Bab Bab 453 · How King Arthur marvelled much of the jousting in the

. How King Arthur marvelled much of the jousting in the

field, and how he rode and found Sir Launcelot.

So this tournament and this jousts dured long, till it was near night,

for the knights of the Round Table relieved ever unto King Arthur; for

the king was wroth out of measure that he and his knights might not

prevail that day. Then Sir Gawaine said to the king: I marvel where all

this day [be] Sir Bors de Ganis and his fellowship of Sir Launcelot’s

blood, I marvel all this day they be not about you: it is for some

cause said Sir Gawaine. By my head, said Sir Kay, Sir Bors is yonder

all this day upon the right hand of this field, and there he and his

blood do more worshipfully than we do. It may well be, said Sir

Gawaine, but I dread me ever of guile; for on pain of my life, said Sir

Gawaine, this knight with the red sleeve of gold is himself Sir

Launcelot, I see well by his riding and by his great strokes; and the

other knight in the same colours is the good young knight, Sir Lavaine.

Also that knight with the green shield is my brother, Sir Gareth, and

yet he hath disguised himself, for no man shall never make him be

against Sir Launcelot, because he made him knight. By my head, said

Arthur, nephew, I believe you; therefore tell me now what is your best

counsel. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall have my counsel: let blow unto

lodging, for an he be Sir Launcelot du Lake, and my brother, Sir

Gareth, with him, with the help of that good young knight, Sir Lavaine,

trust me truly it will be no boot to strive with them but if we should

fall ten or twelve upon one knight, and that were no worship, but

shame. Ye say truth, said the king; and for to say sooth, said the

king, it were shame to us so many as we be to set upon them any more;

for wit ye well, said King Arthur, they be three good knights, and

namely that knight with the sleeve of gold.

So then they blew unto lodging; but forthwithal King Arthur let send

unto the four kings, and to the mighty duke, and prayed them that the

knight with the sleeve of gold depart not from them, but that the king

may speak with him. Then forthwithal King Arthur alighted and unarmed

him, and took a little hackney and rode after Sir Launcelot, for ever

he had a spy upon him. And so he found him among the four kings and the

duke; and there the king prayed them all unto supper, and they said

they would with good will. And when they were unarmed then King Arthur

knew Sir Launcelot, Sir Lavaine, and Sir Gareth. Ah, Sir Launcelot,

said King Arthur, this day ye have heated me and my knights.

So they yede unto Arthur’s lodging all together, and there was a great

feast and great revel, and the prize was given unto Sir Launcelot; and

by heralds they named him that he had smitten down fifty knights, and

Sir Gareth five-and-thirty, and Sir Lavaine four-and-twenty knights.

Then Sir Launcelot told the king and the queen how the lady huntress

shot him in the forest of Windsor, in the buttock, with an broad arrow,

and how the wound thereof was that time six inches deep, and in like

long. Also Arthur blamed Sir Gareth because he left his fellowship and

held with Sir Launcelot. My lord, said Sir Gareth, he made me a knight,

and when I saw him so hard bestead, methought it was my worship to help

him, for I saw him do so much, and so many noble knights against him;

and when I understood that he was Sir Launcelot du Lake, I shamed to

see so many knights against him alone. Truly, said King Arthur unto Sir

Gareth, ye say well, and worshipfully have ye done and to yourself

great worship; and all the days of my life, said King Arthur unto Sir

Gareth, wit you well I shall love you, and trust you the more better.

For ever, said Arthur, it is a worshipful knight’s deed to help another

worshipful knight when he seeth him in a great danger; for ever a

worshipful man will be loath to see a worshipful man shamed; and he

that is of no worship, and fareth with cowardice, never shall he show

gentleness, nor no manner of goodness where he seeth a man in any

danger, for then ever will a coward show no mercy; and always a good

man will do ever to another man as he would be done to himself. So then

there were great feasts unto kings and dukes, and revel, game, and

play, and all manner of noblesse was used; and he that was courteous,

true, and faithful, to his friend was that time cherished.