Kabanata Kabanata 452 · How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts, and other

. How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts, and other

men also.

Then they blew to the field; and there the King of Northgalis

encountered with the King of Scots, and there the King of Scots had a

fall; and the King of Ireland smote down King Uriens; and the King of

Northumberland smote down King Howel of Brittany; and Sir Galahad, the

haut prince, smote down Chaleins of Clarance. And then King Arthur was

wood wroth, and ran to the King with the Hundred Knights, and there

King Arthur smote him down; and after with that same spear King Arthur

smote down three other knights. And then when his spear was broken King

Arthur did passingly well; and so therewithal came in Sir Gawaine and

Sir Gaheris, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, and there everych of them

smote down a knight, and Sir Gawaine smote down four knights; and then

there began a strong medley, for then there came in the knights of

Launcelot’s blood, and Sir Gareth and Sir Palomides with them, and many

knights of the Table Round, and they began to hold the four kings and

the mighty duke so hard that they were discomfit; but this Duke

Galahad, the haut prince, was a noble knight, and by his mighty prowess

of arms he held the knights of the Table Round strait enough.

All this doing saw Sir Launcelot, and then he came into the field with

Sir Lavaine as it had been thunder. And then anon Sir Bors and the

knights of his blood espied Sir Launcelot, and said to them all: I warn

you beware of him with the sleeve of gold upon his head, for he is

himself Sir Launcelot du Lake; and for great goodness Sir Bors warned

Sir Gareth. I am well apaid, said Sir Gareth, that I may know him. But

who is he, said they all, that rideth with him in the same array? That

is the good and gentle knight Sir Lavaine, said Sir Bors. So Sir

Launcelot encountered with Sir Gawaine, and there by force Sir

Launcelot smote down Sir Gawaine and his horse to the earth, and so he

smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and also he smote down Sir

Mordred, and all this was with one spear. Then Sir Lavaine met with Sir

Palomides, and either met other so hard and so fiercely that both their

horses fell to the earth. And then were they horsed again, and then met

Sir Launcelot with Sir Palomides, and there Sir Palomides had a fall;

and so Sir Launcelot or ever he stint, as fast as he might get spears,

he smote down thirty knights, and the most part of them were knights of

the Table Round; and ever the knights of his blood withdrew them, and

made them ado in other places where Sir Launcelot came not.

And then King Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir Launcelot do such deeds;

and then the king called unto him Sir Gawaine, Sir Mordred, Sir Kay,

Sir Griflet, Sir Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedivere, Sir Palomides, Sir

Safere, his brother; and so the king with these nine knights made them

ready to set upon Sir Launcelot, and upon Sir Lavaine. All this espied

Sir Bors and Sir Gareth. Now I dread me sore, said Sir Bors, that my

lord, Sir Launcelot, will be hard matched. By my head, said Sir Gareth,

I will ride unto my lord Sir Launcelot, for to help him, fall of him

what fall may, for he is the same man that made me knight. Ye shall not

so, said Sir Bors, by my counsel, unless that ye were disguised. Ye

shall see me disguised, said Sir Gareth; and therewithal he espied a

Welsh knight where he was to repose him, and he was sore hurt afore by

Sir Gawaine, and to him Sir Gareth rode, and prayed him of his

knighthood to lend him his shield for his. I will well, said the Welsh

knight. And when Sir Gareth had his shield, the book saith it was

green, with a maiden that seemed in it.

Then Sir Gareth came driving to Sir Launcelot all that he might and

said: Knight, keep thyself, for yonder cometh King Arthur with nine

noble knights with him to put you to a rebuke, and so I am come to bear

you fellowship for old love ye have shewed me. Gramercy, said Sir

Launcelot. Sir, said Sir Gareth, encounter ye with Sir Gawaine, and I

shall encounter with Sir Palomides; and let Sir Lavaine match with the

noble King Arthur. And when we have delivered them, let us three hold

us sadly together. Then came King Arthur with his nine knights with

him, and Sir Launcelot encountered with Sir Gawaine, and gave him such

a buffet that the arson of his saddle brast, and Sir Gawaine fell to

the earth. Then Sir Gareth encountered with the good knight Sir

Palomides, and he gave him such a buffet that both his horse and he

dashed to the earth. Then encountered King Arthur with Sir Lavaine, and

there either of them smote other to the earth, horse and all, that they

lay a great while. Then Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Agravaine, and Sir

Gaheris, and Sir Mordred; and Sir Gareth smote down Sir Kay, and Sir

Safere, and Sir Griflet. And then Sir Lavaine was horsed again, and he

smote down Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedevere and then there began

great throng of good knights.

Then Sir Launcelot hurtled here and there, and raced and pulled off

helms, so that at that time there might none sit him a buffet with

spear nor with sword; and Sir Gareth did such deeds of arms that all

men marvelled what knight he was with the green shield, for he smote

down that day and pulled down mo than thirty knights. And, as the

French book saith, Sir Launcelot marvelled; when he beheld Sir Gareth

do such deeds, what knight he might be; and Sir Lavaine pulled down and

smote down twenty knights. Also Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Gareth for

an Sir Tristram de Liones, outher Sir Lamorak de Galis had been alive,

Sir Launcelot would have deemed he had been one of them twain. So ever

as Sir Launcelot Sir Gareth, Sir Lavaine fought, and on the one side

Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir Lamorak de Galis, Sir

Bleoberis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Pelleas, and with mo other

of King Ban’s blood fought upon another party, and held the King with

the Hundred Knights and the King of Northumberland right strait.