Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How all the children were sent for that were born on May-day, and how Mordred was saved explained
King Arthur, acting on Merlin's prophecy that a child born on May-day would destroy him, orders all such children of lords and ladies to be brought to him.
What happens
King Arthur, acting on Merlin's prophecy that a child born on May-day would destroy him, orders all such children of lords and ladies to be brought to him. They are placed in a ship and set adrift, but the ship is wrecked. Most perish, but Mordred survives, cast up at a castle where a good man finds and raises him until age fourteen, when he is brought to court. Many lords are displeased but remain silent out of fear or love. The chapter ends with King Rience's furious reaction and a transition to the tale of Balin le Savage.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and Tragedy
Merlin's prophecy drives Arthur to attempt to avert his doom, but fate ensures Mordred's survival, setting the stage for future tragedy.
Kingship and Governance
Arthur's decree shows the absolute power of a king, yet also the discontent it breeds among his lords, highlighting the tensions of rule.
Betrayal and Treachery
The seeds of Mordred's future betrayal are sown here, as the king's attempt to eliminate a threat inadvertently preserves it.
Characters to notice
- King Arthur
Orders the collection of all May-day-born children to prevent his prophesied destruction.
- Merlin
Prophesies that Arthur's destroyer would be born on May-day, prompting the king's decree.
- Sir Mordred
The child of King Lot's wife, sent to the sea but saved when the ship wrecks; later found and raised by a good man.
- King Lot of Lothian
Mordred is sent by King Lot's wife, implying Lot's connection to the child.
- King Rience
Receives the news of Arthur's actions and becomes enraged, preparing a great host.
Key passages
“Then King Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day, begotten of lords and born of ladies; for Merlin told King Arthur that he that should destroy him should be born on May-day, wherefore he sent for them all, upon pain of death;”
King Arthur ordered that every child born on May Day to noble parents be brought to him, because Merlin had warned him that his future destroyer would be born on that day; so he commanded them all to be delivered on pain of death.
Arthur's attempt to thwart prophecy by eliminating potential threats.
“And so by fortune the ship drave unto a castle, and was all to-riven, and destroyed the most part, save that Mordred was cast up, and a good man found him, and nourished him till he was fourteen year old, and then he brought him to the court, as it rehearseth afterward, toward the end of the Death of Arthur.”
By chance, the ship drifted to a castle and was wrecked, killing most of the children, but Mordred was thrown ashore. A kind man found him and raised him until he was fourteen, then brought him to court, as later told near the end of Arthur's story.
Mordred's survival despite Arthur's plan, foreshadowing his role in Arthur's downfall.