_How king Arthur marvelled much of the justing in the field, and how he
rode and found Sir Launcelot._
So this tournament and this justs dured long, till it was near night,
for the knights of the Round Table relieved ever unto king Arthur; for
the king was wroth out of measure that he and his knights might not
prevail that day. Then Sir Gawaine said to the king, I marvel where all
this day Sir Bors de Ganis and his fellowship of Sir Launcelot’s blood
be. I marvel all this day they be not about you. It is for some cause,
said Sir Gawaine. By my head, said Sir Kay, Sir Bors is yonder all this
day upon the right hand of this field, and there he and his blood done
more worshipfully than we do. It may well be, said Sir Gawaine, but I
dread me ever of guile, for on pain of my life, said Sir Gawaine, this
knight with the red sleeve of gold is himself Sir Launcelot, I see well
by his riding and by his great strokes, and the other knight in the
same colour is the good young knight Sir Lavaine. Also that knight with
the green shield is my brother Sir Gareth, and yet he hath disguised
himself, for no man shall never make him be against Sir Launcelot,
because he made him knight. By my head, said Arthur, nephew, I believe
you, therefore tell me now what is your best counsel? Sir, said Sir
Gawaine, ye shall have my counsel. Let blow unto lodging, for, and he
be Sir Launcelot du Lake, and my brother Sir Gareth with him, with the
help of that good young knight Sir Lavaine, trust me truly it will be
no boot to strive with them, but if we should fall ten or twelve upon
one knight, and that were no worship, but shame. Ye say truth, said the
king, and for to say sooth, said the king, it were shame to us, so many
as we be, to set upon them any more. For wit ye well, said the king,
they be three good knights, and namely that knight with the sleeve of
gold. So then they blew unto lodging; but forthwithal king Arthur let
send unto the four kings, and to the mighty duke, and prayed them that
the knight with the sleeve of gold depart not from them, but that the
king may speak with him. Then forthwithal king Arthur alight, and
unarmed him, and took a little hackney, and rode after Sir Launcelot,
for ever he had a spy upon him; and so he found him among the four
kings and the duke, and there the king prayed them all unto supper. And
they said they would with good will. And so when they were unarmed,
then king Arthur knew Sir Launcelot, Sir Lavaine, and Sir Gareth. Ah
Sir Launcelot, said king Arthur, this day ye have heated me and my
knights. So they went unto Arthur’s lodging all together, and there was
a great feast and great revel, and the prize was given unto Sir
Launcelot, and by heralds they named him that he had smitten down fifty
knights, and Sir Gareth five and thirty, and Sir Lavaine four and
twenty knights. Then Sir Launcelot told the king and the queen how the
lady huntress shot him in the forest of Windsor in the thigh with a
broad arrow, and how the wound thereof was that time six inches deep,
and in like long. Also Arthur blamed Sir Gareth, because he left his
fellowship and held with Sir Launcelot. My lord, said Sir Gareth, he
made me a knight, and when I saw him so hard bestad, me thought it was
my worship to help him, for I saw him do so much, and so many noble
knights against him. And when I understood that he was Sir Launcelot du
Lake I shamed to see so many knights against him alone. Truly, said
king Arthur unto Sir Gareth, ye say well, and worshipfully have ye
done, and to yourself great worship, and all the days of my life, said
king Arthur unto Sir Gareth, wit you well I shall love you and trust
you the more better. For ever, said Arthur, it is a worshipful knight’s
deed to help another worshipful knight when he seeth him in a great
danger, for ever a worshipful man will be loth to see a worshipful
shamed, and he that is of no worship, and fareth with cowardice, never
shall he shew gentleness, nor no manner of goodness, where he seeth a
man in any danger, for then ever will a coward shew no mercy, and
always a good man will do ever to another man as he would be done to
himself. So then there were great feasts unto kings and dukes; and
revel, game, and play, and all manner of nobleness was used; and he
that was courteous, true, and faithful to his friend, was that time
cherished.