=Twelve Knights of the Round Table.= Dryden says there were twelve paladins, and twelve knights of the Round Table. The table was made for 150, but as twelve is the orthodox number, the following names hold the most conspicuous places:--(1) LAUNCELOT, (2) TRISTRAM, and (3) LAMORACKE, the three bravest; (4) TOR, the first made; (5) GALAHAD, the chaste; (6) GAW´AIN, the courteous; (7) GARETH, the big-handed; (8) PALOMIDES, the Saracen, or unbaptized; (9) KAY, the rude and boastful; (10) MARK, the dastard; (11) MORDRED, the traitor; and the twelfth, as in the case of the paladins, must be selected from one of the following names, all of which are seated with the prince in the frontispiece attached to the _History of Prince Arthur_, compiled by Sir T. Malory in 1470;--Sirs Acolon, Ballamore, Beleobus, Belvoure, Bersunt, Bors, Ector de Maris, Ewain, Floll, Graheris, Galohalt, Grislet, Lionell, Marhaus, Paginet, Pelleas, Percival, Sagris, Superabilis, and Turquine. Or we may take from the _Mabinogion_ the three “battle knights,” Cadwr, Launcelot, and Owain; the three “counselling knights,” Kynon, Aron, and Llywarch Hên; the three “diademed knights,” Kai, Trystan, and Gwevyl; and the three “golden-tongued,” Gwalchmai, Drudwas and Eliwlod, many of which are unknown in modern story. Sir Walter Scott names sixteen of renown, seated round the king: There _Galahad_ sat with manly grace, Yet maiden meekness in his face; There _Morolt_ of the iron mace; And lovelorn _Tristrem_ there; And _Dinadam_, with lively glance; And _Lanval_, with the fairy lance; And _Mordred_, with his looks askance; _Brunor_ and _Belvidere_. Why should I tell of numbers more? Sir _Cay_, Sir _Banier_, and Sir _Bore_, Sir _Caradoc_, the keen, And gentle _Gawain’s_ courteous lore, _Hector de Mares_, and _Pellinore_, And _Lancelot_, that evermore Looked stol’n-wise on the queen. _Bridal of Triermain_, ii. 13 (1813). =Twelve Paladins= (_The_), twelve famous warriors in Charlemagne’s court. 1. ASTOLPHO, cousin of Roland, descended from Charles Martel. A great boaster, fool-hardy, and singularly handsome. It was Astolpho who went to the moon to fetch back Orlando’s (_Roland’s_) brains when mad. 2. FERUMBRAS or FIERABRAS, a Saracen, afterwards converted and baptized. 3. FLORISMART, the _fidus Achātês_ of Roland or Orlando. 4. GANELON, the traitor, count of Mayence. Placed by Dantê in the Inferno. 5. MAUGRIS, in Italian MALAGIGI, cousin to Rinaldo, and son of Beuves of Aygremont. He was brought up by Oriande the fairy, and became a great enchanter. 6. NAMO or NAYME de Bavière.