_Of the sorrow that king Arthur made for the war, and of another battle
where also Sir Gawaine had the worse._
Alas, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was begun, for ever Sir
Launcelot forbeareth me in all places, and in likewise my kin, and that
is seen well this day by my nephew Sir Gawaine. Then king Arthur fell
sick for sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was sore hurt, and because of
the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot. So then they on king Arthur’s
party kept the siege with little war withoutforth, and they withinforth
kept their walls, and defended them when need was. Thus Sir Gawaine lay
sick about three weeks in his tents, with all manner of leech-craft
that might be had: and as soon as Sir Gawaine might go and ride, he
armed him at all points, and start upon a courser, and gat a spear in
his hand, and so he came riding afore the chief gate of Benwick, and
there he cried on high, Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? come forth thou
false traitor knight, and recreant, for I am here, Sir Gawaine, will
prove this that I say on thee. All this language Sir Launcelot heard,
and then he said thus, Sir Gawaine, me repenteth of your foul saying,
that ye will not cease of your language, for you wot well, Sir Gawaine,
I know your might, and all that ye may do, and well ye wot, Sir
Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt me. Come down, traitor knight, said
he, and make it good the contrary with thy hands; for it mishapped me
the last battle to be hurt of thy hands, therefore, wit thou well, that
I am come this day to make amends, for I ween this day to lay thee as
low as thou laidest me. Defend me, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I be
so far in your danger as ye have been in mine, for then my days were
done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall not think that I
tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly call me of treason, ye
shall have both your hands full of me. And then Sir Launcelot armed him
at all points, and mounted upon his horse, and gat a great spear in his
hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the hosts were assembled, of
them without, and of them within, and stood in array full manly. And
both parties were charged to hold them still, to see and behold the
battle of these two noble knights. And then they laid their spears in
their rests, and they came together as thunder. And Sir Gawaine brake
his spear upon Sir Launcelot in an hundred pieces unto his hand, and
Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater might, that Sir Gawaine’s horse
feet raised, and so the horse and he fell to the earth. Then Sir
Gawaine deliverly avoided his horse, and put his shield afore him, and
eagerly drew his sword, and bad Sir Launcelot, Alight, traitor knight,
for if this mare’s son hath failed me, wit thou well a king’s son and a
queen’s son shall not fail thee.
Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his shield afore him,
and drew his sword, and so stood they together, and gave many sad
strokes, that all men on both parties had thereof passing great wonder.
But when Sir Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine’s might so marvellously
increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and kept himself
wonder covert of his might, and under his shield he traced and
traversed here and there, to break Sir Gawaine’s strokes and his
courage; and Sir Gawaine enforced himself with all his might and power
to destroy Sir Launcelot, for, as the French book saith, ever as Sir
Gawaine’s might increased, right so increased his wind and his evil
will. Thus Sir Gawaine did great pain unto Sir Launcelot three hours,
that he had great pain for to defend him. And when the three hours were
passed, that Sir Launcelot felt that Sir Gawaine was come to his own
proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Gawaine, Now have I
proved you twice, that ye are a full dangerous knight, and a wonderful
man of your might, and many wonderful deeds have you done in your days:
for by your might increasing you have deceived many a full noble and
valiant knight; and now I feel that ye have done your mighty deeds. Now
wit you well I must do my deeds. And then Sir Launcelot stood near Sir
Gawaine, and then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes, and Sir Gawaine
defended him mightily. But nevertheless Sir Launcelot smote such a
stroke upon Sir Gawaine’s helm, and upon the old wound, that Sir
Gawaine sinked down upon his one side in a swoon. And anon as he did
awake, he waved and foined at Sir Launcelot as he lay, and said,
Traitor knight, wit thou well I am not yet slain: come thou near me,
and perform this battle unto the uttermost. I will no more do than I
have done, said Sir Launcelot; for when I see you on foot I will do
battle upon you all the while I see you stand on your feet; but for to
smite a wounded man, that may not stand, God defend me from such a
shame. And then he turned him and went his way toward the city, and Sir
Gawaine evermore calling him traitor knight, and said, Wit thou well,
Sir Launcelot, when I am whole, I shall do battle with thee again; for
I shall never leave thee till that one of us be slain. Thus as this
siege endured, and as Sir Gawaine lay sick near a month, and when he
was well recovered, and ready within three days to do battle again with
Sir Launcelot, right so came tidings unto Arthur from England, that
made king Arthur and all his host to remove.
Here foloweth the xxi book.
The Twenty-first Book.