Kabanata Kabanata 147 · How the knights bare them in the battle.

. How the knights bare them in the battle.

Then Sir Brian de les Isles and Grummore Grummursum, knights of the

castle, encountered with Sir Aglovale, and Sir Tor smote down Sir

Grummore Grummursum to the earth. Then came in Sir Carados of the

dolorous tower, and Sir Turquine, knights of the castle; and there

encountered with them Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Lamorak de Galis,

that were two brethren. And there encountered Sir Percivale with Sir

Carados, and either brake their spears unto their hands, and then Sir

Turquine with Sir Lamorak, and either of them smote down other’s horse

and all to the earth, and either parties rescued other, and horsed them

again. And Sir Arnold and Sir Gauter, knights of the castle,

encountered with Sir Brandiles and Sir Kay, and these four knights

encountered mightily, and brake their spears to their hands. Then came

in Sir Tristram, Sir Sadok, and Sir Dinas, knights of the castle, and

there encountered Sir Tristram with Sir Bedivere, and there Sir

Bedivere was smitten to the earth both horse and man. And Sir Sadok

encountered with Sir Petipase, and there Sir Sadok was overthrown. And

there Uwaine les Avoutres smote down Sir Dinas, the Seneschal. Then

came in Sir Persant of Inde, a knight of the castle, and there

encountered with him Sir Launcelot du Lake, and there he smote Sir

Persant, horse and man, to the earth. Then came Sir Pertolepe from the

castle, and there encountered with him Sir Lionel, and there Sir

Pertolepe, the Green Knight, smote down Sir Lionel, brother to Sir

Launcelot. All this was marked by noble heralds, who bare him best, and

their names.

And then came into the field Sir Perimones, the Red Knight, Sir

Persant’s brother, that was a knight of the castle, and he encountered

with Sir Ector de Maris, and either smote other so hard that both their

horses and they fell to the earth. And then came in the Red Knight of

the Red Launds, and Sir Gareth, from the castle, and there encountered

with them Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Bleoberis, and there the Red Knight

and Sir Bors [either] smote other so hard that their spears brast, and

their horses fell grovelling to the earth. Then Sir Bleoberis brake his

spear upon Sir Gareth, but of that stroke Sir Bleoberis fell to the

earth. When Sir Galihodin saw that he bade Sir Gareth keep him, and Sir

Gareth smote him to the earth. Then Sir Galihud gat a spear to avenge

his brother, and in the same wise Sir Gareth served him, and Sir

Dinadan and his brother, La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Sagramore le

Desirous, and Sir Dodinas le Savage. All these he bare down with one

spear.

When King Agwisance of Ireland saw Sir Gareth fare so, he marvelled

what he might be that one time seemed green, and another time, at his

again coming, he seemed blue. And thus at every course that he rode to

and fro he changed his colour, so that there might neither king nor

knight have ready cognisance of him. Then Sir Agwisance, the King of

Ireland, encountered with Sir Gareth, and there Sir Gareth smote him

from his horse, saddle and all. And then came King Carados of Scotland,

and Sir Gareth smote him down horse and man. And in the same wise he

served King Uriens of the land of Gore. And then came in Sir

Bagdemagus, and Sir Gareth smote him down, horse and man, to the earth.

And Bagdemagus’ son, Meliganus, brake a spear upon Sir Gareth mightily

and knightly. And then Sir Galahault, the noble prince, cried on high:

Knight with the many colours, well hast thou jousted; now make thee

ready that I may joust with thee. Sir Gareth heard him, and he gat a

great spear, and so they encountered together, and there the prince

brake his spear; but Sir Gareth smote him upon the left side of the

helm that he reeled here and there, and he had fallen down had not his

men recovered him.

So God me help, said King Arthur, that same knight with the many

colours is a good knight. Wherefore the king called unto him Sir

Launcelot, and prayed him to encounter with that knight. Sir, said

Launcelot, I may well find in my heart for to forbear him as at this

time, for he hath had travail enough this day; and when a good knight

doth so well upon some day, it is no good knight’s part to let him of

his worship, and namely, when he seeth a knight hath done so great

labour; for peradventure, said Sir Launcelot, his quarrel is here this

day, and peradventure he is best beloved with this lady of all that be

here; for I see well he paineth him and enforceth him to do great

deeds, and therefore, said Sir Launcelot, as for me, this day he shall

have the honour; though it lay in my power to put him from it I would

not.