_How king Arthur let do cry a justs, and how Sir Lamorak came in and
overthrew Sir Gawaine and many other._
Then within three days after the king let make a justing at a priory.
And there made them ready many knights of the Round Table. For Sir
Gawaine and his brethren made them ready to just. But Tristram,
Launcelot, nor Dinadan, would not just, but suffered Sir Gawaine, for
the love of king Arthur, with his brethren, to win the gree if they
might. Then on the morn they apparelled them to just, Sir Gawaine and
his four brethren, and did there great deeds of arms. And Sir Ector de
Maris did marvellously well; but Sir Gawaine passed all that
fellowship, wherefore king Arthur and all the knights gave Sir Gawaine
the honour at the beginning. Right so king Arthur was ware of a knight
and two squires the which came out of a forest side, with a shield
covered with leather, and then he came slily and hurtled here and
there, and anon with one spear he had smitten down two knights of the
Round Table. Then with his hurtling he lost the covering of his shield.
Then was the king and all other ware that he bare a red shield. Oh,
said king Arthur, see where rideth a stout knight, he with the red
shield. And there was noise and crying, Beware the knight with the red
shield. So within a little while he had overthrown three brethren of
Sir Gawaine’s. Truly, said king Arthur, me seemeth yonder is the best
juster that ever I saw. With that he saw him encounter with Sir
Gawaine, and he smote him down with so great force, that he made his
horse to avoid his saddle. How now, said the king, Sir Gawaine hath a
fall, well were me and I knew what knight he were with the red shield.
I know him well, said Dinadan, but as at this time ye shall not know
his name. By my head, said Sir Tristram, he justed better than Sir
Palamides, and if ye list to know his name, wit ye well his name is Sir
Lamorak de Galis. As they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine and he
encountered together again, and there he smote Sir Gawaine from his
horse, and bruised him sore. And in the sight of king Arthur he smote
down twenty knights beside Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And so clearly
was the prize given him as a knight peerless. Then slily and
marvellously Sir Lamorak withdrew him from all the fellowship into the
forest side. All this espied king Arthur, for his eye went never from
him.
Then the king, Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Dinadan took their
hacknies and rode straight after the good knight Sir Lamorak de Galis,
and there found him. And thus said the king, Ah fair knight, well be ye
found. When he saw the king he put off his helm and saluted him. And
when he saw Sir Tristram he alight down off his horse, and ran to him
for to take him by the thighs; but Sir Tristram would not suffer him,
but he alight or that he came, and either took other in arms, and made
great joy of other. The king was glad, and also was all the fellowship
of the Round Table, except Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And when they
wist that he was Sir Lamorak, they had great despite at him, and were
wonderly wroth with him, that he had put them to dishonour that day.
Then Gawaine called privily in counsel all his brethren, and to them
said thus: Fair brethren, here may ye see whom that we hate king Arthur
loveth, and whom that we love he hateth. And wit ye well, my fair
brethren, that this Sir Lamorak will never love us, because we slew his
father king Pellinore, for we deemed that he slew our father, king of
Orkney. And for the despite of Pellinore Sir Lamorak did us a shame to
our mother, therefore I will be revenged. Sir, said Sir Gawaine’s
brethren, let see how ye will or may be revenged, and ye shall find us
ready. Well, said Sir Gawaine, hold you still, and we shall espy our
time.