_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine entered in the field against them of
king Arthur’s court, and how Launcelot was hurt._
Now, said Sir Launcelot, and ye will help me a little, ye shall see
yonder fellowship which chaseth now these men in our side, that they
shall go as fast backward as they went forward. Sir, spare not, said
Sir Lavaine, for I shall do what I may. Then Sir Launcelot and Sir
Lavaine came in at the thickest of the press, and there Sir Launcelot
smote down Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramor. Sir Dodinas, Sir Kay, Sir
Griflet, and all this he did with one spear. And Sir Lavaine smote down
Sir Lucan le Buttelere, and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir Launcelot gat
another spear, and there he smote down Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and
Sir Mordred, and Sir Meliot de Logris. And Sir Lavaine smote down
Ozanna le Cure Hardy: and then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, and there
he smote on the right hand and on the left hand, and by great force he
unhorsed Sir Safere, Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron. And then the
knights of the Table Round withdrew them aback, after they had gotten
their horses as well as they might. O mercy, said Sir Gawaine, what
knight is yonder, that doth so marvellous deeds of arms in that field?
I wot what he is, said king Arthur. But as at this time I will not name
him. Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I would say it were Sir Launcelot, by his
riding and his buffets that I see him deal: but ever me seemeth it
should not be he, for that he beareth the red sleeve upon his head, for
I wist him never bear token, at no justs, of lady nor gentlewoman. Let
him be said king Arthur, he will be better known and do more or ever he
depart. Then the party that were against king Arthur were well
comforted, and then they held them together, that beforehand were sore
rebuked. Then Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel, called unto
them the knights of their blood, as Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis,
Sir Aliduke, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Bellangere le Beuse, so
these nine knights of Sir Launcelot’s kin thrust in mightily, for they
were all noble knights. And they, of great hate and despite that they
had unto him, thought to rebuke that noble knight Sir Launcelot, and
Sir Lavaine, for they knew them not. And so they came hurtling
together, and smote down many knights of Northgalis and of
Northumberland. And when Sir Launcelot saw them fare so, he gat a spear
in his hand, and there encountered with him all at once Sir Bors, Sir
Ector, and Sir Lionel, and all they three smote him at once with their
spears. And with force of themselves they smote Sir Launcelot’s horse
to the earth. And by misfortune Sir Bors smote Sir Launcelot through
the shield into the side, and the spear brake, and the head left still
in his side. When Sir Lavaine saw his master lie on the ground, he ran
to the king of Scots, and smote him to the earth, and by great force he
took his horse and brought him to Sir Launcelot, and maugre them all he
made him to mount upon that horse. And then Launcelot gat a spear in
his hand, and there he smote Sir Bors horse and man to the earth, in
the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and Sir Lavaine smote
down Sir Blamor de Ganis. And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, for he
felt himself so sore and hurt that he wend there to have had his death.
And then he smote Sir Bleoberis such a buffet on the helmet that he
fell down to the earth in a swoon. And in the same wise he served Sir
Aliduke and Sir Galihud. And Sir Lavaine smote down Sir Bellangere,
that was the son of Alisander le Orphelin. And by this was Sir Bors
horsed, and then he came with Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and all they
three smote with swords upon Sir Launcelot’s helmet. And when he felt
their buffets, and his wound the which was so grievous, then he thought
to do what he might while he might endure; and then he gave Sir Bors
such a buffet that he made him bow his head passing low, and
therewithal he rased off his helm, and might have slain him, and so
pulled him down. And in the same wise he served Sir Ector and Sir
Lionel. For, as the book saith, he might have slain them, but when he
saw their visages his heart might not serve him thereto, but left them
there.
And then afterward he hurled in the thickest press of them all, and did
there the marvellousest deeds of arms that ever man saw or heard speak
of; and ever Sir Lavaine the good knight with him. And there Sir
Launcelot with his sword smote and pulled down, as the French book
maketh mention, more than thirty knights, and the most party were of
the Table Round. And Sir Lavaine did full well that day, for he smote
down ten knights of the Table Round.