So then they withdrew them, either party from other, and every man made him ready in his best manner to do what he might. Then Sir Lancelot made him ready, and put the red sleeve upon his helmet and fastened it fast. And so Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavain departed out of Winchester privily, and rode unto a little leaved wood behind the party that held against King Arthur’s party; and there they held them still till the parties smote together.*
And there began a great medley; and fifteen knights of the Round Table with more other came in together, and beat aback the King of Northumberland and the King of Northgales. When Sir Lancelot saw this as he hoved* in the little leaved wood, then he said unto Sir Lavain, ‘See yonder is a company of good knights, and they hold them together as boars that were chased with dogs.’
‘That is truth,’ said Sir Lavain.
[11]
‘Now,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘and ye will help a little, ye shall see the yonder fellowship that chaseth now these men on our side, that they shall go as fast backward as they went forward.’
‘Sir, spare ye not for my part,’ said Sir Lavain, ‘for I shall do what I may.’
Then Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavain came in at the thickest of the press, and there Sir Lancelot smote down Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore, Sir Dodinas, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet; and all this he did with one spear. And Sir Lavain smote down Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir Lancelot got another spear, and there he smote down Sir Agravain and Sir Gaheris, Sir Mordred, Sir Meliot de Logris; and Sir Lavain smote down Sir Ozanna le Coeur Hardi. And then the knights of the Table Round withdrew them aback, after they had gotten their horses as well as they might.
‘Ah, mercy Jesu,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘what knight is yonder that doth so marvellous deeds in that field?’
‘I wot what he is,’ said the King, ‘but as at this time I will not name him.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘I would say it were Sir Lancelot by his riding and his buffets that I see him deal; but ever me seemeth it should not be he for that he beareth the red sleeve upon his helmet, for I wist him never bear token at no jousts of lady nor gentlewoman.’
‘Let him be,’ said King Arthur, ‘he will be better known and do more or ever he depart.’
Then the party that was against King Arthur were well comforted, and then they held them together that beforehand were sore rebuked. Then Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel called unto them the knights of their blood; and so these knights of Sir Lancelot’s kin thrust in mightily, for they were all noble knights. And they of great hate and despite thought to rebuke that noble knight Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavain, for they knew them not. And so they came hurling together, and smote down many knights of Northgales and of Northumberland. And when Sir Lancelot saw them fare so, he got a great spear in his hand; and there encountered with him all at once Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel, and they three smote him at once with their spears, and with force of themselves they smote Sir Lancelot’s horse reverse to the earth. And by misfortune Sir Bors smote Sir Lancelot through the shield into the side, and the spear broke, and the head left still in the side.
When Sir Lavain saw his master lie on the ground, he ran to the King of Scots and smote him to the earth; and by great force he took his horse and brought him to Sir Lancelot, and maugre them all he made him to mount upon that horse. And then Sir Lancelot got a spear in his hand, and there he smote Sir Bors, horse and man, to the earth; and in the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and Sir Lavain smote down Sir Blamor de Ganis. And then Sir Lancelot drew his sword, for he felt himself so sore hurt that he weened there to have had his death.
And by this was Sir Bors horsed again and in came with Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and all they three smote with their swords upon Sir Lancelot’s helmet. And when he felt their buffets, and with that his wound grieved him grievously, then he thought to do what he might while he could endure. And then he gave Sir Bors such a buffet that he made him bow his head passing low; and therewith he rased off his helm and might have slain him; but when he saw his visage, so pulled him down,* and in the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel. For as the book saith, he might have slain them, but when he saw their visages his heart might not serve him thereto, but left them there. And there Sir Lancelot with his sword smote down and pulled down, as the French book saith, more than thirty knights, and the most part were of the Table Round. And there Sir Lavain did full well that day, for he smote down ten knights of the Table Round.
[12]
‘Mercy Jesu,’ said Sir Gawain unto King Arthur, ‘I marvel what knight that he is with the red sleeve.’
‘Sir,’ said King Arthur, ‘he will be known or ever he depart.’
And then the King blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by heralds unto the knight with the white shield that bore the red sleeve. Then came the King of Northgales, and the King of Northumberland, and the King with the Hundred Knights, and Sir Galahalt the Haut Prince, and said unto Sir Lancelot, ‘Fair knight, God you bless, for much have ye done for us this day; and therefore we pray you that ye will come with us, that ye may receive the honour and the prize as ye have worshipfully deserved it.’
‘Fair lords,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘wit you well, if I have deserved thanks I have sore bought it; and that me repenteth, for I am never likely to escape with the life. Therefore, my fair lords, I pray you that ye will suffer me to depart where me liketh, for I am sore hurt. And I take no force of* no honour, for I had liever repose me than to be lord of all the world.’
And therewith he groaned piteously, and rode a great gallop away from them until he came under a wood’s eaves. And when he saw that he was from the field nigh a mile, that he was sure he might not be seen, then he said with a high voice and with a great groan, ‘Ah, gentle knight, Sir Lavain, help me that this truncheon were out of my side, for it sticketh so sore that it nigh slayeth me.’
‘Ah, my own lord,’ said Sir Lavain, ‘I would fain do that might please you, but I dread me sore and I pull out the truncheon that ye shall be in peril of death.’
‘I charge you,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘as ye love me, draw it out.’
And therewith he descended from his horse, and right so did Sir Lavain. And forthwith he drew the truncheon out of his side; and he gave a great shriek and a grisly groan that the blood brast out nigh a pint at once, that at the last he sank down upon his arse, and so swooned down pale and deadly.
‘Alas,’ said Sir Lavain, ‘what shall I do?’ And then he turned Sir Lancelot into the wind, and so he lay there nigh half an hour as he had been dead.
And so at the last Sir Lancelot cast up his eyes and said, ‘Ah, Sir Lavain, help me that I were on my horse, for here is fast by within these two miles a gentle hermit that some time was a full noble knight and a great lord of possessions. And for great goodness he hath taken him to willing poverty and forsaken mighty lands, and his name is Sir Baudwin of Britain; and he is a full noble surgeon and a good leech. Now let see and help me up that I were there, for ever my heart giveth me that I shall never die of my cousin germain’s* hands.’
And then with great pain Sir Lavain helped him upon his horse; and then they rode a great gallop together, and ever Sir Lancelot bled that it ran down to the earth. And so by fortune they came to a hermitage was under a wood, and a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water running under it. And then Sir Lavain beat on the gate with the butt of his spear and cried fast, ‘Let in, for Jesu’s sake.’ And anon there came a fair child to them, and asked them what they would.
‘Fair son,’ said Sir Lavain, ‘go and pray thy lord the hermit for God’s sake to let in here a knight that is full sore wounded. And this day, tell thy lord, I saw him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say that any man did.’
So the child went in lightly, and then he brought the hermit which was a passing likely man. When Sir Lavain saw him, he prayed him for God’s sake of succour.
‘What knight is he?’ said the hermit. ‘Is he of th
e house of King Arthur, or not?’
‘I wot not,’ said Sir Lavain, ‘what is he, nor what is his name; but well I wot I saw him do marvellously this day as of deeds of arms.’
‘On whose party was he?’ said the hermit.
‘Sir,’ said Sir Lavain, ‘he was this day against King Arthur, and there he won the prize of all the knights of the Round Table.’
‘I have seen the day,’ said the hermit, ‘I would have loved him the worse because he was against my lord King Arthur, for sometime I was one of the fellowship; but now I thank God I am otherwise disposed. But where is he? Let me see him.’
[13]
Then Sir Lavain brought the hermit to him. And when the hermit beheld him as he sat leaning upon his saddle-bow ever bleeding piteously, and ever the knight hermit thought that he should know him; but he could not bring him to knowledge because he was so pale for bleeding.
‘What knight are ye,’ said the hermit, ‘and where were ye born?’
‘My fair lord,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I am a stranger and a knight adventurous, that laboureth throughout many realms for to win worship.’
Then the hermit avised* him better, and saw by a wound on his cheek that he was Sir Lancelot.
‘Alas,’ said the hermit, ‘mine own lord, why lain* you your name from me? Pardieu, I ought to know you of right, for ye are the most noblest knight of the world, for well I know you for Sir Lancelot.’
‘Sir,’ said he, ‘sith ye know me, help me and ye may, for God’s sake, for I would be out of this pain at once either to death or to life.’
‘Have ye no doubt,’ said the hermit, ‘for ye shall live and fare right well.’
And so the hermit called to him two of his servants, and so they bore him into the hermitage and lightly unarmed him and laid him in his bed. And then anon the hermit staunched his blood, and made him to drink good wine, that he was well revigored and knew himself. For in those days it was not the guise as it is nowadays, for there were no hermits in those days but that they had been men of worship and of prowess, and those hermits held great households and refreshed people that were in distress.
Now turn we unto King Arthur, and leave we Sir Lancelot in the hermitage. So when the kings were come together on both parties and the great feast should be held, King Arthur asked the King of Northgales and their fellowship where was that knight that bore the red sleeve.
‘Let bring him before me, that he may have his laud and honour and the prize, as it is right.’
Then spoke Sir Galahalt the Haut Prince and the King with the Hundred Knights and said, ‘We suppose that knight is mischieved so that he is never likely to see you nor none of us all, and that is the greatest pity that ever we wist of any knight.’
‘Alas,’ said King Arthur, ‘how may this be? is he so sore hurt? But what is his name?’ said King Arthur.
‘Truly,’ said they all, ‘we know not his name, nor from whence he came, nor whither he would.’
‘Alas,’ said the King, ‘this is the worst tidings that came to me these seven years, for I would not for all the lands I wield to know and wit it were so that that noble knight were slain.’
‘Sir, know ye ought of him?’ said they all.
‘As for that,’ said King Arthur, ‘whether I know him or not, ye shall not know for me what man he is; but Almighty Jesu send me good tidings of him.’ And so said they all.
‘By my head,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘if it so be that the good knight be so sore hurt, it is great damage and pity to all this land, for he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw in a field handle spear or sword. And if he may be found I shall find him, for I am sure he is not far from this country.’
‘Sir, ye bear you well’,* said King Arthur, ‘and ye find him, unless that he be in such a plight that he may not wield himself*
‘Jesu defend,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘but wit well, I shall know what he is and I may find him.’
Right so Sir Gawain took a squire with him upon hackneys, and rode all about Camelot within six or seven miles, but so he came again and could hear no word of him. Then within two days King Arthur and all the fellowship returned unto London again. And so as they rode by the way, it happened Sir Gawain to lodge at Ascolat with Sir Barnard, there as was Sir Lancelot lodged. And so as Sir Gawain was in his chamber to repose him, Sir Barnard, the old baron, came in to him, and his daughter Elaine, to cheer him and to ask him what tidings, and who did best at the tournament of Winchester.
‘So God me help,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘there were two knights that bore two white shields, but one of them bore a red sleeve upon his head, and certainly he was the best knight that ever I saw joust in field. For I dare say,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that one knight with the red sleeve smote down forty knights of the Table Round, and his fellow did right well and worshipfully.’
‘Now blessed be God,’ said this Fair Maiden of Ascolat, ‘that that knight sped so well! For he is the man in the world that I first loved, and truly he shall be last that ever I shall love.’
‘Now, fair maiden,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘is that good knight your love?’
‘Certainly, sir,’ she said, ‘he is my love.’
‘Then know ye his name?’ said Sir Gawain.
‘Nay, truly, sir,’ said the damosel, ‘I know not his name nor from whence he came; but to say that I love him, I promise God and you I love him.’
‘How had ye knowledge of him first?’ said Sir Gawain.
[14]
Then she told him as ye have heard before, and how her father betook* him her brother to do him service, and how her father lent him her brother’s, Sir Tirry’s, shield; ‘And here with me he left his own shield.’
‘For what cause did he so?’ said Sir Gawain.
‘For this cause,’ said the damosel, ‘for his shield was full well known among many noble knights.’
‘Ah, fair damosel,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘please it you to let me have a sight of that shield.’
‘Sir,’ she said, ‘it is in my chamber covered with a case, and if ye will come with me ye shall see it.’
‘Not so,’ said Sir Barnard to his daughter, ‘but send ye for that shield.’*
So when the shield was come Sir Gawain took off the case, and when he beheld that shield he knew anon that it was Sir Lancelot’s shield and his own arms.
‘Ah, Jesu mercy,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘now is my heart more heavier than ever it was before.’
‘Why?’ said this maid Elaine.
‘For I have a great cause,’ said Sir Gawain. ‘Is that knight that owneth this shield your love?’
‘Yea, truly,’ she said, ‘my love is he. God would that I were his love!’
‘So God me speed,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘fair damosel, ye have right, for and he be your love, ye love the most honourable knight of the world, and the man of most worship.’
‘So me thought ever,’ said the damosel, ‘for never or that time loved I never erst no knight that ever I saw.’
‘God grant,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that either of you may rejoice other, but that is in a great adventure.* But truly,’ said Sir Gawain unto the damosel, ‘ye may say ye have a fair grace, for why I have known that noble knight these four and twenty years, and never or that day I—nor no other knight, I dare make good—saw never, nor heard say, that ever he bore token or sign of no lady, gentlewoman, nor maiden at no jousts nor tournament. And therefore, fair maiden, ye are much beholden to him to give him thanks. But I dread me,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that ye shall never see him in this world, and that is as great pity as ever was of any earthly man.’
‘Alas,’ said she, ‘how may this be? is he slain?’
‘I say not so,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘but wit you well he is grievously wounded, by all manner of signs, and more likelier to be dead than to be alive. And wit you well he is the noble knight Sir Lancelot, for by this shield I know him.’
‘Alas,’ said the Fair Maiden of Ascolat, ‘how may this be, and what was his hurt?’
‘Truly,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘the man in the world that loved him best hurt him. And I dare say,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘and that knight that hurt him knew the very certainty that he had hurt Sir Lancelot, it were the most sorrow that ever came to his heart.’
‘Now, fair father,’ said then Elaine, ‘I require you give me leave to ride and seek him, or else I wot well I shall go out of my mind. For I shall never stint till that I find him and my brother, Sir Lavain.’
‘Do ye as it liketh you,’ said her father, ‘for me sore repents of the hurt of that noble knight.’
Right so the maid made her ready and departed before Sir Gawain, making great dole. Then on the morn Sir Gawain came to King Arthur, and told him all how he had found Sir Lancelot’s shield in the keeping of the Fair Maiden of Ascolat.
‘All that knew I beforehand,’ said King Arthur, ‘and that caused me I would not suffer you to have ado at the great jousts; for I espied him when he came unto his lodging full late in the evening into Ascolat. But great marvel have I,’ said King Arthur, ‘that ever he would bear any sign of any damosel, for or now I never heard say nor knew that ever he bore any token of no earthly woman.’
‘By my head, sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘the Fair Maiden of Ascolat loveth him marvellously well; what it meaneth I cannot say. And she is ridden after to seek him.’
[15]
So the King and all came to London, and there Gawain openly disclosed it to all the court that it was Sir Lancelot that jousted best. And when Sir Bors heard that, wit you well he was a heavy man, and so were all his kinsmen. But when the Queen wist that it was Sir Lancelot that bore the red sleeve of the Fair Maiden of Ascolat, she was nigh out of her mind for wrath; and then she sent for Sir Bors de Ganis in all the haste that might be. So when Sir Bors was come before the Queen, she said, ‘Ah, Sir Bors, have ye not heard say how falsely Sir Lancelot hath betrayed me?’
Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics) Page 54