Kabanata Kabanata 475 · How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from

. How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from

the fire, and how he slew many knights.

Then said the noble King Arthur to Sir Gawaine: Dear nephew, I pray you

make you ready in your best armour, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and

Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, there to have her judgment

and receive the death. Nay, my most noble lord, said Sir Gawaine, that

will I never do; for wit you well I will never be in that place where

so noble a queen as is my lady, Dame Guenever, shall take a shameful

end. For wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, my heart will never serve me

to see her die; and it shall never be said that ever I was of your

counsel of her death.

Then said the king to Sir Gawaine: Suffer your brothers Sir Gaheris and

Sir Gareth to be there. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well they

will be loath to be there present, because of many adventures the which

be like there to fall, but they are young and full unable to say you

nay. Then spake Sir Gaheris, and the good knight Sir Gareth, unto Sir

Arthur: Sir, ye may well command us to be there, but wit you well it

shall be sore against our will; but an we be there by your strait

commandment ye shall plainly hold us there excused: we will be there in

peaceable wise, and bear none harness of war upon us. In the name of

God, said the king, then make you ready, for she shall soon have her

judgment anon. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever I should endure to see

this woful day. So Sir Gawaine turned him and wept heartily, and so he

went into his chamber; and then the queen was led forth without

Carlisle, and there she was despoiled into her smock. And so then her

ghostly father was brought to her, to be shriven of her misdeeds. Then

was there weeping, and wailing, and wringing of hands, of many lords

and ladies, but there were but few in comparison that would bear any

armour for to strength the death of the queen.

Then was there one that Sir Launcelot had sent unto that place for to

espy what time the queen should go unto her death; and anon as he saw

the queen despoiled into her smock, and so shriven, then he gave Sir

Launcelot warning. Then was there but spurring and plucking up of

horses, and right so they came to the fire. And who that stood against

them, there were they slain; there might none withstand Sir Launcelot,

so all that bare arms and withstood them, there were they slain, full

many a noble knight. For there was slain Sir Belliance le Orgulous, Sir

Segwarides, Sir Griflet, Sir Brandiles, Sir Aglovale, Sir Tor; Sir

Gauter, Sir Gillimer, Sir Reynolds’ three brethren; Sir Damas, Sir

Priamus, Sir Kay the Stranger, Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Herminde;

Sir Pertilope, Sir Perimones, two brethren that were called the Green

Knight and the Red Knight. And so in this rushing and hurling, as Sir

Launcelot thrang here and there, it mishapped him to slay Gaheris and

Sir Gareth, the noble knight, for they were unarmed and unware. For as

the French book saith, Sir Launcelot smote Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris

upon the brain-pans, wherethrough they were slain in the field; howbeit

in very truth Sir Launcelot saw them not, and so were they found dead

among the thickest of the press.

Then when Sir Launcelot had thus done, and slain and put to flight all

that would withstand him, then he rode straight unto Dame Guenever, and

made a kirtle and a gown to be cast upon her; and then he made her to

be set behind him, and prayed her to be of good cheer. Wit you well the

queen was glad that she was escaped from the death. And then she

thanked God and Sir Launcelot; and so he rode his way with the queen,

as the French book saith, unto Joyous Gard, and there he kept her as a

noble knight should do; and many great lords and some kings sent Sir

Launcelot many good knights, and many noble knights drew unto Sir

Launcelot. When this was known openly, that King Arthur and Sir

Launcelot were at debate, many knights were glad of their debate, and

many were full heavy of their debate.