Diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _R. L. Stevenson_ 171

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

{1}

SIR THOMAS MALORY 15th century

DEATH OF SIR GAWAINE

And so, as Sir Mordred was at Dover with his host, there came King
Arthur with a great navy of ships, galleys, and carracks. And there
was Sir Mordred ready waiting upon his landing, to let his own father
to land upon the land that he was king of. Then was there launching of
great boats and small, and all were full of noble men of arms; and
there was much slaughter of gentle knights, and many a full bold baron
was laid full low on both parties. But King Arthur was so courageous,
that there might no manner of knight let him to land, and his knights
fiercely followed him, and so they landed maugre Sir Mordred and all
his power, and put Sir Mordred back, that he fled and all his people.
So when this battle was done, King Arthur let bury his people that were
dead. And then was the noble knight Sir Gawaine found in a great boat,
lying more than half dead. When King Arthur wist that Sir Gawaine was
laid so low, he went unto him; and there the king made sorrow out of
measure, and took Sir Gawaine in his arms, and thrice he swooned. And
when he came to himself again, he said, "Alas! my sister's son, here
now thou liest, the man in the world {2} that I loved most, and now is
my joy gone. For now, my nephew Sir Gawaine, I will discover me unto
your person. In Sir Launcelot and you I most had my joy and mine
affiance, and now have I lost my joy of you both, wherefore all mine
earthly joy is gone from me." "My uncle King Arthur," said Sir
Gawaine, "wit you well that my death's day is come, and all is through
mine own hastiness and wilfulness, for I am smitten upon the old wound
that Sir Launcelot du Lake gave me, of the which I feel that I must
die; and if Sir Launcelot had been with you as he was, this unhappy war
had never begun, and of all this I myself am causer; for Sir Launcelot
and his blood, through their prowess, held all your cankered enemies in
subjection and danger. And now," said Sir Gawaine, "ye shall miss Sir
Launcelot. But alas! I would not accord with him; and therefore,"
said Sir Gawaine, "I pray you, fair uncle, that I may have paper, pen,
and ink, that I may write unto Sir Launcelot a letter with mine own
hands." And when paper and ink was brought, Sir Gawaine was set up
weakly by