Then the king gat his spear in both his hands,and ran toward Sir Mordred,crying:Traitor,now is thy death-day come.And when Sir Mordred heard Sir Arthur,he ran until him with his sword drawn in his hand.And there King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield,with a foin of his spear,throughout the body,more than a fathom.And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his death wound he thrust himself with the might that he had up to the bur of King Arthur's spear.And right so he smote his father Arthur,with his sword holden in both his hands,on the side of the head,that the sword pierced the helmet and the brain-pan,and therewithal Sir Mordred fell stark dead to the earth;and the noble Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth,and there he swooned ofttimes.And Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere ofttimes heaved him up.And so weakly they led him betwixt them both,to a little chapel not far from the seaside.And when the king was there he thought him well eased.
Then heard they people cry in the field.Now go thou,Sir Lucan,said the king,and do me to wit what betokens that noise in the field.So Sir Lucan departed,for he was grievously wounded in many places.And so as he yede,he saw and hearkened by the moonlight,how that pillers and robbers were come into the field,to pill and to rob many a full noble knight of brooches,and beads,of many a good ring,and of many a rich jewel;and who that were not dead all out,there they slew them for their harness and their riches.When Sir Lucan understood this work,he came to the king as soon as he might,and told him all what he had heard and seen.Therefore by my rede,said Sir Lucan,it is best that we bring you to some town.I would it were so,said the king.
CHAPTER V
How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into the water,and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge BUT I may not stand,mine head works so.Ah Sir Launcelot,said King Arthur,this day have I sore missed thee:alas,that ever I was against thee,for now have Imy death,whereof Sir Gawaine me warned in my dream.
Then Sir Lucan took up the king the one part,and Sir Bedivere the other part,and in the lifting the king swooned;and Sir Lucan fell in a swoon with the lift,that the part of his guts fell out of his body,and therewith the noble knight's heart brast.And when the king awoke,he beheld Sir Lucan,how he lay foaming at the mouth,and part of his guts lay at his feet.Alas,said the king,this is to me a full heavy sight,to see this noble duke so die for my sake,for he would have holpen me,that had more need of help than I.Alas,he would not complain him,his heart was so set to help me:now Jesu have mercy upon his soul!Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of his brother.Leave this mourning and weeping,said the king,for all this will not avail me,for wit thou well an I might live myself,the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore;but my time hieth fast,said the king.Therefore,said Arthur unto Sir Bedivere,take thou Excalibur,my good sword,and go with it to yonder water side,and when thou comest there I charge thee throw my sword in that water,and come again and tell me what thou there seest.My lord,said Bedivere,your commandment shall be done,and lightly bring you word again.
So Sir Bedivere departed,and by the way he beheld that noble sword,that the pommel and the haft was all of precious stones;and then he said to himself:If I throw this rich sword in the water,thereof shall never come good,but harm and loss.And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree.And so,as soon as he might,he came again unto the king,and said he had been at the water,and had thrown the sword in the water.What saw thou there?said the king.Sir,he said,I saw nothing but waves and winds.That is untruly said of thee,said the king,therefore go thou lightly again,and do my commandment;as thou art to me lief and dear,spare not,but throw it in.Then Sir Bedivere returned again,and took the sword in his hand;and then him thought sin and shame to throw away that noble sword,and so eft he hid the sword,and returned again,and told to the king that he had been at the water,and done his commandment.
What saw thou there?said the king.Sir,he said,I saw nothing but the waters wap and waves wan.Ah,traitor untrue,said King Arthur,now hast thou betrayed me twice.Who would have weened that,thou that hast been to me so lief and dear?and thou art named a noble knight,and would betray me for the richness of the sword.
But now go again lightly,for thy long tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of my life,for I have taken cold.
And but if thou do now as I bid thee,if ever I may see thee,I shall slay thee with mine own hands;for thou wouldst for my rich sword see me dead.
Then Sir Bedivere departed,and went to the sword,and lightly took it up,and went to the water side;and there he bound the girdle about the hilts,and then he threw the sword as far into the water as he might;and there came an arm and an hand above the water and met it,and caught it,and so shook it thrice and brandished,and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the water.So Sir Bedivere came again to the king,and told him what he saw.Alas,said the king,help me hence,for I dread me I have tarried over long.Then Sir Bedivere took the king upon his back,and so went with him to that water side.And when they were at the water side,even fast by the bank hoved a little barge with many fair ladies in it,and among them all was a queen,and all they had black hoods,and all they wept and shrieked when they saw King Arthur.Now put me into the barge,said the king.And so he did softly;and there received him three queens with great mourning;and so they set them down,and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head.