The Death of Arthur

Le Morte Darthur begins with Arthur's conception and goes on to tell many great tales of the knights of the Round Table. Only the last chapter deals with Arthur's death. I had read this last chapter by itself for a previous English class, but reading it again after reading the rest of the book made it much more meaningful. When war begins between Arthur and Lancelot, the lists of knights killed is full of familiar names, knights that had once been all united in the Grail Quest and other adventures.

While Arthur is waging war against Lancelot in France, Mordred declares himself king of England and Arthur returns to reclaim his throne. The last battle famously ends with four men standing: Arthur, Mordred, Lucan, and Bedivere. Arthur then kills Mordred, but receives a fatal wound from him:

"And noble King Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned oftentimes. And Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere ofttimes heaved him up, and so weakly betwixt them they led him to a little chapel not far from the sea; and when the King was there, he thought him reasonably eased. Then heard they people cry in the field.
    'Now go thous, 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 yode, he saw and hearkened by the moonlight how that pillagers and robbers were come into the field to pillage and to rob many a full noble knight of brooches and bees, and of many a good ring and many a rich jewel. And who that were not dead all out, there they slew them for their harness and their riches."

One of the sad things about this passage is that any strong knight of the Round Table would be able to stop such looting. All that remains of the Round Table, however, is a mortally wounded Arthur and two wounded, relatively minor knights. It is the end of an era.