_Yet of the said Tournament._
Then when this was done, there was drawing of swords; and then there
began a sore tournament. And there did Sir Lamorak marvellous deeds of
arms, and betwixt Sir Lamorak and Sir Ironside, that was the red knight
of the red lawns, there was a strong battle, and betwixt Sir Palamides
and Bleoberis was a strong battle; and Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram
met, and there Sir Gawaine had the worst, for he pulled Sir Gawaine
from his horse, and there he was long upon foot and defouled. Then came
in Sir Launcelot, and he smote Sir Turquine, and he him, and then came
Sir Carados his brother, and both at once they assailed him, and he, as
the most noblest knight of the world, worshipfully fought with them
both, that all men wondered of the nobleness of Sir Launcelot. And then
came in Sir Gareth and knew that it was Sir Launcelot that fought with
those two perilous knights. And then Sir Gareth came with his good
horse and hurtled them in sunder, and no stroke would he smite to Sir
Launcelot. That espied Sir Launcelot, and deemed it should be the good
knight Sir Gareth; and then Sir Gareth rode here and there, and smote
on the right hand and on the left hand, that all the folk might well
espy where that he rode. And by fortune he met with his brother Sir
Gawaine, and there he put Sir Gawaine to the worse, for he put off his
helm; and so he served five or six knights of the Round Table, that all
men said he put him in the most pain, and best he did his devoir. For
when Sir Tristram beheld him how he first justed and after fought so
well with a sword, then he rode unto Sir Ironside and to Sir Persant of
Inde, and asked them by their faith, What manner a knight is yonder
knight that seemeth in so many divers colours; truly, me seemeth, said
Tristram, that he putteth himself in great pain, for he never ceaseth.
Wot ye not what he is? said Sir Ironside. No, said Sir Tristram. Then
shall ye know that this is he that loveth the lady of the castle, and
she him again; and this is he that won me when I besieged the lady of
this castle, and this is he that won Sir Persant of Inde and his three
brethren. What is his name, said Sir Tristram, and of what blood is he
come? He was called in the court of king Arthur Beaumains, but his name
is Sir Gareth of Orkney, brother to Sir Gawaine. By my head, said Sir
Tristram, he is a good knight, and a big man of arms, and if he be
young he shall prove a full noble knight. He is but a child, they all
said; and of Sir Launcelot he was made knight. Therefore he is mickle
the better, said Tristram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside, Sir
Persant, and his brother, rode together for to help Sir Gareth, and
then there were given many strong strokes. And then Sir Gareth rode out
on the one side to amend his helm. And then said his dwarf, Take me
your ring, that ye lose it not while that ye drink. And so when he had
drunk, he gat on his helm, and eagerly took his horse and rode into the
field, and left his ring with his dwarf, and the dwarf was glad the
ring was from him, for then he wist well he should be known. And then
when Sir Gareth was in the field, all folks saw him well and plainly
that he was in yellow colours, and there he rashed off helms, and
pulled down knights, that king Arthur had marvel what knight he was,
for the king saw by his hair that it was the same knight.