Fair Maiden of Astolat
Also known as: Maid of Astolat · Family: unknown · Role: maiden · First appears: Book XVIII, Chapter X
Life events
- Sir Launcelot reveals that the Fair Maiden of Astolat persistently seeks him and loves him.(Book XVIII, Chapter XVI · 📍 the hermitage)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “She it is, said Sir Launcelot, that by no means I cannot put her from me.”
- The Fair Maiden of Astolat's corpse arrives before King Arthur by black barge.(Book XVIII, Chapter XX · 📍 Thames)
- With: King Arthur Queen Guenever
- “So by fortune King Arthur and the Queen Guenever were speaking together at a window, and so as they looked into Thames they espied this black barget”
- A letter identifies the corpse and requests burial and Sir Launcelot's mass-penny.(Book XVIII, Chapter XX)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “I was your lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of Astolat; therefore unto all ladies I make my moan, yet pray for my soul and bury me at least, and offer ye my mass-penny: this is my last request.”
- The letter reveals that the Fair Maiden of Astolat died while remaining chaste.(Book XVIII, Chapter XX)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “And a clean maiden I died, I take God to witness: pray for my soul, Sir Launcelot, as thou art peerless.”
- Sir Launcelot refuses her demand to become his wife or paramour.(Book XVIII, Chapter XX)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “she would none other ways be answered but that she would be my wife, outher else my paramour; and of these two I would not grant her”
- The Fair Maiden of Astolat is richly buried, and Sir Launcelot offers her mass-penny.(Book XVIII, Chapter XX)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “And so upon the morn she was interred richly, and Sir Launcelot offered her mass-penny”
Book XVIII, Chapter X
- parent: Sir Bernard “And so they took their leave at Sir Bernard, the old baron, and at his daughter, the Fair Maiden of Astolat.”
Book XVIII, Chapter XVI
- admired: Sir Launcelot “But I see well, said Sir Bors, by her diligence about you that she loveth you entirely.”
Book XVIII, Chapter XX
- courtship with Sir Launcelot “Most noble knight, Sir Launcelot, now hath death made us two at debate for your love. I was your lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of Astolat;”
- siblings with Sir Lavaine “and that will I report me to her own brother: here he is, Sir Lavaine.”
- admired: Sir Launcelot (The maiden declares her love for Sir Launcelot.) “Most noble knight, Sir Launcelot, now hath death made us two at debate for your love. I was your lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of Astolat”
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Extracted from the original text of Le Morte d'Arthur. Made with Rho MD.