgin Mary.\n Then asked he of the voice, if it should be in the yerde\n of his lineage. Nay, said the voice, but there shall come\n a man which shall be a maid, and the last of your blood,\n and he shall be as good a knight as Duke Josua, thy\n brother-in-law.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER V","type":"page"}