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Kay
Sir Kay, son of sir Ector, and foster-brother of prince Arthur, who made him his seneschal or steward.
Sir Kay was ill-tempered, mean-spirited, boastful, and overbearing. He had not strength of mind enough to be a villain like Hagen, nor strength of passion enough to be a traitor like Ganelon and Mordred; but he could detract and calumniate, could be envious and spiteful, could annoy and irritate.
His wit consisted in giving nicknames: Thus he called young Gareth “Big Hands” (Beaumains), “because his hands were the largest that ever any one had been.” He called sir Brewnor “The Shocking Bad Coat” (La Cote Male- tailé), because his doublet fitted him so badly, and was full of sword-cuts. Le Morte d'Arthur By Sir Thomas Malory (See Key.)
"So on New Year's Day, the Knights, as their custom was, went to hear service in the Great Church, and after it was over they met in the field to make ready for the tourney. Among them was a brave Knight called Sir Ector, who brought with him Sir Kay, his son, and Arthur, Kay's foster-brother. Now Kay had unbuckled his sword the evening before, and in his haste to be at the tourney had forgotten to put it on again, and he begged Arthur to ride back and fetch it for him. But when Arthur reached the house the door was locked, for the women had gone out to see the tourney, and though Arthur tried his best to get in he could not. Then he rode away in great anger, and said to himself, 'Kay shall not be without a sword this day. I will take that sword in the churchyard, and give it to him'; and he galloped fast till he reached the gate of the churchyard." Tales of the Round Table
Tennyson introduces sir Kay in Idylls of the King:
" Then came Sir Kay, the seneschal, and cried,
‘A boon, Sir King! even that thou grant her none,
This railer, that hath mocked thee in full hall—
None; or the wholesome boon of gyve and gag.’"
Gareth
and Lynette
