LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
THE LIFE OF SIR AGLOVALE DE GALIS
THE LIFE OF
SIR AGLOVALE DE GALIS
BY
CLEMENCE HOUSMAN
METHUEN & CO.
36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
LONDON
First Published in 1905
TO ROBERT HOLDEN HOUSMAN
" Thanks be to God for my good brother, who has blessed this life of mine."—C.H.
" vy THEN a man truly perceiveth and considereth himself yy who and what he is, and findeth himself utterly vile and wicked and unworthy, he falleth into such a deep abasement that it seemeth to him reasonable that all creatures in heaven and earth should rise up against him. And therefore he will not and dare not desire any consolation and release, but he is willing to be unconsoled and unreleased; and he doth not grieve over his sufferings, for they are right in his eyes, and he hath nothing to say against them. This is what is meant by true repentance for sin, and he who in this present time entereth into this hell, none may console him. Now, God hath not forsaken a man in this hell, but He is laying His hand upon him that the man may not desire nor regard anything but the Eternal Good only. And then, when the man neither careth nor desireth anything but the Eternal Good alone, and seeketh not himself nor his own things, but the honour of God only, he is made a partaker of all manner of joy, bliss, grace, rest, and consolation, and so the man is henceforth in the kingdom of heaven. This hell and this heaven are two good safe ways for a man, and happy is he who truly findeth them." — Theologia Germanica.
THE LIFE OF
SIR AGLOVALE DE GALIS
CHAPTER I
THE first record of Aglovale shows him in boyhood tilting among others with his younger brother Lamorak. Under conduct of old squires the boys trained on the castle green, watched from above by fair, kind critics, damsels and dames, one a queen. Aglovale, then in early teens, held his own with sufficient address among his fellows to take the lead that was fitting his birth. Young Lamorak in due time hurled against him ; and Aglovale, the elder by a year, the taller by a head, went shocked over his horse's tail. Loud sprang cheers from the rest, and on high white hands fluttered applause.
When later the boys ranked for the mellay, King Pellinore, with an honoured guest, young King Arthur, came out to watch, and the Queen, descending, stood with them under the gateway. Throughout the tough game the names of the rival brothers were calling. " Lamorak, Lamorak," rang like the beat of steel ; less strong for a rallying cry tossed the name of Aglovale.
Behind his leader, little Durnor rollicked along heedless of danger, was rescued by Aglovale, was spared by Lamorak, till he and his cob tumbled perilously, and he was led away perforce, despite his valiant laughter and tears.
Fortune went with Lamorak, for his emulation was a contagious ardour ; while Aglovale, nervous and dour, did little to stay defeat.
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Then the Queen, proud of her dearest son Lamorak, told how he had forejusted his elder; thereupon King Pellinore, well pleased also, called the pair out to run a course before King Arthur.
" You are fit enough, boys ? "
" Yes, yes, sire ! " shouted Lamorak, passing fain and eager.
Aglovale said nothing ; he was badly bruised, but he would not plead. So matched with his younger he could get no credit, Lamorak could get no shame. Deep, then, bit the snake that poisoned his life thereafter. He set his teeth and wheeled for position. " Lamorak, Lamorak," hammered heavy on his heart, and his own name scarcely could he hear as their young fellows shouted.
Down went Lamorak. No fault was his, for his girths were rotten and broke. He rose fierce and clamorous, and sprang to the first horse that offered, eager to dispute his brother's nominal advantage. Aglovale claimed none. "Though a back should break," swore Lamorak, " 'tis not I shall quit the saddle." Again they ran ; and Aglovale, the elder by a year, the taller by a head, went shocked over his horse's tail. How " Lamorak, Lamorak " rang !
Away pranced the gallant boy ; he saluted the Kings, the Queen ; he flung off and sprang up to the mother, bareheaded for her kiss.
Aglovale stood up mute as death, came on foot, leading his horse, saluted, and passed. Arthur spoke kindly, commending both. The Queen looked after her son with tardy compunc- tion, and when she saw him standing apart, stepped down and crossed to him over the green, pacing slow with folded arms ; for in those days she went heavily with a double burden that proved to be Percivale and his sister Saint.
" Are you hurt, my son ? "
He lied, saying, " No."
Her kind, grave eyes questioned his sombre countenance.
" By this is a noble knight shown : that he rises with no rancour from a fair overthrow ; that he admires the force that can bring him down ; that he knows no base envy."
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Aglovale breathed patiently. He dared not out with another word lest the shame of weeping should attend. In his heart he cried, " Does he love you more than I, that you should love him more than me ? "
"Ah, Aglovale," said the Queen, wistfully, "a degree of excellence you might have brought from the ground, though Lamorak from the selle brought more. Then had I been a happier mother and proud of both my sons."
Aglovale quivered and hung his head silent; and she turned away sighing over his evil temper. From the incoherent conscience of youth he could not declare how the intolerable bitterness of overthrow lay in her balancing his loss so lightly against Lamorak's gain.
Yet then and afterwards, for all the Devil did with Aglovale, never could, he kindle in him the least spark of hatred against his brother Lamorak.
On a day not long after, the Queen sent for Aglovale to her chamber, and showed him, pacing the court below, King Pellinore and a stranger, whose hand rested on his shoulder, whose face was addressed to him as the moon's to her earth, whose voice and laughter rang the tune of close and familiar friendship.
" That is Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, a good knight that I would you should love and honour."
Then with her arm round the boy's neck she told how that friendship sprang : young Sir Griflet, on the first day of knight- hood, sought to win worship of King Pellinore, who first refused him, warning him of his might ; and when he would not be stayed, lightly smote him down ; and then the King took him up nigh slain, gave him wind, and set him on his horse again, commending him for his great heart. And there- after, she said, Sir Griflet loved and worshipped him greatly.
Aglovale sighed against her heart. He understood; and he willed to love and worship Sir Griflet.
That good Queen did not herself fail to be gracious and generous when within her woman's sphere she was tried. From the wedding of Arthur and Guenever, King Pellinore
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returned with a goodly young knight, his new-found son Tor, the love-child he to a peasant girl had given, and she to her man Aries the cowherd, eighteen years before. Here may not enter the full tale of how noble blood sent Tor from the low estate of his mother, with a bold request straight to the presence of his unguessed father ; and how Arthur gave him knighthood before his own nephew Gawaine, and was justified straightway by his noble deeds, while Gawaine fell to disgrace. All this is written in the books of my most dear Master whom I love so much.
The Queen, large-hearted, greeted her lord's son sweetly, fairly, without misgiving for his peasant mother. She found for him room in her good grace next her own sons, aye, in the end above one, and he her firstborn ; for Tor had touches of his father, was gentle, courteous, of good parts, passing true of his promise ; and he never did outrage.
Aglovale's likeness to his father was but in strong hawk features and swarthy skin. The stately build inherited by Tor was not to be his; manhood could hardly redeem the lank and awkward sprouting of his youth. Lamorak, in the bloom of boyish grace, preluded the man of perfect strength and beauty, whose fine force and prowess ranked him equal with great Launcelot, and Tristram biggest of Arthur's knights.
Still, as the boys grew Lamorak gained over Aglovale; and Tor — the strong, admirable Tor himself — freely owned that the day would soon come when he, too, would be bettered of his brother ; and Pellinore of himself said the same in his heart.
From their blunt play the boys went early to the sharp work of battle. When Danes and Irish landed in hosts against Arthur and ravaged from North Wales, Pellinore, staying for larger levies, sent on Tor with a troop of his best knights ; and Aglovale and Lamorak, as young squires, attended on their bastard brother.
A horrid foretaste they had when by night the active Irish rushed the unwary camp where in the midst lay Guenever withal. From shrouds of destruction Tor cut them out,
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and with him they headed a desperate stand to bar the way that the Queen had gone, with but four to defend her : Arthur, Kay the foster brother, Gawaine, and Griflet.
Step by step, stubborn Tor and his poor few gave back before heavy odds, till the night went blind, and broken and dispersed through the forest they fought or fled. Aglovale and Lamorak held together, swept away from Tor's voice by a surge of rattling steel. Joining in breathless rallies that scattered again with loss, wounded, horsed, and unhorsed, spent with the weight of harness, through that dreadful night they endured a dark, inglorious struggle.
About dawn as they fell into a broad greenway, a foul knight came by who spurred upon Aglovale. His weary arm beat down the spear; it missed his side, pierced his thigh clean through, bore him to earth and broke. Then Lamorak, savage, houghed the horse without scruple, and stood before his brother in stout defence. Aglovale on his knees fought too. Down the greenway came the tramp of riders whose call was " Stranggore," and some spurred forward to the boys at bay. Aglovale called for rescue, but Lamorak cried, " Let be, let be ! I will deal in full payment." And even as he spoke, with a stroke deep through the gorget, he ended his work.
Fresh come at need here rode King Bagdemagus and his knights of Stranggore, with news of Pellinore following up from the south; with news of Tor whose driven foes they circled to head ; but of Guenever and her four without news. By him the sons of Pellinore were not left horseless to foul murderers of the wounded ; though scarcely might Aglovale ride for his hurt wherein the truncheon stack. To stay him from a fall a young squire of his age came to ride on the one side, as Lamorak rode on the other : this was Meliagraunce, son to King Bagdemagus.
On they rode under sky-dawn for the edge of the forest. And as the broad Humber opened ahead, flashing to the tide's uprush, helms golden in the first sun moved forward down a silver glade. Here shone lost Arthur and his fellows with a
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gathering troop ; he, Gawaine, and Griflet each bore token of a king he had slain, while Kay bore two.
Forth into the open swung the joint force, and lo ! on Humber's tide far out steered a dark blot, where Guenever went safe on a ferry barge ; and on Humber's bank glittered the thousands of the Danes and their allies, rank on rank, well ordered, pricking forward.
" Can our hundreds face these ? " said Bagdemagus.
"Aye," answered Arthur, "for see, now they find their dead."
Even Guenever, far off, must have heard and shuddered at the dreadful cry of rage and lamentation that went up from the desolated hosts ; and close after may have heard, too, the first great crash of battle ; for while yet the foe reeled and surged and thronged, Arthur bore down upon them and began to slay.
In that battle Aglovale had no part. Lamorak shot away to the charge, and he was following insanely when Griflet saw him, reeling, loose-reined, clinging to the saddle peak. He cursed him roundly for a fool, guided him clear of the rush, brought him to a stand, and bade him go back. Where Griflet left him he stayed, nor went back nor forward.
The heart of Denmark was broken for its king ; and Tor drove in on the rear the shattered strength of Ireland; and the allies, men of the Vale and of Soleise, between the Humber and backward pressure, turned frantic and fought friend and foe alike. That day there was fearful slaughter of the dense hosts of the invaders.
After the field was won, Tor found his brother fainting on his horse's neck. Weeping for joy, he lifted him down and cared for him ; from the stiffened wound he drew out the spear head, and staunched the fresh blood that sprang free, comfort- ing, praising, regarding naught else, refusing to leave him until Arthur summoned.
Then Aglovale, looking after, saw not far off King Arthur and his knights gathered red from the field; and Queen Guenever was come again and stood near between Kay and
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 1
Gawaine. Fair gold was her hair. Fair gold was the hair of his mother, Pellinore's queen.
The King stood there with his sword bare in his hand to give knighthood. Aglovale sprang to his feet : the first to come and kneel was young Lamorak. More he could not stand to see. His wound broke out streaming afresh ; for pure envy also his nostrils gushed blood ; so fierce, then, was the stress of the master passion of his youth.
After Lamorak came Gawaine's two brothers, Gaheris and Agravaine, and many another ; among the rest, Meliagraunce. And when the last stood up a knight, Arthur questioned after one more. Tor answered him ; Lamorak, Bagdemagus, Griflet answered him.
Across the greensward ran Tor ; in all his harness he ran. He lifted Aglovale.
" I cannot stand or go," said the boy, feebly.
" You shall ! Aglovale, it is for knighthood of King Arthur ! "
He drew his young brother's arm round his neck and lifted him along. Lamorak came too, and between them they took him and helped him to his knees before Arthur. Excalibur touched his shoulder, and his famishing spirit was satisfied.
Tor set him on his feet. " Keep up," said Lamorak, low, " for we go before Queen Guenever."
" Keep up," said Tor, low, " for we pass by Sir Gawaine and his brethren."
Sweet salutation the fairest of women gave, and gracious thanks to each, and praise namely to Sir Tor. Fair gold was her hair. On Lamorak her eyes rested, because of his boyish grace and beauty. She said in her heart, and afterwards to Arthur, " An angel, a man, and a devil."
" A man indeed," said Arthur, " but no devil, and on my faith no angel. Good knights all they will prove."
Gawaine and his brethren eyed hard the sons of Pellinore, for blood feud was unfinished, and these sons of Lot were pass- ing good haters. Gawaine and Tor saluted coldly. Yet sooth that day had cancelled an old misdeed recorded in the books of him I love so much, restoring to Gawaine the fair place long
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withheld him in Queen Guenever's regard. Let it be said of him that then, and always, faithful and blameless was his worship of Arthur's queen ; and for the oath she had imposed on him in his day of disgrace ever was he gentle and courteous to all ladies, and to all men who asked he showed mercy. The blood of Pellinore would ask none of him ; nor would Dinadan, nor Bagdemagus.
One envied Aglovale. Said Meliagraunce, " For your night of defence, Sir Aglovale, would I give my day of onslaught ; for to me dearer than knighthood were such fair and particular greeting from Queen Guenever."
Aglovale wondered, and liked the youth, nor thought ill of the words. Alas ! he so speaking was at first dawn of a passion that afterwards drove him to rape and treason, and brought him to so evil an end that Guenever denied him life and Arthur begrudged him burial.
Fuller reward awaited Sir Tor at Camelot ; he, Gawaine, Griflet, and Kay were chosen in place of knights of the Round Table fallen by the Humber. My most dear Master has told at length how the vacant sieges were filled ; and also of the strict fairness of Pellinore, and of the resentment of King Bagdemagus. Of Aglovale in boyhood there is no more to tell.
CHAPTER II
TOR, the firstborn of King Pellinore, came to be the best beloved of all his sons. Sown in the waste, left to grow untended, he, in the flower of youth, approved the father generously, nor brought him any reproach for long neglect. Well might joy and pride in the heart of Pellinore rise up to claim him, and love swell stronger by delay. So, too, in other fathers sprang a like devotion at sight of their stranger sons : in Bors when he took White Helin ; in Launce- lot when Galahad came. The names of three other sons stand in dark contrast, three who forfeited their fathers' love, and carried curses : Aglovale, son to King Pellinore ; Meliagraunce, son to King Bagdemagus ; Mordred, son and nephew to King Arthur.
Yet even in early blameless years Aglovale, the heir, came to know that his father for Tor's sake, and his mother for Lamorak's sake, begrudged him his birthright. He knew, too, that Tor felt with the Queen, Lamorak with the King. As for Durnor, he held Durnor of slight account — Durnor !
Howbeit at that time all four brethren were named for high promise, approved of tried knights, well esteemed of their young fellows. And later, spite of all defect, three houses won to matchless fame in Logris : Arthur with his nephews, Launcelot with his brethren, Pellinore with his sons.
Rot at the core showed suddenly in Aglovale. Great justs were held at Cardiff in the presence of Arthur and his Queen, what time he bestowed an earldom upon Sir Tor, then of full age. There Tor won the degree on the first day ; and on the
9
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second day Lamorak won it ; and on the third day a strange knight came in, who smote down Aglovale and Durnor and many more and won the degree : his name, Sir Bagdemagus, King of Stranggore. Then Aglovale plucked up his horse and rode straight away north. Darkness covers here the ways he went.
Days went by, and weeks, and months, without any tidings, good or ill. With the new year came King Bagdemagus again, seeking after his lost son Meliagraunce. Sir Aglovale, he said, had come into Stranggore when justs were holding, and there he had smitten down Sir Agravaine and many others ; and so brim and merry was he, that his son Meliagraunce would fellow- ship with him, and had gone in his company leaving no trace.
More days, weeks, months, went by. Lamorak and Durnor went and came, Tor came and went and came again, but Aglovale did not come.
From the Marches of Northgalis blew rumour of evil deeds : of lands harried, travellers and pilgrims robbed, knights murdered, and ladies misused. My most dear Master tells how there, at a later day, foul love and foul war prevailed, until Sir Launcelot came to make an end of Sir Turquine the murderer, and Sir Peris the ravisher.
A riding damsel came through Cardiff, a fair, fierce, reckless creature, who, though young she was, had led an adventurous life, with easy love and deadly hate, revel and hardship, quick laughter and desperate cries, some soft memory enshrined, and some hot malice unspent. Out of such a store she could weave many marvellous tales of adventure, never two alike. She, too, spoke ill of the Marches, and told of the infamous practice of two whom she named the Savage and the Sinister ; how unfairly and barbarously they had slain a noble young knight ; and how unfairly and barbarously they would have used his damsel, but that she wisely and wittily feigned and played to set them one against the other, till they fell to fighting, and she by good fortune escaped them both.
With touches of art she embellished her tale, yet her voice and eye showed that for once something was suppressed, and
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that this adventure was more near herself than others of which she feigned.
When she departed Durnor ran after. " Why called you that one Sinister ? "
" He fought left-handed," she answered.
It was a trick that Aglovale practised.
Durnor went back, armed, and took horse. As he rode out Tor and Lamorak met him and questioned.
" I go to look up brother Sir Aglovale," he said carelessly, and passed.
The two looked at each other.
" I shall follow," said Tor.
" I also," said Lamorak.
So they armed quickly, took horse, and went after Durnor.
Northward the three rode together. And many days they spent questing through the Waste Lands, and the Marches of Northgalis and Gore, at that time the most lawless wilds in Logris, for there two wanton queens fostered misrule out of hatred and treason to King Arthur. Some robber knights they fought and slew by the way, but neither Sir Peris nor Sir Turquine did they chance to meet.
They came at last upon one who was pitilessly robbing a gentlewoman of her fair young daughter. Lightly he set down his prize at Lamorak's challenge, rode against him full knightly, broke a spear and got a fall. Up he rose, pulled out his sword, and caught it in the left hand. He saw that the three bore the arms of Galis, and turned to flee. They hemmed him in, all but sure of him.
Lamorak sprang down. " I require you of your knighthood to tell me your name ? " He would not, and struck. " Stay your hand," said Lamorak, " till I be better appointed." His shield he cast aside ; he plucked off also gorget and helm and cast them down. With naught to defend his head but his sword, he advanced, and struck, and struck again.
So like St. George he looked^ that a very stranger might have faltered, loth to strike upon that bright head. Aglovale sobbed, flung away his sword, and to Lamorak's distress kneeled
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and held him by the knees weeping. They wept together all four — even Durnor.
King Pellinore never questioned close as to how and where Aglovale had been found, for he was willing to know no worse than he could guess ; and each brother guessed alone in his own heart ; even Durnor bared none of his conjectures. But certain knowledge of misdoing came afterwards by means of Meliagraunce. He came by Cardiff with one Sir Gawdelin, such an one as himself, whose life was marred by the folly of an unlawful and unrequited passion. These two at the supper talked upon dangerous ground, for both were loose-tongued and had little discretion in their cups. Aglovale with them drank hard, but for his part said little. Suddenly he was aware that he was detected and betrayed ; for as Meliagraunce was weaving a tale more graceless than merry, he saw King Pelli- nore smite down his head, and Durnor grow red and curse under his breath, and Lamorak lift and stiffen. Under their dreadful silence he assented steadily when Meliagraunce demanded confirmation. Durnor came to him afterwards and blurted out all : some small and peculiar detail mentioned by Sir Meliagraunce had been given also by the riding damsel, so serving to link his story with hers. Meliagraunce himself never knew what mischief he had done.
Not to Aglovale alone was this discovery bitter shame. King Pellinore had to own in his heart that this son, so like him in feature, revealed also dark traits of character he deemed all dead and gone with his own youth. Lately he had come to think better of him, seeing him back among his brothers, valiant and eager as Lamorak, prudent and serviceable as Tor, tough and staunch as Durnor ; and mainly was he gratified to perceive ripening in him something of his own stern temper, just sense, and keen brain, meet for the son and heir who should rule wild Galis after him. Now, because of those dead sins yet living, King Pellinore smote down his head and went heavily.
Aglovale held on resolutely, determined to blot out the past with fair fame. Yet all the while his heart held its old
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bane, that would coil and sting, spite of the true love he bore his brother Lamorak ; and though no word nor sign escaped to betray it, the evil within was working his countenance to express a nature marred and unlovely.
By just and field Lamorak blazed on his way of resplendent valour, the most insatiable fighter that ever lifted sword. He was still but a youth when called to the Table Round, where, according to Merlin's writing, he sat at his father's side hard by the Siege Perilous.
Then Aglovale failed again. Since Lamorak he could not hate, wild envy set him in loathing against himself and his own barren life. So virulent was this moral distemper that he was smitten with physical sickness ; sleep went from him, and old wounds in his body ached, opened, and bled afresh. Madness was hovering. He took horse and reeled away into night.
For over a year his record stands well-nigh blank. Only his own evidence tells that he left the realm of Logris and tried for solace new ways of abuse, ranging the seas, one of a notorious crew whose sail became a curse and a terror to the trader and his town.
He rallied when war came : the great war with Rome, when Arthur and his host passed over to Flanders, and went on kingdom by kingdom to the conquest of Christendom. To Barflete came Pellinore and his three sons, Tor, Lamorak, and Durnor, each in a great galley stuffed with fighting men well appointed. Came Aglovale by night, landing alone from a poor cog-boat, sans horse or the price of one, with naught but the harness on his back, red-rusted with brine. A very just estimate of him lay heavy on his welcome ; no account of his doings was required of him, and he tendered none. Durnor alone, the while he served like a squire to the tarnished heir, hit at him with hard names of derision. But to Durnor indifference gave licence.
In that great campaign Aglovale showed at his best, for he had gifts for marshalling hosts of war such as were rare to find in those emulous days of personal valour. King Pellinore gave him full scope, setting him in command above his brothers,
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and Tor and Lamorak were as right hand and left to him in their loyal support, gladly admitting his right and worth. His was not brilliant work and fortunate, like Sir Gawaine's, whose star ascendant at that time outshone all others ; but what he did King Arthur marked well and approved, for he, the great leader, could best of all appraise the young knight's sound instinct in methods of war. So when the year closed on him victorious at Rome, crowned Emperor by the Pope, when he summoned his Round Table there and filled up the sieges, Sir Aglovale de Galis was duly called and placed.
Knights of highest worship sat hard by the Siege Perilous that awaited the coming of the best knight in the world. To the right of it sat King Pellinore, then Sir Lamorak, then Sir Marhaus, the best knight of Ireland ; to the left sat Sir Bors the Good, with Sir Launcelot and his brother Sir Ector; Sir Tor was not far, with Sir Gawaine for his opposite. Distant by many degrees from that zenith, Sir Aglovale had his place, for dearer to Arthur was the stout heart and arm than the good head. And the mind of Aglovale inclined the same way ; he would gladly abandon all the credit won in command, but once to have in his ears such a roar of welcome and acclaim as rose from fighting ranks when Lamorak rode in.
On that high day Durnor, riding behind his brothers, saw a hard-featured man thrust through the crowd and catch at Sir Aglovale's knee, calling him by a strange name. Aglovale struck his hand aside, tossed him a piece of gold, and passed. The man, a seafarer by his dress, fell back and plucked at a Welshman with a question ; Aglovale, with a stony countenance, rode on ignoring salutations. His day was darkly overcast. Durnor was ashamed to watch or to question; he went on wondering.
At the day's end the same stranger entered as a suitor before King Pellinore and his sons, and got leave to speak.
" My lord Sir Aglovale," he said, "is it sooth that to-day, for the honour of the Round Table, you will grant any man his suit except it be unreasonable ? "
Aglovale eyed him sternly and answered, " Aye."
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" Then, my lord, I desire and pray that you take me to serve you."
An angry red mounted to Aglovale's brow. The stranger spoke on hurriedly.
" I ask to be no more than your groom, your henchman, your varlet, albeit I am not more meanly born than some who are squires. And I will promise you very faithful service for the sake of one I shall never meet again, because, my lord Sir Aglovale, of the resemblance you bear him."
Said Durnor, whose tongue was more ready than his wits, " Hey, brother, you knew him not, and he mistook you ! "
Said the stranger quickly, with his eyes still on Sir Aglovale, " Before to-day never has my lord your brother set eyes on me."
Aglovale strode forward and struck him on the mouth. " Brose, you lie ! " he said.
Confounded stood the suitor, savage but cowed. He got his voice, and said thickly, " My lord, if I live you shall repent of this."
Said Aglovale, wickedly, " Get you gone, would you go to hell in your own time."
Said Brose, " At your heels, my lord, will be time enough for me."
King Pellinore spoke, seeing Aglovale finger at his sword. " Fair son, he stands a suitor on your honour to-day." And at that his son ground his teeth and laughed harshly.
Said the King to Brose, "By my counsel you and your suit withdraw."
The :man spoke up resolutely, though his hard-favoured countenance twitched.
" Truly sir, my lord your son may hold my suit unreason- able, since he does not please to forget that when he saw me before, for my sins I was a galley-slave."
Still, as he spoke he kept his eyes upon Sir Aglovale, who turned his to watch his father's face. Both drew the breath of hard conflict.
" And yet is my suit not unreasonable, since who would
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serve him more truly and faithfully than one he delivered out of that hell."
" Hear, you dog ! " cried Aglovale, in a black rage, " for the honour of the day and because of my word you shall have your asking. But, by God ! " he added through his teeth, " you shall sweat for it hereafter."
Again King Pellinore warned Brose off his dangerous ground, guessing heavily at ugly concerns behind his son's truculence.
" His man am I," came the answer, " at what service and what wage he wills. He knows I am able enough. I was the first he made free. Me he set to loose Christians while he went killing Saracens ; and not one was left alive ; and it was a great galley ; and we, slaves with our chains, were all my lord Sir Aglovale had to back him. Moreover, he stood to fight unarmed, and so fought and won."
Aglovale cursed and flung out his sword, beside himself with rage. His brothers by force stayed him, and got Brose away and stowed safe till that madness should be past.
Be it known forthwith that master and man kept each his word. Aglovale stinted not by harsh and brutal usage to tempt the man to his worst ; and Brose endured, steadily and patiently biding his time to be approved, until his master recognized with wonder that this dog was the faithfullest of his kind, following him out of real devotion. Straight he acknow- ledged, "Brose, I do repent," and never thenceforth had a doubt of him till came the time of double parting when broke the unhappy heart of Aglovale. Brose, in an after day, when, as shall be told, he followed Percivale, professed what secret virtue in his master had drawn him to allegiance. " Never have I heard him complain," he said. No man, save Nacien the Hermit, did ever so truly as Brose read the worth of that distorted nature at its worst.
Now, as to the conclusion of this passage, had Aglovale chosen to hold his peace, the truth might not have come to light, for Brose told no more, refusing to answer any question but in his master's presence; and, drunk or sober, he never
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 17
let loose his tongue till the end came. But Aglovale, when his brothers turned to him with new worship, and his father with kind reproach, because he had despised the approval of their love, felt his load more heavy to bear than any deserved disgrace. So, as they would not cease and let him go, "I was one of them," said he ; " I, too, was a galley-slave."
That was not enough, though his voice and his face were frightful. So gross an outrage to him but moved their common blood with indignation.
Said Lamorak under his breath, "I rather would have died."
Aglovale heard. " I, too," he said, " even as due by a halter."
Durnor gaped and gasped, " As due ! " Aghast stared King Pellinore and Tor and Lamorak. His few words were enough to set their guesses; and he watched the leap and run, the pause and flow of apprehension in their looks. Now they knew why he at one time, before they came to Rome, had avoided the coast ; there at Genoa their eyes had seen rotten bodies dangling above the tide-mark ; they had heard tell of a well-dreaded corsair barque, decoyed and betrayed there by means of a Saracen emir. Yes, they knew ; only Durnor did not understand. Durnor was a dense fool.
King Pellinore broke silence. " And yet you live ! "
His unworthy son came to him, followed after him, kneeled to him, and held his knees in mute entreaty.
" You felon proclaimed ! Why had you not your dues ? "
"Pardon, sire, because there is that in me that is due to you."
King Pellinore cut him short with a heavy curse, and in his passion turned and struck the woeful mask that was his living disgrace.
" Oh, you lie — you lie ! " he cried.
At that Aglovale stood up and pulled out his sword ; taking it by the point, he presented the hilts to King Pellinore.
" Prove that upon my body, sire, an you please," he said desperately. c
18 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
The King gripped with a will.
" Stand aside, Sir Tor," cried Aglovale ; " as for this matter you shall not come between me and my father."
But Tor said, "Ah, sire, are all the good strokes of that sword clean gone from remembrance ? "
" Answer ! Why had you not your dues ? "
He writhed and faltered. "I was not so well worth a halter as some others ; and — and I was valued to ransom as a king's son."
" Ah, wretched blabber ! "
Again Tor came between. " Speak again, brother — say you never acknowledged your birth ! "
"Yes, bastard, I did. I acknowledged my birth, unawares, even as you did among your mother-brethren. Ah, sire, pardon me that at least ! "
" What more have you to tell, felon ? "
" Sire," said Aglovale, " boots it to know more of what I did, or what others did with this sinful body of mine, since my name and my lineage went not with it ? "
" Unhappy fool ! Does not your rascal fellow know you ? "
Aglovale answered knightly, " My fellows now are knights of the Round Table ; and excepting you, sire, and my fair brothers, and my lord King Arthur, none of them that bear life shall charge disworship against my name and lineage but I will prove upon his body that he lies."
King Pellinore went up and down thinking a great while. Then he put back Aglovale's sword into his hands and said heavily, "See you fail not. When your gallows deeds be known, or keep you body alive in the Devil's name — or God have mercy on your soul ! "
In this he reckoned amiss, for Brose proved close and sure, and Aglovale lived longer than the devil in him, and died the last of his mother's sons.
Now, it is recorded that after these wars with Rome, Pelli- nore set his son Aglovale as warden at Cardigan. Maybe this in a manner was banishment till he should have earned full forgiveness, although later the lordship of Cardigan is called
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 19
his appanage. Here Aglovale sped ill; for, after a turn of staid and strict government, he fell to ways of misrule. For a brief space he made a fine show of it, merry and brim in living and fighting. He lured Durnor to him, and despised him that he came. Many drew to him at that time ; and any who had earned the King's displeasure could find with him countenance and welcome. So, though riot and misrule were doubtless all his sins, he gave large cause for the count of treason.
After remonstrance and a threat, King Pellinore made short work. He rode in on surprise with a great plump of spears, and Aglovale, surrendering without a stroke, was deprived of land and rule, and imprisoned with undue rigour.
He never complained, for, indeed, the odd good in him lent him a patience and submission rare to find among wrongdoers. The intercession of his mother and his brethren, and namely of Sir Tor, restored him to freedom and grace.
But too soon his better self went to the winds as before. This time Lamorak was partly to blame. The words he used enter here not indeed in time and place as recorded by my most dear Master, who for his part kept not strictly to the order of events, as can be shown on his telling of the justs at Avilion and at Kinkenadon by the Sands.
Justs were called beside the Isle of Avilion for the proving of Arthur's young nephew Gareth, then newly sprung from the scullery into sudden fame and the well-earned love of his lady Liones. Thither came his mother, Morgause, Queen of Orkney, still with her fatal beauty as keen as when Arthur, her unknown brother, wooed her to guilty love. On Lamorak she looked, and Lamorak looked on her, and for their bane love sprang.
Marvellous deeds of arms Lamorak did that day, out of measure fain to win worship before her. Fighting was like a revel to him, till in the midst of his ecstasy he chanced to see his two brothers, Aglovale and Durnor, overthrown. That turned him to rage; four knights went down to his spear; more to his sword; others fled. Aglovale and Durnor he horsed again, but in his heat he did not spare them words.
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Shame on them ! cried Lamorak, to fall so off their horses. Knights that were knights indeed, he said, should fight on horseback; fighting afoot, he said, was but meant for spoilers and felons. So he spoke heedless in his heat. " Sit fast upon your horses," he cried at parting, " or else fight never more afore me."
Durnor emptied language and protest after him ; but as for Aglovale, his blood rose and broke forth, so that it ran from the ventails of his helm and he had to lift the vizard.
"How, brother," said Durnor, "fell you so hard?" But when he viewed a face pallid and hard-set, even he could read and understand.
"Nay, nay," he said in clumsy kindness, "Aglovale, he never meant it so ! Oh, he had clean forgot all that, or never had he spoken so ! "
" By your leave, fair brother," returned Aglovale, " I can hear as I list ; and, if I list, gainsay."
Durnor looked after him as starkly he rode into the fray. "When he goes to work with his lips white, he kills. Now God have mercy on some man's soul."
His cast was true enough. Aglovale that day was curst and forebore none. After that he was lost again for many a day, and wilh him Brose.
Tidings came of him returned and dwelling at Cardigan. Thither rode Tor and Durnor, and bore back good report of him, as they found him sober, just, wise, and knightly in all ways. But Tor owned to King Pellinore that their welcome had not been brotherly, Sir Aglovale, cold and reserved, show- ing with a manner of precise courtesy a mind inclined to quarrel. Durnor laughed and made excuse, in that he was assotted on a passing fair wench, and an exigent. So had he mistaken sweet Gilleis, Aglovale's last and only true love.
When King Pellinore afterwards passed to Cardigan, Agio- vale had flown, none knew whither, and sweet Gilleis lay in the tomb.
CHAPTER III
NACIEN the Hermit, gathering worts high up on Wenlock Edge, saw a knight come riding below, followed far behind by one afoot, running, stoop- ing, shunning the open. Over rough and smooth rode the knight spurring hard. The jaded horse stumbling on broken ground, fell and did not rise; whereat suddenly he pulled out his sword, and rove that good beast through the body. Forward on his feet he started in a hasty aimless fashion ; his shield he flung away, then his helm ; piece by piece he stripped off his harness, and cast it from him.
" Now see I," said Nacien, " that a fiend rides him." And he went down to meet him till the sound of groaning came to his ears and words of blasphemy. The secret follower came nearer, saw the old man ahead, and stood up with a gesture of warning. Right so the knight caught sight of him.
Brose turned to flee, for Agio vale made fiercely after him with his sword drawn. Brief was the chase : Brose missed footing, fell, rose up lamed, faced round on his master, and held up entreating hands. In vain : deep into his side bit the relentless sword. For a moment Aglovale looked on the fallen man, then his reddened blade he flung afar, and kneeling he tried to staunch the bleeding life.
11 It was foully done," said Nacien. " Go you, murderer, and bring water." And Aglovale went like a bidden child.
Even with that first look on the two men Nacien knew that his work lay rather with the soul of the one than the body of the other.
21
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But for Aglovale he could do nothing till Brose had taken good hold of life. Neither day nor night would that unhappy master quit his man; scarcely would he speak or eat, and sleep he did not till on the third night Nacien beguiled him with a drink.
Then said Brose weakly, " For the love of God help my master lest he die of his shut heart." And when Nacien com- mended his devotion so evilly rewarded: "Nay," said Brose, "he had threatened and I had promised. In following I broke my word ; his my master kept."
But of counsel and consolation Aglovale took as little heed as of admonition and rebuke, till the day came when Nacien told him Brose was sure of recovery. Then he was moved to blessings and thankings and promises for gratitude, and the good man, seeing his time, with grave authority called on him to confess his sins.
Aglovale looked at him darkly. " I want no absolution," he said.
" My son," said Nacien, " I bid you to penance in confession."
" Yea, that I want," said Aglovale, after long silence.
" In the name of God ! " said Nacien.
Aglovale did not kneel. He stood up and bore the light of day and Nacien's eyes through all. His tongue failed him at first. " Gilleis ! " he said, and stopped dumb, struggling.
" In the name of God ! " repeated Nacien.
Once more the wretched man said " Gilleis ! " And further, " Her I did not ravish.
"Two men knocked at midnight and asked her pity on one sore wounded ; and she being a lone maid feared to unbar. Yet because of their need and the bitter frost, and because they swore steadily her maidenhood should get no hurt, her pity was so wrought upon that she gave them entrance. And she did also all service she could for him wounded ; for he asked her to ransack his wounds in knee and breast. So first she unbound his knee and salved and dressed it, and greatly he complained the while of the wound in his breast. So very
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 23
softly she handled the bindings ; but as she drew off the last fold there was no blood, and on the breast uncovered there was no wound. Whole he was but for a prick in the knee. Like a bird she went to the door as Brose shot in the outside bolts. She stood and put her hands over her face, and I watched her and never stirred. And after a while she said, Why had I done so ? I said, for want of her pity on the great wound in my breast, and greatly I complained.
" She had eyes like a heifer's that could not show anger. Her hair was wheat-brown. Her skin was like lime blossom, and as sweet was the scent she gave. God never made woman-flesh more quick and tender to the influence of man. Though I never touched her I troubled her, and she writhed and drew her mantle around.
" She put me in mind of my oaths, and I said until they were broken I was not forsworn. Yet she lamented for her good name; and then I reached out my sword to her, and bade her make it good on me if she chose. Yet I played with her then, knowing that she could not. And when she put the pommel between her feet and felt the point with her hands, I laughed, knowing this also she could not do. And at that she wept, and her tears — Gilleis — even for her tears I never stirred. But she had to hear, and she could not hide.
" So I told her how, lying hurt, I had looked down from a window, and had seen her kiss given to a tall squire, as never had a kiss been given to me. And I told her how I would have had her by force, had I loved her but as I had loved others. She answered that her squire was now a knight ; and was I so base, she said, as to shun knightly contest, when she doubted not he would prove upon me that he was the better man of his hands. I said I had done enough with woman on the grave of lord or lover to know that not so ever would sweet kindness freely given touch my lips ; that way came only light love or heavy curses. I said I could not boast to be better of my hands than he, as I had not tried him. Yea, he had good looks for her eye, a good name for her ear, while I was swart and halt, and I was he called Sinister. But he had
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no force to love her as I loved ; and I would for one night so possess her eye and her ear that she could not choose but know I loved her better than he. And that was true. She looked at me and covered her face and held her peace. Though by falsity I won her, that was true.
" She had to hear, and she could not hide. But in the end I grew ashamed and repented ; and before dawn I confessed all : how her solitude that night had been contrived by force and fraud ; and how by means of Brose I had ensured that my going should be spied to defame her ; and how I hoped after to carry on the game. But I told her that now the bolts had been long withdrawn, and while dawn was far I would take myself away to prevent my own mischief. ' God amend all,' said Gilleis, as I went.
" Now when I issued to the night all the world was white with snow. Then I hardened my heart as I left my tracks upon it. And the skies had no ruth. At dawn a boatman found me fallen, and lifted me down to the river ; and I left amends to God and went with the stream.
" Her knight, Sir Berel, lay in Ireland held at ransom. A poor man he was, and Gilleis la Orpheline, in ward of an old knight his father, had been living meanly to buy him free. Now when after many days Brose traced me out, he brought word how my footprints had undone her, for her tale was incredible to the old man, and he cursed her for his son and departed. And soon after he died. I turned again, and vowed to her I would do anything she should require. She was so gentle I never heard a hard word, but then she did require a hard penance. For slander she cared little, except at the ears of the two most dear to her, of whom one was now dead ; and her request was that I should pass to Ireland, and acknowledge my treason to her knight under oath, and abide by his ruling. I said this was not according to the course of knightly usage. She urged no further and asked no more, so I swore to it and went.
"Methought as I went I heard devils laughing at what should come ; but lo ! when I had told him all, he believed
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 25
me ! Knowing my name and my ill-fame, yet he believed me ! A good knight he was and courteous ; but I came away sore and angry because he would not promise so much as to break a spear on me when he might dispose of his body ; for he said as I had made amends in better sort than by way of arms, he declined to require it otherwise. So I left him unransomed and came again to this land.
" Then I went to tell Gilleis how I had sped. But I lied. I had told him all truly, I said ; and no, I said, he did not believe me. I kissed her in her swoon to seal the lie.
" It came to pass before the year was out, Brose laid me again at her gate, wounded in deep earnest. I cried out when I saw her that I would not keep those terms, that rather than burn through such another night I would take the frost. Yet when I opened ,my eyes to life, Gilleis was there tending me ; and for many days Gilleis. And before I had strength to take — she gave.
" Her most sweet affection once mine, grew passing well, and was the dearer under peril of instant bitter ending. Before long Brose brought me word of that knight Sir Berel ; by the good offices of the first of Irish knights Sir Marhaus, he was at liberty and returning. Then I took horse and rode down to the Marches to await him at the Forest Cross-roads. For two days I watched there till he came. He came bound hand and foot, laid across the saddle. In like manner two followed behind. I knew him, for his beaver was broken away ; me he knew by my arms. In God's name he called on me to remember my offers, and to help them from a foul knight and a murderous, who had overcome them. He besought me to turn from ado and rather carry warning of their case to Sir Marhaus, who followed nigh, for this knight was so big of his hands that few might match him. I knew well who drove them so : that was Sir Turquine, brother to Sir Carados, whom Launcelot met and slew as so he drove Sir Gaheris. He smote foully at the bound man as he rode past him to come at me. Then I turned and fled, and laughed as I rode. And in a little while I escaped from Sir Turquine and came to the
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open. Then I lamed my horse, and rode on again at a soft pace till I met a big knight, no other than Sir Marhaus. We saluted, and he asked me of three knights who were of his fellowship. I told him that beyond the river I had seen one knight, driving three before him, bound across their horses ; and I taught him the way contrary, and excused myself from him because my horse was lame. So misguided he departed. And I deemed I should keep the love of sweet Gilleis, for I knew more than a little of the ways of Sir Turquine, and that knights who fell into his hands were seen no more.
" Though by frauds I won her and kept her, I would not have her fastened to me by any bond but her free love, and spite of her woman's wish we never came to wedlock. Then came promise of another bond. I carried her to Cardigan, and there the summer months ran over with such bounty of love no word can tell, and half I thought no bolt would ever strike me for my sins.
" On a windy day, looking out, I saw Sir Marhaus ride past to take the sea for Ireland. The one I feared to see was not among his company. So I turned and kissed Gilleis with a glad heart. I kissed her never again living or dead. Then I took horse, and I saw, as I rode the heights, the ship labour out to sea and dwindle away. I rode far that day, and fought and slew because I was light of heart.
"But meanwhile the winds were so strong and contrary that the ship put back for Galis, and about sundown fell to wreck on the bar. All this Gilleis spied from her tower, and she sent down her barge and a messenger, praying all to return to take lodging. And when Sir Marhaus was come, spent with sickness and the sea, Gilleis herself in her kindness came into the hall to ask how he did. I came homing, and from without I saw her bright head pass, and being glad I called to her by name; and she looked out smiling. Now when Sir Marhaus heard her name he considered her well, and asked her of her grace to tell him if she were Gilleis la Orpheline; and she said, 'Aye.' And seeing how she was girdled high, he deemed all was well and asked eagerly after
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his friend Sir Berel, and how he had sped out of peril in the Marches. Her eyes filled at his name, and she said she knew naught of that. Then he held her in blame, letting her know of her knight's good faith, and lamented for him, supposing him to have been shamefully slain. I entered and stood at gaze, and Gilleis stood and looked at me. He knew me by my arms, and saluted; and as I made no return, he put me in mind of our meeting, and what had passed between us. All white she was. She stood looking into my face. She put her hands to her girdle. ' Lie still, lie still ! ' she said, and fell down.
"Afterwards she sent for me, and meekly prayed me to tell her the whole truth. Yet of her own wit she knew it already. So I kneeled by her and told her all, as it had been an old dream. She turned her head and lay quiet and never spoke to me more. And before long, having put from her untimely the burden she had of me, she died. And I have buried her.
" She loved me best. Had she loved him so, I deem she surely could have lived. She loved me best, and therefore has she died.
" Curse me ! You, Sir Nacien, if you have the gift to draw curses, speed now on me the worst curses you know."
Nacien the Hermit spoke for consolation : " Doubt not," he said, " but that God shall reward you for your sins."
"The right avenger is dead," said Aglovale, heavily. " While I buried her he died. Sir Marhaus turned back on a quest through the Marches, and there shortly he met with Sir Turquine, and fared no better than others before him: overcome, stripped naked, beaten with thorns, prisoned underground. There in prison he found his friend, whose two fellows were dead, who was then near death, who died that same night. On the morrow Sir Turquine was slain by Sir Launcelot.
" I also went and sought the Marches for Sir Turquine or any there appointed to slay me. I found my brother Sir Durnor. Sir Turquine had dealt with him. He told me how Sir Berel was dead, but he could not tell me where Sir
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Marhaus had gone. So I left him complaining that I would not stay.
"Sir Marhaus, when he stood and told me how he had spoken with Gilleis, looked as my father King Pellinore looked when once he struck me. And he excused himself from my roof and went out straight. He did not put me to any question. He left me untouched. He was not quite ready to slay me then ; but surely now he should be ready. Yet Sir Marhaus and I have not met again."
Suddenly Aglovale writhed, waved out his sword, and fell to raving blasphemously that he would not take his death of any man of less worship than Sir Lamorak his brother ; and rushing out like one possessed, he went shouting for Sir Marhaus over the hillside, and Nacien saw him no more till another morn.
So began the healing of Aglovale. Day by day the holy man handled him to ransack all his life and discover his bane ; gentle and severe, compassionate and unsparing, he found the way to win of that perverse nature trust and reverence. Before Brose was whole the Hermit was ware of the meekest penitent that ever he ordered, who followed him in prayer and fasting and hearing Mass daily. Nacien also gave him a cilice for wear that he put off neither by day nor night. Brose fretted seeing his master go so lean, and warned him he was in no case to win worship.
" Hold your peace," said Aglovale, " nor tempt me." Then Nacien called him, seeing him fit to be instructed of the spiritual knighthood. He declared the virtue of perfect faith and a pure spirit that should achieve more than strength and hardihood ; while every blow given should yield praise to God, and every blow taken should yield prayer; when over- throw could touch no shame, and excellence no vainglory. He said also that those of this holy knighthood should slay no man unhappily by misadventure, nor should any of a good life get wound of them, for the grace of God should be in their hands, because they should be maidens clean of life and heart. " Alas, alas ! " said Aglovale.
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Further, Nacien spoke by prophecy of the best knight of the world, who should do marvels without fail ; and of the visitation of the Holy Grail, that all should follow and none should see, save he and his fellows, the pure and the chaste. And while Aglovale bowed down his head and wept to hear, there entered his heart vision of his young brother Percivale, with a giving of love and worship for the boy's innocence and truth. He vowed then that never should Percivale learn any harm by him.
All this Nacien gave him to know to confirm him in humility against his old lust for earthly worship and his envy. He warned him in chief against envy of his brother Sir Lamorak. Aglovale withstood him.
"My brother Sir Lamorak I do and ever shall above all men love and worship. Is this envy ? "
His old passion took him hard suddenly. " Ah, Lamorak, Lamorak ! " he cried, " but little love have you for me and no worship. Ah, Lamorak ! " And tears and blood sprang from him.
He was brought to sounder conditions by the day of departure, for Nacien, seeing his danger, not only showed him how envy had sent him upon evil courses, but also how his natural affections were disordered and mischievous.
Said Aglovale, " Yet God made me so."
"Nay," said Nacien, "you are not made, but making. One only came made from the womb. Not before the day of your death will God have made you."
"Pray for me," said Aglovale at the last, on his knees asking blessing. " Pray to the high Father that He hold me in His service. While I am alive pray for me, and when I am dead, pray some prayers more or less for my soul."
The holy man blessed him, and promised him then, that if he amended his life well, God should grant him his death by the hand of a right noble knight, and so sent him from the peaceful height down to be proved of the world.
CHAPTER IV
MY most dear Master has set down at length how Sir Turquine hated Sir Launcelot and died at his hands ; how he used his prisoners, so that many perished ; and how three score and four good knights outlived him to report the pains and shames he laid upon them. The tale ran hot against the next record of Aglovale.
King Pellinore with his sons Aglovale and Lamorak came to Arthur's hall. They heard the sound of a great voice booming up to the rafters, the well-known voice of that good knight Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu. At their entrance it ceased suddenly ; and Sir Griflet and all of the fellowship there present stood silent, as up the hall to salute King Arthur went Pellinore between his two sons, Sir Lamorak the renowned, shapely, and debonair, and Sir Aglovale, a dark travesty of him in feature and nature, ill-favoured from within outwards, ungainly also by misfortune, for since Humber's greenway he walked uneven. Silence held, while salutations passed. To Aglovale the King's return was formal, but Pellinore and Lamorak he welcomed and embraced and kept them beside him.
With a darkened countenance Aglovale turned alone to take his place. Then the silence struck him, and the looks that centred at him. Knights he passed barely returned his salutation. Sir Griflet alone spoke kindness, hearty and loud. With misgiving he looked for Sir Marhaus. Lo, his place was void and covered black, for he was then dead, lately slain by Sir Tristram for the truage of Cornwall.
King Arthur spoke. " Sir Aglovale, here are you come in 30
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good season to meet a heavy charge. God grant you be clear thereof, that you may give as good answer for yourself as Sir Griflet was ready to give on your behalf."
Then he called out his nephew, Sir Gaheris, and bade him rehearse it. But before ever a word was said Aglovale's guilt looked out of his blasted face for all to see.
Gaheris held the whole ugly story exact at every point. It had rounded complete to Sir Marhaus upon speech with his dying friend ; and from him the sons of Lot had it ; and since he no longer lived himself to prefer the charge, they, out of good hate to the House of Pellinore, were forward and fain to press it.
" Therefore," said Gaheris, when he had told all, " a liar and a traitor I declare you, Sir Aglovale de Galis, and causer of the deaths of a fair kind lady and a noble true knight, and I cry you a shame on the fellowship of the Round Table."
Aglovale leaned heavy on his sword. The gentle head of Gilleis turned away, and the silence she took to the grave accused him more hardly than did Sir Gaheris. Twice King Arthur summoned his answer. To a dead hush he wrung it out.
" It is truth ! " said Aglovale.
Through the hall sounded one great breath of indignation and amazement upon an answer so wildly amiss. Then an angry hum swelling, and the wrathful eyes of King Pellinore, and the cry of Lamorak as he cursed high, brought the unhappy man to his senses.
With the right answer vainly he followed the wrong: " Prove it on my body ! " he cried. He could not overtake his error.
One cried for him to be heard : one only, Sir Griflet. A crash of voices opposed. Again and again Aglovale, desperate, lifted the right answer ; with liar and traitor loud against him from many throats, he was beaten hoarse. King Arthur commanded silence to deny him his asking.
" Since Sir Gaheris has charged you with great villainy,
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and you, Sir Aglovale, have answered aye thereto, now betwixt you there is no ground for debate. And as you are thus accorded, to go to battle were a wrong I will in no wise countenance."
" Look on him now," said Gaheris, low to his brothers. " I have heard tell that King Pellinore's queen when she carried him envisaged the Questing Beast."
" My Lord Arthur," cried Aglovale, " even as I am fellow and partner to the worship of the Round Table, so are all here present also fellows and partners to any disworship of mine. Sir, by your head — as this noble company give me to know they have no liking for my fellowship — by your head give me leave to answer with my body whoso wills to prove me unworthy this high order of fellowship. And that shall be proved never while I have life ; never ! for I promise, my lord, I will never yield myself as overcome. And howsoever I have answered to Sir Gaheris, wit you all it was out of no fear of him nor of better than he, and that can I make good by whosoever should undertake to slay me."
" Sir Aglovale," returned Arthur, " the charge concerns you as liar and traitor. As at this time you are not appealed as a coward."
Sir Gaheris let him know his danger ; with loud scorn he refused him, and warned him they could lightly be rid of his fellowship by means of a cart and a hempen twist, as no noble knight would have ado with him.
Aglovale at that shrank and lost power to speak. He heard other voices with Sir Gaheris, for many knights present had come out of Turquine's prison ; and these, hot and bitter from the vile outrage they had endured, were the hardest on Aglovale's misconduct. Maybe the merciless condemnation of him by men themselves not blameless, as namely, Sir Gawaine, leaned on a suspicion that by a good understanding with Sir Turquine he had accomplished his villainous ends.
King Pellinore understood why, after Gaheris had spoken, Aglovale's gaze turned quick to him. am^held hard. He looked with recall of time past at the day he entered the
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 33
fellowship of the Table Round; when the son avowed his deserving of shameful death; when the father gripped his sword with a will ; when the right answer was rehearsed. Now King Pellinore made no sign ; with a Roman heart he watched his infamous son, and he would in no manner speak for him.
" Whatsoever you will, my Lord Arthur, I assent thereto," he said.
Lamorak in a fury was jerking at his sword, but King Pellinore kept his hand on the hilts to hold it down.
Then into the hall came Sir Durnor. With a great clatter according to his wont he came swinging through the midst and saluted Arthur, and then his father and brother, kissing them heartily.
" And brother Sir Aglovale, where is he ? " said Durnor.
He looked about, saw where he stood, and turned; but Lamorak withheld him, and let him know how Aglovale had been charged, and how he had answered. Then went Durnor muttering strong oaths in his beard, and came straight to Aglovale.
" Alas ! brother, you are unhappy," he said, and kissed his cheek.
Now, had Lamorak been so kind almost might the heart of Aglovale have burst for joy ; but of Durnor he could take little comfort, for he. set no store on him and his easy, imperfect conditions.
Great above all voices rose Sir Griflet's again. "Lo, my Lord Arthur, here am I, not discharged from my quarrel ! "
" How so ? " said Arthur. " Now you must needs with- draw, foredone by Sir Aglovale's own word."
" Not for that will I withdraw," said Griflet. " Against Sir Gaheris I did affirm that Sir Aglovale de Galis was a good knight and true, and promised to prove it with my body, and I think not to go back on what I have once said."
Then Aglovale smote down his head, red to the hair for the scathe of such kindness. Others stared and questioned ; some deemed there was mockery afoot, for that maker of sharp D
34 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
jests, Sir Dinadan, had been seen whispering Sir Griflet, and now he stood at Sir Gaheris' elbow and whispered him. Sir Gaheris laughed in a manner.
" As for my part," said he on high, " I take right to be excused jeopardy of my person, seeing that a nearer party to the case is now present."
"So were I the better pleased to encounter," said Sir Griflet ; and earnestly he looked on Aglovale.
At that Sir Kay, Sir Mordred, and others discourteous made laughter ; but Arthur was displeased, saying he liked no japes played with the honour of the Round Table.
"My lord," said Griflet, "I am in order and in earnest and right fain."
Aglovale lifted up his head; he understood. Here was favour generously offered, but involved in a mockery like fire to his face. He took up his part.
"Sir Griflet," he said, "none but I shall stand to the contrary against you. In mortal battle I will abide you as long as I may with what might I have, and the loth word I will never speak."
Spite of the King's frown, laughter overbore indignation and swept the hall till even Durnor tingled for his blood. Eye to eye Aglovale and Griflet waited till Arthur made himself heard. Enchafed, he warned Sir Griflet he was standing to folly and untruth.
" You speak as you hold, my lord," answered Griflet, " but since I list to hold otherwise, I require you set the day that I may make good my words on Sir Aglovale."
Naught that the King and others could do with language availed to move him from his purpose.
"My lord Arthur," cried Aglovale, "you, and all others my fellows who approve of the titles I stand to maintain, dread not that they will fail while I have life in my body to enforce them to the uttermost ; for I declare and vow that never will I yield recreant to Sir Griflet ; and if you shall find any default in my battle, then stint not to please Sir Gaheris of cart and cord."
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 35
Then Arthur, yet in anger, appointed the morn to them, and went to dinner.
This was the day when Sir Launcelot came back from many adventures in Sir Kay's harness, as my most dear Master tells. Aglovale passed out with Durnor as he was entering, and the thunder of welcome reached after them as they went.
Aglovale sighed and muttered, " Yet sooth Sir Griflet is a right noble knight."
Said Durnor, " He is big, and hardy, and wary, and passing sure, yet may you speed."
" God mend your wits," said Aglovale, fiercely. " You are but a fool ! " And he shut his heart against his brother.
" It is truth," groaned Durnor, and cursed his scatter-brains.
Aglovale winced at the chance echo. " I would you left me — you who were there. You knew him, you saw him ; why did he die ? Tell me he died for pure sorrow."
" Alas ! brother, I know not. Many died for pure want. So died one at his side whose chain was for Sir Marhaus later."
Aglovale muttered, " Would Sir Marhaus had lived, for he equalled Lamorak."
Imperfectly grateful was he in his greedy heart to the loyal brother Durnor, and the friend Griflet who did him such kindness and grace.
" Sir Marhaus," said Durnor, " was quit with but a day of prison. Who knows ! The summer underground might have killed him also."
Aglovale rejected that sop. " Who knows his day ? Who keeps a constant level ? Shall I to-morrow fight at my level — no better or no worse ! "
" Aglovale, more than your due you take and have. You are not answerable for the brutal custom of Sir Turquine. And by all likelihood Sir Marhaus had never at his best achieved that rescue."
" So granted ! My treason was to utter waste. Sir Durnor, I need not your lights, for I have enough."
" God help you alone, brother, as you will have none of me," said Durnor, with tears in his eyes.
36 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
" My God ! my God ! " cried Aglovale, " I doubt not."
Nacien's words of consolation were in remembrance, "Doubt not but that God shall reward you for your sins."
Durnor was but musing aloud when he spoke again. " And indeed she was a passing fair lady."
Aglovale started from him. " Fair Christ deliver Percivale from any brotherly kindness like this ! "
Durnor followed, but durst not speak any more, since wherever he touched from hidden veins spouted fire. Agio- vale turned.
" Ah, pardon, Durnor, of your kindness ! for I am curst ; for I am but a dead man underfoot rotting for burial. Have patience with me till the sun go round."
Durnor held him with his arms and took great sorrow. " Ah, brother, is there no remedy ? Jesu, have mercy ! "
For the maintenance of an hour Aglovale, kneeling, waited on King Pellinore for a little mercy and one favour.
"Let not young Percivale be taught blame of me; and when he is grown a knight, of your charity bring him to my grave, to pray some prayer for my soul. Judge you by my battle to-morrow if I deserve. Though you curse me living, yet when I am dead make peace to my name."
Lamorak came in and loosed his wrath on his brother. He raged because of his answer.
" How have you shamed us all, Sir Aglovale, and needless ! There was no proof — none. The knight is dead; the lady, dead ; Sir Marhaus,'dead. There was no proof, merely hearsay by the mouth of Sir Gaheris, wanting your answer. And you answered unknightly, like a shaveling ; so is our blood shamed, before all the Round Table, before the face of the house of Lot that has wrought for our despite. And for that answer know I hate, and will never forgive you so long as you live."
" Then, as I think, Sir Lamorak, you will not hate me long."
" O fool, so are you shent ! On Sir Gaheris you might have sped, but Sir Griflet is of better might than you; and needs must we be glad of it. Fie and woe on such vile folly."
"Ah, sire, ah, brother; though I have lived ill, yet if I
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 37
die well incline to Sir Griflet's contention. On my faith, it shall have as much worth as my poor body can bestow."
Durnor clamoured and wept and cursed. Others, he said, were lightly quit of blame ; Sir Gawaine, by fraud and unfaith, had enjoyed the lady Ettard, as all knew, yet was he at ease and loud against Aglovale. Then King Pellinore named Gilleis with Ettard, miscalling her in such a manner that hastily Aglovale rose up and departed.
Quiet and dark lay Saint Stephen's at dusk as Aglovale issued clean shriven for the morn. Near by the King's palace was beaming with light, and there shout and laughter rocked for the joy of Launcelot. He stood to listen, and he was very heavy,' for his life then stood but at twenty-four years. By came Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, entering on the like errand. Naught he said, but as he passed his adversary he put out his hand ; and Aglovale fell kneeling behind him, and kissed his hand and kissed his sword, in passionate worship for the gift of honourable death they promised him ; and his full heart got ease with weeping.
To a fair meadow beside Camelot, all white with lady- smocks, came at early day King Arthur with his knights to judge the battle ; and there came King Pellinore and his son Lamorak, stark and sober, to witness ; and there came Griflet with kin and fellows ; and there came Aglovale with Durnor. Then must either party rehearse his contention before the King ; and as Aglovale gave out his name, and the titles and cause he had to maintain, such a mock of acclaim endorsed him as paid outright on all his incontinence after worship. At that Sir Griflet lifted up his great voice. He was ready, he said, so soon as he had done with Sir Aglovale, to have ado with whoever should please to take up his contention after.
" Be content with what licence you have," said Arthur. He was vexed and angry.
Then Griflet and Aglovale, having done with words all that was due, rode asunder, fetched their range, feutred their spears, and at a signal came together with all the speed of their horses. Aglovale was smitten down with a wound in the side. Before
38 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
Sir Griflet could turn again he was on his feet, calling on him to light down. As for his hurt, it trimmed him for battle ; the pain of it quickened his heart, that the breath of derision had left like a dead cinder within him.
They took out their swords and began strong battle on foot, hammering so hard that their harness was all dinted and broken, and darkened from bloody wounds. Tracing and giving from the bright sun, they circled up and down, till the white meadow was trodden and defiled, as though herds had gone over,, and none could say which of them had the advantage. Sir Griflet was held to be the better knight, and so he seemed by his clean strokes and foins ; but Sir Aglovale had his old practice with the left hand, and took to it when the right was weary.
For upwards of an hour they fought without stint; and then they stood apart to breathe awhile. Sir Griflet put off his helm and faced the cool wind ; Sir Aglovale put off his.
" Oh, shame," said Lamorak, " to uncover such a face as that!"
" His lips are white," said Durnor. " As I know him, he will do extremes."
Again the two armed their heads and went to battle ; and for an hour more they fought strongly and bled much, while none could forecast the issue, so even and stout they stood.
Then Durnor cried, " By God's eyes, Sir Aglovale is stand- ing to him against the sun ! "
That so he did was soon seen beyond question ; and then all could espy that even with that advantage yielded him Sir Griflet was giving back ; his strokes were random, his shield was low. In the end a good blow beat down sword and rove through helm, and he fell.
In great dread Aglovale stood still, waiting for his adversary to rise ; then he went and put off his helm, and found that he lived and moved.
" Alas ! Sir Griflet, now are you overcome and must yield."
Griflet answered weakly, " Sir Aglovale, though I be over-
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 39
come, yet will I not yield ; so take your sword and slay me outright."
" Have pity and yield," cried Aglovale, " for so I but keep my dishonour, and should I slay you I have it at increase."
" I had liefer die," said Griflet, " for truly I find you, Sir Aglovale, even a better knight than I deemed."
But Aglovale moved away a little, put off his own helm, and sat to rest, in hope that Griflet might recover force to stand up against him. In a frenzy he tore up the green with his hands, and all the pale flowers round him were dappled red with white, true coloured for that time of Pentecost.
" In the name of God, Sir Griflet, essay to rise so soon as you may ; for our blood goes from us, and yours more than mine."
So Griflet did on his helm and got to his feet; and Aglovale stood up to meet him, but his shield he left, and his head he left bare, and he stood against the sun to perform his battle. At that Arthur was displeased, and knights partors came down the field with his command to Aglovale to arm his head duly. So ill-advised was Aglovale as to answer the King in maugre and orgule ; for he said that he would not ; he would fight so as he pleased. " And if," he said, " my lord Arthur holds me so in default, I ween as by agreement he may sort me with a hempen cord ; and I would have him to know how for that adjustment I list to leave my neck bare and ready. But tell him that against Sir Griflet faithfully my hands shall keep my head to the best of my power."
Greatly incensed was King Arthur at so despiteful an answer, and full soon had Aglovale cause to rue it. He kept his head fairly, while he struck but seldom, needing his sword for defence. Sir Griflet held on, and twice reached his head, gashing cheek and scalp ; but he bled so fast that he could not stand long. At a light stroke he went down finally, and required his death.
" Ah, Sir Griflet, what is the worth of my name against the worth of your life ? Yield, for slay you I cannot."
" Make no words. I would have slain you without question.
40 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
By the love I bear King Pellinore, I would sooner die than face him yielden recreant against his son's worship. So finish."
Then Aglovale in great anguish went up the field and came to King Arthur ; and he besought him piteously to take the battle off his hands that Sir Griflet might live, for he would not yield.
Launcelot, who came riding down leisurely, beheld Sir Aglovale, bareheaded, all bloody and spent from long fighting, and heard his prayer. " On my faith, he is a right good knight," said Launcelot to the winds.
" I will not so," said Arthur ; " for you shall finish out this battle, or else as a defaulter you shall be served with shameful death. For first," said Arthur, "your fellows here present have no mind to release you from the titles you stand to main- tain. And second," said Arthur, " there is great suspicion of this battle as not of true intent and purpose, but guileful and dishonest ; therefore I must needs have it brought to justifica- tion of death on one or the other. And last," said King Arthur, " unruly have you, Sir Aglovale, defied me, and scorned my head to take you in default ; so look not that I should lightly acquit you ; and except you perform to the uttermost upon Sir Griflet you shall have the penalty."
" Oh me ! What folly have I done ! " said Aglovale.
" My lord Arthur, to my own account justly have you answered me ; but as to Sir Griflet, consider mercy for him, who would honestly have slain me out, were I in his case."
" As for Sir Griflet," said Arthur, " sorry am I to lose so noble a knight, and that in a wrong cause ; but this battle was of his seeking and against all counsel ; in maugre and orgule he took it, and now must abye it. And well I deem that if in all integrity he did jeopard his life, he would sooner lose it than give occasion against the worship of the Table Round."
Aglovale in his distress spoke to his father: "Ah, sire King Pellinore, as I am your son, though unworthy, give me counsel. Not for all the world would I slay Sir Griflet ; yet shameful death is great dread and bitter dole."
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 41
Then failed the iron heart of Pellinore; with a groan he fell forward, swooning for sorrow. Lamorak and Durnor took him up between them. Both were like drunken men, unsteady and spoke thick.
" Come," said Lamorak, " get him hence, lest he recover before this matter is resolved and done with."
" Get him hence by yourself," said Durnor. " I stand here. I turn not my back at this extremity."
Lamorak turned once for a moment, and earnestly, with tears running down his face, he looked on his brother Aglovale, who as rain to parched earth felt that kindness on his trouble, and judged it for counsel.
A whisper of ruth began as Sir Aglovale stood to look, as it were, his last after father and brother, and then slouched wearily back again to Sir Griflet, to find if he might yet help him from his hard choice.
" Ah, my lord Arthur," said Sir Launcelot, " may you not find him better terms ; for never saw I one in so piteous a case as set between shameful life and shameful death ; for to slay Sir Griflet would be a shame for ever."
" For the sake of his noble house and for the sake of Sir Griflet I am right heavy," said Arthur, " but I may do no otherwise for rightful judgment, or I should aggrieve all the many here who approve the contention he bears against Sir Griflet."
"That is sooth," said Gaheris and others; but as many more spoke out for mercy.
"Look you, Sir Launcelot," said Gaheris, "how, save his brother Sir Durnor, and your brother Sir Ector, none of those taken from Sir Turquine's prison and fellows to outrage will excuse Sir Aglovale from title as liar and traitor ? "
" Now, beside these," said Sir Launcelot, " do any here present gainsay excuse ? "
Then no voice but Sir Gawaine's rose against Sir Aglovale, while Sir Lionel de Ganis, Sir Brian de Listenoise, and some others told Sir Gaheris he spoke at fault as to them.
42 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
Said Launcelot then, " Give me leave to meddle, good my lord, and to treat for Sir Aglovale; for though he be all so much to blame, yet he shows here as a good and true knight."
"I am loth," said Arthur, "as this battle touches the honour of the Round Table to doubt and scandal. Yet, as for that, Sir Griflet is the more to blame, and I ween scoffer Sir Dinadan most of all."
" I will so deal as to right it. Give me leave," said Launcelot.
" You may essay," said Arthur.
"Sir Gawaine," said Launcelot, "bring to remembrance how I rescued you from Sir Turquine's brother Carados when you were bound overthwart his saddle ; and you, Sir Gaheris, how in like case I rescued you; and you, Sir Kay, how by my means you were put from prison ; and you, Sir Brandel." And so on Sir Launcelot named some thirty knights. " And since," he said, " all you have offered me thanks and worship for these rescues, I require you for my sake to excuse Sir Aglovale from his battle and commute on terms that he may live."
" Sir Launcelot," said Gawaine, " I may not refuse you," and so answered all, but said that because of his shameful deeds Sir Aglovale should not be relieved on easy terms.
" So be it," said Launcelot ; " choose you an assessor and we will deal." And straight Sir Gaheris was chosen, and with him he treated and agreed.
Aglovale in great despair went back to his adversary, dress- ing his heart to bitter death.
" Sir Griflet, there is no remedy, but one of us must die or yield."
" No question ! " said Griflet, feebly. " I have got my death as I think ; so stand not, but take my life."
" Live you ! for 'tis I that must not."
" Would I could serve you so, but I have no force."
" Set your heart to live — mine is set to shameful death."
" Shameful death ! "
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 43
" Yea, sir, I leave this battle to be hanged. With all my heart I thank you for your great pains spent in vain. And, Sir Griflet, I pray you say what you can for me to my father."
" Shameful death ! " said Griflet. With a strong effort he rose upright and heaved up his sword ; aimless, by mere weight it fell, and he with it came to earth and lay senseless. There was no more help in him.
" God grant I be hanged to some purpose," said Aglovale, as he turned to go again to ask his penalty. " And God grant it be over," he said, " before Lamorak come again."
Down to meet him Sir Launcelot came shining. His head was bare, he bore no shield, and his sword was ready drawn.
" Leave Sir Griflet, Sir Aglovale," he cried, " and have ado with me ; for I take up his contention against you, and will prove it upon you."
Lightly then, as though he bore no wounds, Aglovale sprang and laughed for joy ; and wind and sun touched him from open heaven, as God could grant no dearer grace than tears from Lamorak and death from Launcelot. In a breath their swords were clashing together, and with stroke and stroke still Aglovale like a madman laughed. Biding his time, Sir Launcelot played with him, warding and turning his random strokes ; and before long with fine force he stmck Aglovale's sword clean from his hand, and would not suffer him to have it again.
" Now, Sir Aglovale, choose you to yield or die ? "
" I have no choice, Sir Launcelot, but to die."
Then Launcelot tempted him. " Yield to me, Sir Aglovale, and I will ensure you against shameful death, if language and body may; and I will ensure you that none in my hearing shall ever name you amiss but he shall answer to me."
" Sir, I cannot," said Aglovale, " for albeit I have been liar and traitor, perjured and coward I will not to be for exchange. And as you are named courteous Sir Launcelot, put me from my trouble quickly, and before God I will give you thanks."
" Now God have mercy on your soul," said Launcelot, and he swung his sword sheer upon Aglovale's head, yet deliverly
44 AGLOVALE DE GALIS
from the crown he severed but the hair to the winds. " And keep you body alive to a better life," said Launcelot, while Aglovale stood mazed and lost, and looked at the sun and the flowered field, and the sword that had not slain. Frantic tears sprang, draining his strength like blood. " Begrudge not a proof of your worship," said Launcelot, greatly moved.
" Sir, such mockery is vile, whatever my sins ! Ah, Sir Launcelot, you that made me glad ! "
" Know now, Sir Aglovale, that King Arthur will release you on terms. Will you to take penance as readily as you take death ? "
" Fair sir, can you swear that you are not beguiling me to new scorns, and that Sir Dinadan has no voice in this matter ? So of your charity deal, as I have bled overmuch to keep my wits clear."
" By the faith of my body you need not dread. And I promise you I will require of you no more than I would myself perform, put case that I had offended as you. Yet an you say the loth word to that, and put yourself into my hands as overcome, I will take you and keep you from shameful death as well as I may."
" Ah, sir, you could name no penance that I would refuse. And I do greatly need to live. Yet I looked to be out of this coil by now."
" I warn you, Sir Aglovale, you may not be lightly quit, for very shamefully have you mis done."
With that Launcelot took up Aglovale's sword, and holding him by the hand brought him to Arthur. Aglovale like a child confided and held, for he was greatly spent.
"Sir Aglovale," said Arthur, "at the instance of Sir Launcelot and with the assent of your fellows, I am content to discharge you from this battle, given that you assent to the terms he shall put for your life."
" Sir," said Aglovale, " I will never say loth for life or death in this matter."
Then said Launcelot, " I require you, Sir Aglovale, in the presence of our lord, King Arthur, and our fellows of the Table
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 45
Round, to swear here on your sword to take penance in this wise : soon as you are able, to go in your shirt barefoot, with a crier to decry you at every market-cross ; so on your feet to go hence to the Forest Marches ; there, like him you so evilly betrayed, to abye pains and shame according to the custom that Sir Turquine used ; and there to rear a tomb for him, and found and endow a religious place, with good men to pray daily for the soul of him and his fellows dead in that prison. So shall you be held quit of your deeds."
Straightway Agio vale kneeled, laid his hand on his sword, and swore to fulfil all.
" Give here Sir Aglovale's sword," said Arthur, " for I will keep it from him till he shall redeem it to full satisfaction."
" Sir, I will get it as soon as I can go," said Aglovale.
He stood on his feet and tried to word fair acknowledg- ments. Deep colour rushed up to his face ; he had not blood enough left in him also to man his heart; he swooned as Lamorak came again.
"Now may you say, King Arthur, that you have a fair fellowship, if this be the worst of your knights," said Launcelot, and he reported how Sir Aglovale had answered him.
Yet Arthur never after did favour Sir Aglovale, for cause that once he had given answer unknightly.
To the wonder and chagrin of Brose, Sir Lamorak with Sir Durnor brought his master to lodging, and unarmed him to see to his hurts. They found upon him his wear of cilice.
Lamorak muttered, "Defend us!" "Would he be such a holy terror among us ? "
Durnor muttered, " In haire ! He fought so in haire ! Jesu ! is it for enchantment ? "
Their brother's eyes lifted upon them indifferent, laying reproof to their curious and troubled minds.
Durnor said, " Alas ! brother, pardon." Lamorak drew away.
Straightway Aglovale asked for him weakly.
"Brother Sir Aglovale, Brose has more skill to serve you than I."
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" Sir Lamorak, grant me my desire : ransack my wounds with your own hands."
" Nay, but why ? " said Lamorak, disquieted.
" Ah, fair brother," said Aglovale, painfully, " either to heal from your touch quick and clean for a token, or to rankle. Let me know."
Lamorak drew back, stricken with compunction and daunted. He was deeply distressed. " Fair Lord Jesu ! " he said inwardly, " sweeten my heart at my brother's need." Yet could he get no ease.
" Alas ! " he said, " there is no such miracle of healing in my hands."
" I take no keep — essay for good or ill."
" I cannot — I will not ! " said Lamorak, and went out weeping.
The wounds of Aglovale seemed to do well enough without him, and they were not slow in healing over.
Durnor would hearten his brother against his penance. " As for the pain," said Durnor, " as I know it lasts not long ; and as for the shame, many knights better than you and I have endured it." Thus did Durnor encourage his brother, who held his peace under him.
And as soon as he was whole, with strength for his penance, Aglovale went in his shirt barefoot from Camelot, and a crier decried him at every market-cross ; so on his feet he went and came to the Forest Marches ; and there he took pain and shame as meekly as any grey penitent ; and there he provided fitly for a rich tomb and a Priory place where prayers should be made daily.
Then came Sir Kay on behalf of King Arthur, and delivered him his sword again, as he had redeemed it to full satisfaction.
Then came Nacien the Hermit down from Wenlock Edge, and blessed him with good counsel.
So Aglovale came to an end of his vain passion for renown.
CHAPTER V
THE next record of Aglovale begins with him lying low and very feeble, watching the boy Percivale come and go. To fulfil his penance he had so outgone his strength that his wounds, new and old, reopened and bled ; wherefore Durnor had brought him to Severn-side, and so by water to Cardiff, to lay him in the keeping of the Queen their mother.
With no word did she reproach him, nor did any; and soon he grew aware by the simple reflections of Percivale that King Pellinore accorded to him living that one kindness he had besought after his death.
Percivale and his sister Saint whispered and played together within the bay of a window, while Aglovale rested his weary heart with dreams as he watched the boy. When tramplings sounded below the children leaned out their heads, and eagerly their tongues ran ; till Percivale bethought him and stole from the sunny bay to look if Aglovale slept.
" May I serve you, brother? " he asked.
Aglovale answered "No," and asked idly who entered below.
" Sir Lamiel with his kin, and Sir Harvis," said Percivale.
Again to more clatter he ran and looked out ; and so the noise went on with little pause till Aglovale roused to call him.
" For what cause to-day do so many enter ? "
Percivale was troubled, and stood silent till Aglovale asked again.
" Alas ! brother, I know little, and that I was bidden to keep from you."
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Aglovale turned his face to the wall and so lay silent. Percivale stood waiting awhile, and then he asked timidly, " Brother Sir Aglovale, are you now angry with me ? "
" No, fair child," said Aglovale.
Percivale withdrew softly ; but he found no happiness with Saint ; and often he looked, and in vain, for any sign from his brother.
In came Durnor, and Aglovale shifted and eyed him as with a moody countenance he paced up and down.
" Sir Durnor, are you bidden to keep me in the dark ? "
" I take no bidding," said Durnor, and stamped about and swore loud, while Percivale and Saint nestled and peeped under cover of a curtain.
" Then what goes forward ? " said Aglovale.
" Shame and wrong ! " stormed Durnor. " I take no keep but you shall know. Aglovale, your birthright goes from you."
Quick and hard he breathed to the blow. " To Lamorak or to Tor ? " he asked.
" To Lamorak."
" We may thank our mother for that. I dreaded it might be to the bastard."
" I would deem it less unkindness in a half-brother. Now fie on Lamorak ! Though he, and Tor also, have worship above you, yet are you the firstborn of King Pellinore's Queen and his right heir. And as for the past, that has been paid for."
Aglovale lay quiet while Durnor swore himself hoarse ; then he reached to his sword.
" I require you, Durnor, to help me to my harness."
" What would you do, brother ? "
" Take no thought. I would have on my harness."
" I will well," said Durnor, and went with great strides.
He himself was in full harness when he came again with Brose bearing all pieces to arm his brother.
" I will stand with you, Sir Aglovale, in word and deed, whatsoever you say and do."
AGLOVALE DE GALIS 49
Aglovale looked at him hard, biting his lip. " I shall be glad. See you fail not."
" Ah, my master," said Brose, " you have not strength for the weight ! For but little this wound would again break."
Yet Aglovale stood up lean and weak, and bade him brace on quickly.
Percivale came asking to serve. Brose let him take the spurs to fasten on, but Aglovale jerked and said, " I shall not need these." More kindly he answered to the boy's timid offer, "Yea, little brother, carry my helm for me if you will. I want it not now."
Brose looked at him then, startled to suspicion ; but Durnor heard all heedlessly. Between them they had to lift him along, he was so weak ; and Percivale followed after with the helm. So they all went down to the hall.
Filled with armed knights was the hall. Between the King and Queen stood Lamorak in arms complete. Tor was there also. Up the hall went a young knight bareheaded; kneeling down before Lamorak he advanced the hilts of his sword held between his two hands, and over them Lamorak laid his hands. Then the knight swore acknowledgment to Sir Lamorak as King Pellinore's heir ; when he should rule in the King's stead his land and castle to hold under him, to serve him in war, to uphold his right against all soever. So he swore, and rose and passed.
Up the hall came Aglovale, leaning hard upon Durnor ; and then alone he stood fonvard before King Pellinore and his Queen and Lamorak. Much wonder had they and little joy to see him there.
" Sire," said Aglovale, " you do me wrong, and so do all these who have acknowledged Sir Lamorak your heir; for none here present had right by birth or station to take pre- cedence of me. Yet I promise you I will be of the first to serve, though now I be of the last to pledge."
With that Aglovale ungirt his sword, kneeled down before Lamorak, and advanced the hilts held between his two hands. Lamorak started back dismayed, and refused to hold.
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" Fair brother, rise ! " he cried ; and then he caught him strongly by the hands to lift him from his knees.
" Nay, but it shall be so," said King Pellinore. He grasped Lamorak by either wrist; the Queen also put out a shaking hand to compel ; then Aglovale gave out his formal oath of acknowledgment.
"And now, Sir Lamorak, speak for me; that my father take his curse from me, and that my mother bless me."
He had all he asked and more : Lamorak's embrace with his tears and kiss upon his cheek.
" Ah, Sir Aglovale," cried Durnor, " falsely have you done to beguile me so ! "
Yet he plucked off helmet and spurs, unbelted, and thumped to his knees ; and offering his sword to Lamorak he swore in order.
" I give you to know," he said, " that this I do maugre my own will, and only for the sake of Sir Aglovale ; and otherwise for his sake I had as lief present to you the blade as the hilts upon this occasion."
" He cannot stand or go," said Tor. He drew his brother's arm round his neck to hold him up, and as Lamorak came and lifted likewise on the other side their eyes met in pitiful remembrance of their day on Humber's bank.
Young Percivale at his distance by Brose watched all, wondering, and without understanding he was troubled. Close he followed when his brothers passed out, Tor and Lamorak linked to bear up Aglovale, Durnor at their heels. So graced and attended by all his brothers, Aglovale left the hall, spent and weary to death from forsaking his birthright.
Together they came to Aglovale's bed. Then Percivale took hold of his sword, kneeled down, and lifted up his hands on the hilts to Aglovale.
" I swear I will keep naught from you more. I swear your will shall be mine. Brother Sir Aglovale, I swear I love you."
The boy ended with a storm of tears ; and the disinherited man bowed down his head to his young brother, while sobs drew him so fiercely that soon he swooned for pain.
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" So as I said," muttered Brose, and pointed to fresh blood stains. Lamorak looked on, aware that the man eyed him with ill-will. Then he heard Aglovale breathe his name as he came to himself, and he was vanquished to contrition.
" Fair brother," he said, " could God and you both pardon me that once my heart was too bitter, now might I serve you."
" How think you ! " said Durnor. " Does Maker God despise him as did you ? Or would He mix scores as did King Arthur?"
None heeded him, so he turned and roamed the chamber, making language to himself. Lamorak, untouched by scoffs, but greatly abashed by Aglovale's open love, kneeled down beside him, and when he had prayed, all in diffidence softly he searched and dressed the renewed wound.
" You are bought at a price, Sir Lamorak ! " cried Durnor.
CHAPTER VI
MY most dear Master has set down little concerning the death of King Pellinore. The Questing Beast he mentions, and the Fair Head, and that Gawaine and his brethren, to avenge their father's death, slew him secretly ten years later than the wedding of Arthur; the unhappiness of Sir Tor and the remorse of King Arthur he passes over, and the whole of that matter rests in pages lost or unwritten. This story goes on when he was dead whose will would have kept young Percivale from the hand of his brother Aglovale.
In vain the sad Queen petitioned Lamorak and Tor, with reminder of the many times Aglovale had amended, but to turn again to evil courses, and worse than before; they, in respect of how the boy had plighted love to the broken man, had no mind to move between them.
In early days, after the death of Pellinore, Lamorak was gentle and diffident in his dealing with the brother he had supplanted. Once he asked, all in kindness and courtesy, his company to the court of King Arthur.
" Is this bidding, my lord Sir Lamorak ? " asked Aglovale.
" Far be it from me to you," said Lamorak, mildly.
" Then," said Aglovale, " I ask to be excused till a time when you shall be less ready to blush for me."
Lamorak reddened hotly at that; for in truth Aglovale had rightly read his secret heart, and in stark humility was ruthless to bring it open. Doubtless Lamorak found it a hard matter to rule his brother without offence.
Aglovale at this time held no high office in Galis, but 52
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served his brother as steward. It may be that Lamorak, intending honour and confidence, put many matters into his hands that he would purposely turn to his own disparagement. Or it may be that, knowing Lamorak's deficiencies, he honestly and indifferently lent himself for supply. Either reading finds warrant in the faults of the one or the other. Lamorak was lavish, debonair, impetuous, and hated cares; Aglovale was of an intolerable temper in these years, meeting offence half way with deference, and enduring favour with greater deference, as it were the greater offence.
With an anxious mind the Queen their mother watched the diverse lives of her two sons : Aglovale, who drudged obscure; Lamorak, who shone in court and field, famous for his deeds of valour and grace.
By degrees Aglovale assumed larger control. Seeing how disorders rose and spread for lack of a firm ruler, he took on himself office as constable, and rode down in force upon trans- gressors, scouring out abuses in all quarters of Galis. Then the Queen sent letters to Lamorak that at last fetched him to her, when she bade him take heed to Aglovale's practice.
" What evil has he turned to ? " said Lamorak.
" None," said the Queen. " He is out of nature blameless. Yet consider how all your revenues now pass through his hands ; and how he takes rule of your heritage in arms ; and your castles are garnished according to his orders ; and lately he has gone about with mastery, slaying and destroying whoever withstand him."
" Ah, Madam, I deem you wrong him much. At his worst he was loyal ever ; and I may not grieve him by distrust."
Straightway, on Tor's advice, Lamorak set about to approve his brother. He followed up Aglovale, found him destroying and establishing, sanctioned and confirmed him in all his doings, and brought him back with him to Cardiff. But there he afflicted an unhappy temper with his open thanks and commendation.
Their mother he reassured by a pitiful token : " Aglovale makes no friends in all the land. He seeks no love, and he
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gets none ; and I, who do little to earn any, enjoy much. I judge he is rather hated, for he is stark in his dealings."
" Percivale loves him out of measure," said the anxious mother, " and reverences him the more for some sternness. He is too young and simple to take other readings, and Aglovale ever keeps him jealously. Yet remember how he once led Durnor to folly and detriment."
Lamorak sighed impatiently. "He has had great loss, and I would not if I could put him from a little gain."
Lamorak now was minded to fulfil his part in respect of Galis, and to this purpose he was right pleased to find a treasury well replenished by the prudence and care of Aglovale. So, after leave of Arthur obtained, he took order to hold a great tournament at Cardiff, and by Tor's advice sent word namely to the King of Northgalis and his knights. So North and South gathered with great noblesse, that their best should be proved together.
Aglovale, when the day came, refused to take any part, and no argue or entreaty of his brothers could move him.
"It is great discourtesy and unkindness," said Lamorak, " and will raise scandal upon us both."
"Plainly, my lord Sir Lamorak, your command I must obey; but of my own will I will undertake no courtesy encounters."
" You flinch ! " said Durnor. " Why, 'tis near three years ago!"
Aglovale flinched indeed; colour and voice forsook him. He muttered at last, " I have so vowed, till I shall again repair to the Round Table."
Lamorak reddened and held silent; he could not with a clear conscience protest; for he had not yet found the heart to renew his asking.
" Fair brothers," said Aglovale, " this if it please you I will do : I will challenge one to mortal battle, and so do my part with the best might of my body."
" Who is he, and what is your cause for battle ? "
" He is a knight of Northgalis, and his name is Sir Gawdelin.
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As for the cause, he has slain his cousin of Wales feloniously, and has taken his wife."
Painful silence ensued. He counted and sounded the deep of disapprobation by the pause before Lamorak spoke.
" I would it were another man and another cause."
"Sir Lamorak, as you please, I will wage this battle or I will forbear."
" I will not hinder you," said Lamorak, heavily.
So in due order Aglovale challenged and went to battle before all that gathering of knights, and the King of Northgalis as judge. A valiant man was Sir Gawdelin, but he was over- come after long and hard fighting. But though he yielded and asked mercy, none might he get of Sir Aglovale, who plucked his helmet from him and smote off his head. Then straightway he left the field and unarmed.
Lamorak could not approve him. " Needless have you given occasion for reproach. You should have granted him his life — you ! "
" I redeemed my sword fairly," returned Aglovale. " Yet I doubted not to have my own deeds cast in my teeth. I tell you this is not for the first time by many."
" Fair brother, you might fall to encounter harsher strictures than mine."
" I thank you, Sir Lamorak. I know better than you how my ears had been filled this day, but for your head. You give voice for many."
Well might Lamorak complain of him: "He is incur- able. His mind is diseased; he has a ravenous appetite for mortification."
It must have been about this time that Aglovale took Percivale with him to Nacien the Hermit. The boy found matter for wonder by that journey. They rode up the valley of the Usk and through the Forest Marches — a way they were to go again, far off in the years, towards the cruel night of avowal.
To a fail Priory place they came, where Aglovale dis- mounted and knocked. One came out to ask who he was,
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and Percivale heard his answer : " A sinner named Aglovale de Galis." Presently came out the Prior, who blessed them, and took Percivale by the hand and brought him in. Then he saw a lighted chapel, and in it a rich chantry about a tomb ; and there his brother came and kneeled. In a while the boy was led to meat and lodging, but Aglovale did not follow ; and the place set for him stayed void, and so with the bed.
When at midnight a bell rang, Percivale woke alone, and rose up to find his brother. All doors stood wide, and every place was empty till he came to the chapel. There in religious clothing all were kneeling, and Aglovale still kneeled by the tomb. Then Percivale heard the Prior's voice lead, and his brother's voice after him lift up the Miserere. And when they came to the end, and other voices joined in the Gloria, he stole away, blind with unaccountable tears, and carried back to his bed a child's misery for having profanely entered the reserve of one he worshipped.
In the morning he woke to wonder if he had but dreamed ; yet the bed beside was all unpressed, and when he descended to hear Mass, Aglovale still kneeled in his place. The boy came and kneeled by him, and thrust a timid hand under his palms to take hold of the hilts of his sword. Aglovale gripped his fingers so hard that the tears stood in Percivale's eyes, and his heart was dismayed at a passion he could not understand.
Straight after Mass they took their leave and rode, and at the day's end stayed their horses at a hill where Aglovale mounted alone. When he came again, Nacien the Hermit was with him, and Percivale, awed before the face of the holy man, kneeled meekly for his blessing. Nacien gazed long and earnestly on the boy. Of slender make, and singular beauty, with a face like a maid, no kind of resemblance had Percivale to the marred and unlovely man beside him.
Nacien turned to Aglovale and said, "God has been gracious to you, my son."
Deep into night Aglovale held talk with Nacien. Percivale, from his loft, could hear alternating murmurs, as wakeful he lay
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for trouble of heart. At last he covered his ears and cowered from the knowledge that he heard Aglovale sob.
Nacien with the morn found Percivale awaiting him ; and, while Aglovale slept late and heavy, he questioned the boy and heard him, finding him in heart and mind right true to faith and virtue, and passing meek and reverent.
" Know you," said Nacien, " for what cause your brother brings you here ? "
" He has taught me," said Percivale. " But, sir, I dread lest I be unworthy to hear of high and holy matters ; and, ah, sir, as I know, it is heavy dole to trespass."
His eyes so brimmed that Nacien saw, and charged him to confess his trouble freely ; so Percivale unburdened his heart, and told him he had spied upon his brother.
" Yet now," he said, " I know not certainly that I did not dream all; and what to think I know not, nor what to say to Sir Aglovale."
"What has withheld you from question?" said Nacien. 11 Love or fear ? "
" Alas ! " said Percivale, " as he teaches me I would eschew both love and fear ; yet now I find that verily it is ever by love and fear that I would learn of him. Sir, in this matter no way can I face without fault ; and I fear to do wrong."
Nacien sighed and pondered long ; not for Percivale alone. " My son," he said, " only seek light of the countenance of God Almighty, and look not aside this way and that upon needless inventions. Go forward to do right with all your faults upon you. As for what you have seen, whether dream or verity, doubt not your vision was ordained of God, for your guid- ance now or hereafter. Take heed to be faithful without presumption."
When, years later, Percivale and Galahad had passed away in the Quest of the Grail, their fellow, Sir Bors, spoke with discernment, saying that each had a countenance like an angel ; but Sir Percivale was most like St. Michael, who ever watches Satan ; but Sir Galahad was most like St. Gabriel, who ever watches the Most Highest. Sooth, on the life of Percivale the
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influence of Aglovale rested dominant, and the teaching of Nacien failed, till he learned it anew from his sister Saint.
For eight days Aglovale left Percivale with Nacien on Wenlock Edge, then came and took him down to the world where soon he saw him tried and approved. For the first they met as they rode beyond Much Wenlock were Sir Meliagraunce and Sir Bors, fellows ill-matched, for Sir Bors of all the Round Table was at that time the knight of best life, of kindest heart to his fellow-man, and of truest worship to his Maker. First Sir Meliagraunce, with great importunity, would have Sir Aglovale to turn with him, but when he heard how Sir Gawdelin had come by his death, he was incensed and very bitter.
Said Aglovale, " I fight but to kill. So have I vowed for a term."
" Sir," said Bors, " that is pity ; for good friendships and fellowships are won across swords."
" Aye," said Meliagraunce, moody. " You and I, Sir Agio- vale, fought once on a certain matter that was light enough, and vain ; and were the better friends for our pains."
Said Bors presently, " Sir Aglovale, when your term shall be accomplished, send me a spear of your courtesy, and I will break it against you with good will."
At that Aglovale was moved and glad. " Sir, lightly will I send to you so soon as I come again to the Court of King Arthur."
" Sir, may that be soon."
" As for that I doubt. Only it shall be no later than when this child is made a knight."
Meliagraunce looked down on the boy and laughed despite- fully. He was given to ill jesting, and he chose to vent his grudge by play upon the innocence of Percivale. He set the boy questions, exhorted him, discoursed on the high calling of knighthood as the Devil gave him wit ; for he spoke all in covert derision and with understanding to Sir Aglovale. In vain Sir Bors sought to turn him : he became the more dangerous. But Percivale, though harassed, distressed, bewildered under con- sciousness of mockery, stood ground excellently; in pure
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innocence he made answer so bravely and wisely that even his brother wondered to hear him; his clear eyes and diffident bearing added singular value. Meliagraunce left off with a laugh of a little good grace. He was no bully to browbeat the boy on defeating his mischief.
Then Percivale saw Bors looking at him ; and at that his heart flew wide. Bors put his hand upon him ; and at that joy rushed through him. Aglovale and Meliagraunce rode ahead at such words as frayed the ties of old friendship, while Bors and Percivale, the knight of name and the unknown child, drew abreast at such words as fastened them friends for ever. What other issue came of that meeting waits to be told in the story of King Bagdemagus' daughter.
CHAPTER VII
'"T^HROUGH the hazards of years Percivale grew by his
brother's side in ignorance undisturbed by hint or sign.
Aglovale never practised deceit, but Brose dealt him
some lies more or less, and Durnor also played with untruth
out of his improvident kindness.
A sorry page in the life of Aglovale gives the poor return he made in brotherly kindness to Durnor, who stood by him so loyally. That Durnor was a brawler, loose and profane, accounts for his harshness, but little excuses it ; the less that his own ill example had first misled his brother. His protest against Durnor's disorder wanted in temper and courtesy ; in his way of repression he showed no regard for his brother's head. Angry disputes rose out of the turbulence and license of Durnor's men; Aglovale, to make an end, himself seized on delinquents, and three he hanged at the door of their master's lodge. Durnor, furious at the aifront, promised revenge, and sought it in arms.
At the instance of the Queen their mother, Aglovale bent to conciliation. Alone and unarmed he sought his brother, and asked on what terms he might ransom himself from his dis- pleasure. Too well was he hated to win through such hazardry scatheless; before Durnor could answer him a bolt whizzed and struck in his throat. It is said that he pulled out the bolt, laughed, and tossed it to Durnor before he fell down choked with blood.
In a life at that time so barren of generous word and deed, one instance stands recorded : he asked grace for the villain who shot him down.
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"Since you own he has justified me; and since he has quit me of your resentment, we are both beholden to him for clearing our account."
Durnor was contrite for his part ; Aglovale not a whit. So soon as he was on his feet, his hand was as heavy as before.
In an evil hour Durnor devised a remedy that brought wrath and grief. He engaged one Annowre, a noted enchant- ress, to turn Aglovale from his joyless ways. It was a cast of outrageous folly, but no ill-will was in the mischief he intended. So he vowed afterwards, and his plea made Aglovale's heart but the harder against him, and fetched retort that so the more hopeless beast was he.
The enchantment failed in effect, though potion and spell were so strong that when Brose came at morn and broke open the door, he found his master clean out of his wits. Annowre accounted for her ill success.
" He sleeps in a garment of enchantment. Get from him that wear of haire and he might not withstand my power."
" Haire night and day ! " muttered Durnor, despairing. " Oh, poor body and soul ! "
Aglovale's retaliation upon Durnor was shrewd and cruel and just ; he cut him off from Percivale, and he did it openly and despitefully. Durnor, of quick affections, raged against the galling measure. His protest took the shape of siege and ambush and chase, till Tor advised Lamorak that his two brothers were mad, and fetched him into Galis for peace.
Against Durnor's passionate complaint of his jealous and despiteful courses, Aglovale made bitter retort.
" Percivale will I keep from you to the best of my power. He shall not have a pander to company."
Durnor leapt up, stammering curses. " Would to God you were not my brother ; so would I pluck out your foul tongue. Before Heaven I am not so guilty ! Ah, black heart to breed such venom ! Alas ! brother, pardon, I thought no harm. Let our brothers judge between us."
" I take no keep how they shall judge ; you shall set no whore on to play her game with Percivale as you did on to me."
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To Lamorak and Tor no rectitude in Aglovale could show fair against Durnor, pleading his excuse with indignant tears.
" Neither I nor Sir Tor," said Lamorak, " hold Sir Durnor deserving such extremes. Are you he, Sir Aglovale, to deal over exact with transgression."
He was speechless ; so lightly touched he bit the dust.
" As for Percivale," said Lamorak, " for larger cause than you can show against Sir Durnor, the mother that bore you mistrusted him to your hands. Now I counsel you to find some forbearance on the errors of another, or look not to keep an undue advantage you have by virtue of our silence to the boy."
Said Aglovale when he could speak, " Sirs, I thank you all for past kindness."
He uttered no protest ; he turned his back on Durnor ; he would face his penalty. So he left them.
" Alas ! " said Durnor, " now know I that the land of Galis will not hold me and brother Sir Aglovale. I will go."
" Not so," said Lamorak, chafed. " If either for peace must quit this land, it shall be he, not you. He is intolerable."
" He has reason," said Durnor, " since if he is hard on me, he is far harder on himself. And now he is little likely to spare me, lest so himself he should be sparing. I choose to go."
So Durnor took his leave, self-exiled. Aglovale on that had some compunction. If his brothers required it, he said, he would himself enlighten Percivale.
" I would well you did," said Lamorak, hardly, " but that Sir Durnor has set his heart against it."
His brother's curst humours had worn his patience, but at that time he had no mind to go to extremes.
So for yet another year Aglovale had his way, and kept order in Galis, earning little praise and much hate because of his growing cruelty. He also aggrieved Northgalis, dealing with a high hand. After short warning to the King that he ruled remiss his borders, he waylaid transgressors and slew and hanged without ransom. And then he seized on all bridges,
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and some he destroyed, and some he held by force, abating iniquitous tolls. Yet these violent doings must have been mainly righteous, since the King of Northgalis dared not urge out the dispute either in court or field ; moreover, it appears that later Sir Tor bestirred himself to keep the bridges when his brother no longer might ; and he was ever upright, passing true, and courteous.
Complaint against Aglovale grew so heavy that at last Lamorak called him to account.
" Within the realm of Logris," declared Aglovale, " no lands are more prosperous than is this your land of Galis ; nor more secure ; nor more free of evil customs. To this end have I served truly to the best of my power. Can any from the sea to the Usk prove injustice at my hands ? "
" Your justice I do not question," said Lamorak, " but what of your mercy ? I have heard of none. Sir Aglovale, have you ever shown mercy ? "
"None," he said heavily. "You are qualified to show mercy ; I may not."
" Brother, the best mercy I can show is to give relief from your justice. To Cardigan your appanage I will add as largely as you shall desire for your honour and content, but the rest of Galis shall do without your handling."
" I want no gift. The half of Galis would not honour and content me."
"Would aught else?"
" Your countenance and approval."
" That I cannot lend. I am sorry. You have hanged knights, you have dismembered, in abuse of your place and trust from my hand. I gave no warrant for your bloody code. I seek not to bring men to a shaveling pattern ; and that shall be made known clearly, so that knights of worship and good fellowship may remain in the land and not avoid it. There- fore I require you to depart out of Galis for a season."
Aglovale was sorely shocked. " Out of Galis ! Banish- ment ! "
" You despise a kinder discharge I would provide."
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" I care for no cloak to disgrace."
" I pray you remember that Sir Durnor of his own grace quitted Galis for peace."
Aglovale went down to Cardiff and took to the seas, and Percivale went with him still.
" Let him keep the boy," said Tor, " that for Percivale's sake he may not launch on iniquity."
How Aglovale kept the seas, and destroyed pests from the three channels, need not here be told at length. Before the year was round Percivale brought him into Cardiff, too perilously wounded to carry on to Cardigan ; and there under ward of the Queen for weeks he lay.
He gathered life under heavy discouragement. Brose, with misplaced satisfaction, brought in to his master reports of dis- order throughout Galis ; his service of years had vanished like snow in a day and left no trace. Lamorak could not rule. Percivale brought Saint to his bedside to tell of King Arthur's coming to Cardiff on adventure, and of his ending of the wicked Annowre, and of his encounter unknown with Lamorak. Every look and word of the King she had treasured ; and as she rehearsed Aglovale fevered to hear. But on his name no word or question had fallen to favour his return to his place at the Round Table. Lamorak, staying on his way to Kinkenadon, came in, and with sinister courtesy wished him speedy recovery. It was cruelly said. And with him came Durnor, loth and constrained, mumbling curses to himself, in fine dread of tread- ing on his brother brought low. Those two, by opposite ways, afflicted their unhappy brother equally, for his nature was so curst. With the waste of six hard years of upright living lay loss by estrangement from Lamorak and Durnor.
Yet Aglovale deemed he should be granted comfort of God and man as he lay and watched Percivale. Again in the window-bay as of old, Percivale and Saint leaned close and talked low with one heart ; he still gentle and meek and stain- less in life and thought as she, in form and face almost as slender and delicate and fair. None seeing him would guess that like fine steel throughout he came through his brother's
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hands. — This is my perfect work of the years ; this cannot waste or fail ; clear fire from on high has proved it. Notwith- standing this contentment, sudden tears would storm him merely at the sight of the brother and sister speaking eye to eye, without a shadow of doubt or reserve or dread between their white souls ; then would he turn his face to the wall and lie strangling, lest the innocent should chance to see how the damned do weep. So feeble he was then.
From his bed Aglovale took up resolution again. He sent to his brother Tor, who came kindly himself to answer, and would not leave him till his recovery. Of all his brothers, the bastard was he who could speak his mind frankly to him with- out afflicting. Fearless, honest, single-minded, Tor was wise also, wise as is best, from the heart ; and Aglovale by this time was willing to learn.
He let Aglovale understand how his hard ruling had tended to provoke present disorders, and how unwise had been his grasp of control single-handed; he had not set men of worship, good and loyal, to exercise authority and spread respect of law.
" But in your day," said Tor, sadly, " you would take no counsel, nor measure means. What profit to harrow over the past for barren cult ? "
Said Aglovale, suddenly, " Put case Sir Lamorak die with- out lawful issue, who, think you, should bear rule in Galis ? "
u Whomsoever he should will and appoint."
" My birthright was set aside for Lamorak, and I gave consent and pledge to serve him j but not any other after him. And so, brother, I warn you : not you, a bastard, nor Durnor, a fool and worse."
Said Tor, " Are you setting for Percivale ? "
"No. I am setting for the weal of Galis and for the continuance of a noble line in time to come."
" This is over early. Here be you four brethren, young and likely, though as yet unwed, to raise up lawful seed after you."
"Lamorak will not wed, as he may not take to wife F
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Morgause of Orkney. Durnor breeds bastards. I shall die out and leave no life behind. Percivale, as he is, God keep him."
" Brother," said Tor, " I like not this setting for my part. Here also is barren cult."
Tor was all in the dark, and never guessed to what his brother was addrest, not even when Aglovale took ship and went to seek Lamorak on Kinkenadon Sands. None would he have with him when he landed, so Tor stayed aboard and from afar saw their meeting. Then he knew what he could not hear : Aglovale humbled himself to beg office again of his brother. And Lamorak, he saw, refused with anger; and refused and refused, as Aglovale doggedly followed when he turned from him, and would not be quitted. While day ran down the sky, Tor wished the dark to cover a sight so grievous and pitiful ; and while summer night lay blind, he wished it gone, with his doubt that the pair were still wrestling on in the dark, up and down above the tides.
Dawn brought Aglovale back, dragging like one wounded. He showed Lamorak's sign and seal.
" Alas ! " said Tor, " but there is no worship here on the getting or the giving."
" None, none ! " said Aglovale, low of breath.
" You have done what I could not. Where is your sword ? Ah, Sir Aglovale, let me in for comfort, as I am your father's son."
" Would to God I were the bastard ! Sir Lamorak has granted to try me for another year, upon terms that I bear no arms in Galis, and lose no knight his life or limb. I have sworn. Eh, Tor ! Nay, dam up your eyes. Why ? " he laughed.
Yet even at that pass, Lamorak had cared for his unhappy brother, by those hard provisions desiring to compel his return to adventure outside Galis. When his reckoning proved short he hardened his heart and stood to the terms.
" He is starving at heart," said Tor.
" It is well," returned Lamorak ; " I will starve him out of this curst temper."
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But to the year's end Aglovale held out, and it was Lamorak who owned defeat ; and very heartily he embraced his brother when he gave him back his sword without condition.
" Fair lord Sir Lamorak, if it please you to discharge me now, I promise you shall find begun a sounder order than before, and a good man to take in place of me."
" I have no will," said Lamorak, " to withhold from you full licence and countenance and approval. You can rule, fair brother, and I cannot : that is truth."
" You were not born to it," said Aglovale.
Lamorak knew well enough whom Aglovale considered a good man. This was Sir Hermind, their near cousin, an upright man and sturdy, body and mind; a sure knight by head and hand, quick of understanding and prudent in speech. He had served in the wars against Rome with his kinsmen of Galis, and they liked him well. From no fault of his, he had suffered an adverse turn very like Sir Aglovale's : his half- brother, Hermance of the Red City, had rewarded his loyal service with great injustice, banishing him at the instance of two base favourites from his lands in Northumbria. He whom I love so much tells how in the end King Hermance was murdered by those two villains, and how then Sir Hermind came, knightly and brotherly, to avenge his death and to bury him.
Aglovale by that bitter year of probation had won much, and namely the lasting esteem of a just and noble man ; for Sir Hermind had seen with wonder how he spent himself for the weal of Galis, wise, diligent, patient, under disadvantage and through peril ; and he had given himself freely to his help, and had never failed him since.
Percivale in that bitter year had won much, and namely he had won his brother's life against perilous hates that were out against him. Strict to the letter of his hard conditions, Aglovale wore no harness even for defence; and he would take no keep of himself, nor would he shun hazarding the life more precious to him than his own. Percivale and Brose
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never left him. Time and time again he had to watch, and feel as women do, desperate fight in his defence rending his heart ; though there was sweet joy to see how young Percivale fought and won worship. With rapture he fought for the brother he reverenced ; in beautiful humility he looked for no praise; on success his heart was uplifted in love; his faith kept him without dread.
Surely he was perfect for knighthood.
Nacien the Hermit made such joy when they came to him that Aglovale was almost satisfied he recognized his brother's worth. Yet it was not joy that made the old man's eyes glisten when face to face alone he gave ear to his telling of Percivale.
"He is of perfect faith and a pure spirit. Every blow he gives yields praise to God, and every blow he takes yields prayer. Overthrow makes him no shame, and excellence no vainglory. He has slain no man, for the grace of God is in his hands. And he is a maiden clean of life and heart."
" And you, my son ? " said Nacien.
" I — I hope. He is my warrant. I have none other. Ah God, none ! Yet for seven years I have tried truly to serve God and man."
" God forsakes His true servants never."
" Sir, this I know : the Devil forsakes his servants never. Him I served, and I cannot get free. For ever he bids me break chastity, and ever he bids me resent humiliation ; and as I do not, night and day, flesh and spirit must burn at his fires, for he is my master. Ah God, ah God, I get no ease ! Lo, in Percivale how chastity and humility grow like flowers that are sweet to the sun. Lo, in me the same fume like scutch, and my own brothers let me know of evil odour."
Nacien, when he had examined them both and confessed them clean, marvelled over them ; for one was so white of heart, and one so corrupt, and both in life were constant and clean and upright.
" The ground of all virtue the one of you owns : that is patience. The crown of all virtue the one of you yet lacks :
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that is charity. My son, God may yet require more of your patience to learn your brother charity."
With dread Aglovale heard, deeming these words were prophecy of a thing he dared not face.
With dread heavy upon him he went down to Camelot to face King Arthur, and re-entered the streets by which he had gone out, barefoot and decried, seven years before. He whom I love so much tells how he sped then.
Hard at Aglovale looked the King, and coldly he asked him what he required.
" My lord, I require you to make this young squire a knight."
Beside his brother, Percivale showed strangely young and fair and slender for that request. He blushed for awe like a girl as the King looked hard at him in turn.
" Of what lineage is he come ? " said Arthur.
" Sir, he is the son of King Pellinore that did you some time good service, and he is brother to Sir Lamorak de Galis the good knight."
" Well," said the King, " for what cause desire you that of me, that I should make him knight ? "
For a moment Aglovale's answer hung, and Percivale, amazed, heard him catch his breath.
" Wit you well, my lord the King, that this young squire is brother to me as well as to Sir Lamorak. And my name is Aglovale."
In silence King Arthur mused awhile, gazing without a sign of recognition on his unwelcome knight. Percivale's heart dropped from the sky. He looked at his brother and quick away, ashamed to have seen. For Aglovale's face was like dark ash ; sweat stood on his brow ; his eyes were fixed and dead.
" Sir Aglovale," said Arthur, " for the love of Sir Lamorak, and for his father's love, he shall be made knight to-morrow. Now tell me his name."
" Sir, his name is Percivale de Galis."
Nothing passed between the brothers as they sought their lodging, till Percivale spoke with something of his old timidity.
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" Hear me a question, brother."
" Yea, speak," said Aglovale, with a tight heart.
" Have you remembrance of your promise to send a spear to Sir Bors de Ganis ? "
Aglovale looked his brother in the eyes ; they were clear and steady. " Marry," said he, " that is well said."
Upon the morrow in due form Percivale was made a knight.
" I counsel you," said Arthur, " to seek the fellowship of noble knights of the pattern of your brother Sir Lamorak."
" Sir," said Percivale, low, " I would take the pattern of my brother Sir Aglovale."
Sir Mordred heard and laughed out, and for a jest he carried about that answer. Few at that hour deemed the young knight of good promise, for he was meek as a dove and showed no fire nor strength.
When the tables were set, Sir Kay the Seneschal took Percivale, and brought him to the lowest board among knights of poor degree, for so he said had the King commanded. And he said sinister, that he was loth thus to part them, yet unhappily Sir Aglovale had his place at the Round Table. For Sir Kay had been suckled churlish, that his courteous mother might nourish the babe Arthur.
Aglovale went on to his old place and sat down once more among his fellows, so sore at heart for Percivale's sake that he scarcely saw who saluted him and who did not. He was more forgotten than he knew, and more changed ; old acquaintance had simple cause to pause, for trouble had seared and ravaged as much as twenty years.
He looked about him as the sieges filled up for the dinner. Some were covered and many were vacant. The Siege Perilous, that had never been filled, was covered in white ; next to the right was one covered in black, where King Pellinore had sat ; and the next that was Lamorak's was void. To the left the sieges filled. Sir Launcelot came in and sat down between Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector de Maris. The sons of Lot were there. A stranger came and sat down on his
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right in place of an old acquaintance, Sir Hervis de Revel ; on his other hand the siege was covered in black, for another, Sir Galagars, lately dead.
Then Aglovale beheld a maiden enter in clothing of white sendal, her visage pale with coming death, and radiant. A hush and murmur of pity passed along : " Alas ! it is the mute maid." Down the hall she went straight to Percivale, and took him by the hand ; and from her who had never uttered any word sprang speech loud and clear.
" Arise, Sir Percivale, the noble knight and God's knight, and go with me."
At that miracle deep silence ensued. And Percivale in noble simplicity rose and followed the maiden up the hall Straight she brought him to the right side of the Siege Perilous, and stripped off the cover of black.
"Fair knight, take here thy siege," she said, "for this siege appertaineth to thee and to none other." Then she departed and went to be blessed for death.
Percivale sat and regarded none but his brother; and Aglovale laughed for joy and thanked God aloud. Then the knight nearest Percivale leaned across the Siege Perilous and caught him by the hand; and turning, he saw Sir Bors de Ganis, and joy rushed through him, for now they were fellows indeed. Of all those present, only the sons of Lot were not glad for the worship of Percivale.
For eight days the court of Arthur had been joyless and heavy, since Sir Tristram the noble knight had departed for Cornwall with his worst enemy King Mark, the fair-spoken, false coward. Now life and gladness renewed for the coming of Percivale with miracle, and lightly after dinner the King required his knights to take on their harness and prove their new fellow in breaking spears. So to a fair meadow beside Camelot they went down; and there Sir Aglovale broke his spear with Sir Bors, and after encountered with Sir Dinadan, Sir Bruin le Noir, Sir Kay L'Estrange, Sir Sagwarides, and got no fall ; and there Sir Percivale broke many spears, and got no fall though great knights proved
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him ; as namely, Sir Pelleas, Sir Bors, Sir Ector, Sir Gareth, Sir Bleoberis.
Said Sir Kay the Seneschal, " Lo now ! how softness and fat grow in an eight days, for these lean brothers of Galis so to hold their own."
Said Sir Dinadan, "Go prove if you be lean and hard enough."
On that Sir Kay took his spear, went into the range and required Sir Aglovale to just ; and so hard he smote him that he laid him backward upon his horse, broke his vizard, and bruised his face.
" Well," said Dinadan, " you have dealt unhandsomely with Sir Aglovale ; now go against Sir Percivale."
" By my faith, no ! " said Kay. " As I am a man, I should be loth so to spoil the face of a pretty maid."
"Sir," said Percivale, "I had rather encounter your great spear than your mocks. And, sir, from knights that are named before you have I got no hurt."
"Yea, yea," said Kay, "that is sooth. Neither would I give you hurt ; and so, faith of my body ! I will not have ado with you this day. Well, well, Sir Bors," said Kay, "whom God favours should not man also favour? Content you, Sir Percivale," said Kay, "your pattern brother Sir Aglovale got off lightly by favour in this same field years ago, and has been content for his part."
The sight of Aglovale's face strained grey drew Percivale past heeding Sir Kay.
At this day's end came Brose before Percivale, and with him a lad, who stood forward a suitor.
" Sir, for the sake of this day's worship will you to grant any man his reasonable asking ? "
" I will well to man or boy," said Percivale.
" Then, sir, grant me to serve you, even as my brother Brose serves Sir Aglovale."
Now, the boy's stature was so low for his years that his asking seemed scarce reasonable.
"Ah, Brose," said Aglovale, "you should have asked
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this for yourself. And well I would Sir Percivale had the best squire that ever I tried ; and to no other master I would speed you willingly."
" Sir, I want no other. Sir, favour Bennet ray brother ; he is well conditioned and better nurtured than I."
Sir Aglovale denied him shortly. "He is young and untried, and asks presumptuous. Sir Percivale shall not take him by my counsel till he be grown and trained. But he shall send him to the Queen at Cardiff, and request her to enter him in her household that he may grow for a twelve- month ; and afterwards I myself will take him and try him till he be fit to serve Sir Percivale."
In sore disappointment Brose broke out insolent, "To take and try him as me you took and tried a twelvemonth ! God defend ! "
Straightway Percivale refused Bennet till he should have satisfied Sir Aglovale. Brose muttered and eyed his master resentfully.
" I kept my mouth fairly enough at that time, and ever since till now : yet not a good word for the asking. What a fool am I ! "
At this temper and language Aglovale a little smiled, sure enough of his man, and passed it without rebuke.
" Be not aggrieved," said Percivale kindly to the boy. " Though I cannot now please you, I promise you I will take you and none other so soon as you are fit, for sole reason and sufficient that you came first suitor on my knighthood."
Brose was sore and angry, deeming that had he and his master kept from words Bennet's suit might have prospered. After Sir Aglovale's example, he had set his heart on his young brother, and had promised himself to take him, and make him, and bring him on to a better state than his own. And he had set his faith strongly on the luck of the day that should bring Percivale to the Round Table. On such a day he had sued and had won his master ; he took him with a blow and a curse, yet he took him. You shall repent, said Brose; and he, in time,— I do repent. Yet he could deny him on such a day his
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claim to favour, and set Sir Percivale to deny Bennet. The man's resentment did not lightly pass; for many days by sullenness and negligence he reminded his master of the grudge he held. But Aglovale with singular patience bore with him, and when Percivale wondered he excused him, " Great is his love for his young brother."
As for Bennet, he took his disappointment with a better grace, and departed speedily for Cardiff charged with messages to the Queen that should gladden her with news of Sir Percivale. By the way Sir Tor and Sir Durnor met him, and hearing his tidings, turned aside to rejoice with their brothers.
" Alas ! but where is Sir Lamorak ? " said Durnor. " He should be here; all five at once to sit down at the Table Round. We sons of Pellinore, five ; those sons of Lot, five. Man for man, I warrant we five could knock the worth of those five. And they know it."
Truly they knew it ; and therefore, fresh edged, the four that were murderers, Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Mordred, took up a settled purpose. Already in these terms they had counselled and agreed : " This Sir Lamorak," said Gawaine, " we slew his father King Pellinore, who slew our father King Lot ; and for the despite of Pellinore, Sir Lamorak did us a shame to our mother. Therefore I will be revenged." And his three brethren : " Let see how you will or may be revenged and you shall find us ready." And Sir Gawaine : " Hold you still and we shall espy our time."
Now again they heard Sir Gawaine in counsel : " Let us send and fetch our mother here to this castle beside Camelot ; and when she is here, soon will Sir Lamorak be here also. And truly he will think well by her coming here that King Arthur has bidden her, meaning to overrule in her marriage. Then may we see our time when he goes to her privily, and slay him as we slew his father." So they planned murder.
Matched man to man King Pellinore had not died; and man to man they never laid to meet any one of Pellinore's sons afterwards. Yet they lacked not valour, not the worst of them ; but they were passing vindictive, and bloodthirsty men.
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So far as can be known, Sir Lamorak never beheld his young brother a knight \ certainly they never sat side by side at the Round Table to fill up the joy of Aglovale. For first King Arthur removed from Camelot and sojourned awhile at Caerlion upon Usk beside Galis ; and after Sir Percivale went into Cornwall on a Quest that was long and arduous, to deliver Sir Tristram. For King Mark, after his nephew Tristram had saved him from his enemies, broke the faith he had sworn on a book before King Arthur and all his knights, and made away with him, so that none knew whether he were prisoned or dead.
My most dear Master tells how Percivale sped. By his knightly means Sir Tristram was found and delivered, and Cornwall eased of insurgent wars; and afterwards he con- fronted Mark and admonished him in clear simplicity of heart.
Said Mark, " I may not love Sir Tristram who loveth my Queen and wife La Beale Isoud."
Said Percivale, " Ah, fie for shame, never say so. Are you not uncle to Sir Tristram, and he your nephew. Never think that so noble a knight as Sir Tristram is would do himself so great a villainy to hold his uncle's wife. Howbeit," said Percivale, "he may love your Queen sinless because she is called one of the fairest ladies of the world."
So he spoke in all sincerity, as he knew no worse and was slow to think evil. Well might his fellow-knights wonder over such an one, casting thought that he was brother to Sir Aglovale. In the event his good words were not justified, nor his easy trust to the promises of King Mark. For as soon as he was gone out of Cornwall, Mark plotted afresh ; he set his Queen, La Beale Isoud, as a lure for Sir Tristram, and took him again prisoner. He in turn was betrayed to prison by La Beale Isoud, and she fled the kingdom with her lover Tristram.
Another manner of ending came of the like luring of Lamorak by means of Queen Morgause. He whom I love so much has told us that tale. Sir Lamorak came indeed, and
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with the Queen, unarmed, Sir Gaheris surprised him. With drawn sword and all armed came in Gaheris. He caught his mother by the hair and struck off her head.
Cried Lamorak, " Ah, why have you slain the mother that bore you ? With more right you should have slain me."
Said Gaheris, " Because thou art unarmed I am ashamed to slay thee. But wit thou I shall slay thee. And now my mother is quit of thee."
So Lamorak went forth alive, bloodstained and shamed by the death of that fair Queen he loved.
All this and more of the same may be read in that tale. And also, elsewhere, more of the noble battles of Sir Lamorak : how he fought Sir Palamides the Saracen, and after promised to love him above all his brothers, excepting his half-brother Tor; how secretly he encountered the sons of Lot and put them to the worse ; how to Surluse he came on a sudden and shone at his last tournament ; how for the sake of Arthur he revenged the overthrow of these his nephews ; how then King Arthur vainly entreated, "Oh, Lamorak, abide with me, and by my crown I shall never fail thee;" and last, how he parted from Launcelot weeping and bewept, and rode away alone.
He was seen alive never again. Pierced villainously back and breast, his dead body witnessed to a foul battle. He had lived not twenty-nine years. Men deemed his great renown was yet increscent.
By the mouth of Palamides praising the dead, Percivale heard the tidings, and he swooned for sorrow.
" Alas ! my good and noble brother Sir Lamorak now shall we never meet," said Percivale. " In all the wide world a man might not find such a knight as he was of his age. It is too much to suffer the death of our father King Pellinore, and now the death of our good brother Sir Lamorak."
As for Aglovale, he almost died for sorrow. That strange physical affliction recurred; old wounds opened and bled as though in his members he were weeping blood for his brother. Most lamentable, the wound in his side that Lamorak had
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touched to heal broke afresh. "Ah, Lamorak ! " cried Aglovale, in great distress. Brose feared for his wits, and he deemed it was only the timely presence of Percivale that brought him sane alive.
As for Durnor, within a month, slain by unknown hands, the body of Durnor was found wanting burial.
CHAPTER VIII
MY most dear Master in his books does now and again set down times and places somewhat at random ; and so for the next record of Aglovale time is out of gear, and the interlock of many parts passes all skill to readjust. Some of the story of Sir Percivale is lost ; but what remains tells that he endured meekly some scorns, maybe on account of his pattern brother, maybe on account of his maiden life and his maiden sword ; for as yet, though his fame budded fair, he had slain man never. According to my most dear Master, the madness of Launcelot befell about this time ; and when he was lost, King Arthur, at the instance of Queen Guenever, desired Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale, with Sir Gawaine and others, to take upon them to seek him throughout all England, Wales, and Scotland.
Now shall be told how it came to pass that Aglovale soon forfeited the King's grace, and came at last to despair and living death.
Three and twenty knights went out of Camelot on the quest of Sir Launcelot, and shortly departed to all quarters of the realm of Logris. Gawaine went north with his kin, and the two brothers of Galis turned west to search their own land and the Marches.
Now for the last time Aglovale and Percivale ride together.
Of the woes awaiting them, the first they met at Cardiff. There in piteous case they found the Queen their mother, whose grief for the death of Lamorak had put her from reason. With fond words, used to them in childhood, she
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claimed her sons and chid their absence ; she bewept herself, as but now newly widowed ; she remembered recent woe with a great cry, "Lamorak is dead — is dead!" and refused comfort.
" Ah, my dear sons, when your father was slain he left me four sons, of the which now be twain slain ; and for the death of my noble son Sir Lamorak shall my heart never be glad."
Now one and now the other she implored never to leave her more. Such equal eager love had not blessed her first- born for long years. Also King Pellinore's likeness in him, begrudged to him for shame, now gratified the poor Queen, as when she was first a mother. By the death of Lamorak came so much favour to Aglovale. For dear grief he had no voice to speak, and it was Percivale who denied her prayer.
" Ah, sweet mother, we may not. We be come of king's blood of both parties, and therefore it is our kind to haunt arms and noble deeds."
She kneeled down before her sons at their going, and com- plained and clung with frantic grief. Round Percivale she locked her arms, babbling her dread of the treasons of the House of Lot ; how but by treason had King Pellinore died, and Lamorak, who of knighthood had but few fellows.
Then came the maiden Saint to release her brother, and so spoke her noble heart that she prevailed. Swooning, the Queen fell away, and her sons departed then, never to see her more.
The second woe was not slow to follow. From Cardiff a devil possessed Brose brewing mischief of his love to his young brother Bennet. For Sir Aglovale, on review, again refused to favour the lad and shorten his probation that had but two months to run. The man's exasperation grew under the patience of his master, and he pushed far in insolent misconduct.
" Let him be awhile, Percivale ; he is sore. He loves well that little brother. I need not cure him ; he will mend."
Up the valley of the Usk they rode, crossed the river at eve and found lodging. The day was tuned by the harvest
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reaping, the night by thunder muttering from the Black Mountains. All next day the thunder boomed as they left the cornlands and made for the North Marches ; and the heavens were black with coming tempest when they stayed for harbour- age with a courteous gentleman.
Now, Percivale had not entered with Aglovale, but was still without, when downhill came one riding at speed; and he wondered when he knew him for Bennet. Breathless and eager the boy came up to him, and delivered a message of greeting from the Queen; and then he ungirt his coat, and took from round his body chains of gold, sent by her to serve them for spending.
" How now ! " said Percivale. " Are you wounded ? "
" Sir," said Bennet, flushing, " I lay last night with a mixed company, and two rogues spied out what I bore, and in a wood awaited me and set upon me. Yet, sir, as you see, I sped well enough."
Then, as Percivale commended him heartily, " Sir," he said, " if you deem I deserve, speak for me now to my lord Sir Aglovale, that he suffer me now to follow him, so to fit me to follow and serve you."
" I will well," said Percivale, and took the boy up with him to a chamber where Sir Aglovale with Brose was about to unarm. But when Aglovale had heard Bennet's errand and request, suddenly he asked him at what time he set out from Cardiff.
Said Bennet, hastily, " Yester noon — a little after."
" At what pace did you ride, then ? I see your horse down there reeking."
" Sir, I made what speed I might. Sir, as you know, I was hindered."
Bennet fronted Sir Aglovale's gaze steadily, but it chanced that lightning showed how his nerves were strung.
" Show your wound."
Very readily the boy unbound his arm and presented a gash to view. Sir Aglovale took him by the hand and examined silently. Thunder was a relief on the hush.
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" At what time fell this mishap ? "
" About prime."
Aglovale took from him the binding, and examined the bright bloodstains. Bennet would have withdrawn his hand, but it was gripped harder. When questioned closely concern- ing his defence he answered briskly, but as the dreaded Sir Aglovale scrutinized his countenance he began to cast looks aside to Brose and Sir Percivale. The cruel hawk face darkened as the frightened boy paled.
" It is a lie," said Aglovale.
Not a word could Bennet utter. Only thunder spoke.
In ruthless temper Aglovale tightened his savage hold till the boy winced and panted. Brose saw the wrung fingers oozing red at the tips, and began to choke and to curse.
" Brose, is this of your contrivance ? "
" No," said Bennet, " no."
" I shall have much to teach you," said Aglovale, grimly, " as Brose can warn you, before ever I pass you to serve on Sir Percivale."
" Speak ! " said Percivale, " if you be not the low cheat you look."
Brose stood by his brother and lifted his voice in defiance.
" Bennet," he cried, " is not the first you have known, O my lord, to devise on himself a wound for getting at a service he desired ! I — you — have known that done before."
" Ah, mercy ! " gasped the boy, twisting.
Sir Aglovale let him go, and turned upon Brose. " What you have to say, say quickly."
" Low cheat," growled Brose. " Low cheat. Sir Percivale named Bennet low cheat."
" Fair brother," said Aglovale, " question the boy — you. Have out the truth."
He went pacing to and fro while Percivale took confession from Bennet. Brose listened scowling, watching his goaded master, but he said nothing more.
" Be content," then said Aglovale, " that you are yet in the Queen's service, not in mine. Get you back for payment on G
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unfaithfulness and negligence in discharge of your errand. You should be in no case for riding had you such payment as I would grant you ; for I let you know your portion of stripes should be doubled because you practised for your own ends. And I let you know — you, Brose — that he should be paid at your hands. Since you are so forward to advance the boy, I will teach you to cure him."
Blood rushed up the face of Brose. " Sir," he said thickly, " an you let me know you can play the devil, I let you know I can too ! Enforce me, and I let you know I can also enforce you, maugre your head, to cure your brother Sir Percivale of calling ' low cheat ' on Bennet."
At that, " I doubt you not ! " said Aglovale, and therewith struck with all his weight and felled Brose. The blow was barbarous, iron-gloved, laying open the man's cheek.
" Read my token ! Since I must needs make of you an example before your brother, read my token ! "
Brose was mastered. He stood up broken to sullen shame. " Sir Percivale shall hear aught that you can plead for your young brother. Speak it out, Brose."
" Sir, not now," faltered the boy ; " rather do I go back on my asking as unreasonable."
" Rather as you like not the wage of cheating and lying." " My lord, not so ! I have stomach for all. What Brose can take, that can I, deserved or undeserved."
" An that be honestly said, Bennet," said Aglovale, " I am content to hold to terms, with promise that at need you shall get your fill."
" Then I, too," said Percivale, " do confirm my promise, albeit not gladly."
" Bind up both your hurts, and quickly, for Bennet shall amend his negligence with all despatch."
Neither ventured a word of appeal, though the quickening thunder uttered cause. Bennet learned two messages : one for the Queen to her comfort, and desiring her blessing on her sons; one for the seneschal to his own discomfort, desiring punishment. Then he went.
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Brose turned without a word and kneeled to unarm his master. Then entered that gentleman, their host, to speak in Bennet's behoof that he should stay, because of the passing day, and the great near storm, and because, he said, the ways were not cleared of evil customs.
" Ah, my lord," muttered Brose at Aglovale's knee, " he is but young."
Aglovale would not relent ; but he closed with an offer for a change of horse. So shortly Brose heard hoofs go below, and beheld the wan, unhappy face of Bennet upturned ; and as he went about his master, anon far off saw the horse shying at the lightning, and anon higher against the gulf of the sky saw the boy pass away, as great drops dashed the casement.
About midnight the great fury of the storm abated; lightning turned to lambent sheets, thunder to distant growls, rain ceased. In the quiet pauses, Brose, from his pallet by the door, heard the deep breathing of Sir Aglovale asleep. Then he saw Sir Percivale rise up softly from his place, and come to stand beside his brother and contemplate h is face by the play of the sheet lightning. So standing in his shirt, his youthful beauty so illumed, Brose likened him to a heavenly warder, even to the chief Saint Michael. He likened himself, and a little writhed. Then Percivale kneeled down beside Aglovale and prayed a great while, and went again and lay down. What this might betoken Brose dreaded to know; yet he had a deeming and becursed his tongue.
Riding on their way when morn was at prime, they came to a ford of the Wye hard by a castle standing above a slope. There they passed by a churchyard, where stood many round about a corpse lapped for burial, while men broke the sodden ground for a grave. Sir Aglovale stayed to question, and one came forward to answer.
" Fair knight, here lies a squire shamefully slain this night"
" How was he slain ? "
" Sir, the lord of this castle lodged this squire this night, and because he said he was servant to a good knight that is
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with King Arthur, whose name is Sir Aglovale, therefore the lord commanded to slay him, and for this cause is he slain."
With a cry Brose danged down to the grave, caught away covering, and gave to sight the face of Bennet, and the wounds hacked over his body, and his dead eyes.
The stranger women and men fell aweeping for pity of the man, agape and huddled, and moaning over the dead lad on his knees.
" Jesu God ! " whispered Percivale, with a sob, " help us quick and dead."
Aglovale gazed stock still. "Gramercy," he said at last, " and ye shall see his death revenged lightly, for I am that same knight for whom this squire was slain."
Straight he lighted down and Percivale also ; they charged men with their horses, and together mounted the slope and came to the courtyard and gates of the castle.
Said Aglovale to the porter, "Go to your lord, and tell him that I am Sir Aglovale for whom this squire was slain this night."
Word ran throughout the castle, and presently, while they waited in the court, a fierce damsel looked out from a window above. " Soho, Sir Aglovale, otherwise Sir Sinister ! " she called ; and he, looking up, met shameful memories in a face he knew once. She spat upon him, and used other names, and terms that made Percivale's ears tingle.
" Now," she said, " I give you to know that for my sake will my lord Sir Goodewin add dishonour to death, and will give a portion from that your carcase for my dog to eat. And in hell remember me. Lo, here is your death."
Then Sir Goodewin came out, ready armed, all the knights of his household at his back.
" Which of you," he said, " is Sir Aglovale ? "
" Here am I," said Aglovale. " For what cause have you slain this night my mother's squire ? "
" I slew him because of you, for you slew my brother Sir Gawdelin."
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" As for your brother, I avow it. I slew him, for he was a false knight, and a betrayer of ladies and of good knights."
At that the damsel overhead lifted hateful laughter against him, and those below echoed it.
" For the death of my squire," said Aglovale, " you shall die."
" For the death of my brother," said Sir Goodewin, " you shall die."
Without more words they went to strokes. And presently Percivale went to strokes also, for the damsel's naming and scorns, taken up by those below, drove him wild ; and fiercely he defied all, and fought all that would stand. For the first time in his life he fought wickedly, without prayer, with savage will to slay, and joy over the slain. Three lay dead, and the rest fled wounded, while still Sir Aglovale and Sir Goodewin fought together. At her window the damsel danced and cursed, watching the fray, till Sir Goodewin fell past rising, and Aglovale unlaced his helm; then frantic she cried for grace.
He died as a valiant man ; with no vain prayer for mercy, but a curse on his slayer, he faced the stroke that took off his head. Then were all the windows silent.
Aglovale stood and regarded his brother and the dead men. " Slain ! Percivale, you have slain ! "
For answer Percivale came and embraced him, and said only, " Fair, dear brother ! " over and over again, with a kind of passion.
Aglovale groaned, " Alas ! alas ! " for he knew so that for his sake Percivale had slain, and for cause unrighteous.
By the half-turned sods sat Brose, still holding the dead lad, taking no heed of going and coming.
Aglovale spoke hoarse, " Brose, now is your brother's death avenged."
The man lifted an intolerable stare, bared his teeth, and cried, " On whom ? "
Aglovale was knocked out of words, and Percivale shed tears of pity and gall.
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" Alas ! poor Bennet ! " said he. " God rest his soul ! He paid dear for an untrue word."
Brose, in his anguish, fetched out a laugh against his master, so like the damsel's that Percivale's blood curdled and spun.
" He paid for me ! " said Agio vale. " Ah, God, for me ! "
" Provide my brother his grave," said Brose, " you who provided his death."
" It is due. Charge me according to your grief."
" Not here ; not lonely ! My lord Sir Aglovale, you have provided death and burial for better than he. It were meet to give him a little room on that same ground. I would have him wait Doomsday there."
" So be it," said Aglovale, heavily. " Nor will I lie down nor break fast till this be done."
Afterwards, when Brose came to open speech with Perci- vale, he vowed that, however he had said and done contrary, he had never departed from the great love and worship he bore his unhappy master.
" I willed to cut him out of my heart, seeing how he was the cause of Bennet's death, and how he had used him harshly — and I could not. God knows how sore I was rent. God knows if I gave worse hurt than I got. Look back, sir, now, on that dolorous road we paced to the burial of Bennet : all those two days my master bore with me, never lifting look or word of resentment, though I did not spare to add to his affliction, and surely the Devil lent me the wit for it. I did not spare ! for Bennet's sake I would not ; dead, he claimed me to be wholly his brother. Yet found I no deliverance from love and worship. Ah, my master ! In all the world there is none like him — none ! "
Near by a certain forest crossway a little chapel had been builded since the days of Sir Turquine, where a good man served with orisons. There the body of Bennet had lodging and pious watching for the night.
Forth went Aglovale to that purlieu of his old villainy, to stand out the night against his sins. There breathed he, sentinel till morn, the heavy scents of elder-blossom, while night birds
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flitted to and fro, and night beasts harried by moonlight. Ever, as he stared down fatal roads, before him in ghostly presence went along, wounded and bound, one who had trusted to him, whom he had deserted, and betrayed to miser- able death.
He never knew that two kept secret vigil with him. Perci- vale apart, down on his knees, down on his face, wept his prayers. Brose apart, sweated hot and cold, as the blood of brotherhood revolted against the master he so fiercely loved.
By another night, those three unhappy souls were come with the body of Bennet to a certain Priory, where Aglovale answered at the gate as of old. There, while interment was made in good order, with many candles and requiem, Pecivale in the midst sank down, overborne by heavy sleep ; for he was young and unused to grief, and he for two nights had never slept. When he woke he was couched as aforetime, and the bed beside was all unpressed as then.
Aglovale waited on the waking of Brose. "Take now relief," he said, "and quit me. Your brother's blood is so against me. If so be you will turn to serve my brother Sir Percivale, freely I commend you one to the other, and will myself depart."
Brose, in his heart, was dismayed, but he answered ruthless.
" That were no relief : Sir Percivale spoke foul on Bennet He holds that he died by a braggart lie, nor excuses how he spoke of no bad intent, weening to have been forborne on your name."
" Brose, I cannot bury your brother's faults."
" You will not."
At that time there was long silence. Then Aglovale said, " See you to it. Say what you need to Sir Percivale."
Though the man's heart was wretched to see the fierce affliction he bestowed, he kept a relentless mask.
" An I said enough, Sir Percivale would slay me as he has slain others for your worship." >. %
" God forbid ! " groaned Aglovale. His brother's blood- guilt pressed fort and dure on his conscience.
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The wretched man went on. " Against the truth you have forged your worship on my face for him to read. Lord ! for low cheating that was a bold stroke ! "
" Ah, Brose," cried Aglovale, and as the man avoided his eye, ashamed of that vile speech, he gripped his hand con- fidently. " Sure am I your heart is not so base as your tongue."
Body and spirit, Brose struggled from the terrible hold and got free. His hand bore the imprint of Aglovale's unconscious strength. He showed it, a fellow to poor Bennet's, with a cruel taunt.
" So me, too, you have something to teach, before ever you pass me to serve on Sir Percivale ! "
His heart died within him to see how that blow went home.
" You do beat me with thorns, Brose, all naked," breathed Aglovale.
" Pay me what I deserve," cried Brose, choking, " and dismiss me ! "
But so soon as that utterance of remorse escaped him, he saw it obverse, and thanked the powers of hell.
" Take your dues," cried Aglovale. " Bury your brother's faults under mine. Decry me to my brother Sir Percivale, and I will be your warrant that he shall not slay you."
Brose locked his teeth against his heart, and turned his face to the wall, till a wicked interpretation came to his tongue.
"Ho, forsooth! he muttered, facing about, you will be warrant that he shall not slay me ! Yea, doubtless, and will swear to it by your sword ! " His bad conscience took home the thing from his mouth, and almost he believed it.
The visage of Aglovale was distorted and hideous as he gnawed his trembling lips ; for his strength was broken, with trouble and long fast from sleep and food.
Then entered Percivale, and stood at gaze on his brother. The hilts of his sword Aglovale took with his two hands to hold upright.
" Speak, Brose ! " he cried.
Then the forest night swam in upon him, so charged with the heavy scent of elder-blossom that he stifled and lost his
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senses. Over him the eyes of Percivale and Brose met once, but not one word was spoken till he came to himself. The sound of " My lord " and " Fair brother " told him then his hour was not yet come.
Now, as these records do not hereafter follow Percivale in the Quest of the Grail, there may be no fitter place than this to set down a transcript from another book, where he unlocks his heart to his sister Saint. My most dear Master tells how the maiden came to Galahad, Percivale, and Bors; how she led them on the Quest and enlightened them with her strange, high wisdom; and how she girt Galahad with the sword of King David by a girdle of her own hair. In that place there is mention made of three spindles, white, green, and red, as grown from innocency, and seed-shedding, and blood-shedding.
She said, " The white betokens Sir Galahad, and the green Sir Bors, and the red — alas, brother ! alas — the red ! "
" Ah me ! " said Percivale ; " would to God I had not this part of the Tree of Knowledge ! Ah, sister, it is a fearful thing to shed blood of life."
He told her all then, and together they pondered over the symbol of sin.
" Lo ! " said Percivale, " those I had slain were not put to silence. I heard their breath speak out of the lips of others ; I saw their looks mock out of the eyes of others ; the life that was gone from their bodies was but draughted to enliven fresh matter. In every ray of light, in every gust that blew, the life of the dead moved to confound me. Ah, Saint, the things they had uttered were black and heavy ; I could not bear them."
" Yet, brother, had you never heard evil-speaking before, and opposed it ? "
" Often, so often that my ears were dulled. Soon as I was made knight, I myself, without offence, even in the fellowship of the Round Table, was shamefully bespoken and belied. Lightly I bore it then, seeing how Aglovale had ever borne the like unmoved. Till Brose opened against him, and he struck him down, whole-hearted did I love and worship, clear of doubt."
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" Ah, fair fool brother ! "
" He never fooled me by a word ; nor did any but through silence, excepting Brose and Durnor. Brose lied to me more than once, as he has since confessed. Through him I came to think a shameful record, unfit for light, concerned Durnor. And Durnor never denied. Once he overheard, and in wrath laid hands on Brose, but he did not deny. Ah, sister, his wrong charity ! After he had done with Brose, he caught me, and held me before him awhile, eyeing me hard with a fallen countenance. Maybe I shrank visibly, though what had come to me was but a weak, vague shadow of the truth. At that he was angry, and cursed and railed at me. Then he besought me not to measure out love too nicely. I said I would try. Then he charged me for kindness not to bring up a brother's misdeeds before Aglovale, because he was a hard man, who would make no excuse, who would speak no word for loss and misfortune and sudden and fierce tempta- tion, who would not lay right stress on true penitence, who would mention no good deeds as against the ill. I said Agio- vale was just. ' Be more than just,' said Durnor, ' for those who deserve love least do need it most.' His eyes were wet.
" Ah, Durnor ! would to God I had loved you more while you were man alive ! Sister, night and night again he haunts my sleep, and makes his plea that was for Aglovale. With broken speech and full eyes he asks for a little more loving kindness, and I can reach him no answer. Oh, dear, stammer- ing tongue, dear trustful eyes; oh, big, loyal heart, all gone to dust !
"Aglovale was not kind to him — Aglovale, for whom he was so forspent, who for my sake misgave and wronged him — for my sake, as I deem.
" Sister Saint, I am all unfit for the Quest of the Holy Grail. Strange doubts trouble me that I know not good from evil. For lo ! Durnor was an evil liver and gross, and I my fellows call stainless ; yet have I not to offer so golden a deed as his generous untruth. Lo, Aglovale ! Through long years he laboured for righteousness against a corrupted nature; and
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Durnor's reckless grace played free ; yet Aglovale's hard virtue wavers in the balance. I doubt it is but vanity to keep from evil and do right, when a word unsaid, from mere ignorance, from mere blindness, may happen to load the heart with remorse. And I doubt I might be a better man had I been a more sinful."
Saint made answer, " Be not downcast, Percivale. Surely the Devil, seeing that you win charity, does assail your faith."
CHAPTER IX
MY most dear Master tells that the Quest of Launcelot led to Cardigan, without any mention of days or ways. If it drew in regular circuit through the North Marches, in all likelihood indications rife and strong beat in upon Perci- vale; for in those regions Aglovale, during his worst years, was well known under another name. Brose, in the day of remorse, denied this, claiming to be sole causer of the woe ensuing. Doubtless he played his wretched part, keeping up his devil's game.
Now came the night at Cardigan. Percivale lay down to sleep, but for trouble of heart he could not. A new fear possessed him that day ; for, so strange and fierce were his brother's looks, now fixed, now wild, that he had come to doubt for his reason. Presently, as he lay, he heard in the quiet of night the heavy halt paces of Aglovale pass, and return, and die again. And again, renewing aimless roamings, they sounded on the court below, passing to vacant chambers that Percivale had seen to be sad with faded vestiges of a gentle woman's occupation. Also he had seen a tomb enisled, where upon a stone sill was carven, cubit long, the figure of a slender lady, lying with head turned away. Aglovale had answered, " She died by great villainy," and by the way he took hold of his sword-hilts, and by his stern countenance, Percivale deemed that vengeance still delayed.
Again the tread repassed, and Percivale began to drowse, when he was aware that one entered softly.
" Who comes ? "
" A sinner named Aglovale." 92
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" Wherefore, brother ? "
Aglovale stood beside him, breathing deep.
" Percivale, give me leave to lie by you. In my bed I find no sleep."
Amazed and moved beyond measure, Percivale made room. " I will well," he said, and lifted to embrace Aglovale as he lay down by his side.
" You burn fevered."
" It will pass with sleep. These last nights I have found no sleep."
Percivale sank down again choking. Aglovale, who never in all his life had asked for his help or his affection, was come to him in need of comfort ; of such primitive comfort as in childhood little Saint used to seek in his bed. He breathed benediction and lay still.
The heavy sighs of Aglovale died down to tranquil breath as he drew remedy from the sensible presence of his beloved brother. But Percivale drew malease, and fevered in sore disquiet and trouble of mind. His great pity swelled against restraint, yet the ponderous minutes loaded his diffident heart with dread of trespass ; and with a greater dread, monstrous, unnameable, steeped in blood of his shedding. Lord Jesu, friend us ! he prayed inwardly. Thou who knowest his sorrow, guide me for his comfort.
Scarcely above his breath Percivale spoke. " Brother, do you sleep ? "
As low Aglovale answered, " No." Doubtless he knew his hour was come.
Percivale lifted and sat with his head bowed to his knees, and the dreadful night drifted a moment while he prayed.
" Aglovale, what is it that I do not know ? "
The dreadful night drifted a moment while Aglovale prayed.
" Me," he said. " Me, naked and loathsome." " Ah, fair, dear brother ! " cried Percivale. " Fair, dear brother ! "
Then said Aglovale, " I shall need your silence, Percivale, till I be done."
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" Doubt not me. Until you bid I will not speak," said Percivale in faithful subjection.
Then began the shameful avowal of Aglovale. Still as coffined clay he lay, and as from the ribs of death heaved his voice, as in order and exactly he delivered the tale of his iniquities from the first wild lapses of his youth through all the secret dark passages of abominable years.
" Yet not this, and not this," he said, " has been cried throughout the land against my worship."
That night deep beyond deep of sin opened on the sight of maiden Percivale. So gross, so foul, so infamous a record outpassed the measures of his simple knowledge. Rank words and unfamiliar forced a way to his understanding, till shame of mere hearing burnt over him, while he shivered for dread. He knit his hands upon his mouth, and so held mute to hear.
Well did Aglovale know that he spoke to the ear of one above measure severe and intolerant of evil. Through long years he himself had trained and tempered his brother to this hard excellence, and he had the heart now to endure the out- come. He took no keep to spare Percivale or to spare himself. Triumphant pride in his perfect work took him even in that hour.
That telling was not brief. Misdeed and crime, in separate shape, in dense procession, marched on the night, Aglovale still repeating, " Not this, and not this has been cried through- out the land against my worship." Then his published villainy he told.
His published villainy he told most fully ; how it was made known, he told ; how he was shamed and scorned and near unknightly death, he told ; how he was enforced to hard penance, he told. On the rest was silence. For a hard man he was> who would make no excuse, who would speak no word of loss and misfortune and sudden and fierce temptation, who would not lay right stress on true penitence, who would mention no good deeds as against the ill.
The dreadful night drifted awhile. Still sat Percivale, with his head bowed to his knees, and still as coffined clay
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lay Aglovale. The wretched man spoke his last to his brother.
Brokenly he said, " Go to, Percivale ; I have done with you. Whatsoever you have the heart to utter, ah, dear brother, doubt not I have the heart to approve."
From Percivale came a shuddering sigh, but no word ; and Aglovale lay quiet, without appeal.
Presently Percivale, with shaking hands, felt about his brother's head ; he signed the damp brow with the cross, and leaning down kissed him on the brow.
Aglovale turned upon his face, drew cover over his head, and terrible sobs shook the bed.
Alas for such comfort ! As the saint the sinner had Percivale kissed his head. Not so a true brother had kissed him on the cheek, with staunch affection in the day of dis- honour. Dead Durnor got his due : for him he wept in agony of longing and regret after the love he had so lightly regarded and poorly returned.
Alas for Percivale ! He had no strength to wring one word, he had no spring for tears. The stifled sobs of Aglovale pierced him for pity, but brought no outrush of loving 'kindness. Memories were also knocking at his heart : of the Miserere vigil, of midnight sobbing under Nacien, when he in tender respect had shrunk from knowledge to tears. Further back he remembered, how great sobs like these had answered when he had vowed love to him disinherited. Still he sat stunned and stricken, and could utter no word of comfort.
Aglovale expected none now. He had received token enough to dispense with courses of speech. He had finished with suspense. The bed shook with lengthening pauses as the rest of sheer exhaustion took hold of his trouble. Waves of oblivion swept his brain, and heavy with the reservation of out- worn nights, stupendous sleep drenched his senses.
About midnight Percivale was aware of pale light in the chamber at the rising of a waning moon, and he prayed for thick darkness to keep his face awhile from his brother's eyes. And then he perceived how sleep prevented. Quick and hard
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then worked his breath. He withdrew himself softly from his bed-fellow and stood out upon the floor. Scarcely could he keep upright, for he was weak and dizzy as one first rising after wounds. Within the window lay pieces of his harness, lighted to silver. These and his sword he essayed to take, but forbore, lest under his shaking hands the metal should clash to waken the sleeper.
Profound was the slumber of Aglovale. Percivale kneeled down by his bedside, and piteously he besought Heaven's pardon and keep for that grievous sinner. Down the pillow stole patches of wan light, played from the surface of his shield ; a lax hand showed, and then the dreadful mask half prone. In every line and hollow the imprint of evil was legible at last to eyes that before had spelled in vain on mystery. Percivale rose and went out soft-foot, with never a backward look.
Brose was sleeping by the door of his master's vacant chamber. He started up at a touch, and all bedazzled he heard bewildered the voice of Percivale.
" Rise and make ready, Brose, for you and I will ride away secretly."
Then he saw the face of Percivale, and his heart stood still. " He knows, and my master is undone."
Once before he had looked on such a face. One dawn, long years ago, a young damsel crept forth from Sir Aglovale's bed to find one sweeter ; and he stood and let her pass un- hindered, so daunting was the sight of her stricken countenance as straight she went to her last bed.
Now, in remorse, Brose recognized the outcome of his own accursed game of betrayal, and knew not what to do to stay the cruel mischief. He dared not hinder Sir Percivale, he dared not let him go. He stammered for excuse.
"Sir, I would full fain ride with you where you would have me; but, an my lord your brother take me, he will slay me."
Percivale nodded curtly. " As for that, care not," he said, " for I shall be your warrant."
Like a doomed man Brose went, daring not to speak one
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word of all that ached in his heart. As Percivale bade, he brought him his brother's harness and armed him, and brought him his brother's horse, with muffled hoofs, to the gate. On high, as for protest, the dumb beast neighed to the echoing court. Yet sleep held.
So was Aglovale forsaken.
H
CHAPTER X
DAY came and day wore over Percivale and Brose, and still they came to no remedy of speech. Percivale pursued the south road according to the afore-made order of their circuit through Galis. He made no haste and no delay ; he did not neglect his bounden Quest. After noon, as my Master tells, he came to a bridge of stone, where he found a good knight, Sir Persides, fast chained to a pillar by the malice of a lewd lady ; and knightly he freed him and his servants, and went on with him to his castle. Brose maddened at the sight of him, as there in noble courtesy he sat out the feast. For his part he drank hard out of pure misery, fell to quarrels and brawls and insolence, and so came to hard stone lodging for the night on Sir Percivale's request.
Sobered and sorry, on the morn he came to himself. Cold and stern Sir Percivale scanned him and ordered him ; and he did not dare to be free with the question that lay on his anxious heart. Sir Aglovale's horse, with quick jutting ears and large attentive eyes, snuffing unsatisfied, did better in his dumb language. Sir Percivale mounted ; Sir Persides mounted also, and Brose saw that he made to go by the north road. Alas, alas ! Sir Percivale was set otherwise. He said farewell ; he gave a charge.
" Tell the King," said he, " how you met with me ; and tell my brother Sir Aglovale how I rescued you ; and bid him not to seek after me, for I am in the Quest to seek Sir Launcelot du Lake. And though he seek me he shall not find me. And tell him I will never see him nor the court till I have found Sir Launcelot."
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Brose heard it, and he could not speak. The steady, de- liberate tones fell to his ear like sods on a coffin.
Percivale spoke again. He, hitherto so meek, cast scorn for scorn as he charged Sir Persides with words to Sir Mordred and Sir Kay.
" Tell them that I trust to God to be of as great worthiness as either of them. For tell them I shall never forget their mocks and scorns. And tell them I will never see that court till men shall speak more worship of me than ever men did of any of them both."
Then they departed this way and that. The horse under Percivale tossed his crest and whinnied after his kind. Brose went after him a hang-dog figure, dismayed.
Never did Brose quite forgive Sir Percivale for that un- happy message. For miles he rode silent, chewing over the stuff of it, ready to hate Sir Percivale, who could ride on leisurely with his head straight and high, while along the north road went forth, haply to break upon Sir Aglovale that day, a message so cruelly poor, and cold, and forbidding.
Alas for Percivale ! His heart was still stunned and amazed; he had not come to himself, and well he knew it. Yet the brother in him was quick and loyal enough to defend the face of Aglovale against the world. Not openly could he plead his great distress, entreat for a further relief of time between them, point to a patient hope, admonish to the Quest, and advise to a separate way. Haply so much might break upon Aglovale through such wording as was fit and fair to be delivered by the mouth of a stranger and for any to hear. And all the brother in him spoke out against Kay and Mordred ; for now he knew how he had been mocked and disparaged by virtue of his blind love and worship of Aglovale; now he understood King Arthur's hinting that he should remove from Aglovale. Opened were his eyes, and here he went from Aglovale ! For he was not himself; for he belied himself, and he knew it. Troubled, indignant, distracted, he launched high word to relieve his sore and ineffectual heart.
Percivale turned off the roadway up a fair green swell, and
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drew rein beside a welling spring, and a knot of pine trees that stood about a shrine. There he went, and kneeled and prayed devoutly; there too went Brose, and kneeled behind and prayed some curses. And all silently they stood up both and turned to their beasts.
Then said Brose desperately, " Sir, give me leave to speak and be gone."
" If you cannot abide restraint, so be it," said Percivale, far out from his meaning.
" It is more than I can bear. Consider, sir, how I served your brother Sir Aglovale, long before you put out your child- hands and swore him love upon these very hilts you now hold."
Percivale stood and considered hard; then he answered with constraint.
" Brose, I was loth, on account of past service ; but I can- not allow your presumption that therefore you may riot like a rascal knave in spite of my head."
Cried Brose with a great oath, " Is naught on your mind but a bit of drunken folly ? " He stammered passionately, " And think you your mighty rigour and displeasure stick in my guts ? My lord Sir Aglovale, in old days, would put me to cool in the moat for no more, but he would not glower on me the morn after."
" If you be not again drunk, Brose, consider how he would deal, put case you answered him as now you answer me. Have you forgot his lesson writ upon that scarred cheek of yours ? "
Brose put up his hand, and gasped painfully. Percivale, not from unkindness, turned away, and stooped over the spring. He washed the dust from his eyes, and sat waiting patiently. Brose marked on him then the wear of a sleepless night.
" Be so good as to pass over what I have mis-said, for pity, sir, and as I will not to offend."
" I will well."
"Sir, can I speak except you question?" said Brose, faltering.
" I have naught to ask."
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" Then what is your need of me ? "
" I need you not."
" In the name of God, then, why did you bid me leave my master to ride with you ? "
" For cause — you came. Let be on that matter — we had one mind — it was expedient."
" Now I swear we had not ! Why, why ? No, I cannot hold my peace. Oh, sir, tell me in plain words."
" As you said, lest he should slay you."
His face was colourless and hard as marble; his wide, steady eyes stared down the man.
" I go back ! " sprang sharp from Brose.
" Why did you come ? "
Brose gave no answer, but after a silence he said, " So this damned tongue did set you on ? "
Percivale bowed his head, loth to admit understanding with the man.
" Yet you would take me out of my lord's hands ? "
" I would keep my brother's hands from off you."
" Why ? I betrayed — I wanted his hate — that I might hate him as I wanted. Now I want no keep from his hate."
" Why did you come ? "
" Sir, to give you such knowledge as you should be fain to have of my lord's past doings."
Cried Percivale, " Dare you to think I would against my brother question his servant ? "
" Hear me you shall ! For I would stake my life my lord Sir Aglovale has not told all the truth."
" This to me ! Of him ! Tempt me further, and by my head I will have you bite out that accursed tongue with your own teeth before you shall go hence alive."
Brose flushed darkly • it tried him hard to stand tame to such threatening. He clenched his hands, he ground his heels into the turf, he swallowed. And he kept his tongue to good effect. When he spoke at last, Percivale was aware that the man he had put down had risen to a higher level of address.
" Doomsday telling, Sir Percivale, may rub you more than
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mine now," said Brose. " Let be reckoning by brother and master — a human soul concerns us — one in mortal pains — stressed cruel hard — by my means — and by yours. Respect of person is out of sight ; he has me by the heart — as I doubt he has not you."
Percivale gave no word nor sign, and Brose went on, "Once we were chained at one oar, he and I, equals in misery; yet I gave him worship then, for he never made any moan. He asked for no pity, and he gave none. He refused ransoming, and his name ; and, as I know, he refused lest his house should suffer scorn through his name. Did he for himself say that ? I warrant you have heard plenty that was criminal and shameful to his account, and nothing more. Not from him would you hear the best of him : of his bearing, his daring, the wits, the heart, the hand that engaged against great odds and delivered us all. I say he has not told you all the truth— not the half you ought to hear. And I can tell it — I, and none other so well. And I will. Once he said, ' Speak, Brose ! ' You heard him say it ; and speak I will."
Said Percivale, still with a. rigid countenance, " I will be plain with you, Brose, as man to man. I have tasted know- ledge that is very bitter, and all distempered I know not how to sain me ; I pray God to show. Your help I cannot use ; I know you a liar."
" How have I lied ? " stammered Brose.
"You slandered Sir Durnor to me. For Sir Aglovale's sake you did it. How can I take your word ! "
Brose was confounded ; he could offer no excuse that would not tell against him in the ears of Sir Percivale, who with his sincerity and virtue had the hard uncompromising judgment of youth, and from his high standing condemned, with no indulgence to the weakness and errors of human nature en- snared through good affections. Here was he rigid, resolving to be just and patient, condescending to hear the man out in tolerant silence, all unconscious that the heart of tolerance was not in him. Brose quite hated him at that moment. He felt the wrong that the wicked endure of the righteous, and could
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not utter it. Impotent, despairing, he launched out into reck- less defiance.
" Fain as you are, Sir Percivale, to be rid of me, I warrant I am more fain to avoid you; for I do not quite love you, Sir Percivale. Cursed be the day when my lord took you in his hands to make a man of you. In my heart I deemed you not worth the pains he took ; and so you prove. May God and the saints have joy of you ! who mount clean to your place of worship, and would kick down him who shouldered you up fairly, because once he trod muck to the neck, and to you stinks of it yet."
Sir Percivale stiffened to hear ; and, unchecked, Brose took no keep, crowded on his offence, said his worst with all his voice till he was hoarse. When his words gave out at last, Percivale stood up, spoke, and with one sentence Brose was daunted and beaten.
" I do thank you, Brose, with all my heart," he said. His face was set hard, but his voice was quite broken.
" Verily you are his brother ! " said Brose, low ; and again, when Percivale was mounted, he held on to the stirrup, looked up into his face, and said with strong entreaty, " Oh, sir, you are his brother ! "
Though he got no answer, suspense swelled into hope, for following he was not bidden away, as Percivale rode at a soft pace down the slope, and at the roadway halted. Brose behind him quivered expectant. Alas ! he crossed himself and turned away south.
Brose yelled a curse, headed north, and parted at a great gallop. But, as one backward glance he gave, he saw Sir Percivale swing forward and drop to earth like a log. And so he could not go ; and the woman in man tricked him of his anger as he moved the helpless weight, and looked upon the pale visage smooth and fair. Sir Percivale was scarcely more than a boy in years,