Skip to content
Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1Sir Thomas Malory

Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1

by OpenStories

Original author: Sir Thomas Malory

CompletedPublished Updated

"Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1" by Sir Thomas Malory is a prose compilation completed around 1470. This Middle English work weaves together tales of the legendary King Arthur, from his conception to his death. It chronicles Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table, including their quest for the Holy Grail and the legend of Tristan and Iseult. Written apparently in prison, Malory rearranged and modified French and English sources to create a complete Arthurian saga that became one of literature's most influential retellings of the legend.

Le Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1, by Sir Thomas Malory. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #1251.

  • 163,755words
  • 239chapters
  • 0stars
  • 0bookmarks
  • 6hits
Start reading

239 Chapters

  1. 1.Front Matter3,637 words
  2. 2.Chapter XLIII: How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that1,320 words
  3. 3.Preface: Of William Caxton1,760 words
  4. 4.Chapter I: First, How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and666 words
  5. 5.Chapter II: How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and685 words
  6. 6.Chapter III: Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture475 words
  7. 7.Chapter IV: Of the death of King Uther Pendragon334 words
  8. 8.Chapter V: How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a988 words
  9. 9.Chapter VI: How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times579 words
  10. 10.Chapter VII: How King Arthur was crowned, and how he made officers357 words
  11. 11.Chapter VIII: How King Arthur held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a great608 words
  12. 12.Chapter IX: Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the451 words
  13. 13.Chapter X: How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and1,191 words
  14. 14.Chapter XI: Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and the two kings778 words
  15. 15.Chapter XII: How eleven kings gathered a great host against King570 words
  16. 16.Chapter XIV: How the eleven kings with their host fought against Arthur1,098 words
  17. 17.Chapter XV: Yet of the same battle868 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVI: Yet more of the same battle1,125 words
  19. 19.Chapter XVII: Yet more of the same battle, and how it was ended by1,129 words
  20. 20.Chapter XVIII: How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors rescued King680 words
  21. 21.Chapter XIX: How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and of his dream, and how571 words
  22. 22.Chapter XX: How King Pellinore took Arthur’s horse and followed the646 words
  23. 23.Chapter XXI: How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother, of557 words
  24. 24.Chapter XXII: How Griflet was made knight, and jousted with a knight406 words
  25. 25.Chapter XXIII: How twelve knights came from Rome and asked truage for1,029 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXIV: How Merlin saved Arthur’s life, and threw an enchantment275 words
  27. 27.Chapter XXV: How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword773 words
  28. 28.Chapter XXVI: How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome328 words
  29. 29.Chapter XXVII: How all the children were sent for that were born on237 words
  30. 30.Chapter I: Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man618 words
  31. 31.Chapter II: How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the788 words
  32. 32.Chapter III: How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight’s head that632 words
  33. 33.Chapter IV: How Merlin told the adventure of this damosel270 words
  34. 34.Chapter V: How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, and527 words
  35. 35.Chapter VI: How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for489 words
  36. 36.Chapter VII: How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of Lanceor, and369 words
  37. 37.Chapter VIII: How Merlin prophesied that two the best knights of the539 words
  38. 38.Chapter IX: How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of Merlin, took535 words
  39. 39.Chapter X: How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and King Lot of745 words
  40. 40.Chapter XI: Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the prophecy of435 words
  41. 41.Chapter XII: How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, and how Balin475 words
  42. 42.Chapter XIII: How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in510 words
  43. 43.Chapter XIV: How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast,669 words
  44. 44.Chapter XV: How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how his sword brake,283 words
  45. 45.Chapter XVI: How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that718 words
  46. 46.Chapter XVII: How that knight slew his love and a knight lying by her,624 words
  47. 47.Chapter XVIII: How Balin met with his brother Balan, and how each of806 words
  48. 48.Chapter XIX: How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of Balin’s450 words
  49. 49.Chapter I: How King Arthur took a wife, and wedded Guenever, daughter531 words
  50. 50.Chapter II: How the Knights of the Round Table were ordained and their310 words
  51. 51.Chapter III: How a poor man riding upon a lean mare desired King Arthur787 words
  52. 52.Chapter IV: How Sir Tor was known for son of King Pellinore, and how303 words
  53. 53.Chapter V: How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a423 words
  54. 54.Chapter VI: How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the hart, and how557 words
  55. 55.Chapter VII: How the hart was chased into a castle and there slain, and547 words
  56. 56.Chapter VIII: How four knights fought against Gawaine and Gaheris, and653 words
  57. 57.Chapter IX: How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the brachet, and of498 words
  58. 58.Chapter X: How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight523 words
  59. 59.Chapter XI: How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head695 words
  60. 60.Chapter XII: How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that743 words
  61. 61.Chapter XIII: How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to590 words
  62. 62.Chapter XIV: How on the way he heard two knights, as he lay by night in397 words
  63. 63.Chapter XV: How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn upon a book to521 words
  64. 64.Chapter I: How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of the ladies of609 words
  65. 65.Chapter II: How five kings came into this land to war against King474 words
  66. 66.Chapter III: How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and714 words
  67. 67.Chapter IV: How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur494 words
  68. 68.Chapter V: How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round Table, and how503 words
  69. 69.Chapter VI: How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul,509 words
  70. 70.Chapter VII: How Arthur took upon him to fight to be delivered out of656 words
  71. 71.Chapter VIII: How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon him761 words
  72. 72.Chapter IX: Of the battle between King Arthur and Accolon562 words
  73. 73.Chapter X: How King Arthur’s sword that he fought with brake, and how654 words
  74. 74.Chapter XI: How Accolon confessed the treason of Morgan le Fay, King538 words
  75. 75.Chapter XII: How Arthur accorded the two brethren, and delivered the682 words
  76. 76.Chapter XIII: How Morgan would have slain Sir Uriens her husband, and339 words
  77. 77.Chapter XIV: How Queen Morgan le Fay made great sorrow for the death of700 words
  78. 78.Chapter XV: How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that should have been558 words
  79. 79.Chapter XVI: How the Damosel of the Lake saved King Arthur from mantle466 words
  80. 80.Chapter XVII: How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine met with twelve fair381 words
  81. 81.Chapter XVIII: How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine,1,239 words
  82. 82.Chapter XIX: How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three344 words
  83. 83.Chapter XX: How a knight and a dwarf strove for a lady894 words
  84. 84.Chapter XXI: How King Pelleas suffered himself to be taken prisoner870 words
  85. 85.Chapter XXII: How Sir Gawaine came to the Lady Ettard, and how Sir1,498 words
  86. 86.Chapter XXIV: How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and how he came to668 words
  87. 87.Chapter XXV: How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke and his four sons and752 words
  88. 88.Chapter XXVI: How Sir Uwaine rode with the damosel of sixty year of447 words
  89. 89.Chapter XXVII: How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights and overcame403 words
  90. 90.Chapter XXVIII: How at the year’s end all three knights with their453 words
  91. 91.Chapter I: How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to King Arthur to571 words
  92. 92.Chapter II: How the kings and lords promised to King Arthur aid and983 words
  93. 93.Chapter III: How King Arthur held a parliament at York, and how he285 words
  94. 94.Chapter IV: How King Arthur being shipped and lying in his cabin had a428 words
  95. 95.Chapter V: How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant,1,250 words
  96. 96.Chapter VI: How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and other to Lucius, and758 words
  97. 97.Chapter VII: How Lucius sent certain spies in a bushment for to have442 words
  98. 98.Chapter VIII: How a senator told to Lucius of their discomfiture, and1,224 words
  99. 99.Chapter IX: How Arthur, after he had achieved the battle against the391 words
  100. 100.Chapter X: Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine against a Saracen, which1,146 words
  101. 101.Chapter XI: How the Saracens came out of a wood for to rescue their513 words
  102. 102.Chapter XII: How Sir Gawaine returned to King Arthur with his1,054 words
  103. 103.Chapter I: How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel departed from the court,638 words
  104. 104.Chapter II: How Sir Ector followed for to seek Sir Launcelot, and how537 words
  105. 105.Chapter III: How four queens found Launcelot sleeping, and how by650 words
  106. 106.Chapter IV: How Sir Launcelot was delivered by the mean of a damosel511 words
  107. 107.Chapter V: How a knight found Sir Launcelot lying in his leman’s bed,512 words
  108. 108.Chapter VI: How Sir Launcelot was received of King Bagdemagus’553 words
  109. 109.Chapter VII: How Sir Launcelot behaved him in a tournament, and how he1,071 words
  110. 110.Chapter VIII: How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine fought together543 words
  111. 111.Chapter IX: How Sir Turquine was slain, and how Sir Launcelot bade Sir667 words
  112. 112.Chapter X: How Sir Launcelot rode with a damosel and slew a knight that803 words
  113. 113.Chapter XI: How Sir Launcelot slew two giants, and made a castle free1,264 words
  114. 114.Chapter XII: How Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir Kay’s harness, and714 words
  115. 115.Chapter XIII: How Sir Launcelot jousted against four knights of the487 words
  116. 116.Chapter XIV: How Sir Launcelot followed a brachet into a castle, where555 words
  117. 117.Chapter XV: How Sir Launcelot came into the Chapel Perilous and gat817 words
  118. 118.Chapter XVI: How Sir Launcelot at the request of a lady recovered a746 words
  119. 119.Chapter XVII: How Sir Launcelot overtook a knight which chased his wife728 words
  120. 120.Chapter XVIII: How Sir Launcelot came to King Arthur’s Court, and how475 words
  1. 121.Chapter I: How Beaumains came to King Arthur’s Court and demanded three772 words
  2. 122.Chapter II: How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth because Sir716 words
  3. 123.Chapter III: How Beaumains desired the battle, and how it was granted291 words
  4. 124.Chapter IV: How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear426 words
  5. 125.Chapter V: How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name, and how he was846 words
  6. 126.Chapter VI: How Beaumains fought and slew two knights at a passage486 words
  7. 127.Chapter VII: How Beaumains fought with the Knight of the Black Launds,725 words
  8. 128.Chapter VIII: How the brother of the knight that was slain met with771 words
  9. 129.Chapter IX: How the damosel again rebuked Beaumains, and would not455 words
  10. 130.Chapter X: How the third brother, called the Red Knight, jousted and711 words
  11. 131.Chapter XI: How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel,988 words
  12. 132.Chapter XII: How Beaumains fought with Sir Persant of Inde, and made694 words
  13. 133.Chapter XIII: Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and593 words
  14. 134.Chapter XIV: How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister859 words
  15. 135.Chapter XV: How the damosel and Beaumains came to the siege; and came692 words
  16. 136.Chapter XVI: How the two knights met together, and of their talking,568 words
  17. 137.Chapter XVII: How after long fighting Beaumains overcame the knight and779 words
  18. 138.Chapter XVIII: How the knight yielded him, and how Beaumains made him604 words
  19. 139.Chapter XIX: How Beaumains came to the lady, and when he came to the788 words
  20. 140.Chapter XX: How Sir Beaumains rode after to rescue his dwarf, and came898 words
  21. 141.Chapter XXI: How Sir Gareth, otherwise called Beaumains, came to the528 words
  22. 142.Chapter XXII: How at night came an armed knight, and fought with Sir862 words
  23. 143.Chapter XXIII: How the said knight came again the next night and was969 words
  24. 144.Chapter XXIV: How King Arthur pardoned them, and demanded of them where343 words
  25. 145.Chapter XXV: How the Queen of Orkney came to this feast of Pentecost,654 words
  26. 146.Chapter XXVI: How King Arthur sent for the Lady Lionesse, and how she1,167 words
  27. 147.Chapter XXVII: How King Arthur went to the tournament with his knights,799 words
  28. 148.Chapter XXVIII: How the knights bare them in the battle839 words
  29. 149.Chapter XXIX: Yet of the said tournament654 words
  30. 150.Chapter XXX: How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, and how he542 words
  31. 151.Chapter XXXI: How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well lodged,718 words
  32. 152.Chapter XXXII: How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his678 words
  33. 153.Chapter XXXIII: How Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine fought each against876 words
  34. 154.Chapter XXXIV: How Sir Gareth acknowledged that they loved each other543 words
  35. 155.Chapter XXXV: Of the Great Royalty, and what officers were made at the899 words
  36. 156.Chapter I: How Sir Tristram de Liones was born, and how his mother died641 words
  37. 157.Chapter II: How the stepmother of Sir Tristram had ordained poison for776 words
  38. 158.Chapter III: How Sir Tristram was sent into France, and had one to353 words
  39. 159.Chapter IV: How Sir Marhaus came out of Ireland for to ask truage of651 words
  40. 160.Chapter V: How Tristram enterprized the battle to fight for the truage844 words
  41. 161.Chapter VI: How Sir Tristram arrived into the Island for to furnish the297 words
  42. 162.Chapter VII: How Sir Tristram fought against Sir Marhaus and achieved741 words
  43. 163.Chapter VIII: How Sir Marhaus after that he was arrived in Ireland died651 words
  44. 164.Chapter IX: How Sir Tristram was put to the keeping of La Beale Isoud733 words
  45. 165.Chapter X: How Sir Tristram won the degree at a tournament in Ireland,794 words
  46. 166.Chapter XI: How the queen espied that Sir Tristram had slain her593 words
  47. 167.Chapter XII: How Sir Tristram departed from the king and La Beale Isoud761 words
  48. 168.Chapter XIII: How Sir Tristram and King Mark hurted each other for the552 words
  49. 169.Chapter XIV: How Sir Tristram lay with the lady, and how her husband626 words
  50. 170.Chapter XV: How Sir Bleoberis demanded the fairest lady in King Mark’s623 words
  51. 171.Chapter XVI: How Sir Tristram fought with two knights of the Round598 words
  52. 172.Chapter XVII: How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Bleoberis for a lady,633 words
  53. 173.Chapter XVIII: How the lady forsook Sir Tristram and abode with Sir536 words
  54. 174.Chapter XIX: How King Mark sent Sir Tristram for La Beale Isoud toward390 words
  55. 175.Chapter XX: How King Anguish of Ireland was summoned to come to King477 words
  56. 176.Chapter XXI: How Sir Tristram rescued a child from a knight, and how697 words
  57. 177.Chapter XXII: How Sir Tristram fought for Sir Anguish and overcame his644 words
  58. 178.Chapter XXIII: How Sir Blamore desired Tristram to slay him, and how634 words
  59. 179.Chapter XXIV: How Sir Tristram demanded La Beale Isoud for King Mark,623 words
  60. 180.Chapter XXV: How Sir Tristram and Isoud were in prison, and how he836 words
  61. 181.Chapter XXVI: How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Breunor, and at the last327 words
  62. 182.Chapter XXVII: How Sir Galahad fought with Sir Tristram, and how Sir736 words
  63. 183.Chapter XXVIII: How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away Sir413 words
  64. 184.Chapter XXIX: Of the wedding of King Mark to La Beale Isoud, and of520 words
  65. 185.Chapter XXX: How Palamides demanded Queen Isoud, and how Lambegus rode806 words
  66. 186.Chapter XXXI: How Sir Tristram rode after Palamides, and how he found718 words
  67. 187.Chapter XXXII: How Sir Tristram brought Queen Isoud home, and of the579 words
  68. 188.Chapter XXXIII: How Sir Lamorak jousted with thirty knights, and Sir749 words
  69. 189.Chapter XXXIV: How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to King Mark in despite of904 words
  70. 190.Chapter XXXV: How Sir Tristram was holpen by his men, and of Queen499 words
  71. 191.Chapter XXXVI: How Sir Tristram served in war King Howel of Brittany,547 words
  72. 192.Chapter XXXVII: How Sir Suppinabiles told Sir Tristram how he was497 words
  73. 193.Chapter XXXVIII: How Sir Tristram and his wife arrived in Wales, and852 words
  74. 194.Chapter XXXIX: How Sir Tristram fought with Sir Nabon, and overcame785 words
  75. 195.Chapter XL: How Sir Lamorak departed from Sir Tristram, and how he met882 words
  76. 196.Chapter XLI: How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous737 words
  77. 197.Chapter I: How a young man came into the court of King Arthur, and how693 words
  78. 198.Chapter II: How a damosel came into the court and desired a knight to585 words
  79. 199.Chapter III: How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir Dagonet the king’s609 words
  80. 200.Chapter IV: How La Cote Male Taile fought against an hundred knights,833 words
  81. 201.Chapter V: How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard of La Cote804 words
  82. 202.Chapter VI: How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with513 words
  83. 203.Chapter VII: How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,931 words
  84. 204.Chapter VIII: How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, and after763 words
  85. 205.Chapter IX: How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Taile lord of the276 words
  86. 206.Chapter X: How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid614 words
  87. 207.Chapter XI: How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak de Galis, and how343 words
  88. 208.Chapter XII: How Sir Palomides followed the Questing Beast, and smote575 words
  89. 209.Chapter XIII: How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and fought828 words
  90. 210.Chapter XIV: How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after of the shame680 words
  91. 211.Chapter XV: How King Arthur was brought into the Forest Perilous, and810 words
  92. 212.Chapter XVI: How Sir Tristram came to La Beale Isoud, and how Kehydius662 words
  93. 213.Chapter XVII: How Sir Tristram departed from Tintagil, and how he798 words
  94. 214.Chapter XVIII: How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how776 words
  95. 215.Chapter XIX: How it was noised how Sir Tristram was dead, and how La631 words
  96. 216.Chapter XX: How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be694 words
  97. 217.Chapter XXI: How King Mark, by the advice of his council, banished Sir614 words
  98. 218.Chapter XXII: How a damosel sought help to help Sir Launcelot against818 words
  99. 219.Chapter XXIII: How Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan came to a lodging where808 words
  100. 220.Chapter XXIV: How Sir Tristram jousted with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore782 words
  101. 221.Chapter XXV: How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode to have foughten605 words
  102. 222.Chapter XXVI: How damosel Bragwaine found Tristram sleeping by a well,612 words
  103. 223.Chapter XXVII: How Sir Tristram had a fall with Sir Palomides, and how769 words
  104. 224.Chapter XXVIII: How Sir Launcelot jousted with Palomides and overthrew448 words
  105. 225.Chapter XXIX: How Sir Tristram behaved him the first day of the486 words
  106. 226.Chapter XXX: How Sir Tristram returned against King Arthur’s party879 words
  107. 227.Chapter XXXI: How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a well, and brought987 words
  108. 228.Chapter XXXII: How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and how he555 words
  109. 229.Chapter XXXIII: How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and how after Sir809 words
  110. 230.Chapter XXXIV: How the prize of the third day was given to Sir708 words
  111. 231.Chapter XXXV: How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was,855 words
  112. 232.Chapter XXXVI: How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were812 words
  113. 233.Chapter XXXVII: How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir912 words
  114. 234.Chapter XXVIII: Of the treason of King Mark, and how Sir Gaheris smote919 words
  115. 235.Chapter XIX: How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir931 words
  116. 236.Chapter XL: How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir Breuse Saunce Pité,779 words
  117. 237.Chapter XLI: How Sir Tristram took with him the shield, and also how he331 words
  118. 238.Chapter XLII: How Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, and how Sir427 words
  119. 239.Chapter XLIII: How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that2,338 words