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
Then after the tilting, they drew swords, and there began a great
tournament, and there Sir Lancelot did marvelous deeds of arms, for
first he fought with both Sir Tristram and Sir Carados, albeit they were
the most perilous in all the world. Then came Sir Gareth and put them
asunder, but would not smite a stroke against Sir Lancelot, for by him
he had been knighted. Anon Sir Gareth's helm had need of mending, and he
rode aside to see to it and to drink water, for he was sore athirst with
all his mighty feats of strength. And while he drank, his dwarf said to
him, "Give me your ring, lest ye lose it while ye drink." So Sir Gareth
took it off. And when he had finished drinking, he rode back eagerly to
the field, and in his haste forgot to take the ring again. Then all the
people saw that he wore yellow armor. And King Arthur told a herald,
"Ride and espy the cognizance of that brave knight, for I have asked
many who he is, and none can tell me."
Then the herald rode near, and saw written round about his helmet in
letters of gold, "Sir Gareth of Orkney." And instantly the herald cried
his name aloud, and all men pressed to see him.
But when he saw he was discovered, he pushed with haste through all the
crowd, and cried to his dwarf, "Boy, thou hast beguiled me foully in
keeping my ring; give it me again, that I may be hidden." And as soon as
he had put it on, his armor changed again, and no man knew where he had
gone. Then he passed forth from the field; but Sir Gawain, his brother,
rode after him.
And when Sir Gareth had ridden far into the forest, he took off his
ring, and sent it back by the dwarf to the Lady Lyones, praying her to
be true and faithful to him while he was away.
Then rode Sir Gareth long through the forest, till night fell, and
coming to a castle he went up to the gate, and prayed the porter to let
him in. But churlishly he answered "that he should not lodge there."
Then said Sir Gareth, "Tell thy lord and lady that I am a knight of King
Arthur's court, and for his sake I pray their shelter." With that the
porter went to the duchess who owned the castle. "Let him in
straightway," cried she; "for the king's sake he shall not be
harborless!" and went down to receive him. When Sir Gareth saw her
coming, he saluted her, and said, "Fair lady, I pray you give me shelter
for this night, and if there be here any champion or giant with whom I
must needs fight, spare me till to-morrow, when I and my horse shall
have rested, for we are full weary." "Sir knight," she said, "thou
speakest boldly; for the lord of this castle is a foe to King Arthur and
his court, and if thou wilt rest here to-night thou must agree, that
wheresoever thou mayest meet my lord, thou must yield to him as a
prisoner." "What is thy lord's name, lady?" said Sir Gareth. "The Duke
de la Rowse," said she. "I will promise thee," said he, "to yield to
him, if he promise to do me no harm; but if he refuse, I will release
myself with my sword and spear."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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