THE TRAPPING OF THE LION.
In May, when every l.u.s.ty heart flourisheth and bourgeoneth,--for as winter, with its rough winds and blasts, causes man and woman to cover and sit fast by the fire, this fresh and joyous season brings them forth to gladden in the coming of the flowery summer,--in this rare month of May, when only merry thoughts and gentle deeds should be known, there began a great and unhappy season of wrath, which ended not till the flower of chivalry of all the world was destroyed. And this all came about through the hate and jealousy of two unhappy knights, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, brothers unto Sir Gawaine.
For much in their secret souls they hated the queen and Lancelot, and they fell to watching this good knight daily and nightly, with the hope of bringing him in some way to shame.
Failing in this base endeavor, they no longer concealed their enmity, but began to talk openly of the love of Lancelot for the queen, and to hint that shameful relations existed between them. The report of this slanderous talk coming to Gawaine"s ears, he reproved them sharply for indulging in such base and unworthy scandal, in which he was joined by his brothers Gareth and Gaheris.
"You forget what Lancelot has done for you," said Gawaine. "Who but he rescued you both when held in prison by Sir Turquine? And many other things he has done in your favor. Methinks such kind deeds merit better return than this."
"Think as you will," said Agravaine, "I have my opinions and shall hide them no longer."
As they thus debated King Arthur approached.
"Now, brothers, stint your noise," said Gawaine.
"That will we not," they replied.
"Then the devil speed the pair of you, if you are bent on mischief! I will listen to no more of your slanderous talk."
"Nor will we," said Gareth and Gaheris. "We owe too much to Lancelot to listen to the false tales of evil tongues."
With this they turned and walked away in anger and grief, as Arthur came up.
"What is this?" asked the king. "Is there bad blood between you brethren?"
"They do not care to hear the truth," said Agravaine, "but to my fancy it has been kept too long from your knowledge. We are your sister"s sons, King Arthur, and it is our duty to be honest and open with you."
"What would you say?" asked the king.
"Simply what we and all your court know well, that there are such doings between Lancelot and your queen as are a disgrace to this realm of England. He is a traitor to your person and your honor, and this we stand ready to prove."
"This is a perilous charge you make," said Arthur, deeply moved. "Nor am I ready to believe such a tale on your mere word. You have gone far, gentlemen; too far, I deem, without abundant proof."
"My lord," said Mordred, "we speak not without due warrant, and proof you shall have. What we advise is, that you ride out to the hunt to-morrow. Lancelot, you will find, will have some excuse to hold back.
Then, when night draws near, send word to the queen that you will lie out all that night. Let this be done, and we promise you we shall take him with the queen. If we do it will go hard with Lancelot; for we shall not lightly see our king brought to shame."
"Be it so," said the king, after deep thought, for he was little inclined to believe ill of Lancelot. "I will do as you say. Understand, sir knights, I have heard all this before; yet I believe it not, and I consent to your scheme only to put an end to the vile voice of scandal."
On the next morning, as agreed upon, Arthur rode to the hunt; but Lancelot excused himself, as his enemies had predicted, on the plea that he was in no mood for the chase. When night came near a messenger from the king brought word to Guenever that the hunting party had been drawn far away, and would not return that night.
Meanwhile Mordred and Agravaine selected twelve knights, all of them enemies of Lancelot, to whom they told their purpose, and set them on guard in the castle of Carlisle, where the court then was. Of Lancelot"s friends few were in the court, for nearly all had gone with the king to the hunt.
When night came, Lancelot told Bors, who dwelt with him, that he had a fancy to go and speak with the queen.
"Do not go to-night, I pray you," said Bors.
"Why not to-night?"
"I fear some plot of that rogue, Agravaine, who has it in his heart to work you ill. I have heard a whisper, and fear that the king"s absence to-night is part of a plot, and that an ambush is laid to do you harm."
"Have no dread of that," said Lancelot. "I wish only some minutes"
conversation with the queen, and will quickly return again."
"I should rather you would not go. I am in doubt that some evil may come of it."
"Why say you this nephew? Do you deem that I am a coward, or that the queen is my mistress, as the evil-tongued say? I go because she has sent for me, desiring to see me. Am I the man to deny her request because there are foul-mouthed slanderers abroad?"
"Go, then, since I see you will. G.o.d speed you, and send you back safe and sound."
Lancelot thereupon wrapped himself in his mantle, and taking his sword under his arm made his way to the castle, which was some distance from his residence. Here he sought and entered the queen"s chamber, where she awaited him with her ladies.
But no sooner had he done so, and scarcely had he spoken a word to his royal lady, than Mordred, Agravaine, and their followers burst in tumult from the chamber in which they had been concealed, and loudly exclaimed,--
"Traitor knight! Lancelot du Lake, false and caitiff wretch, now art thou taken in thy treason!"
So loud they cried that their voices rang throughout the court, and they crowded round the door of the queen"s chamber, bent on taking Lancelot unarmed, and slaying him at the feet of Guenever. Fortunately the door was of solid oak, and a damsel of the queen had hastily shot the bolts.
"Alas!" cried the queen, "what vile plot is this? Mischief is around us, Lancelot!"
"Is there any armor in your chamber?" asked Lancelot. "If so, give it to me, and I will face this malicious crew."
"There is none," said the queen. "I see no hope, and fear our love has come to a fatal end. There seems to be a host of armed knights without.
They will kill you, Lancelot, and death will come to me through their vile charge of unchast.i.ty."
"Why did I not even wear as much of my armor as I fought Meliagrance with!" cried Lancelot, in distress. "If I had but listened to Sir Bors!
Never was I caught in such a trap before."
As they spoke the tumult without increased, and Mordred and Agravaine cried together,--
"Come out, thou traitor knight! Think not to escape, for we have you like a rat in a trap. Come out and meet your just deserts."
"Shall I bear this?" cried Lancelot, flaming into anger. "The dogs! a dozen of them in armor against one man in his mantle! I would rather meet death at once than stand and hear their reviling tongues."
Then he took the queen in his arms and kissed her, saying,--
"Most n.o.ble Christian queen, I beseech you, as you have ever been my special good lady, and I your poor knight, and as I never failed you in right or wrong since the day that King Arthur made me knight, that you will pray for my soul if I be here slain. For you may be sure that Sir Bors and my other kindred, with Lavaine and others of my friends, will rescue you from harm, and I beg you to go with them and live like a queen on my lands."
"That will I not, Lancelot," said the queen. "If you are slain for me, then death may come when it will, for I shall not live long to mourn you."
"Then, since my last hour seems to have come, and our love and life must cease together, so let it be; but some of those barking curs shall go with me to the shades. I am heavier at heart for you than for myself.
Ah, that I had but a knight"s armor!"
"I would that G.o.d would be content with my death, and suffer you to escape," said the queen.
"That shall never be," said Lancelot. "G.o.d defend me from such a shame.
And now may the Lord Jesus be my shield and my armor."