Le Morte Darthur
more of him than of the least knight that there was; for he said, I
will not be known of neither more nor less, neither at the beginning
neither at the ending.
Then dame Liones said unto Sir Gareth, Sir, I will lend you a ring, but
I would pray you as ye love me heartily let me have it again when the
tournament is done, for that ring increaseth my beauty much more than
it is of itself. And the virtue of my ring is that that is green it
will turn to red, and that is red it will turn in likeness to green,
and that is blue it will turn to likeness of white, and that is white
it will turn in likeness to blue, and so it will do of all manner of
colours. Also, who that beareth my ring shall lose no blood, and for
great love I will give you this ring. Gramercy, said Sir Gareth, mine
own lady, for this ring is passing meet for me, for it will turn all
manner of likeness that I am in, and that shall cause me that I shall
not be known. Then Sir Gringamore gave Sir Gareth a bay courser that
was a passing good horse: also he gave him good armour and sure, and a
noble sword that some time Sir Gringamore’s father won upon an heathen
tyrant. And so thus every knight made him ready to that tournament. And
king Arthur was come two days tofore the Assumption of our Lady. And
there was all manner of royalty of all minstrelsy that might be found.
Also there came queen Guenever, and the queen of Orkney, Sir Gareth’s
mother. And upon the Assumption day, when mass and matins was done,
there were heralds with trumpets commanded to blow to the field. And so
there came out Sir Epinogrus, the king’s son of Northumberland, from
the castle, and there encountered with him Sir Sagramore le Desirous,
and either of them brake their spears to their hands. And then came in
Sir Palamides out of the castle, and there encountered with him
Gawaine, and either of them smote other so hard that both the good
knights and their horses fell to the earth. And then knights of either
party rescued their knights. And then came in Sir Safere and Sir
Sagwarides, brethren unto Sir Palamides, and there encountered Sir
Agravaine with Sir Safere, and Sir Gaheris encountered with Sir
Sagwarides. So Sir Safere smote down Agravaine, Sir Gawaine’s brother,
and Sir Segwarides, Sir Safere’s brother, smote down Sir Gaheris. And
Sir Malgrine, a knight of the castle, encountered with Sir Uwaine le
Blanchemains, and there Sir Uwaine gave Sir Malgrine a fall, that he
had almost broken his neck.
CHAP. XXVIII.
_How the knights bare them in battle._
Then Sir Brian de les Isles, and Grummore Grummorsum, knights of the
castle, encountered with Sir Aglovale and Sir Tor, and Sir Tor smote
down Sir Grummore Grummorsum to the earth. Then came in Sir Carados of
the dolorous tower, and Sir Turquine, knights of the castle, and there
encountered with them Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Lamorak de Galis,
that were two brethren, and there encountered Sir Percivale with Sir
Carados, and either brake their spears unto their hands, and then Sir
Turquine with Sir Lamorak, and either of them smote down other, horse
and all, to the earth, and either parties rescued other and horsed them
again. And Sir Arnold, and Sir Gauter, knights of the castle,
encountered with Sir Brandiles and Sir Kay, and these four knights
encountered mightily, and brake their spears to their hands. Then came
in Sir Tristram, and Sir Saduk, and Sir Dinas, knights of the castle,
and there encountered Sir Tristram with Sir Bedivere, and there Sir
Bedivere was smitten to the earth, both horse and man: and Sir Saduk
encountered with Sir Petipase, and there Sir Saduk was overthrown. And
there Uwaine les Avoutres smote down Sir Dinas the seneschal. Then came
in Sir Persant of Inde, a knight of the castle, and there encountered
with him Sir Launcelot du Lake, and there he smote Sir Persant, horse
and man, to the earth. Then came Sir Pertolope from the castle, and
there encountered with him Sir Lionel, and there Sir Pertolope the
green knight smote down Sir Lionel, brother to Sir Launcelot. All this
as marked by noble heralds, who bare him best, and their names. And
then came into the field Sir Perimones the red knight, Sir Persant’s
brother, that was a knight of the castle, and he encountered with Sir
Ector de Maris, and either smote other so hard that both their horses
and they fell to the earth. And then came in the red knight of the red
lawns, and Sir Gareth, from the castle, and there encountered with them
Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Bleoberis, and there the red knight and Sir
Bors smote other so hard that their spears brast, and their horses fell
groveling to the earth. Then Sir Bleoberis brake his spear upon Sir
Gareth, but of that stroke Sir Bleoberis fell to the earth. When Sir
Galihodin saw that, he bad Sir Gareth keep him, and Sir Gareth smote
him to the earth. Then Sir Galihud gat a spear to avenge his brother,
and in the same wise Sir Gareth served him, and Sir Dinadan and his
brother La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Sagramor le Desirous, and Sir
Dodinas le Savage; all these he bare down with one spear. When king
Agwisance of Ireland saw Sir Gareth fare so he marvelled what he might
be, that one time seemed green, and another time, at his again coming,
he seemed blue. And thus at every course that he rode to and fro he
changed his colour, so that there might neither king nor knight have
ready cognisance of him. Then Sir Agwisance the king of Ireland
encountered with Sir Gareth, and there Sir Gareth smote him from his
horse, saddle and all. And then came king Carados of Scotland, and Sir
Gareth smote him down, horse and man. And in the same wise he served
king Uriens of the land of Gore. And then there came in Sir Bagdemagus,
and Sir Gareth smote him down horse and man to the earth. And
Bagdemagus’s son Meliganus brake a spear upon Sir Gareth mightily and
knightly. And then Sir Galahault the noble prince cried on high, Knight
with the many colours, well hast thou justed; now make thee ready that
I may just with thee. Sir Gareth heard him, and he gat a great spear,
and so they encountered together, and there the prince brake his spear:
but Sir Gareth smote him upon the left side of the helm, that he reeled
here and there, and he had fallen down had not his men recovered him.
Truly, said king Arthur, that knight with the many colours is a good
knight. Wherefore the king called unto him Sir Launcelot, and prayed
him to encounter with that knight. Sir, said Launcelot, I may well find
in my heart for to forbear him as at this time, for he hath had travail
enough this day, and when a good knight doth so well upon some day, it
is no good knight’s part to let him of his worship, and, namely, when
he seeth a knight hath done so great labour: for peradventure, said Sir
Launcelot, his quarrel is here this day, and peradventure he is best
beloved with this lady of all that be here, for I see well he paineth
himself and enforceth him to do great deeds, and therefore, said Sir
Launcelot, as for me, this day he shall have the honour; though it lay
in my power to put him from it, I would not.
CHAP. XXIX.
_Yet of the said Tournament._
Then when this was done, there was drawing of swords; and then there
began a sore tournament. And there did Sir Lamorak marvellous deeds of
arms, and betwixt Sir Lamorak and Sir Ironside, that was the red knight
of the red lawns, there was a strong battle, and betwixt Sir Palamides
and Bleoberis was a strong battle; and Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram
met, and there Sir Gawaine had the worst, for he pulled Sir Gawaine
from his horse, and there he was long upon foot and defouled. Then came
in Sir Launcelot, and he smote Sir Turquine, and he him, and then came
Sir Carados his brother, and both at once they assailed him, and he, as
the most noblest knight of the world, worshipfully fought with them
both, that all men wondered of the nobleness of Sir Launcelot. And then
came in Sir Gareth and knew that it was Sir Launcelot that fought with
those two perilous knights. And then Sir Gareth came with his good
horse and hurtled them in sunder, and no stroke would he smite to Sir
Launcelot. That espied Sir Launcelot, and deemed it should be the good
knight Sir Gareth; and then Sir Gareth rode here and there, and smote
on the right hand and on the left hand, that all the folk might well
espy where that he rode. And by fortune he met with his brother Sir
Gawaine, and there he put Sir Gawaine to the worse, for he put off his
helm; and so he served five or six knights of the Round Table, that all
men said he put him in the most pain, and best he did his devoir. For
when Sir Tristram beheld him how he first justed and after fought so
well with a sword, then he rode unto Sir Ironside and to Sir Persant of
Inde, and asked them by their faith, What manner a knight is yonder
knight that seemeth in so many divers colours; truly, me seemeth, said
Tristram, that he putteth himself in great pain, for he never ceaseth.
Wot ye not what he is? said Sir Ironside. No, said Sir Tristram. Then
shall ye know that this is he that loveth the lady of the castle, and
she him again; and this is he that won me when I besieged the lady of
this castle, and this is he that won Sir Persant of Inde and his three
brethren. What is his name, said Sir Tristram, and of what blood is he
come? He was called in the court of king Arthur Beaumains, but his name
is Sir Gareth of Orkney, brother to Sir Gawaine. By my head, said Sir
Tristram, he is a good knight, and a big man of arms, and if he be
young he shall prove a full noble knight. He is but a child, they all
said; and of Sir Launcelot he was made knight. Therefore he is mickle
the better, said Tristram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside, Sir
Persant, and his brother, rode together for to help Sir Gareth, and
then there were given many strong strokes. And then Sir Gareth rode out
on the one side to amend his helm. And then said his dwarf, Take me
your ring, that ye lose it not while that ye drink. And so when he had
drunk, he gat on his helm, and eagerly took his horse and rode into the
field, and left his ring with his dwarf, and the dwarf was glad the
ring was from him, for then he wist well he should be known. And then
when Sir Gareth was in the field, all folks saw him well and plainly
that he was in yellow colours, and there he rashed off helms, and
pulled down knights, that king Arthur had marvel what knight he was,
for the king saw by his hair that it was the same knight.
CHAP. XXX.
_How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, and how he escaped out of
the field._
But before he was in so many colours, and now he is but in one colour,
that is yellow: now go, said king Arthur unto divers heralds, and ride
about him, and espy what manner knight he is, for I have asked of many
knights this day that be upon his party, and all say they know him not.
And so an herald rode nigh Gareth as he could, and there he saw written
about his helm in gold, This helm is Sir Gareth’s of Orkney. Then the
herald cried as he were wood, and many heralds with him, This is Sir
Gareth of Orkney, in the yellow arms, that all kings and knights of
Arthur’s beheld him and awaited, and then they pressed all to behold
him: and ever the heralds cried, This is Sir Gareth of Orkney, king
Lot’s son. And when Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered, then he
doubled his strokes, and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother Sir
Gawaine. O brother, said Sir Gawaine, I wend ye would not have stricken
me. So when he heard him say so, he thrang here and there, and so with
great pain he gat out of the press, and there he met with his dwarf. O
boy, said Sir Gareth, thou hast beguiled me foul this day that thou