_How the knights bare them in battle._
Then Sir Brian de les Isles, and Grummore Grummorsum, knights of the
castle, encountered with Sir Aglovale and Sir Tor, and Sir Tor smote
down Sir Grummore Grummorsum 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, horse
and all, to the 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, and Sir Saduk, 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 Saduk
encountered with Sir Petipase, and there Sir Saduk 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 Pertolope from the castle, and
there encountered with him Sir Lionel, and there Sir Pertolope the
green knight smote down Sir Lionel, brother to Sir Launcelot. All this
as 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
lawns, 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 smote other so hard that their spears brast, and their horses fell
groveling 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 bad 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 Sagramor 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 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 there came in Sir Bagdemagus,
and Sir Gareth smote him down horse and man to the earth. And
Bagdemagus’s 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 justed; now make thee ready that
I may just 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.
Truly, said king Arthur, that 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
himself 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.