Idylls of the King — Chronicle
Ordered by chapter. No event in this book could be dated from the text, so it is not dated — no anchor, no chronology; a date is never inferred. Time expressions are copied from the text as written. Every event links back to one sentence of the original.
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263 events · no event could be dated from the text
Undated
The Coming of Arthur 1
And after these King Arthur for a space, And through the puissance of his Table Round, Drew all their petty princedoms under him. Their king and head, and made a realm, and reigned.
The Coming of Arthur 1
Arthur Carados Urien Cradlemont Claudias Clariance Brandagoras Anguisant Morganore Lot
Arthur by main might, And mightier of his hands with every blow, And leading all his knighthood threw the kings Carados, Urien, Cradlemont of Wales, Claudias, and Clariance of Northumberland, The King Brandagoras of Latangor, With Anguisant of Erin, Morganore, And Lot of Orkney.
The Coming of Arthur 2 · Not many moons
Not many moons, King Uther died himself, Moaning and wailing for an heir to rule
The Coming of Arthur 2 · that same night, the night of the new year
And that same night, the night of the new year, By reason of the bitterness and grief That vext his mother, all before his time Was Arthur born, and all as soon as born Delivered at a secret postern-gate To Merlin, to be holden far apart
The Coming of Arthur 2
She gave the King his huge cross-hilted sword, Whereby to drive the heathen out:
The Coming of Arthur 3 · 📍 [[Tintagil]] · on the night
When Uther in Tintagil past away / Moaning and wailing for an heir
The Coming of Arthur 3 · but of late
For Bleys, our Merlin’s master, as they say, / Died but of late, and sent his cry to me, / To hear him speak before he left his life.
The Coming of Arthur 3 · in May
And Lancelot past away among the flowers, / (For then was latter April) and returned / Among the flowers, in May, with Guinevere. / To whom arrived, by Dubric the high saint, / Chief of the church in Britain, and before / The stateliest of her altar-shrines, the King / That morn was married
The Coming of Arthur 3 · for a space
Fought, and in twelve great battles overcame / The heathen hordes, and made a realm and reigned.
Gareth and Lynette 1 · an hour
He rose, and out of slumber calling two That still had tended on him from his birth, Before the wakeful mother heard him, went. The three were clad like tillers of the soil.
Gareth and Lynette 2
Thy father, Uther, reft From my dead lord a field with violence: For howsoe’er at first he proffered gold, Yet, for the field was pleasant in our eyes, We yielded not; and then he reft us of it Perforce, and left us neither gold nor field.
Gareth and Lynette 2 · 📍 [[Camelot]]
And Arthur, “Have thy pleasant field again, And thrice the gold for Uther’s use thereof, According to the years. No boon is here, But justice, so thy say be proven true.
Gareth and Lynette 2 · 📍 [[Camelot]]
But Arthur, “We sit King, to help the wronged Through all our realm. The woman loves her lord. Peace to thee, woman, with thy loves and hates! The kings of old had doomed thee to the flames, Aurelius Emrys would have scourged thee dead, And Uther slit thy tongue: but get thee hence— Lest that rough humour of the kings of old Return upon me! Thou that art her kin, Go likewise; lay him low and slay him not, But bring him here, that I may judge the right, According to the justice of the King: Then, be he guilty, by that deathless King Who lived and died for men, the man shall die.”
Gareth and Lynette 3 · in the weeks that followed
Arms for her son, and loosed him from his vow.
Gareth and Lynette 4
“A boon, Sir King—this quest!” then—for he marked Kay near him groaning like a wounded bull— “Yea, King, thou knowest thy kitchen-knave am I, And mighty through thy meats and drinks am I, And I can topple over a hundred such. Thy promise, King,” and Arthur glancing at him, Brought down a momentary brow. “Rough, sudden, And pardonable, worthy to be knight— Go therefore,” and all hearers were amazed.
Gareth and Lynette 4 · 📍 [[Castle Perilous]] · that same day
“My name?” she said— “Lynette my name; noble; my need, a knight To combat for my sister, Lyonors, A lady of high lineage, of great lands, And comely, yea, and comelier than myself. She lives in Castle Perilous: a river Runs in three loops about her living-place; And o’er it are three passings, and three knights Defend the passings, brethren, and a fourth And of that four the mightiest, holds her stayed In her own castle, and so besieges her To break her will, and make her wed with him: And but delays his purport till thou send To do the battle with him, thy chief man Sir Lancelot whom he trusts to overthrow, Then wed, with glory: but she will not wed Save whom she loveth, or a holy life. Now therefore have I come for Lancelot.”
Gareth and Lynette 4
Then as he donned the helm, and took the shield And mounted horse and graspt a spear, of grain Storm-strengthened on a windy site, and tipt With trenchant steel, around him slowly prest The people, while from out of kitchen came The thralls in throng, and seeing who had worked Lustier than any, and whom they could but love, Mounted in arms, threw up their caps and cried, “God bless the King, and all his fellowship!” And on through lanes of shouting Gareth rode Down the slope street, and past without the gate.
Gareth and Lynette 4 · 📍 [[field of tourney]]
“Damsel, the quest is mine. Lead, and I follow.” She thereat, as one That smells a foul-fleshed agaric in the holt, And deems it carrion of some woodland thing, Or shrew, or weasel, nipt her slender nose With petulant thumb and finger, shrilling, “Hence! Avoid, thou smellest all of kitchen-grease.
Gareth and Lynette 5 · the dusk that followed evensong
Gareth Baron
Three with good blows he quieted, but three Fled through the pines; and Gareth loosed the stone From off his neck, then in the mere beside Tumbled it; ... Last, Gareth loosed his bonds and on free feet Set him, a stalwart Baron, Arthur’s friend.
Gareth and Lynette 5
Full pardon, but I follow up the quest, Despite of Day and Night and Death and Hell.
Gareth and Lynette 5
These armed him in blue arms, and gave a shield Blue also, and thereon the morning star.
Gareth and Lynette 6 · 📍 [[central bridge]]
but one stroke Laid him that clove it grovelling on the ground. Then cried the fallen, “Take not my life: I yield.”
Gareth and Lynette 6 · 📍 [[central bridge]]
“Knight, Thy life is thine at her command. Arise And quickly pass to Arthur’s hall, and say His kitchen-knave hath sent thee. See thou crave His pardon for thy breaking of his laws.
Gareth and Lynette 6 · 📍 [[ford]]
the Sun was washed away. Then Gareth laid his lance athwart the ford; So drew him home; but he that fought no more, As being all bone-battered on the rock, Yielded;
Gareth and Lynette 6 · 📍 [[ford]]
Yielded; and Gareth sent him to the King, “Myself when I return will plead for thee.”
The Marriage of Geraint 2 · on the third day
I will avenge this insult, noble Queen, Done in your maiden’s person to yourself:
The Marriage of Geraint 3
I am Geraint Of Devon—for this morning when the Queen Sent her own maiden to demand the name, His dwarf, a vicious under-shapen thing, Struck at her with his whip, and she returned Indignant to the Queen; and then I swore That I would track this caitiff to his hold, And fight and break his pride, and have it of him.
The Marriage of Geraint 3
He sowed a slander in the common ear, Affirming that his father left him gold, And in my charge, which was not rendered to him; Bribed with large promises the men who served About my person, the more easily Because my means were somewhat broken into Through open doors and hospitality; Raised my own town against me in the night Before my Enid’s birthday, sacked my house; From mine own earldom foully ousted me;
The Marriage of Geraint 3
Let me lay lance in rest, O noble host, For this dear child, because I never saw, Though having seen all beauties of our time, Nor can see elsewhere, anything so fair. And if I fall her name will yet remain Untarnished as before; but if I live, So aid me Heaven when at mine uttermost, As I will make her truly my true wife.”
The Marriage of Geraint 4 · 📍 [[Arthur’s court]]
First, thou thyself, with damsel and with dwarf, Shalt ride to Arthur’s court, and coming there, Crave pardon for that insult done the Queen, And shalt abide her judgment on it; next, Thou shalt give back their earldom to thy kin. These two things shalt thou do, or thou shalt die.
The Marriage of Geraint 4 · 📍 [[Arthur’s court]]
And rising up, he rode to Arthur’s court, And there the Queen forgave him easily.
Geraint and Enid 1 · when the fourth part of the day was gone
And at the midmost charging, Prince Geraint Drave the long spear a cubit through his breast And out beyond; and then against his brace Of comrades, each of whom had broken on him A lance that splintered like an icicle, Swung from his brand a windy buffet out Once, twice, to right, to left, and stunned the twain Or slew them
Geraint and Enid 3
And at a sudden swerving of the road, Though happily down on a bank of grass, The Prince, without a word, from his horse fell.
Geraint and Enid 3
And Enid heard the clashing of his fall, Suddenly came, and at his side all pale Dismounting, loosed the fastenings of his arms, Nor let her true hand falter, nor blue eye Moisten, till she had lighted on his wound, And tearing off her veil of faded silk Had bared her forehead to the blistering sun, And swathed the hurt that drained her dear lord’s life.
Geraint and Enid 4 · 📍 [[hall of Doorm]]
Here, take him up, and bear him to our hall: An if he live, we will have him of our band; And if he die, why earth has earth enough To hide him.
Geraint and Enid 4 · 📍 [[naked hall]] · the falling afternoon
For ye shall share my earldom with me, girl, And we will live like two birds in one nest
Geraint and Enid 4 · 📍 [[naked hall]]
Not so,” she cried, “by Heaven, I will not drink Till my dear lord arise and bid me do it
Geraint and Enid 4 · 📍 [[naked hall]] · Last
Take my salute,” unknightly with flat hand, However lightly, smote her on the cheek.
Geraint and Enid 4 · 📍 [[naked hall]] · This
Shore through the swarthy neck, and like a ball The russet-bearded head rolled on the floor. So died Earl Doorm
Geraint and Enid 5
Fair and dear cousin, you that most had cause To fear me, fear no longer, I am changed.
Geraint and Enid 6
He rooted out the slothful officer Or guilty, which for bribe had winked at wrong, And in their chairs set up a stronger race With hearts and hands, and sent a thousand men To till the wastes, and moving everywhere Cleared the dark places and let in the law, And broke the bandit holds and cleansed the land.
Geraint and Enid 6
And there he kept the justice of the King So vigorously yet mildly, that all hearts Applauded, and the spiteful whisper died:
Geraint and Enid 6
And being ever foremost in the chase, And victor at the tilt and tournament, They called him the great Prince and man of men.
Geraint and Enid 6
But Enid, whom her ladies loved to call Enid the Fair, a grateful people named Enid the Good;
Geraint and Enid 6 · 📍 [[Northern Sea]]
till he crowned A happy life with a fair death, and fell Against the heathen of the Northern Sea In battle, fighting for the blameless King.
Balin and Balan 2 · 📍 [[Camelot]]
Nor stayed to crave permission of the King, But, mad for strange adventure, dashed away.
Balin and Balan 3
“I have shamed thee so that now thou shamest me, Thee will I bear no more,” high on a branch Hung it, and turned aside into the woods
Balin and Balan 3 · 📍 [[Caerleon]] · A year ago
Vivien Balin Lancelot Guinevere
Dost thou remember at Caerleon once— A year ago—nay, then I love thee not— Ay, thou rememberest well—one summer dawn— By the great tower—Caerleon upon Usk— Nay, truly we were hidden: this fair lord, The flower of all their vestal knighthood, knelt In amorous homage—knelt—what else?—O ay Knelt, and drew down from out his night-black hair And mumbled that white hand whose ringed caress Had wandered from her own King’s golden head, And lost itself in darkness, till she cried— I thought the great tower would crash down on both— ‘Rise, my sweet King, and kiss me on the lips, Thou art my King.’ This lad, whose lightest word Is mere white truth in simple nakedness, Saw them embrace
Balin and Balan 4
so they crashed In onset, and King Pellam’s holy spear, Reputed to be red with sinless blood, Redded at once with sinful, for the point Across the maiden shield of Balan pricked The hauberk to the flesh; and Balin’s horse Was wearied to the death, and, when they clashed, Rolling back upon Balin, crushed the man Inward, and either fell, and swooned away.
Merlin and Vivien 1 · 📍 [[Arthur’s court]] · Thereafter
Thereafter as an enemy that has left Death in the living waters, and withdrawn, The wily Vivien stole from Arthur’s court.
Merlin and Vivien 1 · Then
Then fell on Merlin a great melancholy; He walked with dreams and darkness
Lancelot and Elaine 1 · Thereafter, when a King
Saying, “These jewels, whereupon I chanced Divinely, are the kingdom’s, not the King’s— For public use: henceforward let there be, Once every year, a joust for one of these:
Lancelot and Elaine 1 · eight years past
And eight years past, eight jousts had been, and still Had Lancelot won the diamond of the year, With purpose to present them to the Queen,
Lancelot and Elaine 1 · 📍 [[Astolat]] · Then
Lancelot Lord of Astolat Torre Lavaine Elaine
But since I go to joust as one unknown At Camelot for the diamond, ask me not, Hereafter ye shall know me—and the shield— I pray you lend me one, if such you have, Blank, or at least with some device not mine.
Lancelot and Elaine 2 · 📍 [[Badon hill]]
Dull days were those, till our good Arthur broke The Pagan yet once more on Badon hill.
Lancelot and Elaine 3 · 📍 [[Camelot]] · that day
and the head Pierced through his side, and there snapt, and remained.
Lancelot and Elaine 3 · 📍 [[Camelot]] · that day
His party,—though it seemed half-miracle To those he fought with,—drave his kith and kin, And all the Table Round that held the lists, Back to the barrier; then the trumpets blew Proclaiming his the prize
Lancelot and Elaine 4 · on that day when Lancelot fled the lists
But he, “I die already with it: draw— Draw,”—and Lavaine drew, and Sir Lancelot gave A marvellous great shriek and ghastly groan, And half his blood burst forth, and down he sank For the pure pain, and wholly swooned away.
Lancelot and Elaine 4 · 📍 [[the grove Of poplars]] · for many a week
And there, in daily doubt Whether to live or die, for many a week Hid from the wide world’s rumour by the grove Of poplars with their noise of falling showers,
Lancelot and Elaine 4 · after two days’ tarriance there
Said, “Lord, no sooner had ye parted from us, Than Lancelot told me of a common talk That men went down before his spear at a touch, But knowing he was Lancelot; his great name Conquered; and therefore would he hide his name From all men, even the King, and to this end Had made a pretext of a hindering wound, That he might joust unknown of all, and learn If his old prowess were in aught decayed;
Lancelot and Elaine 5 · 📍 [[court]]
Too courteous truly! ye shall go no more On quest of mine, seeing that ye forget Obedience is the courtesy due to kings.
Lancelot and Elaine 5 · 📍 [[Astolat]]
Nay, I mean nothing: so then, get you gone, Being so very wilful you must go.
Lancelot and Elaine 7 · 📍 [[Astolat]] · on the eleventh
And on the eleventh Her father laid the letter in her hand, And closed the hand upon it, and she died.
Lancelot and Elaine 7 · 📍 [[river]] · the next sun brake from underground
And the dead, Oared by the dumb, went upward with the flood—
Lancelot and Elaine 8
I loved you, and my love had no return, And therefore my true love has been my death.
Lancelot and Elaine 9
Lancelot, whom the Lady of the Lake Caught from his mother’s arms
The Holy Grail 1
Had passed into the silent life of prayer, Praise, fast, and alms; and leaving for the cowl The helmet in an abbey far away
The Holy Grail 1 · 📍 [[Glastonbury]] · of old
Joseph came of old to Glastonbury, And there the heathen Prince, Arviragus, Gave him an isle of marsh whereon to build; And there he built with wattles from the marsh A little lonely church in days of yore
The Holy Grail 1 · waked at dead of night
nun
And down the long beam stole the Holy Grail, Rose-red with beatings in it, as if alive, Till all the white walls of my cell were dyed
The Holy Grail 1
And saw the bright boy-knight, and bound it on him, Saying, ‘My knight, my love, my knight of heaven
The Holy Grail 1 · on a summer night
While the great banquet lay along the hall, That Galahad would sit down in Merlin’s chair. And all at once, as there we sat, we heard A cracking and a riving of the roofs
The Holy Grail 2
Percivale Galahad Bors Lancelot Gawain
I sware a vow before them all, that I, Because I had not seen the Grail, would ride A twelvemonth and a day in quest of it, Until I found and saw it, as the nun My sister saw it; and Galahad sware the vow, And good Sir Bors, our Lancelot’s cousin, sware, And Lancelot sware, and many among the knights, And Gawain sware, and louder than the rest.
The Holy Grail 2
Arthur Percivale Galahad Bors Lancelot Gawain
Go, since your vows are sacred, being made: Yet—for ye know the cries of all my realm Pass through this hall—how often, O my knights, Your places being vacant at my side, This chance of noble deeds will come and go Unchallenged, while ye follow wandering fires Lost in the quagmire! Many of you, yea most, Return no more
The Holy Grail 2 · 📍 [[Camelot]] · when the sun broke next from under ground
And I myself and Galahad, for a strength Was in us from this vision, overthrew So many knights that all the people cried, And almost burst the barriers in their heat, Shouting, ‘Sir Galahad and Sir Percivale!’
The Holy Grail 3
all these things at once Fell into dust, and I was left alone, And thirsting, in a land of sand and thorns.
The Holy Grail 3
but when I touched her, lo! she, too, Fell into dust and nothing, and the house Became no better than a broken shed, And in it a dead babe; and also this Fell into dust, and I was left alone.
The Holy Grail 3 · 📍 [[the great Sea]]
I saw the spiritual city and all her spires And gateways in a glory like one pearl— No larger, though the goal of all the saints— Strike from the sea; and from the star there shot A rose-red sparkle to the city, and there Dwelt, and I knew it was the Holy Grail, Which never eyes on earth again shall see.
The Holy Grail 3 · 📍 [[the gate of Arthur’s wars]] · at dawn
that I touched the chapel-doors at dawn I know; and thence Taking my war-horse from the holy man, Glad that no phantom vext me more, returned To whence I came, the gate of Arthur’s wars.
The Holy Grail 4 · one fair morn
Embraced me, and so kissed me the first time, And gave herself and all her wealth to me.
The Holy Grail 4 · one night
O me, my brother! but one night my vow Burnt me within, so that I rose and fled
The Holy Grail 4 · Afterwards
Afterwards, a maid, Who kept our holy faith among her kin In secret, entering, loosed and let him go.
The Holy Grail 4
Across the seven clear stars—O grace to me— In colour like the fingers of a hand Before a burning taper, the sweet Grail Glided and past
The Holy Grail 5
Then I spake To one most holy saint, who wept and said, That save they could be plucked asunder, all My quest were but in vain
The Holy Grail 5 · 📍 [[Carbonek]] · on the seventh night
Behold, the enchanted towers of Carbonek, A castle like a rock upon a rock, with chasm-like portals open to the sea
The Holy Grail 5
That most of them would follow wandering fires, Lost in the quagmire?—lost to me and gone, And left me gazing at a barren board, And a lean Order—scarce returned a tithe—
Pelleas and Ettarre 1 · 📍 [[Caerleon]] · on the morrow
Then being on the morrow knighted, sware To love one only.
Pelleas and Ettarre 1 · 📍 [[the flat field by the shore of Usk]] · all day long
There all day long Sir Pelleas kept the field With honour: so by that strong hand of his The sword and golden circlet were achieved.
Pelleas and Ettarre 4
Then Lancelot, “Yea, between thy lips—and sharp; But here I will disedge it by thy death.” “Slay then,” he shrieked, “my will is to be slain,” And Lancelot, with his heel upon the fallen, Rolling his eyes, a moment stood, then spake: “Rise, weakling; I am Lancelot; say thy say.”
The Last Tournament 1
till that young life Being smitten in mid heaven with mortal cold Past from her
The Last Tournament 1 · 📍 [[North]]
Maimed me and mauled, and would outright have slain, Save that he sware me to a message, saying, ‘Tell thou the King and all his liars, that I Have founded my Round Table in the North
The Last Tournament 1 · 📍 [[North]]
He spoke, and taking all his younger knights, Down the slope city rode, and sharply turned North by the gate.
The Last Tournament 1 · 📍 [[Brittany]] · late
Tristram—late From overseas in Brittany returned, And marriage with a princess of that realm, Isolt the White
Guinevere 1 · 📍 [[Almesbury]]
Queen Guinevere had fled the court, and sat There in the holy house at Almesbury
Guinevere 1 · 📍 [[Almesbury]]
Receive, and yield me sanctuary, nor ask Her name to whom ye yield it, till her time To tell you:
Guinevere 1 · 📍 [[Almesbury]] · For many a week
For many a week, unknown, among the nuns; Nor with them mixed, nor told her name
Guinevere 2 · 📍 [[Camelot]] · years ago
the Table Round Which good King Arthur founded, years ago, With signs and miracles and wonders, there At Camelot
Guinevere 2 · 📍 [[Tintagil]]
They found a naked child upon the sands Of dark Tintagil by the Cornish sea; And that was Arthur; and they fostered him Till he by miracle was approven King
Guinevere 3
But I was first of all the kings who drew The knighthood-errant of this realm and all The realms together under me, their Head, In that fair Order of my Table Round, A glorious company, the flower of men
Guinevere 4 · Now
Now must I hence. Through the thick night I hear the trumpet blow: They summon me their King to lead mine hosts
Guinevere 4
So let me, if you do not shudder at me, Nor shun to call me sister, dwell with you;
Guinevere 4 · in time
Then she, for her good deeds and her pure life, And for the power of ministration in her, And likewise for the high rank she had borne, Was chosen Abbess
Guinevere 4 · For three brief years
there, an Abbess, lived For three brief years, and there, an Abbess, past To where beyond these voices there is peace.
The Passing of Arthur 1 · 📍 [[Lyonnesse]] · that day when the great light of heaven Burned at his lowest in the rolling year
and all but slain himself, he fell
The Passing of Arthur 1 · 📍 [[Lyonnesse]] · that day when the great light of heaven Burned at his lowest in the rolling year
Until King Arthur’s Table, man by man, Had fallen in Lyonnesse about their lord, King Arthur.
The Passing of Arthur 2
And, leaping down the ridges lightly, plunged Among the bulrush beds, and clutched the sword, And strongly wheeled and threw it. The great brand Made lightnings in the splendour of the moon, And flashing round and round, and whirled in an arch, Shot like a streamer of the northern morn, Seen where the moving isles of winter shock By night, with noises of the Northern Sea. So flashed and fell the brand Excalibur: But ere he dipt the surface, rose an arm Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, And caught him by the hilt, and brandished him Three times, and drew him under in the mere.
The Passing of Arthur 3 · 📍 [[the island-valley of Avilion]]
So said he, and the barge with oar and sail Moved from the brink