_How the Saracens came out of a wood for to rescue their beasts, and of
a great battle._
Then Sir Florence called to him Sir Floridas with an hundred knights,
and drove forth the herd of beasts. Then followed him seven hundred men
of arms, and Sir Ferant of Spain on a fair steed came springing out of
the woods, and came to Sir Florence, and asked him why he fled. Then
Sir Florence took his spear, and rode against him, and smote him in the
forehead and brake his neck bone. Then all the other were moved, and
thought to avenge the death of Sir Ferant, and smote in among them, and
there was great fight, and many slain and laid down to ground, and Sir
Florence with his hundred knights always kept the post, and fought
manly. Then when Priamus the good knight perceived the great fight, he
went to Sir Gawaine and bad him that he should go and succour his
fellowship, which were sore bested with their enemies. Sir, grieve you
not, said Sir Gawaine, for their honour shall be theirs: I shall not
once move my horse to themward but if I see more than there be, for
they be strong enough to match them. And with that he saw an earl
called Sir Ethelwold and the duke of Dutchmen come leaping out of a
wood, with many thousands, and Priamus’s knights, and came straight
unto the battle. Then Sir Gawaine comforted his knights, and bad them
not be abashed, for all shall be ours. Then they began to gallop, and
met with their enemies: there were men slain and overthrown on every
side. Then thrust in among them the knights of the Table Round, and
smote down to the earth all them that withstood them, insomuch that
they made them to recoil and flee. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, this
gladdeth my heart, for now be they less in number by twenty thousand.
Then entered into the battle Jubance a giant, and fought and slew
downright, and distressed many of our knights, among whom was slain Sir
Gherard, a knight of Wales. Then our knights took heart to them, and
slew many Saracens. And then came in Sir Priamus with his pennon, and
rode with the knights of the Round Table, and fought so manfully that
many of their enemies lost their lives. And there Sir Priamus slew the
Marquis of Moises land. And Sir Gawaine with his fellows so quit them
that they had the field, but in that fight was Sir Chestelaine, a child
and ward of Sir Gawaine, slain, wherefore was much sorrow made, and his
death was soon avenged. Thus was the battle ended, and many lords of
Lombardy and Saracens left dead in the field.
Then Sir Florence and Sir Gawaine harboured surely their people, and
took great plenty of cattle, of gold and silver and great treasure and
riches, and returned unto king Arthur, which lay still at the siege.
And when they came to the king they presented their prisoners, and
recounted their adventures, and how they had vanquished their enemies.