_How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, and how he escaped out of
the field._
But before he was in so many colours, and now he is but in one colour,
that is yellow: now go, said king Arthur unto divers heralds, and ride
about him, and espy what manner knight he is, for I have asked of many
knights this day that be upon his party, and all say they know him not.
And so an herald rode nigh Gareth as he could, and there he saw written
about his helm in gold, This helm is Sir Gareth’s of Orkney. Then the
herald cried as he were wood, and many heralds with him, This is Sir
Gareth of Orkney, in the yellow arms, that all kings and knights of
Arthur’s beheld him and awaited, and then they pressed all to behold
him: and ever the heralds cried, This is Sir Gareth of Orkney, king
Lot’s son. And when Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered, then he
doubled his strokes, and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother Sir
Gawaine. O brother, said Sir Gawaine, I wend ye would not have stricken
me. So when he heard him say so, he thrang here and there, and so with
great pain he gat out of the press, and there he met with his dwarf. O
boy, said Sir Gareth, thou hast beguiled me foul this day that thou
kept my ring. Give it me anon again, that I may hide my body withal;
and so he took it him. And then they all wist not where he was become;
and Sir Gawaine had in manner espied where Sir Gareth rode, and then he
rode after with all his might. That espied Sir Gareth, and rode lightly
into the forest, that Sir Gawaine wist not where he was become. And
when Sir Gareth wist that Sir Gawaine was past, he asked the dwarf of
best counsel. Sir, said the dwarf, me seemeth it were best, now that ye
are escaped from spying, that ye send my lady dame Liones her ring. It
is well advised, said Sir Gareth; now have it here, and bear it to her,
and say that I recommend me unto her good grace, and say her I will
come when I may, and I pray her to be true and faithful to me, as I
will be to her. Sir, said the dwarf, it shall be done as ye command:
and so he rode his way, and did his errand unto the lady. Then she
said, Where is my knight Sir Gareth? Madam, said the dwarf, he bad me
say that he would not be long from you. And so lightly the dwarf came
again unto Sir Gareth, that would fain have had a lodging, for he had
need to be reposed. And then fell there a thunder and a rain, as heaven
and earth should go together. And Sir Gareth was not a little weary,
for of all that day he had but little rest, neither his horse nor he.
So this Sir Gareth rode so long in that forest until the night came.
And ever it lightened and thundered, as it had been wood. At the last
by fortune he came to a castle, and there he heard the waits upon the
walls.