Difference between revisions of "Le Morte Darthur Book 4"

Revision as of 23:37, 15 November 2007

1. Merlin falls in love with a woman and he wants to be with her for all the time. When she leaves Arthur’s court Merlin follows her, but before he goes away he talks to Arthur. In this conversation he warns Arthur to keep an eye on his sword Excalibur and the scabbard, because these things should be stolen soon. After Merlin and the woman have travelled around, Merlin asks her to marry him. The woman refuses to marry Merlin, because she thinks he is a son of the devil. In the end of this chapter the woman plays a trick on Merlin. From that time on Merlin is confined under some stones and he isn’t able to acquit himself of these stones.

2. Fife kings (the king of Denmark, the king of Ireland, the king of Soleise, the king of the isle of Longtainse and the king of Vale) attack Arthur’s realm. Their plan is to kill Arthur and his fellows. That’s why Arthur wants to fight against them. But he can’t prepare the battle in time, so he, Gwenever and only some of his knights and soldiers are leaving Camelot. They hide in a forest and wait for the troops of their friends. But one knight (the brother of one king out of the fife kings) betrays them and tells his brother about Arthur’s plans and the hiding place.

3. Arthur realises that he has been betrayed when a knight tells him about the great damage they’ve suffered. The knight gives Arthur the advice to leave the battle with Gwenever, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet and Sir Gawain in order to save them. So they ride away, but their escape is detected by the fife kings that follow them until they all arrive at a great stream. At this place Arthur, Sir Gawain, Sir Kay and Sir Griflet attack the fife kings successfully. Having killed the fife kings they return to the battle and defeat the rest of the enemies’ soldiers. In the end the victors thank god for his helping hand in this battle.

4. The fourth chapter is about the nomination of eight new knights that replace the fallen knights of the battle. Back in Camelot king Pellinore helps Arthur to make the decision. The new knights are divided into four old and four young knights. The old ones are: King Uriens (Morgan le fay’s husband), the king of the lake, Sir Hervise and Sir Galagars. The young ones are: Sir Gawain, Sir Griflet and Sir Kay. Still one is missing.

5. The last knight shall be chosen between Sir Bagdemagus and Sir Tore (king Pellinore’s son). Arthur chooses Sir Tore, that’s why Sir Bagdemagus leaves Camelot in order to find his own adventures. On his way he finds Merlin being captured under some stones, but he can’t help him and rides away.

6. King Arthur and the knights of Camelot go out on a great hunting. Entering a forest king Arthur, king Uriens and Sir Accolon loose their fellows. The three men arrive at a lake where they find a ship owned by some damoisels. They enter the ship and eat and drink together with the women. Each man is led into a secret chamber where they fall asleep, not becoming aware of the fact that they have been numbed. In their numbness they are brought to different places: Uriens is led to Morgan le fay in Camelot. Arthur is brought to a prison in which 20 other knights live.