y met so
eagerly that all men had wonder; and they so fought that their shields
fell to pieces, and horse and man fell to the earth; and both French
knight and English knight lay so long that all men weened they had been
dead. When Lucas the butler saw Griflet so lie, he horsed him again
anon, and they two did marvelous deeds of arms with many bachelors. Also
Sir Kay came out of an enbushment with five knights with him, and they
six smote other six down. But Sir Kay did that day marvelous deeds of
arms that there was none did so well as he that day. Then there come
Ladinas and Gracian, two knights of France, and did passing well, that
all men praised them. Then come there Sir Placidas, a good knight, and
met with Sir Kay, and smote him down horse and man, wherefore Sir
Griflet was wroth, and met with Sir Placidas so hard that horse and man
fell to the earth. But when the five knights wist that Sir Kay had a
fall, they were wroth out of wit, and therewith each of them five bare
down a knight. When King Arthur and the two kings saw them begin to wax
wroth on both parties, they leaped on small hackneys and let cry that
all men should depart unto their lodging. And so they went home and
unarmed them, and so to evensong and supper. And after, the three kings
went into a garden and gave the prize unto Sir Kay, and to Lucas the
butler, and unto Sir Griflet.

403

One part of _Le Morte D'Arthur_ will illustrate
almost as well as another the nature of the
adventure stories that grew up in the Middle
Ages regarding the traditional heroes of
chivalry. The following selection is taken from
the first part of the book.

ADVENTURES OF ARTHUR

SIR THOMAS MALORY

Then on a day there came in the court a squire on horseback, leading a
knight before him wounded to the death. He said, "There is a knight in
the forest who hath reared up a pavilion by a well, and hath slain my
master, a good knight whose name was Miles; wherefore I beseech you that
my master may be buried, and that some knight may revenge my master's
death."

Then the noise was great of that knight's death in the court, and every
man said his advice. Then came Griflet that was but a squire, and he was
but young, of the age of King Arthur; so he besought the king for all
his service that he had done him to give him the order of knighthood.

"Thou art full young and tender of age," said Arthur, "for to take so
hig