_How king Arthur went to the tournament with his knights, and how the
lady received him worshipfully, and how the knights encountered._
And then there came with king Arthur Sir Gawaine, Agravaine and
Gaheris, his brethren. And then his nephews Sir Uwaine le Blanchemains,
and Sir Aglovale, Sir Tor, Sir Percivale de Galis, and Sir Lamorak de
Galis. Then came Sir Launcelot du Lake with his brethren, nephews, and
cousins, as Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir
Galihodin, Sir Galihud, and many more of Sir Launcelot’s blood; and Sir
Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile his brother, a good knight, and Sir
Sagramore, a good knight; and all the most part of the Round Table.
Also there came with king Arthur these knights, the king of Ireland,
king Agwisaunce, and the king of Scotland, king Carados, and king
Uriens of the land of Gore, and king Bagdemagus, and his son Sir
Meliaganus, and Sir Galahault the noble prince. All these kings,
princes, earls, barons, and other noble knights, as Sir Brandiles, Sir
Uwaine les Avoutres, and Sir Kay, Sir Bedivere, Sir Meliot de Logris,
Sir Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Godelake. All these came with king
Arthur, and many more that cannot be rehearsed.
Now leave we of these kings and knights, and let us speak of the great
array that was made within the castle and about the castle for both
parties. The lady dame Liones ordained great array upon her part for
her noble knights, for all manner of lodging and victual that came by
land and by water, that there lacked nothing for her party, nor for the
other, but there was plenty to be had for gold and silver for king
Arthur and his knights. And then there came the harbingers from king
Arthur, for to harbour him and his kings, dukes, earls, barons, and
knights. And then Sir Gareth prayed dame Liones, and the red knight of
the red lawns, and Sir Persant and his brother, and Sir Gringamore,
that in no wise there should none of them tell his name, and make no
more of him than of the least knight that there was; for he said, I
will not be known of neither more nor less, neither at the beginning
neither at the ending.
Then dame Liones said unto Sir Gareth, Sir, I will lend you a ring, but
I would pray you as ye love me heartily let me have it again when the
tournament is done, for that ring increaseth my beauty much more than
it is of itself. And the virtue of my ring is that that is green it
will turn to red, and that is red it will turn in likeness to green,
and that is blue it will turn to likeness of white, and that is white
it will turn in likeness to blue, and so it will do of all manner of
colours. Also, who that beareth my ring shall lose no blood, and for
great love I will give you this ring. Gramercy, said Sir Gareth, mine
own lady, for this ring is passing meet for me, for it will turn all
manner of likeness that I am in, and that shall cause me that I shall
not be known. Then Sir Gringamore gave Sir Gareth a bay courser that
was a passing good horse: also he gave him good armour and sure, and a
noble sword that some time Sir Gringamore’s father won upon an heathen
tyrant. And so thus every knight made him ready to that tournament. And
king Arthur was come two days tofore the Assumption of our Lady. And
there was all manner of royalty of all minstrelsy that might be found.
Also there came queen Guenever, and the queen of Orkney, Sir Gareth’s
mother. And upon the Assumption day, when mass and matins was done,
there were heralds with trumpets commanded to blow to the field. And so
there came out Sir Epinogrus, the king’s son of Northumberland, from
the castle, and there encountered with him Sir Sagramore le Desirous,
and either of them brake their spears to their hands. And then came in
Sir Palamides out of the castle, and there encountered with him
Gawaine, and either of them smote other so hard that both the good
knights and their horses fell to the earth. And then knights of either
party rescued their knights. And then came in Sir Safere and Sir
Sagwarides, brethren unto Sir Palamides, and there encountered Sir
Agravaine with Sir Safere, and Sir Gaheris encountered with Sir
Sagwarides. So Sir Safere smote down Agravaine, Sir Gawaine’s brother,
and Sir Segwarides, Sir Safere’s brother, smote down Sir Gaheris. And
Sir Malgrine, a knight of the castle, encountered with Sir Uwaine le
Blanchemains, and there Sir Uwaine gave Sir Malgrine a fall, that he
had almost broken his neck.