_How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his castle thirty
ladies, and how he slew him._
So when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him
and took their counsel to slay his horse, and so they came in upon Sir
Gareth, and with spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him
hard. But when he was on foot there was none that he fought but he gave
him such a buffet that he did never recover. So he slew them by one and
one till they were but four, and there they fled, and Sir Gareth took a
good horse that was one of theirs, and rode his way. Then he rode a
great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he heard much
mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him a page: What
noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this castle? Sir
knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty ladies, and
all they be widows, for here is a knight that waiteth daily upon this
castle, and his name is the brown knight without pity, and he is the
most perilous knight that now liveth. And, therefore, sir, said the
page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir Gareth, I will not flee, though
thou be afeard of him. And then the page saw where came the brown
knight. Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal with him, said
Sir Gareth. And when either of other had a sight, they let their horses
run, and the brown knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him
throughout the body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So
Sir Gareth rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might
repose him. Alas, said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him
good cheer, said the page, for this knight hath slain your enemy. Then
they all made him good cheer as lay in their power. But wit ye well
they made him good cheer, for they might none otherwise do, for they
were but poor. And so on the morn he went to mass, and there he saw the
thirty ladies kneel, and lay groveling upon divers tombs making great
dole and sorrow. Then Sir Gareth wist well that in the tombs lay their
lords. Fair ladies, said Sir Gareth, ye must at the next feast of
Pentecost be at the court of king Arthur, and say that I Sir Gareth
sent you thither. We shall do this, said the ladies. So he departed,
and by fortune he came to a mountain, and there he found a goodly
knight that bad him, Abide Sir knight, and just with me. What are ye?
said Sir Gareth. My name is, said he, the duke de la Rowse. Ah! Sir, ye
are the same knight that I lodged once in your castle, and there I made
promise unto your lady that I should yield me unto you. Ah! said the
duke, art thou that proud knight that proffered to fight with my
knights? therefore make thee ready, for I will have ado with thee. So
they let their horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote the duke down
from his horse. But the duke lightly avoided his horse, and dressed his
shield, and drew his sword, and bad Sir Gareth alight and fight with
him. So he did alight, and they did great battle together more than an
hour, and either hurt other full sore. At the last Sir Gareth gat the
duke to the earth, and would have slain him, and then he yielded him to
him. Then must ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur my lord at the
next feast, and say that I Sir Gareth of Orkney sent you unto him. It
shall be done, said the duke, and I will do to you homage and fealty
with an hundred knights with me, and all the days of my life to do you
service where ye will command me.