الفصل الفصل 182 · How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away Sir

. How Sir Launcelot met with Sir Carados bearing away Sir

Gawaine, and of the rescue of Sir Gawaine.

And then Sir Tristram took his leave when he saw his time, and took the

sea. And in the meanwhile word came unto Sir Launcelot and to Sir

Tristram that Sir Carados, the mighty king, that was made like a giant,

fought with Sir Gawaine, and gave him such strokes that he swooned in

his saddle, and after that he took him by the collar and pulled him out

of his saddle, and fast bound him to the saddle-bow, and so rode his

way with him toward his castle. And as he rode, by fortune Sir

Launcelot met with Sir Carados, and anon he knew Sir Gawaine that lay

bound after him. Ah, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, how stands it

with you? Never so hard, said Sir Gawaine, unless that ye help me, for

so God me help, without ye rescue me I know no knight that may, but

outher you or Sir Tristram. Wherefore Sir Launcelot was heavy of Sir

Gawaine’s words. And then Sir Launcelot bade Sir Carados: Lay down that

knight and fight with me. Thou art but a fool, said Sir Carados, for I

will serve you in the same wise. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, spare

me not, for I warn thee I will not spare thee. And then he bound Sir

Gawaine hand and foot, and so threw him to the ground. And then he gat

his spear of his squire, and departed from Sir Launcelot to fetch his

course. And so either met with other, and brake their spears to their

hands; and then they pulled out swords, and hurtled together on

horseback more than an hour. And at the last Sir Launcelot smote Sir

Carados such a buffet upon the helm that it pierced his brain-pan. So

then Sir Launcelot took Sir Carados by the collar and pulled him under

his horse’s feet, and then he alighted and pulled off his helm and

struck off his head. And then Sir Launcelot unbound Sir Gawaine. So

this same tale was told to Sir Galahad and to Sir Tristram:—here may ye

hear the nobleness that followeth Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir

Tristram, an I had not this message in hand with this fair lady, truly

I would never stint or I had found Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Tristram and

La Beale Isoud went to the sea and came into Cornwall, and there all

the barons met them.