第 四百七十九 章 · How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him

. How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him

to go out to battle, and how they made them ready.

Well, well, said Sir Gawaine to Launcelot, sithen thou enbraidest me of

Sir Lamorak, wit thou well I shall never leave thee till I have thee at

such avail that thou shalt not escape my hands. I trust you well

enough, said Sir Launcelot, an ye may get me I get but little mercy.

But as the French book saith, the noble King Arthur would have taken

his queen again, and have been accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir

Gawaine would not suffer him by no manner of mean. And then Sir Gawaine

made many men to blow upon Sir Launcelot; and all at once they called

him false recreant knight.

Then when Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel, heard

this outcry, they called to them Sir Palomides, Sir Safere’s brother,

and Sir Lavaine, with many more of their blood, and all they went unto

Sir Launcelot, and said thus: My lord Sir Launcelot, wit ye well we

have great scorn of the great rebukes that we heard Gawaine say to you;

wherefore we pray you, and charge you as ye will have our service, keep

us no longer within these walls; for wit you well plainly, we will ride

into the field and do battle with them; for ye fare as a man that were

afeard, and for all your fair speech it will not avail you. For wit you

well Sir Gawaine will not suffer you to be accorded with King Arthur,

and therefore fight for your life and your right, an ye dare. Alas,

said Sir Launcelot, for to ride out of this castle, and to do battle, I

am full loath.

Then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto Sir Arthur and Sir Gawaine: My

lords, I require you and beseech you, sithen that I am thus required

and conjured to ride into the field, that neither you, my lord King

Arthur, nor you Sir Gawaine, come not into the field. What shall we do

then? said Sir Gawaine, [N]is this the king’s quarrel with thee to

fight? and it is my quarrel to fight with thee, Sir Launcelot, because

of the death of my brother Sir Gareth. Then must I needs unto battle,

said Sir Launcelot. Now wit you well, my lord Arthur and Sir Gawaine,

ye will repent it whensomever I do battle with you.

And so then they departed either from other; and then either party made

them ready on the morn for to do battle, and great purveyance was made

on both sides; and Sir Gawaine let purvey many knights for to wait upon

Sir Launcelot, for to overset him and to slay him. And on the morn at

underne Sir Arthur was ready in the field with three great hosts. And

then Sir Launcelot’s fellowship came out at three gates, in a full good

array; and Sir Lionel came in the foremost battle, and Sir Launcelot

came in the middle, and Sir Bors came out at the third gate. Thus they

came in order and rule, as full noble knights; and always Sir Launcelot

charged all his knights in any wise to save King Arthur and Sir

Gawaine.