Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur. Sir Thomas Malory

on stylistic and material divisions within the manuscript as a guide, and next dividing the text based on episodic units within the narrative. Because most readers who have already encountered Le Morte Darthur are familiar with either Caxton’s or Vinaver’s editions, I have keyed this translation to both of these versions of the text; thus, there are three Tables of Contents—mine, Vinaver’s and Caxton’s—and within the body of the text, Caxton’s and Vinaver’s Book and Chapter divisions are noted in the margins. I believe that readers will agree with me, however, that my chapter divisions more accurately represent naturally occurring story units in Malory’s text and help make clear how Malory chose portions of his French sources to translate. Many of these sources can be found in the notes to Vinaver’s great edition, and I hope that readers who develop a taste for Malory here may turn there to investigate further how Malory managed to add his magic to his French originals. I should add that as I write this, the pre-eminent living Malory scholar, P. J. C. Field, is putting the finishing touches on his own critical edition of the text; once in print, this monumental work will surely supplant Vinaver’s and become the standard scholarly edition.

      No matter how one regards the Le Morte Darthur, however—as one text or many—there is no denying the extraordinary quality of Sir Thomas Malory’s accomplishment. The story of King Arthur’s rise and fall has proved enduring in its popularity and the lessons it can offer, for a medieval as well as a modern audience. It is my hope that this translation makes this remarkable narrative accessible for those who might otherwise be daunted by the late Middle English of Malory’s prose.

      Contents

      Acknowledgments

       Introduction: Many Malorys

       Contents Corresponding to Vinaver’s Edition

       Contents Corresponding to William Caxton’s Edition

       William Caxton’s Preface

       1 How Arthur was Born and Became King

       2 Trouble in the Early Years of Arthur’s Reign

       3 How Mordred was Born and King Arthur Learned of his Parentage

       4 Balin, The Knight with the Two Swords

       5 Balin and the Dolorous Stroke

       6 Arthur and Guenevere

       7 The First Adventure of Sir Gawain

       8 The Adventure of Sir Tor

       9 The Adventure of King Pellinore

       10 The War with the Five Kings

       11 The Betrayal of Morgan le Fay

       12 Gawain, Uwain, and Marhalt

       13 Sir Gawain in the Forest of Adventure

       14 The Adventure of Sir Marhalt

       15 Sir Uwain’s Adventure

       16 The Challenge from Rome

       17 Arthur’s Dream and the Fight with the Giant

       18 The Battle Against Rome Begins

       19 The Battle Continues

       20 Sir Gawain’s Adventures

       21 Arthur’s Coronation and Return Home

       22 Sir Lancelot and Sir Tarquin

       23 Lancelot’s Further Adventures

       24 Lancelot Is Deceived

       25 Beaumains Comes to Court

       26 Beaumains Sets off on an Adventure

       27 The Siege of the Castle Perilous

       28 Gareth and Lyonesse

       29 The Tournament at Castle Perilous

       30 Sir Gareth’s Adventures in the Forest

       31 Sir Tristram de Lyones

       32 Sir Tristram’s Adventure in Ireland

       33 Sir Tristram and King Mark

       34 Sir Tristram at King Arthur’s Court

       35 Tristram and Isode and the Adventure at the Castle Pleure

       36 The Abduction of Isode

       37 Sir Lamorak

       38 The Love of Tristram and Isode in Peril

       39 The Further Adventures of Sir Lamorak

       40 La Cote Mal Taille and the Adventure of the Castle Orgulous

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