Le Morte Darthur, Chapter 404 summary
Chapter 404 of 503 · 3 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 404, Lionel kills the hermit who protects Bors, then fights Colgrevance when that knight intervenes to save his brother. Bors is too weak to stop their battle, but as Colgrevance approaches death and begs for help, Bors manages to rise and put on his helmet.
What happens
- The hermit begs Lionel to spare Bors and offers his own life instead, but Lionel kills him.
- Colgrevance arrives as Lionel prepares to behead Bors and pulls Lionel away.
- Lionel refuses to spare his brother, so Colgrevance fights him to protect Bors.
- Bors watches in distress, fearing either knight’s death, but lacks the strength to separate them.
- Severely wounded, Colgrevance begs Bors for help while Lionel threatens to kill them both.
- Bors rises, puts on his helmet, and grieves when he notices the dead hermit.
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What to notice
The hermit values Bors’s life above his own. His willingness to die establishes the personal cost of resisting Lionel.
Quick check
Why does Bors initially fail to separate Lionel and Colgrevance?
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