_How king Arthur at the request of Sir Gawaine concluded to make war
against Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to his castle called Joyous
Gard._
Alas, said Sir Gawaine, now is my joy gone. And then he fell down and
swooned, and long he lay there as he had been dead. And then when he
arose of his swoon, he cried out sorrowfully and said, Alas! And right
so Sir Gawaine ran to the king crying and weeping, O king Arthur, mine
uncle, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain, and so is my brother Sir
Gaheris, the which were two noble knights. Then the king wept and he
both, and so they fell on swooning. And when they were revived, then
spake Sir Gawaine, Sir, I will go see my brother Sir Gareth. Ye may not
see him, said the king, for I caused him to be interred, and Sir
Gaheris both; for I well understood that ye would make over much
sorrow, and the sight of Sir Gareth should have caused your double
sorrow. Alas, my lord, said Sir Gawaine, how slew he my brother Sir
Gareth? mine own good lord, I pray you tell me. Truly, said the king, I
shall tell you as it is told me, Sir Launcelot slew him and Sir Gaheris
both. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, they bare none arms against him, neither
of them both. I wot not how it was, said the king, but, as it is said,
Sir Launcelot slew them both in the thickest of the press, and knew
them not; and therefore let us shape a remedy for to revenge their
deaths. My king, my lord, and mine uncle, said Sir Gawaine, wit you
well, now I shall make you a promise that I shall hold by my
knighthood, that from this day I shall never fail Sir Launcelot, until
the one of us have slain the other: and therefore I require you, my
lord and king, dress you to the war, for wit you well I will be
revenged upon Sir Launcelot, and therefore, as ye will have my service
and my love, now haste you thereto, and assay your friends. For I
promise unto God, said Sir Gawaine, for the death of my brother Sir
Gareth I shall seek Sir Launcelot throughout seven kings’ realms but I
shall slay him, or else he shall slay me. Ye shall not need to seek him
so far, said the king, for, as I hear say, Sir Launcelot will abide me
and you in the Joyous Gard, and much people draweth unto him as I hear
say. That may I believe, said Sir Gawaine, but my lord, he said, assay
your friends, and I will assay mine. It shall be done, said the king,
and, as I suppose, I shall be big enough to draw him out of the biggest
tower of his castle. So then the king sent letters and writs throughout
all England, both in the length and the breadth, for to assummon all
his knights. And so unto Arthur drew many knights, dukes, and earls, so
that he had a great host. And when they were assembled, the king
informed them all how Sir Launcelot had bereft him his queen. Then the
king and all his host made them ready to lay siege about Sir Launcelot,
where he lay within Joyous Gard. Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, and
purveyed him of many good knights, for with him held many knights, and
some for his own sake, and some for the queen’s sake. Thus they were on
both parties well furnished and garnished of all manner of things that
longed to the war. But king Arthur’s host was so big that Sir Launcelot
would not abide him in the field, for he was full loth to do battle
against the king; but Sir Launcelot drew him to his strong castle with
all manner of victual, and as many noble men as he might suffice within
the town and the castle. Then came king Arthur with Sir Gawaine, with
an huge host, and laid a siege all about Joyous Gard, both at the town
and at the castle, and there they made strong war on both parties. But
in no wise Sir Launcelot would ride out nor go out of his castle of
long time, neither he would none of his good knights to issue out,
neither none of the town nor of the castle, until fifteen weeks were
past.