There were a lot of knights recorded in King Arthur’s time. Most of them are renowned because of their greatness like Sir Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tristram de Liones, Sir Lamorak de Galis, and many more. Because of the numbers of the knights at that time many knights will forget the faces and will just rely on their titles. With all the titles they have, no one will forget the kindness of Sir Lamorak.
His firmness in the Isle of Servage gave great hope unto the people of the isle against their lord, Sir Nabon le Noire. He was a hero of the isle when he jousted almost five hundred knights of his own and earned the respect from Sir Nabon and all the people. They “said there was never knight that ever they saw do such deeds of arms” (Malory, 294). With all his might he almost defeated the five hundred knights and helped his allies to gain more strength and courage. At Sir Lamorak’s peak, Sir Nabon played with him that caused Sir Tristram to help him. With their help, they freed the people from the reign of the giant and make the land prosperous from one of their knight as allied brethren. His heroism didn’t stop in the Isle but continued when he saved a lady from Sir Gawaine, nephew of King Arthur. He was a just man saving a lady from such unworthy knight stating this phrase unto the man, “Sir, said he, for that cause I will spare you, else that lady should abide with me, or else ye should joust with me.” (Malory, 298). Such a gentleman on his large stature.
The tale of heroism of Sir Lamorak in the Isle of Servage cannot be done unless by pact between another knight, Sir Tristram. If we will track down the story, Sir Tristram smote Sir Lamorak’s horse while he was jousting with thirty knights. Such shame was faced by his fall. At first, Sir Lamorak was uneasy with it. However, when Sir Tristram explained his malice and Sir Lamorak’s malice which make it even; and explaining his objectives by destroying the giant, Sir Nabon.
He thinks that Sir Tristram is not bad at all. He, Sir Lamorak, lived with the fishermen of the isle while he was recovering from the diseases of the sea because he swam a great mile. He was saved by those fishermen before he be drowned in the sea. The days he spent with these people was so many that he discover and manifest the perils of the people in the valley. As a form of thank, he planned to dethrone the lord of the isle. And he knows that he can’t do it alone. Thus, he threw his ego and thought of the better-good. He forget all the bad things that was done unto him to make the pact between him and Sir Tristram possible. An ordinary man can’t do it for their egos may scorch them. Moreover, this large man is real of pure heart when he said “I understand your knighthood, it may not be false that all men say, for of your bounty, noblesse, and worship, of all knights ye are peerless, and for your courtesy and gentleness I showed you ungentleness, and that now me repenteth” (Malory, 294). His understanding is the most of the Christian knights for after he repents and forgets the past, he focuses in this present time and admitted his ungentleness. Also unto Sir Belliance before they fought he said “forgive me all that I have offended unto you” (Malory, 299).
With his greatness of jousting where all people adorned him of doing, he was entitled of many properties yet he refused. At the battle of the Isle of Servage where they won, he was offered to be lord in the isle but he refuses and said, “I will not be lord of this country, for I have not deserved it as well as ye, therefore give ye it where ye will, for I will none have” (Malory, 295). After slaying almost five hundred knights and giving his strength, he still sacrificed a greater title for he knows that someone can better lead the country that they fought with. His decision was not vain for “Sir Sagwarides delivered all prisoners, and set good governance in that valley” (Malory, 295).
A man of generosity can forget what he gives and always remember the good things that was done unto him. He acknowledged the goodness of the fishermen by battling Sir Nabon and his five hundred in the Isle of Servage. He also offered his life unto Sir Belliance who saved his life. Sir Belliance slew his sons for this sake. It did displeased to Sir Lamorak when he knew all these things and he said “full well me ought to know you, for ye are the man that most have done for me” (Malory, 299). Then, “Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and besought him of grace” (Malory, 299). A man of might and strength was pleading of forgiveness instead of him slewing his opponent unlike Sir Tristram when he fled from the knights of Cornwall when he was caught naked with Queen Isoud. Sir Lamorak was a full-hearted man in principles showing thanks to all the goodness that was done unto him and offering kindness unto all.
All of Sir Lamorak’s day was spent in wise living. A knight of Queen Morgawse of Orkney where he was an honest to the throne. He spent his life adoring his masters. When he quarreled with Sir Meliagaunce stating that his Queen is more beautiful than Queen Guenever. They fought with sword for it wroth Sir Meliagaunce. Then a thought came in Sir Lamorak’s mind and tried to stop the fight before it became sore saying “I am loath to have ado with you in this quarrel, for every man thinketh his own lady fairest” (Malory, 319). This nowadays evolve to the phrase beauty is in the eye of beholder. This phrase struck even the other knights like Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis. And Sir Bleoberis testified “for I warn you I have a lady, and methinketh that she is the fairest lady of the world” (Malory, 319). Now, they renowned Sir Lamorak when the two knights exclaimed “Sir Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath ought you and us ever good will, and therefore I pray you be good friends” (Malory, 319). Therefore, Sir Lamorak is a real friend unto other knights.
There are a lot of characteristics of Sir Lamorak that can be applied in these days. His principles are of real worth, a real Christian. He fought with might not for fame but to deliver the people from bondage, he seek forgiveness of the faults he made, he entered into covenants unto everlasting friendship and he shows eternal principles that nowadays lived by Christians all around the globe. I think that he is far better Christian than the Christians these days.
Works Cited:
Malory, Thomas. Le Morte d’ Arthur. New York Public Library. 1917. Print.
