Bab Bab 148 · Yet of the said tournament.

. Yet of the said tournament.

Then when this was done there was drawing of swords, and then there

began a sore tournament. And there did Sir Lamorak marvellous deeds of

arms; and betwixt Sir Lamorak and Sir Ironside, that was the Red Knight

of the Red Launds, there was strong battle; and betwixt Sir Palamides

and Bleoberis there was a strong battle; and Sir Gawaine and Sir

Tristram met, and there Sir Gawaine had the worse, for he pulled Sir

Gawaine from his horse, and there he was long upon foot, and defouled.

Then came in Sir Launcelot, and he smote Sir Turquine, and he him; and

then came Sir Carados his brother, and both at once they assailed him,

and he as the most noblest knight of the world worshipfully fought with

them both, that all men wondered of the noblesse of Sir Launcelot. And

then came in Sir Gareth, and knew that it was Sir Launcelot that fought

with the two perilous knights. And then Sir Gareth came with his good

horse and hurtled them in-sunder, and no stroke would he smite to Sir

Launcelot. That espied Sir Launcelot, and deemed it should be the good

knight Sir Gareth: and then Sir Gareth rode here and there, and smote

on the right hand and on the left hand, and all the folk might well

espy where that he rode. And by fortune he met with his brother Sir

Gawaine, and there he put Sir Gawaine to the worse, for he put off his

helm, and so he served five or six knights of the Round Table, that all

men said he put him in the most pain, and best he did his devoir. For

when Sir Tristram beheld him how he first jousted and after fought so

well with a sword, then he rode unto Sir Ironside and to Sir Persant of

Inde, and asked them, by their faith, What manner a knight is yonder

knight that seemeth in so many divers colours? Truly, meseemeth, said

Tristram, that he putteth himself in great pain, for he never ceaseth.

Wot ye not what he is? said Sir Ironside. No, said Sir Tristram. Then

shall ye know that this is he that loveth the lady of the castle, and

she him again; and this is he that won me when I besieged the lady of

this castle, and this is he that won Sir Persant of Inde, and his three

brethren. What is his name, said Sir Tristram, and of what blood is he

come? He was called in the court of King Arthur, Beaumains, but his

right name is Sir Gareth of Orkney, brother to Sir Gawaine. By my head,

said Sir Tristram, he is a good knight, and a big man of arms, and if

he be young he shall prove a full noble knight. He is but a child, they

all said, and of Sir Launcelot he was made knight. Therefore he is

mickle the better, said Tristram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside,

Sir Persant, and his brother, rode together for to help Sir Gareth; and

then there were given many strong strokes.

And then Sir Gareth rode out on the one side to amend his helm; and

then said his dwarf: Take me your ring, that ye lose it not while that

ye drink. And so when he had drunk he gat on his helm, and eagerly took

his horse and rode into the field, and left his ring with his dwarf;

and the dwarf was glad the ring was from him, for then he wist well he

should be known. And then when Sir Gareth was in the field all folks

saw him well and plainly that he was in yellow colours; and there he

rased off helms and pulled down knights, that King Arthur had marvel

what knight he was, for the king saw by his hair that it was the same

knight.