Messire Gawain and the five knights mounted and issued forth of the
castle and rode a great gallop before a forest. Messire Gawain looketh
before him about the foreclose of the forest, and seeth the fairest
purlieus that he had seen ever, and so broad they be that he may not
see nor know the fourth part thereof. They are garnished of tall
forests on one hand and on the other, and there are high rocks in the
midst with wild deer among.
"Sir," say the knights, "Lo, these be the Valleys of Camelot whereof my
Lady and her daughter have been bereft, and bereft also hath she been
of the richest castles that be in Wales to the number of seven."
"A wrong is it and a sin!" saith Messire Gawain.
So far have they ridden that they see the ensigns and the shields there
where the assembly is to be held, and they see already mounted the more
part of the knights all armed and running their horses down the
meadow-land. And they see the tents stretched on the one hand and on
another. And Messire Gawain bideth, and the five knights under a tree,
and see the knights assembling on one hand and on another. One of the
five knights that were with him gave him witting of the Lord of the
Moors and the brother of the knight of the Red Shield that had to name
Chaos the Red. So soon as the tournament was assembled, Messire Gawain
and the knights come to the assembly, and Messire Gawain goeth to a
Welsh knight and beareth him to the ground, both him and his horse, all
in a heap. And the five come after at a great gallop and each
overthroweth his own, and greatly pride they themselves of Messire
Gawain. Chaos the Red seeth Messire Gawain but knoweth him not. He
goeth toward him a full career, and Messire Gawain receiveth him on the
point of his spear and hurtleth against him so sore that he all
to-brast his collarbone and maketh the spear fly from his fist. And
Messire Gawain searcheth the fellowships of one part and the other, and
findeth not nor encountereth no knight before him in his way but he
putteth him off his horse or woundeth him, either by himself or by one
of the five knights, that make right great joy of that they see him do.
They show him the Lord of the Moors that was coming with a full great
fellowship of folk. He goeth thitherward a great gallop. They mell
together either upon other of their spears that they bent and all
to-brast in flinders, and hurtle together so stoutly both of their
horses and their bodies that the Lord of the Moors loseth his stirrups
and hath the hinder saddlebow to-frushed, and falleth down to the
ground over his horse croup in such sort that the peak of his helm
dinteth a full palm's breadth into the turf. And Messire Gawain taketh
the horse that was right rich and good, maugre all of his fellowship,
and giveth it to one of the five knights that maketh it be led to
Camelot of a squire. Messire Gawain searcheth the ranks on the one
hand and on the other, and doeth such feats of arms as never no knight
might do the same again. The five knights also showed great hardiment,
and did more of arms that day than ever had they done tofore, for not
one of them but had overthrown at least a single knight and won his
horse. The Lord of the Moors was mounted again on another rich horse
and had great shame for that Messire Gawain had overthrown him. He
espieth Messire Gawain and goeth toward him a great gallop and thinketh
to avenge his shame. They come together either on other with a great
shock, and Messire Gawain smiteth him with the truncheon of his spear
that he had still left, in the midst of his breast, so that it was all
to-splintered. The Lord of the Moors likewise again to-brast his spear
upon him. Messire Gawain draweth his sword and flingeth the truncheon
to the ground. The Lord of the Moors doth likewise and commandeth his
folk not to mell betwixt them twain, for never yet had he found no
knight that he had not conquered. They deal them great buffets on the
helms, either upon other, in such sort that the sparks fly thereout and
their swords are blunted. The buffets of Messire Gawain are heavier
than the other's, for he dealeth them so mighty and horrible that the
blood rayeth out from the Lord of the Moors by the mouth and the nose
so that his habergeon is all bloody thereof and he may no more endure.
Thereupon he yieldeth him prisoner to Messire Gawain, that is right
glad thereof and his five knights likewise. The Lord of the Moors
goeth to his tent to alight, and Messire Gawain with him and alighteth.
And Messire Gawain taketh the horse and saith to one of the knights,
"Keep this for me."
And all the knights are repaired to their tents, and with one accord
say they all that the knight of the Red Shield with the eagle of gold
thereon hath done better than we, and they ask the Lord of the Moors
whether he accordeth with them, and he saith "Aye."
"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "You, then, are the warden of this
castle of Camelot."
"Gramercy, lord!" saith Messire Gawain. He calleth the five knights
and saith unto them: "Lords, my will is that you be there on my behalf
and that you shall safeguard the same by consent of the knights that
are here present."
"Sir, right gladly do we agree thereto."
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain to the Lord of the Moors, "I give you
moreover as my prisoner to the Widow Lady that harboured me last night."
"Sir," saith he, "This have you no right to do. Assembly of tourney is
not war. Hence have you no right to imprison my body in castle, for
well am I able to pay my ransom here. But tell me, what is your name?"
"I am called Gawain."
"Ha, Messire Gawain, many a time have I heard tell of you albeit never
tofore have I seen you. But sith that the castle of Camelot is in your
keeping, I promise you loyally that before a year and a day neither the
castle nor none of the Lady's land need fear nought from me nor from
any other so far forth as I may hinder him, and hereto do I pledge me
in the presence of all these knights that are here. And, so you would
have of me gold or silver, thereof will I give you at your will."
"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Gramercy! I consent freely to as much as
you have said."
Messire Gawain taketh leave and turneth him again toward the castle of
Camelot, and sendeth by a squire the horse of the Lord of the Moors to
the daughter of the Widow Lady, that made great joy thereof. And the
five knights drive before them the horses they have taken booty.
Whereof great also was the joy. No need to wonder whether Messire
Gawain were well harboured that night at the castle. He recounted to
the Lady how the castle was in the keeping of these knights. When it
came to morning-tide, Messire Gawain took leave and departed from the
castle, but not before he had heard mass, for such was his custom. The
Widow Lady and her daughter commend him to God, and the castle
remaineth in better keeping than he had found it.