Le Morte Darthur
kept my ring. Give it me anon again, that I may hide my body withal;
and so he took it him. And then they all wist not where he was become;
and Sir Gawaine had in manner espied where Sir Gareth rode, and then he
rode after with all his might. That espied Sir Gareth, and rode lightly
into the forest, that Sir Gawaine wist not where he was become. And
when Sir Gareth wist that Sir Gawaine was past, he asked the dwarf of
best counsel. Sir, said the dwarf, me seemeth it were best, now that ye
are escaped from spying, that ye send my lady dame Liones her ring. It
is well advised, said Sir Gareth; now have it here, and bear it to her,
and say that I recommend me unto her good grace, and say her I will
come when I may, and I pray her to be true and faithful to me, as I
will be to her. Sir, said the dwarf, it shall be done as ye command:
and so he rode his way, and did his errand unto the lady. Then she
said, Where is my knight Sir Gareth? Madam, said the dwarf, he bad me
say that he would not be long from you. And so lightly the dwarf came
again unto Sir Gareth, that would fain have had a lodging, for he had
need to be reposed. And then fell there a thunder and a rain, as heaven
and earth should go together. And Sir Gareth was not a little weary,
for of all that day he had but little rest, neither his horse nor he.
So this Sir Gareth rode so long in that forest until the night came.
And ever it lightened and thundered, as it had been wood. At the last
by fortune he came to a castle, and there he heard the waits upon the
walls.
CHAP. XXXI.
_How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well lodged, and how he
justed with a knight and he slew him._
Then Sir Gareth rode unto the barbican of the castle, and prayed the
porter fair to let him into the castle. The porter answered ungoodly
again, and said, Thou gettest no lodging here. Fair sir, say not so,
for I am a knight of king Arthur’s, and pray the lord or the lady of
this castle to give me harbour for the love of king Arthur. Then the
porter went unto the duchess, and told her how there was a knight of
king Arthur’s would have harbour. Let him in, said the duchess, for I
will see that knight, and for king Arthur’s sake he shall not be
harbourless. Then she went up into a tower over the gate, with great
torch light. When Sir Gareth saw that torch light, he cried on high,
Whether thou be lord or lady, giant or champion, I take no force, so
that I may have harbour this night, and if it be so that I must needs
fight, spare me not to morn when I have rested me, for both I and my
horse be weary. Sir knight, said the lady, thou speakest knightly and
boldly, but wit thou well that the lord of this castle loveth not king
Arthur, nor none of his court, for my lord hath ever been against him,
and therefore thou were better not to come within this castle. For and
thou come in this night, thou must come in under such form, that
wheresoever thou meet my lord, by lane, or by street, thou must yield
thee to him as prisoner. Madam, said Sir Gareth, what is your lord, and
what is his name? Sir, my lord’s name is the duke de la Rowse. Well,
madam, said Sir Gareth, I shall promise you in what place I meet your
lord, I shall yield me unto him and to his good grace, with that I
understand he will do me no harm: and if I understand that he will,
will I release myself and I can with my spear and with my sword. Ye say
well, said the duchess, and then she let the draw-bridge down. And so
he rode into the hall, and there he alight, and his horse was led into
a stable, and in the hall he unarmed him and said, Madam, I will not
out of this hall this night; and when it is day-light let see who will
have ado with me, he shall find me ready. Then was he set unto supper,
and had many good dishes. Then Sir Gareth list well to eat, and
knightly he ate his meat, and eagerly; there was many a fair lady by
him, and some of them said they never saw a goodlier man, nor so well
of eating. Then they made him passing good cheer. And shortly when he
had supped, his bed was made there; so he rested him all night. And on
the morn he heard mass, and broke his fast, and took his leave at the
duchess, and at them all, and thanked her goodly of her lodging, and of
his good cheer. And then she asked him his name. Madam, said he, truly,
my name is Gareth of Orkney, and some men call me Beaumains. Then knew
she well it was the same knight that fought for dame Liones. So Sir
Gareth departed, and rode up into a mountain, and there met him a
knight, his name was Sir Bendelaine, and said to Sir Gareth, Thou shalt
not pass this way, for either thou shalt just with me, or be my
prisoner. Then will I just, said Sir Gareth. And so they let their
horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote him throughout the body, and Sir
Bendelaine rode forth to his castle there beside, and there died. So
Sir Gareth would have rested him, and he came riding to Bendelaine’s
castle. Then his knights and his servants espied that it was he that
had slain their lord. Then they armed twenty good men, and came out and
assailed Sir Gareth, and so he had no spear, but his sword, and put his
shield afore him, and there they brake their spears upon him, and they
assailed him passingly sore. But ever Sir Gareth defended him as a
knight.
CHAP. XXXII.
_How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his castle thirty
ladies, and how he slew him._
So when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him
and took their counsel to slay his horse, and so they came in upon Sir
Gareth, and with spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him
hard. But when he was on foot there was none that he fought but he gave
him such a buffet that he did never recover. So he slew them by one and
one till they were but four, and there they fled, and Sir Gareth took a
good horse that was one of theirs, and rode his way. Then he rode a
great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he heard much
mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him a page: What
noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this castle? Sir
knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty ladies, and
all they be widows, for here is a knight that waiteth daily upon this
castle, and his name is the brown knight without pity, and he is the
most perilous knight that now liveth. And, therefore, sir, said the
page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir Gareth, I will not flee, though
thou be afeard of him. And then the page saw where came the brown
knight. Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal with him, said
Sir Gareth. And when either of other had a sight, they let their horses
run, and the brown knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him
throughout the body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So
Sir Gareth rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might
repose him. Alas, said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him
good cheer, said the page, for this knight hath slain your enemy. Then
they all made him good cheer as lay in their power. But wit ye well
they made him good cheer, for they might none otherwise do, for they
were but poor. And so on the morn he went to mass, and there he saw the
thirty ladies kneel, and lay groveling upon divers tombs making great
dole and sorrow. Then Sir Gareth wist well that in the tombs lay their
lords. Fair ladies, said Sir Gareth, ye must at the next feast of
Pentecost be at the court of king Arthur, and say that I Sir Gareth
sent you thither. We shall do this, said the ladies. So he departed,
and by fortune he came to a mountain, and there he found a goodly
knight that bad him, Abide Sir knight, and just with me. What are ye?
said Sir Gareth. My name is, said he, the duke de la Rowse. Ah! Sir, ye
are the same knight that I lodged once in your castle, and there I made
promise unto your lady that I should yield me unto you. Ah! said the
duke, art thou that proud knight that proffered to fight with my
knights? therefore make thee ready, for I will have ado with thee. So
they let their horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote the duke down
from his horse. But the duke lightly avoided his horse, and dressed his
shield, and drew his sword, and bad Sir Gareth alight and fight with
him. So he did alight, and they did great battle together more than an
hour, and either hurt other full sore. At the last Sir Gareth gat the
duke to the earth, and would have slain him, and then he yielded him to
him. Then must ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur my lord at the
next feast, and say that I Sir Gareth of Orkney sent you unto him. It
shall be done, said the duke, and I will do to you homage and fealty
with an hundred knights with me, and all the days of my life to do you
service where ye will command me.
CHAP. XXXIII.
_How Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth fought each against other, and how they
knew each other by the damsel Linet._
So the duke departed, and Sir Gareth stood there alone, and there he
saw an armed knight coming toward him. Then Sir Gareth took the duke’s
shield and mounted upon horseback, and so without bidding they ran
together as it had been the thunder. And there that knight hurt Sir
Gareth under the side with his spear. And then they alight and drew
their swords, and gave great strokes, that the blood trailed to the
ground. And so they fought two hours. At the last there came the damsel
Linet, that some men call the damsel Savage, and she came riding upon
an ambling mule, and there she cried all on high, Sir Gawaine, Sir
Gawaine, leave thy fighting with thy brother Sir Gareth. And when he
heard her say so he threw away his shield and his sword, and ran to Sir
Gareth and took him in his arms, and then kneeled down and asked him
mercy. What are ye, said Sir Gareth, that right now were so strong and
so mighty, and now so suddenly yield you to me? O Gareth, I am your
brother Sir Gawaine, that for your sake have had great sorrow and
labour. Then Sir Gareth unlaced his helm, and kneeled down to him and
asked him mercy. Then they rose both, and embraced either other in
their arms, and wept a great while or they might speak, and either of
them gave other the prize of the battle. And there were many kind words
between them. Alas, my fair brother, said Sir Gawaine, perdy I ought of
right to worship you and ye were not my brother, for ye have worshipped
king Arthur and all his court, for ye have sent him more worshipful
knights this twelvemonth than six the best of the Round Table have
done, except Sir Launcelot. Then came the damsel Savage, that was the
lady Linet that rode with Sir Gareth so long, and there she did stanch
Sir Gareth’s wounds and Sir Gawaine’s. Now what will ye do? said the
damsel Savage; me seemeth it were well done that Arthur had tidings of
you both, for your horses are so bruised that they may not bear. Now,
fair damsel, said Sir Gawaine, I pray you ride unto my lord, mine uncle
king Arthur, and tell him what adventure is to me betid here, and I
suppose he will not tarry long. Then she took her mule, and lightly she
came to king Arthur that was but two miles thence, and when she had
told him the tidings, the king bad get him a palfrey. And when he was
upon his back he bad the lords and ladies come after who that would:
and there was saddling and bridling of queens’ horses, and princes’
horses, and well was him that soonest might be ready. So when the king
came there as they were, he saw Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth sit upon a
little hill side, and then the king avoided his horse. And when he came
nigh Sir Gareth he would have spoken but he might not, and therewith he
sank down in a swoon for gladness. And so they start unto their uncle,