Chapter Chapter 151 · How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his

. How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his

castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him.

So when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him,

and took their counsel to slay his horse; and so they came in upon Sir

Gareth, and with spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him

hard. But when he was on foot, there was none that he fought but he

gave him such a buffet that he did never recover. So he slew them by

one and one till they were but four, and there they fled; and Sir

Gareth took a good horse that was one of theirs, and rode his way.

Then he rode a great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he

heard much mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him a

page. What noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this

castle? Sir knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty

ladies, and all they be widows; for here is a knight that waiteth daily

upon this castle, and his name is the Brown Knight without Pity, and he

is the periloust knight that now liveth; and therefore sir, said the

page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir Gareth, I will not flee though

thou be afeard of him. And then the page saw where came the Brown

Knight: Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal with him, said

Sir Gareth. And when either of other had a sight they let their horses

run, and the Brown Knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him

throughout the body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So

Sir Gareth rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might

repose him. Alas, said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him

good cheer, said the page, for this knight hath slain your enemy. Then

they all made him good cheer as lay in their power. But wit ye well

they made him good cheer, for they might none otherwise do, for they

were but poor.

And so on the morn he went to mass, and there he saw the thirty ladies

kneel, and lay grovelling upon divers tombs, making great dole and

sorrow. Then Sir Gareth wist well that in the tombs lay their lords.

Fair ladies, said Sir Gareth, ye must at the next feast of Pentecost be

at the court of King Arthur, and say that I, Sir Gareth, sent you

thither. We shall do this, said the ladies. So he departed, and by

fortune he came to a mountain, and there he found a goodly knight that

bade him, Abide sir knight, and joust with me. What are ye? said Sir

Gareth. My name is, said he, the Duke de la Rowse. Ah sir, ye are the

same knight that I lodged once in your castle; and there I made promise

unto your lady that I should yield me unto you. Ah, said the duke, art

thou that proud knight that profferest to fight with my knights;

therefore make thee ready, for I will have ado with you. So they let

their horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote the duke down from his

horse. But the duke lightly avoided his horse, and dressed his shield

and drew his sword, and bade Sir Gareth alight and fight with him. So

he did alight, and they did great battle together more than an hour,

and either hurt other full sore. At the last Sir Gareth gat the duke to

the earth, and would have slain him, and then he yield him to him. Then

must ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur my lord at the next feast,

and say that I, Sir Gareth of Orkney, sent you unto him. It shall be

done, said the duke, and I will do to you homage and fealty with an

hundred knights with me; and all the days of my life to do you service

where ye will command me.