King Arthur and the Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
General
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
So proclamation was made throughout all England, Wales, Scotland,
Ireland, and Cornwall, and in the out isles and other countries, that at
the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady, next coming, all knights who
came to joust at Castle Perilous should make choice whether they would
side with the king or with the castle. Then came many good knights on
the side of the castle. Sir Epinogris, the son of the King of
Northumberland, and Sir Palomedes the Saracen, and Sir Grummore
Grummorsum, a good knight of Scotland, and Sir Brian des Iles, a noble
knight, and Sir Carados of the Tower Dolorous, and Sir Tristram, who as
yet was not a knight of the Round Table, and many others. But none among
them knew Sir Gareth, for he took no more upon him than any mean person.
And on King Arthur's side there came the King of Ireland and the King of
Scotland, the noble prince Sir Galahaut, Sir Gawain and his brothers Sir
Agravain and Sir Gaheris, Sir Ewaine, Sir Tor, Sir Perceval, and Sir
Lamoracke, Sir Lancelot also and his kindred, Sir Lionel, Sir Ector, Sir
Bors and Sir Bedivere, likewise Sir Key and the most part of the Table
Round. The two queens also, Queen Guinevere and the Queen of Orkney, Sir
Gareth's mother, came with the king. So there was a great array both
within and without the castle, with all manner of feasting and
minstrelsy.
Now before the tournament began, Sir Gareth privily prayed Dame Lyones,
Sir Gringamors, Sir Ironside, and Sir Perseant, that they would in
nowise disclose his name, nor make more of him than of any common
knight. Then said Dame Lyones, "Dear lord, I pray thee take this ring,
which hath the power to change the wearer's clothing into any color he
may will, and guardeth him from any loss of blood. But give it me again,
I pray thee, when the tournament is done, for it greatly increaseth my
beauty whensoever I wear it." "Gramercy, mine own lady," said Sir
Gareth, "I wished for nothing better, for now I may be certainly
disguised as long as I will." Then Sir Gringamors gave Sir Gareth a bay
courser that was a passing good horse, with sure armor, and a noble
sword, won by his father from a heathen tyrant. And then every knight
made him ready for the tournament.
So on the day of the Assumption, when mass and matins were said, the
heralds blew their trumpets and sounded for the tourney. Anon came out
the knights of the castle and the knights of King Arthur, and matched
themselves together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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