_How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the justs, and other men also._
Then they blew to the field, and there the king of Northgalis
encountered with the king of Scots, and there the king of Scots had a
fall, and the king of Ireland smote down king Uriens, and the king of
Northumberland smote down king Howel of Britanny, and Sir Galahalt, the
haut prince, smote down Chalance of Clarance. And then king Arthur was
wood wroth, and ran to the king with the hundred knights, and there
king Arthur smote him down, and after with that same spear king Arthur
smote down three other knights. And then when his spear was broken king
Arthur did passing well. And so therewithal came in Sir Gawaine, and
Sir Gaheris, Sir Agravaine, and Sir Mordred, and there every each of
them smote down a knight, and Sir Gawaine smote down four knights. And
then there began a strong meddle, for then there came in the knights of
Launcelot’s blood, and Sir Gareth and Sir Palamides with them, and many
knights of the Table Round, and they began to hold the four kings and
the mighty duke so hard that they were discomfit, but this duke
Galahalt the haut prince was a noble knight, and by his mighty prowess
of arms he held the knights of the Table Round straight enough. All
this doing saw Sir Launcelot, and then he came into the field with Sir
Lavaine, as it had been thunder. And then anon Sir Bors and the knights
of his blood espied Sir Launcelot, and said to them all, I warn you
beware of him with the sleeve of gold upon his head, for he is himself
Sir Launcelot du Lake. And for great goodness Sir Bors warned Sir
Gareth. I am well apayed, said Sir Gareth, that I may know him. But who
is he, said they all, that rideth with him in the same array? That is
the good and gentle knight Sir Lavaine, said Sir Bors. So Sir Launcelot
encountered with Sir Gawaine, and there by force Sir Launcelot smote
down Sir Gawaine and his horse to the earth, and so he smote down Sir
Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and also he smote down Sir Mordred, and all
this was with one spear. Then Sir Lavaine met with Sir Palamides, and
either met other so hard and so fiercely that both their horses fell to
the earth. And then were they horsed again, and then met Sir Launcelot
with Sir Palamides, and there Sir Palamides had a fall. And so Sir
Launcelot, or ever he stint, as fast as he might get spears, he smote
down thirty knights, and the most part of them were knights of the
Table Round. And ever the knights of his blood withdrew them, and made
them ado in other places where Sir Launcelot came not; and then king
Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir Launcelot do such deeds, and then the
king called unto him Sir Gawaine, Sir Mordred, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet,
Sir Lucan the butler, Sir Bedivere, Sir Palamides, and Safere his
brother; and so the king with these nine knights made them ready to set
upon Sir Launcelot and upon Sir Lavaine. All this espied Sir Bors and
Sir Gareth. Now I dread me sore, said Sir Bors, that my lord Sir
Launcelot will be hard matched. By my head, said Sir Gareth, I will
ride unto my lord Sir Launcelot for to help him, fall of him what may,
for he is the same man that made me knight. Ye shall not so, said Sir
Bors, by my counsel, unless that ye were disguised. Ye shall see me
disguised, said Sir Gareth: and therewithal he espied a Welsh knight
where he was to repose himself, and he was sore hurt afore by Sir
Gawaine, and to him Sir Gareth rode, and prayed him of his knighthood
to lend him his shield for his. I will well, said the Welsh knight. And
when Sir Gareth had his shield, the book saith, it was green, with a
maiden that seemed in it. Then Sir Gareth came driving to Sir Launcelot
all that he might, and said, Knight, keep thyself, for yonder cometh
king Arthur with nine noble knights with him to put you to a rebuke,
and so I am come to bear you fellowship for old love ye have shewed me.
Gramercy, said Sir Launcelot. Sir, said Sir Gareth, encounter ye with
Sir Gawaine, and I shall encounter with Sir Palamides, and let Sir
Lavaine match with the noble king Arthur. And when we have delivered
them, let us three hold us sadly together. Then came king Arthur with
his nine knights with him, and Sir Launcelot encountered with Sir
Gawaine, and gave him such a buffet that the bow of his saddle brast,
and Sir Gawaine fell to the earth. Then Sir Gareth encountered with the
good knight Sir Palamides, and he gave him such a buffet that both his
horse and he dashed to the earth. Then encountered king Arthur with Sir
Lavaine, and there either of them smote other to the earth, horse and
all, that they lay a great while. Then Sir Launcelot smote down Sir
Agravaine, and Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred. And Sir Gareth smote down
Sir Kay, Sir Safere, and Sir Griflet. And then Sir Lavaine was horsed
again, and he smote down Sir Lucan the butler, and Sir Bedivere, and
then there began great throng of good knights. Then Sir Launcelot
hurtled here and there, and rased and pulled off helms, so that at that
time there might none sit him a buffet with spear nor with sword. And
Sir Gareth did such deeds of arms that all men wondered what knight he
was with the green shield; for he smote down that day and pulled down
more than thirty knights. And, as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot
marvelled, when he beheld Sir Gareth do such deeds, what knight he
might be: and Sir Lavaine pulled down and smote down twenty knights.
Also Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Gareth, for, and Sir Tristram de Liones
or Sir Lamorak de Galis had been alive, Sir Launcelot would have deemed
he had been one of them twain. So ever as Sir Launcelot, Sir Gareth,
Sir Lavaine, fought, and on the one side Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris,
Sir Lionel, Sir Lamorak de Galis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Galihud, Sir
Galihodin, Sir Pelleas, and with more other of king Ban’s blood, fought
upon another party, and held the king with the hundred knights, and
also the king of Northumberland, right straight.