_How at the feast of the wedding of king Arthur to Guenever, a white
hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, and how a brachet
pinched the hart, which was taken away._
Then was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at Camelot
unto Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen’s, with great
solemnity. And as every man was set after his degree, Merlin went to
all the knights of the Round Table, and bad them sit still, that none
of them remove. For ye shall see a strange and a marvellous adventure.
Right so as they sat there came running in a white hart into the hall,
and a white brachet next him, and thirty couple of black running hounds
came after with a great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round.
As he went by other boards, the white brachet bit him by the haunch and
pulled out a piece, where through the hart lept a great leap and
overthrew a knight that sat at the board side, and therewith the knight
arose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out of the hall, and
took his horse and rode his way with the brachet. Right so anon came in
a lady on a white palfrey, and cried aloud to king Arthur, Sir, suffer
me not to have this despite, for the brachet was mine that the knight
led away. I may not do therewith, said the king. With this there came a
knight riding all armed on a great horse, and took the lady away with
him with force, and ever she cried and made great dole. When she was
gone the king was glad, for she made such a noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye
may not leave these adventures so lightly, for these adventures must be
brought again or else it would be disworship to you and to your feast.
I will, said the king, that all be done by your advice. Then, said
Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, for he must bring again the white hart.
Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor, for he must bring again the
brachet and the knight, or else slay him. Also let call king Pellinore,
for he must bring again the lady and the knight, or else slay him. And
these three knights shall do marvellous adventures or they come again.
Then were they called all three as it rehearseth afore, and every each
of them took his charge, and armed them surely. But Sir Gawaine had the
first request, and therefore we will begin at him.