_How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from the fire, and
how he slew many knights._
Then said the noble king Arthur to Sir Gawaine, Dear nephew, I pray you
make you ready in your best armour, with your brethren Sir Gaheris and
Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, there to have her judgment,
and receive the death. Nay, my most noble lord, said Sir Gawaine, that
will I never do, for, wit you well, I will never be in that place where
so noble a queen as is my lady dame Guenever shall take a shameful end.
For wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, my heart will never serve me to see
her die, and it shall never be said that even I was of your counsel of
her death. Then, said the king to Sir Gawaine, suffer your brothers Sir
Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, wit you
well they will be loth to be there present, because of many adventures
the which be like there to fall, but they are young and full unable to
say you nay. Then spake Sir Gaheris and the good knight Sir Gareth unto
Sir Arthur, Sir, ye may well command us to be there, but wit you well
it shall be sore against our will; but and we be there by your strait
commandment, ye shall plainly hold us there excused, we will be there
in peaceable wise, and bear none harness of war upon us. In the name of
God, said the king, then make you ready, for she shall soon have her
judgment anon. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever I should endure to see
this woefull day. So Sir Gawaine turned him, and wept heartily, and so
he went into his chamber, and then the queen was led forth without
Carlisle, and there she was despoiled into her smock. And so then her
ghostly father was brought to her, to be shriven of her misdeeds. Then
was there weeping, and wailing, and wringing of hands, of many lords
and ladies. But there were but few in comparison that would bear any
armour for to strength the death of the queen. Then was there one that
Sir Launcelot had sent unto that place for to espy what time the queen
should go unto her death. And anon, as he saw the queen despoiled into
her smock, and so shriven, then he gave Sir Launcelot warning. Then was
there but spurring and plucking up of horses, and right so they came to
the fire, and who that stood against them, there they were slain, there
might none withstand Sir Launcelot, so all that bare arms and withstood
them, there were they slain—full many a noble knight. For there was
slain Sir Belias le Orgulous, Sir Segwarides, Sir Griflet, Sir
Brandiles, Sir Aglovale, Sir Tor, Sir Gauter, Sir Gillimer, Sir
Reynold’s three brethren, Sir Damas, Sir Priamus, Sir Kay the stranger,
Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Herminde, Sir Pertilope, Sir Perimones,
two brethren, that were called the green knight and the red knight. And
so in this rashing and hurling as Sir Launcelot thrang here and there,
it mishapped him to slay Gaheris and Sir Gareth, the noble knight, for
they were unarmed and unaware, for, as the French book saith, Sir
Launcelot smote Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris upon the brain pans, where
through they were slain in the field, howbeit in very truth Sir
Launcelot saw them not, and so were they found dead among the thickest
of the press. Then when Sir Launcelot had thus done and slain, and put
to flight all that would withstand him, then he rode straight unto dame
Guenever, and made a kirtle and a gown to be cast upon her, and then he
made her to be set behind him, and prayed her to be of good cheer. Wit
you well the queen was glad that she was escaped from the death, and
then she thanked God and Sir Launcelot. And so he rode his way with the
queen, as the French book saith, unto Joyous Gard, and there he kept
her as a noble knight should do, and many great lords and some kings
sent Sir Launcelot many good knights, and many noble knights drew unto
Sir Launcelot. When this was known openly, that king Arthur and Sir
Launcelot were at debate, and many were full heavy of their debate.