الفصل الفصل 489 · Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of

. Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of

another battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse.

Alas, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was begun; for ever Sir

Launcelot forbeareth me in all places, and in likewise my kin, and that

is seen well this day by my nephew Sir Gawaine. Then King Arthur fell

sick for sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was so sore hurt, and because

of the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot. So then they on King Arthur’s

part kept the siege with little war withoutforth; and they withinforth

kept their walls, and defended them when need was. Thus Sir Gawaine lay

sick three weeks in his tents, with all manner of leech-craft that

might be had. And as soon as Sir Gawaine might go and ride, he armed

him at all points, and start upon a courser, and gat a spear in his

hand, and so he came riding afore the chief gate of Benwick; and there

he cried on height: Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? Come forth, thou

false traitor knight and recreant, for I am here, Sir Gawaine, will

prove this that I say on thee.

All this language Sir Launcelot heard, and then he said thus: Sir

Gawaine, me repents of your foul saying, that ye will not cease of your

language; for you wot well, Sir Gawaine, I know your might and all that

ye may do; and well ye wot, Sir Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt me.

Come down, traitor knight, said he, and make it good the contrary with

thy hands, for it mishapped me the last battle to be hurt of thy hands;

therefore wit thou well I am come this day to make amends, for I ween

this day to lay thee as low as thou laidest me. Jesu defend me, said

Sir Launcelot, that ever I be so far in your danger as ye have been in

mine, for then my days were done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot,

ye shall not think that I tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly

call me of treason, ye shall have both your hands full of me. And then

Sir Launcelot armed him at all points, and mounted upon his horse, and

gat a great spear in his hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the

hosts were assembled, of them without and of them within, and stood in

array full manly. And both parties were charged to hold them still, to

see and behold the battle of these two noble knights. And then they

laid their spears in their rests, and they came together as thunder,

and Sir Gawaine brake his spear upon Sir Launcelot in a hundred pieces

unto his hand; and Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater might, that

Sir Gawaine’s horse’s feet raised, and so the horse and he fell to the

earth. Then Sir Gawaine deliverly avoided his horse, and put his shield

afore him, and eagerly drew his sword, and bade Sir Launcelot: Alight,

traitor knight, for if this mare’s son hath failed me, wit thou well a

king’s son and a queen’s son shall not fail thee.

Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his shield afore him,

and drew his sword; and so stood they together and gave many sad

strokes, that all men on both parties had thereof passing great wonder.

But when Sir Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine’s might so marvellously

increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and kept himself

wonder covert of his might; and under his shield he traced and

traversed here and there, to break Sir Gawaine’s strokes and his

courage; and Sir Gawaine enforced himself with all his might and power

to destroy Sir Launcelot; for as the French book saith, ever as Sir

Gawaine’s might increased, right so increased his wind and his evil

will. Thus Sir Gawaine did great pain unto Sir Launcelot three hours,

that he had right great pain for to defend him.

And when the three hours were passed, that Sir Launcelot felt that Sir

Gawaine was come to his own proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said

unto Sir Gawaine: Now have I proved you twice, that ye are a full

dangerous knight, and a wonderful man of your might; and many wonderful

deeds have ye done in your days, for by your might increasing you have

deceived many a full noble and valiant knight; and, now I feel that ye

have done your mighty deeds, now wit you well I must do my deeds. And

then Sir Launcelot stood near Sir Gawaine, and then Sir Launcelot

doubled his strokes; and Sir Gawaine defended him mightily, but

nevertheless Sir Launcelot smote such a stroke upon Sir Gawaine’s helm,

and upon the old wound, that Sir Gawaine sinked down upon his one side

in a swoon. And anon as he did awake he waved and foined at Sir

Launcelot as he lay, and said: Traitor knight, wit thou well I am not

yet slain, come thou near me and perform this battle unto the

uttermost. I will no more do than I have done, said Sir Launcelot, for

when I see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I see

you stand on your feet; but for to smite a wounded man that may not

stand, God defend me from such a shame. And then he turned him and went

his way toward the city. And Sir Gawaine evermore calling him traitor

knight, and said: Wit thou well Sir Launcelot, when I am whole I shall

do battle with thee again, for I shall never leave thee till that one

of us be slain. Thus as this siege endured, and as Sir Gawaine lay sick

near a month; and when he was well recovered and ready within three

days to do battle again with Sir Launcelot, right so came tidings unto

Arthur from England that made King Arthur and all his host to remove.

_Here followeth the xxi. book._

BOOK XXI.