Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Adventure of the Cart explained
Queen Guenever and ten knights of the Round Table go a-maying, but are ambushed by Sir Maleagans, who has long loved the queen.
What happens
Queen Guenever and ten knights of the Round Table go a-maying, but are ambushed by Sir Maleagans, who has long loved the queen. She surrenders to save her knights, and secretly sends a page to summon Sir Launcelot. Launcelot, in his haste, rides in a cart—a vehicle of shame—to reach her. After overcoming enchantments and a duel with Maleagans, he rescues the queen, but is rebuked by Guenever for the cart's disgrace. He flees in despair, later returns to reconcile, and the company returns to Camelot.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and the Quest
Launcelot's quest to rescue Queen Guenever, overcoming obstacles and enchantments despite personal disgrace.
Love and Transformation
Launcelot's love for Guenever drives his actions; her rebuke transforms his resolve, leading to despair and eventual reconciliation.
Hospitality and Its Violation
Maleagans violates the hospitality of the Round Table by ambushing the queen; Launcelot experiences both poor and enchanted hospitality at various castles.
Characters to notice
- Queen Guenever
Rides a-maying with ten knights, is captured by Maleagans, and sends a ring to summon Launcelot. She rebukes Launcelot for riding in the cart, then repents.
- Sir Launcelot
Summoned by the queen's ring, rides in a cart of shame to rescue her, overcomes enchantments and a lion and leopard, duels Maleagans, and flees after Guenever's reproach.
- Sir Gawain
Meets Launcelot in the cart, expresses disapproval, but accompanies him partway and later meets the company.
- Sir Kay
One of the ten knights riding with the queen; later tells the queen about Launcelot's cart.
- King Arthur
Not directly present, but his court and the Round Table are referenced.
Key passages
“It befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called to her knights of the Table Round, and gave them warning that early upon the morrow she would ride a-maying into the woods and fields beside Westminster”
One May morning, Queen Guenever announced to her Round Table knights that she would ride into the countryside near Westminster for May Day festivities.
Sets the scene for the queen's outing and the subsequent ambush.
“Sir Maleagans, son to King Brademagus, who loved Queen Guenever passing well, and so had he done long and many years.”
Maleagans, the son of King Brademagus, had long harbored a deep love for Queen Guenever.
Introduces the antagonist's motive for capturing the queen.
“Go thou when thou seest thy time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot, and pray him as he loveth me, that he will see me and rescue me.”
The queen secretly instructed a page to take her ring to Sir Launcelot and beg him to rescue her.
The ring serves as a token of summons and loyalty.
“Now at this time carts were little used except for carrying offal and for conveying criminals to execution. But Sir Launcelot took no thought of anything but the necessity of haste for the purpose of rescuing the queen; so he demanded of the carter that he should take him in and convey him as speedily as possible for a liberal reward.”
In those days, carts were only used for garbage or transporting criminals, but Launcelot, focused only on speed, hired a cart to reach the queen.
Highlights Launcelot's willingness to endure shame for his mission.
“Ah, Launcelot! my knight, truly have I been told that thou art no longer worthy of me!”
Guenever cried out that Launcelot was no longer worthy of her love.
Her words reinvigorate Launcelot during the duel, but later cause his despair.
