“Le Morte d’Arcy” is a narrative poem in eight parts recounting the life, death and after-life of Sir d’Arcy du Peene, a mediaeval Surgeon-Knight.

Part I

“SURGEON-KNIGHT”

In which an ambitious surgeon-knave seeks honour and fame at the Camelot court of King Arthur. Proving himself to be a noble warrior who also posses miraculous surgical skills he achieves the ultimate accolade, that of becoming Sir d’Arcy du Peene, Surgeon-Knight.

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     Part 2

“EXILED”

Sir d’Arcy, to redeem his honour, must travel to China and obtain the legendary “Codes of Life”. He and his Dwarf set out on the long journey to China.      

 On arriving in Spain, the Surgeon-Knight offers his services to the Spanish King in his war against the Moors. Sir d’Arcy distinguishes himself in a series of battles and becomes a firm favourite at the Spanish Court. 

Leaving Spain, Sir d’Arcy decides to join the Crusades in the Holy Land. However, he and his Dwarf are the sole survivors of a shipwreck.  They are washed up on the shores of Egypt. They arrive in Cairo and meet the great Saladin. Once again, Sir d’Arcy demonstrates his unique fighting qualities and becomes an honoured guest.

 Following his adventures in Egypt, Sir d’Arcy decides to abandon his attempts to join the Knights of St John of Jerusalem.  Together with his Dwarf, in order to continue his journey to China, he travels East and lands upon the shore of Western India. He is instrumental in rescuing Princess Benazir, the daughter of the Sultan of Jaipur.

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Part 3

“CODES OF LIFE”

Sir d’Arcy, without his Dwarf, embarks upon a ship making passage to the Horn of Africa. He chances upon a caravan of Chinese traders who are on the long journey, along the famed “Silk Road”, back to their native country.  Gladly they agree to allow Sir d’Arcy to join them. 

 It is this fabled journey that established the legend of Sir d’Arcy, in China, that lives to this day.  For, as this caravan of traders passed through various provinces and cities, the gallant Surgeon-Knight performed deeds of amazing valour and bravery.  His reputation for courage and boldness preceded him.  By the time he reached the Chinese capital, Chang’an, he had become a national hero.

 Thus it was that the famed Sir d’Arcy came to stand before Wu Taizong, the beautiful Empress of China in the Imperial Palace at Chang’an.  Such was his legendary status that he was accorded the title of “Most Honoured and Privileged Guest”.  On learning that he had come to acquire the fabled “Codes of Life” the Empress ordered that he be accommodated in a guesthouse adjacent to the Palace.  There he received tuition from the legendary female philosopher Wang Wenjing in the philosophical lessons to be learned from the “Codes of Life”.

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Part 4

“VALLEY OF ALCHEMY”

 

The caravan of Chinese merchants with whom Sir d’Arcy was travelling, along the famed Silk Road on the way back to Europe, was attacked by a band of brigands.  In spite of Sir d’Arcy’s exceptional bravery, being vastly outnumbered, the various members of the Caravan were either killed or fled into the unknown.

As a consequence, the Surgeon-Knight found himself being pursued by this band of ruthless brigands into the foothills of the Himalayas.  In a last desperate act of self-preservation he dived into the entrance of a cave that led into a complex of vast caverns. Here he met a beautiful Ethiopian princess.  Together they discovered the mythical “Valley of Alchemy”.

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 Part 5

 

“GRAIL”        

 

 On his return to Camelot,  Sir d’Arcy was not well received.  Rumours concerning his behaviour abroad had reached England. However, King Arthur decided to give him one last chance to redeem his honour.  The Monarch  summoned the errant Surgeon Knight and explained that that the Grail, which had been in the safekeeping of a nunnery in Wales, had been stolen.  The Abbess of the nunnery had appealed to the King to send his finest Knight to reclaim the Grail.

          Thus, Sir d’Arcy made his way to the island of Anglesey.  He presented himself to the Abbess.  She told him that the priceless Grail was being sought by the King of Ireland, Cathal Neill.  The Grail was on the Isle of Mann, in a Monastery, guarded by rogue monks.  The King of Ireland, together with a force of soldiers, was on the Isle of Mann, searching for the Grail.

          The Abbess had engaged an intrepid Viking seaman, Torsten Cree,  to convey d’Arcy to the Isle of Mann.  Once landed, the Surgeon-Knight would have to use his initiative to obtain the Grail. Sir d’Arcy readily agreed to her plan.

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Part 6

“CONFESSION”

         

 

 Sir d’Arcy returned to Camelot, hoping that the news of his success in returning the Grail to the Nunnery had not been overshadowed by rumours of his erstwhile disgraceful behaviour.

Upon being lead into the regal presence the scene that met Sir d’Arcy’s  eyes was unaccountable.  There sat King Arthur upon his throne, his head bowed, his face creased by grief.

 Remarkably, the King spoke words that were music to Sir d’Arcy’s ears.  Forgiveness was to be granted to him for one last time.  There was a  particular matter upon which he, and he alone, could do the King a great service.  Thus it was that Arthur’s  doleful tale unfolded. His dearest wife, Queen Guinivere, had been abducted by the evil Sir Modred. Sir d'Arcy was charged with her safe return.

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Part 7

 

RESURRECTION”

 

The “Spirit-Souls” of Sir d’Arcy du Peene and the beautiful Ethiopian Princess Sheba reunite in Eternity. Intertwined, they begin an unending journey through the Heavenly Cosmos.  As they roam into the Void, she describes to him the wisdom and the wonders of the Multiverse.

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Part 8

 

“REDEMPTION”

 

 

Without warning, d’Arcy finds himself separated from Princess Sheba, alone and in a void of nothingness. A voice, calling itself “John”, tells him that he is to begin his journey to Redemption. A distant light appears to which d’Arcy is drawn. As the light brightens, “John” begins to reveal The Everlasting Truth.

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