So when the day was come Sir Launcelot let devise that he was arrayed,and Sir Lavaine,and their horses,as though they had been Saracens;and so they departed and came nigh to the field.The King of Northgalis with an hundred knights with him,and the King of Northumberland brought with him an hundred good knights,and King Anguish of Ireland brought with him an hundred good knights ready to joust,and Sir Galahad,the haut prince,brought with him an hundred good knights,and the King with the Hundred Knights brought with him as many,and all these were proved good knights.Then came in King Arthur's party;and there came in the King of Scots with an hundred knights,and King Uriens of Gore brought with him an hundred knights,and King Howel of Brittany brought with him an hundred knights,and Chaleins of Clarance brought with him an hundred knights,and King Arthur himself came into the field with two hundred knights,and the most part were knights of the Table Round,that were proved noble knights;and there were old knights set in scaffolds for to judge,with the queen,who did best.
CHAPTER XXIII
How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts,and other men also.
THEN they blew to the field;and there the King of Northgalis encountered with the King of Scots,and there the King of Scots had a fall;and the King of Ireland smote down King Uriens;and the King of Northumberland smote down King Howel of Brittany;and Sir Galahad,the haut prince,smote down Chaleins of Clarance.
And then King Arthur was wood wroth,and ran to the King with the Hundred Knights,and there King Arthur smote him down;and after with that same spear King Arthur smote down three other knights.And then when his spear was broken King Arthur did passingly well;and so therewithal came in Sir Gawaine and Sir Gaheris,Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred,and there everych of them smote down a knight,and Sir Gawaine smote down four knights;and then there began a strong medley,for then there came in the knights of Launcelot's blood,and Sir Gareth and Sir Palomides with them,and many knights of the Table Round,and they began to hold the four kings and the mighty duke so hard that they were discomfit;but this Duke Galahad,the haut prince,was a noble knight,and by his mighty prowess of arms he held the knights of the Table Round strait enough.
All this doing saw Sir Launcelot,and then he came into the field with Sir Lavaine as it had been thunder.
And then anon Sir Bors and the knights of his blood espied Sir Launcelot,and said to them all:I warn you beware of him with the sleeve of gold upon his head,for he is himself Sir Launcelot du Lake;and for great goodness Sir Bors warned Sir Gareth.I am well apaid,said Sir Gareth,that I may know him.But who is he,said they all,that rideth with him in the same array?That is the good and gentle knight Sir Lavaine,said Sir Bors.So Sir Launcelot encountered with Sir Gawaine,and there by force Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Gawaine and his horse to the earth,and so he smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris,and also he smote down Sir Mordred,and all this was with one spear.Then Sir Lavaine met with Sir Palomides,and either met other so hard and so fiercely that both their horses fell to the earth.And then were they horsed again,and then met Sir Launcelot with Sir Palomides,and there Sir Palomides had a fall;and so Sir Launcelot or ever he stint,as fast as he might get spears,he smote down thirty knights,and the most part of them were knights of the Table Round;and ever the knights of his blood withdrew them,and made them ado in other places where Sir Launcelot came not.
And then King Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir Launcelot do such deeds;and then the king called unto him Sir Gawaine,Sir Mordred,Sir Kay,Sir Griflet,Sir Lucan the Butler,Sir Bedivere,Sir Palomides,Sir Safere,his brother;and so the king with these nine knights made them ready to set upon Sir Launcelot,and upon Sir Lavaine.All this espied Sir Bors and Sir Gareth.Now I dread me sore,said Sir Bors,that my lord,Sir Launcelot,will be hard matched.By my head,said Sir Gareth,I will ride unto my lord Sir Launcelot,for to help him,fall of him what fall may,for he is the same man that made me knight.Ye shall not so,said Sir Bors,by my counsel,unless that ye were disguised.Ye shall see me disguised,said Sir Gareth;and therewithal he espied a Welsh knight where he was to repose him,and he was sore hurt afore by Sir Gawaine,and to him Sir Gareth rode,and prayed him of his knighthood to lend him his shield for his.I will well,said the Welsh knight.And when Sir Gareth had his shield,the book saith it was green,with a maiden that seemed in it.
Then Sir Gareth came driving to Sir Launcelot all that he might and said:Knight,keep thyself,for yonder cometh King Arthur with nine noble knights with him to put you to a rebuke,and so I am come to bear you fellowship for old love ye have shewed me.Gramercy,said Sir Launcelot.Sir,said Sir Gareth,encounter ye with Sir Gawaine,and I shall encounter with Sir Palomides;and let Sir Lavaine match with the noble King Arthur.And when we have delivered them,let us three hold us sadly together.Then came King Arthur with his nine knights with him,and Sir Launcelot encountered with Sir Gawaine,and gave him such a buffet that the arson of his saddle brast,and Sir Gawaine fell to the earth.Then Sir Gareth encountered with the good knight Sir Palomides,and he gave him such a buffet that both his horse and he dashed to the earth.Then encountered King Arthur with Sir Lavaine,and there either of them smote other to the earth,horse and all,that they lay a great while.Then Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Agravaine,and Sir Gaheris,and Sir Mordred;and Sir Gareth smote down Sir Kay,and Sir Safere,and Sir Griflet.And then Sir Lavaine was horsed again,and he smote down Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedevere and then there began great throng of good knights.
