Chương Chương 259 · How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir Lamorak

. How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir Lamorak

came in, and overthrew Sir Gawaine and many other.

Then within three days after the king let make a jousting at a priory.

And there made them ready many knights of the Round Table, for Sir

Gawaine and his brethren made them ready to joust; but Tristram,

Launcelot, nor Dinadan, would not joust, but suffered Sir Gawaine, for

the love of King Arthur, with his brethren, to win the gree if they

might. Then on the morn they apparelled them to joust, Sir Gawaine and

his four brethren, and did there great deeds of arms. And Sir Ector de

Maris did marvellously well, but Sir Gawaine passed all that

fellowship; wherefore King Arthur and all the knights gave Sir Gawaine

the honour at the beginning.

Right so King Arthur was ware of a knight and two squires, the which

came out of a forest side, with a shield covered with leather, and then

he came slyly and hurtled here and there, and anon with one spear he

had smitten down two knights of the Round Table. Then with his hurtling

he lost the covering of his shield, then was the king and all other

ware that he bare a red shield. O Jesu, said King Arthur, see where

rideth a stout knight, he with the red shield. And there was noise and

crying: Beware the Knight with the Red Shield. So within a little while

he had overthrown three brethren of Sir Gawaine’s. So God me help, said

King Arthur, meseemeth yonder is the best jouster that ever I saw. With

that he saw him encounter with Sir Gawaine, and he smote him down with

so great force that he made his horse to avoid his saddle. How now,

said the king, Sir Gawaine hath a fall; well were me an I knew what

knight he were with the red shield. I know him well, said Dinadan, but

as at this time ye shall not know his name. By my head, said Sir

Tristram, he jousted better than Sir Palomides, and if ye list to know

his name, wit ye well his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis.

As they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine and he encountered together

again, and there he smote Sir Gawaine from his horse, and bruised him

sore. And in the sight of King Arthur he smote down twenty knights,

beside Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And so clearly was the prize given

him as a knight peerless. Then slyly and marvellously Sir Lamorak

withdrew him from all the fellowship into the forest side. All this

espied King Arthur, for his eye went never from him. Then the king, Sir

Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Dinadan, took their hackneys, and rode

straight after the good knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, and there found

him. And thus said the king: Ah, fair knight, well be ye found. When he

saw the king he put off his helm and saluted him, and when he saw Sir

Tristram he alighted down off his horse and ran to him to take him by

the thighs, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him, but he alighted or

that he came, and either took other in arms, and made great joy of

other. The king was glad, and also was all the fellowship of the Round

Table, except Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And when they wist that he

was Sir Lamorak, they had great despite at him, and were wonderly wroth

with him that he had put him to dishonour that day.

Then Gawaine called privily in council all his brethren, and to them

said thus: Fair brethren, here may ye see, whom that we hate King

Arthur loveth, and whom that we love he hateth. And wit ye well, my

fair brethren, that this Sir Lamorak will never love us, because we

slew his father, King Pellinore, for we deemed that he slew our father,

King of Orkney. And for the despite of Pellinore, Sir Lamorak did us a

shame to our mother, therefore I will be revenged. Sir, said Sir

Gawaine’s brethren, let see how ye will or may be revenged, and ye

shall find us ready. Well, said Gawaine, hold you still and we shall

espy our time.