_How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him to go out to
battle, and how they made them ready._
Well, well, said Sir Gawaine to Sir Launcelot, sithen thou upbraidest
me of Sir Lamorak, wit thou well I shall never leave thee till I have
thee at such avail that thou shalt not escape my hands. I trust you
well enough, said Sir Launcelot, and ye may get me I shall get but
little mercy. But, as the French book saith, the noble king Arthur
would have taken his queen again, and have been accorded with Sir
Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine would not suffer him by no manner of mean.
And then Sir Gawaine made many men to blow upon Sir Launcelot, and all
at once they called him False recreant knight! Then when Sir Bors de
Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Lionel heard this outcry, they
called to them Sir Palamides, Sir Safere’s brother, and Sir Lavaine,
with many more of their blood, and all they went unto Sir Launcelot,
and said thus, My lord Sir Launcelot, wit ye well we have great scorn
of the great rebukes that we heard Gawaine say to you; wherefore we
pray you and charge you, as ye will have our service, keep us no longer
within these walls, for wit you well, plainly, we will ride into the
field, and do battle with them. For ye fare as a man that were afeard,
and for all your fair speech it will not avail you. For wit you well,
Sir Gawaine will not suffer you to be accorded with king Arthur: and
therefore fight for your life, and your right, and ye dare. Alas, said
Sir Launcelot, for to ride out of this castle and to do battle, I am
full loth. Then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto Sir Arthur and Sir
Gawaine, My lords, I require you and beseech you, sithen that I am thus
required and conjured to ride into the field, that neither you my lord
king Arthur, nor you Sir Gawaine, come not into the field. What shall
we do then? said Sir Gawaine, is this the king’s quarrel with thee to
fight? and it is my quarrel to fight with thee Sir Launcelot, because
of the death of my brother Sir Gareth. Then must I needs unto battle,
said Sir Launcelot; now wit you well, my lord Arthur, and Sir Gawaine,
ye will repent it whensoever I do battle with you. And so then they
departed either from other, and then either party made them ready on
the morn for to do battle, and great purveyance was made on both sides.
And Sir Gawaine let purvey many knights for to wait upon Sir Launcelot
for to overset him, and to slay him. And on the morn at undorne Sir
Arthur was ready in the field with three great hosts, and then Sir
Launcelot’s fellowship came out at three gates, in a full good array.
And Sir Lionel came in the foremost battle, and Sir Launcelot came in
the middle, and Sir Bors came out at the third gate. Thus they came in
order and rule as full noble knights. And always Sir Launcelot charged
all his knights in any wise to save king Arthur and Sir Gawaine.