Chapter 18 - Page 2

betwixt King Arthur and Sir Modred that
they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not far from the
seaside, to do battle yet again. And at night, as the king slept, he
dreamed a wonderful dream. It seemed him verily that there came Sir
Gawain unto him, with a number of fair ladies with him. And when
King Arthur saw him, he said, "Welcome, my sister's son; I weened thou
hadst been dead; and now I see thee alive, great is my joy. But, O
fair nephew, what be these ladies that hither be come with you?"
"Sir," said Sir Gawain, "all these be ladies for whom I have fought
when I was a living man; and because I did battle for them in
righteous quarrel, they have given me grace to bring me hither unto
you, to warn you of your death, if ye fight to-morrow with Sir Modred.
Therefore take ye treaty, and proffer you largely for a month's delay;
for within a month shall come Sir Launcelot and all his noble knights,
and rescue you worshipfully, and slay Sir Modred and all that hold
with him." And then Sir Gawain and all the ladies vanished. And anon
the king called to fetch his noble lords and wise bishops unto him.
And when they were come, the king told them his vision, and what Sir
Gawain had told him. Then the king sent Sir Lucan the butler, and
Sir Bedivere, with two bishops, and charged them in any wise to take a
treaty for a month and a day with Sir Modred. So they departed, and
came to Sir Modred; and so, at the last, Sir Modred was agreed to have
Cornwall and Kent, during Arthur's life, and all England after his
death.
Then was it agreed that King Arthur and Sir Modred should meet
betwixt both their hosts, and each of them should bring fourteen
persons, and then and there they should sign the treaty. And when King
Arthur and his knights were prepared to go forth, he warned all his
host, "If so be ye see any sword drawn, look ye come on fiercely,
and slay whomsoever withstandeth, for I in no wise trust that traitor,
Sir Modred." In likewise Sir Modred warned his host. So they met,
and were agreed and accorded thoroughly. And wine was brought, and
they drank. Right then came an adder out of a little heath-bush, and
stung a knight on the foot. And when the knight felt him sting, he
looked down and saw the adder, and then he drew his sword to slay
the adder, and thought of no other harm. And when the host on both
sides saw that sword drawn, they blew trumpets and horns, and
shouted greatly. And King Arthur took his horse, and rode to his
party, saying, "Alas, this unhappy day!" And Sir Modred did in like
wise. And never was there a more doleful battle in Christian land. And
ever King Arthur rode throughout the battle, and did full nobly, as
a worthy king should, and Sir Modred that day did his devoir, and