‘A, brothir!’ seyde the quene, ‘ye dud yourself grete shame whan ye amongyst you kepte my son in the kychyn and fedde hym lyke an hogge.’
‘Fayre sistir,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘ye shall ryght well wete that I knew hym nat, nother no more dud sir Gawayne, nothir his bretherne. But sytthe hit is so,’ seyde the kynge, ‘that he thus is gone frome us all, we muste shape a remedy to fynde hym. Also, sistir, mesemyth ye myght have done me to wete of his commynge, and than, if I had nat done well to hym, ye myght have blamed me. For whan he com to this courte he cam lenynge uppon too mennys sholdyrs as though he myght nat have gone. And than he asked me three gyfftys; and one he asked that same day, and that was that I wolde gyff hym mete inowghe that twelve-monthe. And the other two gyfftys he asked that day twelve-monthe, and that was that he myght have the adventure of the damesel Lyonett; and the thirde, that sir Launcelot sholde make hym knyght whan he desyred hym. And so I graunted hym all his desyre. And many in this courte mervayled that he desyred his systynaunce for a twelve-monthe, and thereby we demed many of us that he was nat com oute of a noble house.’
‘Sir,’ seyde the quene of Orkenay unto kynge Arthure her brother, ‘wete you well that I sente hym unto you ryght well armed and horsed and worshypfully besene of his body, and golde and sylver plenté to spende.’
‘Hit may be so,’ seyde the kyng, ‘but thereof sawe we none, save that same day that he departed frome us knyghtes tolde me that there com a dwarff hyder suddeynely and brought hym armour and a good horse full well and rychely beseyne. And thereat all we had mervayle, frome whens that rychesse com. Than we demed all that he was com of men of worshyp.’
‘Brother,’ seyde the quene, ‘all that ye sey we beleve hit, for ever sytthen he was growyn he was mervaylously wytted, and ever he was feythfull and trew of his promyse. But I mervayle,’ seyde she, ‘that sir Kay dud mok and scorne hym and gaff hym to name Bewmaynes; yet sir Kay,’ seyde the quene, ‘named hym more ryghteuously than he wende, for I dare sey he is as fayre an handid man and wel disposed, and he be on lyve, as ony lyvynge.’
‘Sistir,’ seyde Arthure, ‘lat this langage now be stylle, and by the grace of God he shall be founde and he be within this seven reaimys. And lette all this passe and be myrry, for he is preved to a man of worshyp, and that is my joy.’
Than seyde sir Gawayne and his bretherne unto kynge Arthure, [27] ‘Sir, and ye woll gyff us leve we woll go seke oure brother.’
‘Nay,’ sayde sir Launcelot, ‘that shall not nede.’ And so seyde sir Bawdwyn of Brytaygne. ‘For as by oure advyse, the kynge shall sende unto dame Lyonesse a messyngere and pray hir that she wolle com to the courte in all haste that she may. And doute ye nat she woll com, and than she may gyff you the beste counceyle where ye shall fynde sir Gareth.’
‘This is well seyde of you,’ seyde the kynge.
So than goodly lettyrs were made, and the messyngere sente forth, that nyght and day wente tyll he com to the Castell Perelous. And than the lady, dame Lyonesse, was sente fore thereas she was with sir Gryngamour, hir brother, and sir Gareth. And whan she undirstoode this messyngere she bade hym ryde on his way unto kynge Arthure, and she wolde com aftir in all the moste goodly haste.
Than she com unto sir Gryngamour and to sir Gareth, and tolde hem all how kyng Arthure hadde sente for hir.
‘That is because of me,’ seyde sir Gareth.
‘Now avyse ye me,’ seyde dame Lyonesse, ‘what I shall sey, and in what maner I shall rule me.’
‘My lady and my love,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘I pray you in no wyse be ye aknowyn where I am. But well I wote my modir is there and all my bretherne, and they woll take uppon hem to seke me: I woll that they do. But this, madam, I woll ye sey and avyse the kynge whan he questyons with you of me: than may ye sey this is your avyse, that and hit lyke his good grace, ye woll do make a cry ayenst the Assumpcion of Oure Lady, that what knyght that prevyth hym beste, he shall welde you and all your lande. And yf so be that he be a wedded man that Wynnes the degré, he shall have a coronall of golde sette with stonys of vertu to the valew of a thousand pound, and a whyght jarfawcon.’
So dame Lyonesse departed. And to com off and to breff this tale, whan she com to kynge Arthure she was nobly resseyved, and there she was sore questyonde of the kynge and of the quene of Orkeney. And she answerde where sir Gareth was she coude not tell, but this muche she seyde unto kynge Arthure:
‘Sir, by your avyse I woll let cry a turnemente that shall be done before my castell at the Assumpcion of Oure Lady; and the cry shall be this, that you, my lorde Arthure, shall be there and your knyghtes, and I woll purvey that my knyghtes shall be ayenste youres; and than I am sure I shall hyre of sir Gareth.’
‘This is well avysed,’ seyde kynge Arthure.
And so she departed; and the kynge and she made grete provysion to the turnemente.
Whan dame Lyonesse was com to the lie of Avylyon — that was the same ile thereas hir brother, sir Gryngamour, dwelled — than she tolde hem all how she had done, and what promyse she had made to kynge Arthure.
Alas!’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘I have bene so sore wounded with unhappynesse sitthyn I cam into this castell that I shall nat be able to do at that turnemente lyke a knyght; for I was never thorowly hole syn I was hurte.’
‘Be ye of good chere,’ seyde the damesell Lyonett, ‘for I undirtake within this fyftene dayes to make you as hole and as lusty as ever ye were.’
And than she leyde an oynemente and salve to hym as hit pleased hir, that he was never so freyshe nother so lusty as he was tho.
Than seyde the damesell Lyonett, ‘Sende you unto sir Persaunte of Inde, and assumpne hym that he be redy there with hole assomons of knyghtes, lyke as he made his promyse. Also that ye sende unto Ironsyde that is knyght of the Rede Laundys, and charge hym that he be there with you wyth his hole somme of knyghtes; and than shall ye be able to macche wyth kynge Arthure and his knyghtes.’
So this was done and all knyghtes were sente fore unto the Castell Perelous. Than the Rede Knyght answerde and sayde unto dame Lyonesse and to sir Gareth, ‘Ye shall undirstonde that I have bene at the courte of kynge Arthure, and sir Persaunte of Inde and his brotherne, and there we have done oure omage as ye comaunded us. Also,’ seyde sir Ironsyde, ‘I have takyn uppon me with sir Persaunte of Inde and his bretherne to holde party agaynste my lorde sir Launcelot and the knyghtes of that courte, and this have I done for the love of my lady, dame Lyonesse, and you, my lorde sir Gareth.’
Ye have well done,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘but wete ye well, we shall be full sore macched with the moste nobleste knyghtes of the worlde: therefore we muste purvey us of good knyghtes where we may gete hem.’
‘Ye sey well,’ seyde sir Persaunte, and worshypfully.’
And so the cry was maade in Ingelonde, Walys, Scotlonde, Irelonde, and Cornuayle, and in all the Oute Iles, and in Bretayne and many contrayes, that at Oure Lady Day, the Assumpsion next folowynge, men sholde com to the Castell Perelus besyde the Ile of Avylon, and there all knyghtes, whan they com there, sholde chose whethir them lyste to be on the tone party with the knyghtes of the Castell, other to be with kyng Arthur on the tothir party. And two monthis was to the day that the turnamente sholde be.
And so many good knyghtys that were at hir large helde hem for the moste party all this tyme ayenste kynge Arthure and the knyghtes of the Rounde Table: and so they cam in the syde of them of the castell. And sir Epynogrys was the fyrste, and he was the kynges son of Northumbirlonde; and sir Palamydes the Saresyn was another, and sir Safere and sir Segwarydes, hys bretherne — but they bothe were crystynde — and sir Malegryne, and sir Bryan de les Iles, a noble knyght, and sir Grummor and Grummorson, two noble knyghtes of Scotland, and sir Carados of the Dolowres Towre, a noble knyght, and sir Terquyne his brother, and sir Arnolde and sir Gauter, two bretherne, good knyghtes of Cornuayle.
Also there com sir Trystrams de Lyones, and with hym sir Dynas the Senesciall, and sir Saduk. But this sir Trystrams was nat at that tyme knyght
of the Rounde Table; but he was at that tyme one of the beste knyghtes of the worlde. And so all thes noble knyghtes accompanyed hem with the lady of the Castell, and with the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundys. But as for sir Gareth, he wolde nat take uppon hym but as othir meane knyghtis.
Than turne we to kynge Arthure that brought wyth hym sir Gawayne, Aggravayne, Gaherys, his brethern; and than his nevewys, as sir Uwayne le Blaunche Maynes, and sir Agglovale, sir Tor, sir Percivale de Galys, sir Lamerok de Galys. Than com sir Launcelot du Lake with his bretherne, nevewys, and cosyns, as sir Lyonell, sir Ector de Marys, sir Bors de Gaynys, and sir Bleobrys de Gaynes, sir Blamour de Gaynys and sir Galyhodyn, sir Galyhud, and many me of sir Launcelottys kynne; and sir Dynadan, sir La Cote Male Tayle, his brother, a knyght good, and sir Sagramoure le Desyrus, sir Dodynas le Saveage; and all the moste party of the Rounde Table.
Also there cam with kynge Arthure thes kynges: the kyng of Irelonde, kynge Angwysauns, and the kynge of Scotlonde, kynge Carados, and kynge Uryens of the londe of Gore, and kynge Bagdemagus and his son sir Mellyagauns, and sir Galahalte, the noble prynce, — all thes prynces and erlys, barowns and noble knyghtes, as sir Braundyles, sir Uwayne les Avoutres, and sir Kay, sir Bedyvere, sir Melyot de Logres, sir Petypace of Wynchilsé, sir Gotlake — all thes com with kynge Arthure and me that be nat here rehersid.
Now leve we of thes knyghtes and kynges, and lette us speke of the grete aray that was made within the castell and aboute the castell; for this lady, dame Lyonesse, ordayned grete aray uppon hir party for hir noble knyghtys, for all maner of lodgynge and vytayle that cam by londe and by watir, that there lacked nothynge for hir party, nother for the othir party, but there was plenté to be had for golde and sylver for kynge Arthure and all his knyghtes. And than there cam the herbygeours frome kynge Arthure for to herborow hym and his kyngys, deukis, erlys, barons, and knyghtes.
Than sir Gareth prayde dame Lyonesse and the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundys, and sir Persaunte and his bretherne, and sir Gryngamour, that in no wyse there sholde none of them telle his name, and make no more of hym than of the leste knyght that there was: ‘for,’ he seyde, ‘I woll nat be knowyn of neythir more ne lesse, nothir at the begynnynge nother at the endyng.’
Than dame Lyones seyde unto sir Gareth, ‘Sir, I wolde leve with you a rynge of myne; but I wolde pray you, as ye love me hertely, lette me have hit agayne whan the turnemente is done: for that rynge encresyth my beawté muche more than hit is of myself. And the vertu of my rynge is this: that that is grene woll turne to rede, and that that is rede woll turne in lyknesse to grene, and that that is blewe woll turne to whyghte, and that that is whyght woll turne in lyknesse to blew; and so hit woll do of all maner of coloures; also who that beryth this rynge shall lose no bloode. And for grete love I woll gyff you this rynge.’
‘Gramercy,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘myne owne lady. For this rynge is passynge mete for me; for hit woll turne all maner of lyknesse that I am in, and that shall cause me that I shall nat be knowyn.’
Than sir Gryngamour gaff sir Gareth a bay coursor that was a passynge good horse. Also he gaff hym good armour and sure, and a noble swerde that somtyme sir Gringamours fadir wan uppon an hethyn tyrraunte. And so thus every knyght made hym redy to that turnemente.
And kynge Arthure was commyn two dayes tofore the Assumpcion of Oure Lady; and there was all maner of royalté, of all maner of mynstralsy that myght be founde. Also there cam quene Gwenyvere and the quene of Orkeney, sir Garethis mother.
And uppon the Assumpcion day, whan masse and matyns was done, there was herodys with trumpettis commaunded to blow to the felde. And so there com oute sir Epynogrys, the kynges son of Northumbirlonde, frome the castell; and there encountyrde with hym sir Sagramoure le Desyrous, and eythir of them brake there sperys to theire handis. And than com in sir Palomydes oute of the castell; and there encountyrd with hym sir Gawayne, and eythir of them smote other so harde that bothe good knyghtes and their horsis felle to the erthe. And than the knyghtes of eythir party rescowed other.
Than cam in sir Safer and sir Segwarydes, bretherne to Palamydes; and there encountyrd sir Aggravayne with sir Safer, and sir Gaherys encountyrd with sir Segwarydes. So sir Safer smote downe sir Aggravayne. And sir Malegryne, a knyght of the castell, encountyrd with sir Uwayne le Blaunche Maynes, and smote downe sir Malegryne, that he had allmoste broke his necke.
[29] Than sir Bryan de les Iles, and Grummor and Grummorson, knyghtes of the castell, encountyrde with sir Agglovale, and sir Tor smote them of the castell downe.
Than com in sir Carados of the Dolowres Towre, and sir Terquyne, knyghtes of the castell; and there encountyrd with hem sir Percivale de Galys, and sir Lamerok, his brother; and there encountryd sir Percivale with sir Carados, and eyther brake their speres unto their handes, and than sir Terquyne with sir Lamerok, and eyther smote downe othir, hors and man, to the erthe; and eythir partyes rescowed other and horsed them agayne.
And sir Arnolde and sir Gawter, knyghtes of the castell, encountird wyth sir Brandyles and sir Kay; and thes four knyghtes encountyrde myghtely, and brake their sperys to theyre handis.
Than com in sir Trystrams, sir Saduk, and sir Dynas, knyghtes of the castell; and there encountyrd with sir Trystrams sir Bedyvere. and sir Bedyvere was smyttyn to the erthe bothe horse and man. And sir Sadoke encountyrde wyth sir Petypace, and there sir Sadoke was overthrowyn. And there sir Uwayne les Avoutres smote downe sir Dynas the Senesciall.
Than com in sir Persaunte of Inde, a knyght of the castell; and there encountyrde with hym sir Launcelot du Lake, and there he smote sir Persaunte, horse and man, to the erthe. Than com in sir Pertolype frome the castell; and there encountyrde with hym sir Lyonell, and there sir Pertolype, the Grene Knyght, smote downe sir Lyonell, brothir to sir Launcelot.
And all this was marked wyth noble herrodis, who bare hym beste, and their namys.
And than com into the felde sir Perimones, the Grene Knyght, sir Persauntis brothir, that was a knyght of the castell; and he encountyrde wyth sir Ector de Marys, and aythir of hem smote other so harde that hir sperys and horsys and they felle to the erthe.
And than com in the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundis and sir Gareth, frome the castell; and there encountyrde with hem sir Bors de Gaynys and sir Bleobrys. And there the Rede Knyght and sir Bors smote other so harde that hir sperys braste and their horsys felle grovelynge to the erthe. Than sir Blamour brake another spere uppon sir Gareth; but of that stroke sir Blamour felle to the erthe.
That sawe sir Galyhuddyn, and bade sir Gareth kepe hym; and sir Gareth smote hym anone to the erthe. Than sir Galyhud gate a spere to avenge his brother; and in the same wyse sir Gareth served hym. And in the same maner sir Gareth served sir Dynadan and his brother, sir La Kote Male Tayle, and sir Sagramoure le Desyrus, and sir Donyas le Saveage: all these knyghtes he bare hem downe with one speare.
Whan kynge Anguyshauns of Irelonde sawe sir Gareth fare so, he mervayled what knyght he was; for at one tyme he semed grene, and another tyme at his gayne-commynge hym semed blewe. And thus at every course that he rode too and fro he chonged whyght to rede and blak, that there myght neyther kynge nother knyght have no redy cognysshauns of hym.
Than kynge Anguyshaunce, the kynge of Irelonde, encountyrde with sir Gareth, and there sir Gareth smote hym frome his horse, sadyll and all. And than com in kynge Carados of Scotlonde, and sir Gareth smote hym downe horse and man; and in the same wyse he served kynge Uryens of the londe of Gore. And than come in sir Bagdemagus, and sir Gareth smote hym downe horse and man to the erthe; and kynge Bagdemagus son, sir Mellyagauns, brake a spere uppon sir Gareth myghtyly and knyghtly.
And than sir Galahalte the noble prynce cryed on hyght:
‘Knyght with the many coloures, well haste thou justed! Now make the redy, that I may juste with the!’
Sir Gareth herde hym, and gate a grete spere, and so they encountyrde togydir, and there the prynce brake his spere; but sir Gareth smote hym uppon the buff syde of the helme, that he reled here and there,
and had falle downe had nat his men recoverde hym.
‘So God me helpe,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘that same knyght with the many coloures is a good knyght.’ Wherefore the kynge called unto hym sir Launcelot and prayde hym to encountir with that knyght.
‘Sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I may well fynde in myne herte for to forbere hym as at this tyme, for he hath had travayle inowe this day. And whan a good knyght doth so well uppon som day, hit is no good knyghtes parte to lette hym of his worshyp, and namely whan he seyth a good knyghte hath done so grete labur. For peraventure,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘his quarell is here this day, and peraventure he is beste beloved with this lady of all that bene here: for I se well he paynyth hym and enforsyth hym to do grete dedys. And therefore,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘as for me, this day he shall have the honour: thoughe hit lay in my power to put hym frome hit, yet wolde I nat.’
Than whan this was done there was drawynge of swerdys, and than there began a sore turnemente. And there dud sir Lameroke mervaylus dedys of armys; and bytwyxte sir Lameroke and sir Ironsyde, that was the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundys, there was a stronge batayle. And sir Palomydes and sir Bleobrys, betwyxte them was full grete batayle. And sir Gawayne and sir Trystrams mett; and there sir Gawayne had the worse, for he pulled sir Gawayne frome his horse, and there he was longe uppon foote and defouled.
Than com in sir Launcelot, and he smote sir Terquyn, and he hym.
And than cam therein sir Carados, his brother, and bothe at onys they assayled hym, and he as the moste noblyst knyght of the worlde worshypfully fought with hem bothe and helde them hote, that all men wondred of the nobles of sir Launcelot.
And than com in sir Gareth, and knew that hit was sir Launcelot that fought with the perelous knyghtes, and parted them in sundir; and no stroke wolde he smyte sir Launcelot. That aspyed sir Launcelot and demed hit sholde be the good knyght sir Gareth.
Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory Page 30