King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Now as they talked thus it was told King Arthur that his sister, the
Queen of Orkney, was come to the court with a great retinue of knights
and ladies. Then was there great rejoicing, and the king rose and
saluted his sister. And her sons, Sir Gawain, Sir Agravain, and Sir
Gaheris knelt before her and asked her blessing, for during fifteen
years last past they had not seen her. Anon she said, "Where is my
youngest son, Sir Gareth? for I know that he was here a twelve-month
with you, and that ye made a kitchen knave of him." Then the king and
all the knights knew that Sir Beaumains and Sir Gareth were the same.
"Truly," said the king, "I knew him not." "Nor I," said Sir Gawain and
both his brothers. Then said the king, "God be thanked, fair sister,
that he is proved as worshipful a knight as any now alive, and by the
grace of Heaven he shall be found forthwith if he be anywhere within
these seven realms." Then said Sir Gawain and his brethren, "Lord, if ye
will give us leave we will go seek him." But Sir Lancelot said, "It
were better that the king should send a messenger to Dame Lyones and
pray her to come hither with all speed, and she will counsel where ye
shall find him." "It is well said," replied the king; and sent a
messenger quickly unto Dame Lyones.
When she heard the message she promised she would come forthwith, and
told Sir Gareth what the messenger had said, and asked him what to do.
"I pray you," said he, "tell them not where I am, but when my lord King
Arthur asketh for me, advise him thus--that he proclaim a tournament
before this castle on Assumption Day, and that the knight who proveth
best shall win yourself and all your lands." So the Lady Lyones departed
and came to King Arthur's court, and there was right nobly welcomed. And
when they asked her where Sir Gareth was, she said she could not tell.
"But, lord," said she, "with thy goodwill I will proclaim a tournament
before my castle on the Feast of the Assumption, whereof the prize shall
be myself and all my lands. Then if it be proclaimed that you, lord, and
your knights will be there, I will find knights on my side to fight you
and yours, and thus am I sure ye will hear tidings of Sir Gareth." "Be
it so done," replied the king.
So Sir Gareth sent messengers privily to Sir Perseant and Sir Ironside,
and charged them to be ready on the day appointed, with their companies
of knights to aid him and his party against the king. And when they were
arrived he said, "Now be ye well assured that we shall be matched with
the best knights of the world, and therefore must we gather all the
good knights we can find."
So proclamation was made throughout all England, Wales, Scotland,
Ireland, and Cornwall, and in the out isles and other countries, that at
the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady, next coming, all knights who
came to joust at Castle Perilous should make choice whether they would
side with the king or with the castle. Then came many good knights on
the side of the castle. Sir Epinogris, the son of the King of
Northumberland, and Sir Palomedes the Saracen, and Sir Grummore
Grummorsum, a good knight of Scotland, and Sir Brian des Iles, a noble
knight, and Sir Carados of the Tower Dolorous, and Sir Tristram, who as
yet was not a knight of the Round Table, and many others. But none among
them knew Sir Gareth, for he took no more upon him than any mean person.
And on King Arthur's side there came the King of Ireland and the King of
Scotland, the noble prince Sir Galahaut, Sir Gawain and his brothers Sir
Agravain and Sir Gaheris, Sir Ewaine, Sir Tor, Sir Perceval, and Sir
Lamoracke, Sir Lancelot also and his kindred, Sir Lionel, Sir Ector, Sir
Bors and Sir Bedivere, likewise Sir Key and the most part of the Table
Round. The two queens also, Queen Guinevere and the Queen of Orkney, Sir
Gareth's mother, came with the king. So there was a great array both
within and without the castle, with all manner of feasting and
minstrelsy.
Now before the tournament began, Sir Gareth privily prayed Dame Lyones,
Sir Gringamors, Sir Ironside, and Sir Perseant, that they would in
nowise disclose his name, nor make more of him than of any common
knight. Then said Dame Lyones, "Dear lord, I pray thee take this ring,
which hath the power to change the wearer's clothing into any color he
may will, and guardeth him from any loss of blood. But give it me again,
I pray thee, when the tournament is done, for it greatly increaseth my
beauty whensoever I wear it." "Gramercy, mine own lady," said Sir
Gareth, "I wished for nothing better, for now I may be certainly
disguised as long as I will." Then Sir Gringamors gave Sir Gareth a bay
courser that was a passing good horse, with sure armor, and a noble
sword, won by his father from a heathen tyrant. And then every knight
made him ready for the tournament.
So on the day of the Assumption, when mass and matins were said, the
heralds blew their trumpets and sounded for the tourney. Anon came out
the knights of the castle and the knights of King Arthur, and matched
themselves together.
Then Sir Epinogris, son of the King of Northumberland, a knight of the
castle, encountered Sir Ewaine, and both broke off their spears short to
their hands. Then came Sir Palomedes from the castle, and met Sir
Gawain, and they so hardly smote each other, that both knights and
horses fell to the earth. Then Sir Tristram, from the castle,
encountered with Sir Bedivere, and smote him to the earth, horse and
man. Then the Knight of the Redlands and Sir Gareth met with Sir Bors
and Sir Bleoberis; and the Knight of the Redlands and Sir Bors smote
together so hard that their spears burst, and their horses fell
groveling to the ground. And Sir Bleoberis brake his spear upon Sir
Gareth, but himself was hurled upon the ground. When Sir Galihodin saw
that, he bade Sir Gareth keep him, but Sir Gareth lightly smote him to
the earth. Then Sir Galihud got a spear to avenge his brother, but was
served in like manner. And Sir Dinadam, and his brother
La-cote-male-taile, and Sir Sagramour le Desirous, and Dodinas le
Savage, he bore down all with one spear.
When King Anguish of Ireland saw this, he marveled what that knight
could be who seemed at one time green and at another blue; for so at
every course he changed his color that none might know him. Then he ran
towards him and encountered him, and Sir Gareth smote the king from his
horse, saddle and all. And in like manner he served the King of
Scotland, and King Urience of Gore, and King Bagdemagus.
Then Sir Galahaut, the noble prince, cried out, "Knight of the many
colors! thou hast jousted well; now make thee ready to joust with me."
When Sir Gareth heard him, he took a great spear and met him swiftly.
And the prince's spear broke off, but Sir Gareth smote him on the left
side of the helm, so that he reeled here and there, and had fallen down
had not his men recovered him. "By my faith," said King Arthur, "that
knight of the many colors is a good knight. I pray thee, Sir Lancelot
du Lake, encounter with him." "Lord," said Sir Lancelot, "by thy leave I
will forbear. I find it in my heart to spare him at this time, for he
hath done enough work for one day; and when a good knight doth so well
it is no knightly part to hinder him from this honor. And peradventure
his quarrel is here to-day, and he may be the best beloved of the Lady
Lyones of all that be here; for I see well he paineth and forceth
himself to do great deeds. Therefore, as for me, this day he shall have
the honor; for though I were able to put him from it, I would not." "You
speak well and truly," said the king.
Then after the tilting, they drew swords, and there began a great
tournament, and there Sir Lancelot did marvelous deeds of arms, for
first he fought with both Sir Tristram and Sir Carados, albeit they were
the most perilous in all the world. Then came Sir Gareth and put them
asunder, but would not smite a stroke against Sir Lancelot, for by him
he had been knighted. Anon Sir Gareth's helm had need of mending, and he
rode aside to see to it and to drink water, for he was sore athirst with
all his mighty feats of strength. And while he drank, his dwarf said to
him, "Give me your ring, lest ye lose it while ye drink." So Sir Gareth
took it off. And when he had finished drinking, he rode back eagerly to
the field, and in his haste forgot to take the ring again. Then all the
people saw that he wore yellow armor. And King Arthur told a herald,
"Ride and espy the cognizance of that brave knight, for I have asked
many who he is, and none can tell me."
Then the herald rode near, and saw written round about his helmet in
letters of gold, "Sir Gareth of Orkney." And instantly the herald cried
his name aloud, and all men pressed to see him.
But when he saw he was discovered, he pushed with haste through all the
crowd, and cried to his dwarf, "Boy, thou hast beguiled me foully in
keeping my ring; give it me again, that I may be hidden." And as soon as
he had put it on, his armor changed again, and no man knew where he had
gone. Then he passed forth from the field; but Sir Gawain, his brother,
rode after him.
And when Sir Gareth had ridden far into the forest, he took off his
ring, and sent it back by the dwarf to the Lady Lyones, praying her to
be true and faithful to him while he was away.
Then rode Sir Gareth long through the forest, till night fell, and
coming to a castle he went up to the gate, and prayed the porter to let
him in. But churlishly he answered "that he should not lodge there."
Then said Sir Gareth, "Tell thy lord and lady that I am a knight of King
Arthur's court, and for his sake I pray their shelter." With that the
porter went to the duchess who owned the castle. "Let him in
straightway," cried she; "for the king's sake he shall not be
harborless!" and went down to receive him. When Sir Gareth saw her
coming, he saluted her, and said, "Fair lady, I pray you give me shelter
for this night, and if there be here any champion or giant with whom I
must needs fight, spare me till to-morrow, when I and my horse shall
have rested, for we are full weary." "Sir knight," she said, "thou
speakest boldly; for the lord of this castle is a foe to King Arthur and
his court, and if thou wilt rest here to-night thou must agree, that
wheresoever thou mayest meet my lord, thou must yield to him as a
prisoner." "What is thy lord's name, lady?" said Sir Gareth. "The Duke
de la Rowse," said she. "I will promise thee," said he, "to yield to
him, if he promise to do me no harm; but if he refuse, I will release
myself with my sword and spear."
"It is well," said the duchess; and commanded the drawbridge to be let
down. So he rode into the hall and alighted. And when he had taken off
his armor, the duchess and her ladies made him passing good cheer. And
after supper his bed was made in the hall, and there he rested that
night. On the morrow he rose and heard mass, and having broken his fast,
took his leave and departed.
And as he rode past a certain mountain there met him a knight named Sir
Bendelaine, and cried unto him, "Thou shalt not pass unless thou joust
with me or be my prisoner!" "Then will we joust," replied Sir Gareth. So
they let their horses run at full speed, and Sir Gareth smote Sir
Bendelaine through his body so sorely that he scarcely reached his
castle ere he fell dead. And as Sir Gareth presently came by the castle,
Sir Bendelaine's knights and servants rode out to revenge their lord.
And twenty of them fell on him at once, although his spear was broken.
But drawing his sword he put his shield before him. And though they
brake their spears upon him, one and all, and sorely pressed on him, yet
ever he defended himself like a noble knight. Anon, finding they could