“Then Sir Launcelot saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed.”
Book XXI, ch. 11
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Quotes from book
Le Morte d'Arthur
Thomas Malory
Original title
Le Morte Darthur
(1485)
Le Morte d'Arthur is a reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of existing tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table. Malory interpreted existing French and English stories about these figures and added original material . Malory's actual title for the work was The Whole Book of King Arthur and His Noble Knights of the Round Table , but after Malory's death the publisher changed the title to that commonly known today, which originally only referred to the final volume of the work.
“With that truncheon thou hast slain a good knight, and now it sticketh in thy body.”
Book II, ch. 14
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book XXI, ch. 9
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise King born of all England.”
Book I, ch. 5
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book XXI, ch. 13
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book I, ch. 1
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book XVIII, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“The joy of love is too short, and the sorrow thereof, and what cometh thereof, dureth over long.”
Book X, ch. 56
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“Then were they afeard when they saw a knight.”
Book I, ch. 23
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book I, ch. 1
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book I, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book XXI, ch. 9
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“What, nephew, said the king, is the wind in that door?”
Book VII, ch. 34
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Book IV, ch. 9
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“I shall curse you with book and bell and candle.”
Book XXI, ch. 1
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“Knight, keep well thy head, for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse.”
Book III, ch. 12
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
“For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May.”
Book XVIII, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Context: The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May.
Book XVIII, ch. 25
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)
Context: Nowadays men cannot love seven night but they must have all their desires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty, heat soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so.
