Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER XXVIII

CHAPTER XXVIII

How the knights bare them in the battle.

THEN Sir Brian de les Isles and Grummore Grummursum, knights of
the castle, encountered with Sir Aglovale, and Sir Tor smote down
Sir Grummore Grummursum 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's horse and all to the
<262>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, Sir Sadok, 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 Sadok encountered with Sir Petipase,
and there Sir Sadok 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 Pertolepe from the
castle, and there encountered with him Sir Lionel, and there Sir
Pertolepe, the Green Knight, smote down Sir Lionel, brother to
Sir Launcelot.  All this was 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 Launds, 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 [either]
smote other so hard that their spears brast, and their horses
fell grovelling 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 bade 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 Sagramore 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 <263>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 came in Sir
Bagdemagus, and Sir Gareth smote him down, horse and man, to the
earth.  And Bagdemagus' 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 jousted; now make thee ready that I may joust 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.

So God me help, said King Arthur, that same 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 him 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.

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