_Of the sorrow and lamentation of king Arthur for the death of his
nephews and other good knights, and also for the queen his wife._
So turn we again unto king Arthur, that when it was told him how, and
in what manner of wise the queen was taken away from the fire, and when
he heard of the death of his noble knights, and in especial for Sir
Gaheris’ and Sir Gareth’s death, then the king swooned for pure sorrow.
And when he awoke of his swoon, then he said, Alas that ever I bare
crown upon my head, for now have I lost the fairest fellowship of noble
knights that ever held Christian king together. Alas, my good knights
be slain away from me, now within these two days I have lost forty
knights, and also the noble fellowship of Sir Launcelot and his blood,
for now I may never hold them together no more with my worship. Alas,
that ever this war began. Now, fair fellows, said the king, I charge
you that no man tell Sir Gawaine of the death of his two brethren, for
I am sure, said the king, when Sir Gawaine heareth tell that Sir Gareth
is dead, he will go nigh out of his mind. Mercy, said the king, why
slew he Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris! for I dare say as for Sir Gareth he
loved Sir Launcelot above all men earthly. That is truth, said some
knights, but they were slain in the hurtling, as Sir Launcelot thrang
in the thick of the press, and as they were unarmed he smote them, and
wist not whom that he smote, and so unhappily they were slain. The
death of them, said Arthur, will cause the greatest mortal war that
ever was. I am sure, wist Sir Gawaine that Sir Gareth were slain, I
should never have rest of him till I had destroyed Sir Launcelot’s kin
and himself both, or else he to destroy me; and therefore, said the
king, wit you well my heart was never so heavy as it is now, and much
more I am sorrier for my good knights’ loss, than for the loss of my
fair queen, for queens I might have enow, but such a fellowship of good
knights shall never be together in no company; and now I dare say, said
king Arthur, that there was never Christian king held such a fellowship
together, and alas that ever Sir Launcelot and I should be at debate.
Ah, Agravaine, Agravaine, said the king, Jesu forgive it thy soul, for
thine evil will, that thou and thy brother Sir Mordred haddest unto Sir
Launcelot, hath caused all this sorrow. And ever among these complaints
the king wept and swooned.
Then there came one unto Sir Gawaine, and told him how the queen was
led away with Sir Launcelot, and nigh a twentyfour knights slain. O
Jesu defend my brethren, said Sir Gawaine, for full well wist I that
Sir Launcelot would rescue her, or else he would die in that field; and
to say the truth he had not been a man of worship, had he not rescued
the queen that day, in so much she should have been burnt for his sake:
and as in that, said Sir Gawaine, he hath done but knightly, and as I
would have done myself, and I had stood in like case. But where are my
brethren? said Sir Gawaine, I marvel I hear not of them. Truly, said
that man, Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris be slain. Jesu defend, said Sir
Gawaine, for all the world I would not that they were slain, and in
especial my good brother Sir Gareth. Sir, said the man, he is slain,
and that is great pity. Who slew him? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said the
man, Launcelot slew them both. That may I not believe, said Sir
Gawaine, that he slew my brother Sir Gareth, for I dare say my brother
Gareth loved him better than me and all his brethren, and the king
both. Also I dare say, and Sir Launcelot had desired my brother Sir
Gareth with him, he would have been with him against the king and us
all, and therefore I may never believe that Sir Launcelot slew my
brother. Sir, said this man, it is noised that he slew him.