Le Savage Damsel

“We shall now seek that which we shall not find” ~ Thomas Malory

[lesavagedamsel]

[lesavagedamsel]

“Merlin” by Frank Godwin

[lesavagedamsel]

“The Fairy and the Knight” by Paul Serusier

[lesavagedamsel]

Then he drew his sword Excalibur, but it was so bright in his enemies' eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches. And therewith he put them a-back, and slew much people. And then the commons of Carlion arose with clubs and staves and slew many knights; but all the kings held them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled and departed. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow them no further.

Thomas Malory

[lesavagedamsel]

“Arthur set off to war once again” by Iassen Ghiuselev

[lesavagedamsel]

Lady of the Lake presents Excalibur by Julek Heller

[lesavagedamsel]

The Failure of Sir Gawain by  Edward Burne-Jones 

[lesavagedamsel]

Chivalric Love by  William Dacres Adams

[birdsofrhiannon]

Tintagel, Cornwall

[lesavagedamsel]

He who wants to do more than he is able must admit defeat or retire.

Chrétien de Troyes

[lesavagedamsel]

Artwork by  Paul Laubmann

[lesavagedamsel]

“Two Knights Joust in Ireland” (Sir Tristram defeats Sir Palamedes in Ireland)-  Original illustration by Arthur Rackham for 'Stories of King Arthur' 

[lesavagedamsel]

Artwork by Rebecca Guay

[lesavagedamsel]

I myself beheld the King Charge at the head of all his Table Round, And all his legions crying Christ and him, And break them; and I saw him, after, stand High on a heap of slain, from spur to plume Red as the rising sun with heathen blood, And seeing me, with a great voice he cried, "They are broken, they are broken!" for the King, However mild he seems at home, nor cares For triumph in our mimic wars, the jousts— For if his own knight cast him down, he laughs Saying, his knights are better men than he— Yet in this heathen war the fire of God Fills him: I never saw his like: there lives No greater leader.

Alfred Tennyson

[loumargi]

Nicolai Fechin

[lesavagedamsel]

Artwork by  Anne Anderson 

[lesavagedamsel]

And when this was done Merlin said, Fair sirs, you must all arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage; he will have the better will to maintain you.  And so they arose and did their homage, and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of gold that told the knights' names that had sat therein.  But two sieges were void.

Thomas Malory