The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 1, ch. 19 (questing yelping)
Me repenteth, said Merlin; because of the death of that lady thou shalt strike a stroke most
dolorous that ever man struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt hurt the truest knight
and the man of most worship that now liveth, and through that stroke three kingdoms shall be in
great poverty, misery and wretchedness twelve years, and the knight shall not be whole of that
wound for many years.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 2, ch. 8
Ah, my little son, thou hast murdered thy mother! And therefore I suppose thou that art a
murderer so young, thou art full likely to be a manly man in thine age...When he is christened let
call him Tristram, that is as much to say as a sorrowful birth.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 8, ch. 1
Meanwhile came Sir Palomides, the good knight, following the questing beast that had in
shape like a serpent’s head and a body like a leopard, buttocked like a lion and footed like a hart.
And in his body there was such a noise as it had been twenty couple of hounds questing, and such
noise that beast made wheresomever he went.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 9, ch. 12
God defend me, said Dinadan, for the joy of love is too short, and the sorrow thereof, and what
cometh thereof, dureth over long.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 10, ch. 56
Now I thank God, said Sir Launcelot, for His great mercy of that I have seen, for it sufficeth
me. For, as I suppose, no man in this world hath lived better than I have done, to achieve that I
have done.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 17, ch. 16
Fair lord, salute me to my lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him
remember of this unstable world.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 17, ch. 22
Thus endeth the story of the Sangreal, that was briefly drawn out of French into English, the
which is a story chronicled for one of the truest and the holiest that is in this world.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 17, ch. 23
The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth
fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart
that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 18, ch. 25
Therefore all ye that be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May, like as did
Queen Guenevere, for whom I make here a little mention, that while she lived she was a true
lover, and therefore she had a good end.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 18, ch. 25
Through this man and me hath all this war been wrought, and the death of the most noblest
knights of the world; for through our love that we have loved together is my most noble lord slain.
‘Le Morte D’Arthur’ (1485) bk. 21, ch. 9