Now leave we of these kings and knights, and let us speak of the great
array that was made within the castle and about the castle for both
parties. The Lady Dame Lionesse ordained great array upon her part for
her noble knights, for all manner of lodging and victual that came by
land and by water, that there lacked nothing for her party, nor for the
other, but there was plenty to be had for gold and silver for King
Arthur and his knights. And then there came the harbingers from King
Arthur for to harbour him, and his kings, dukes, earls, barons, and
knights. And then Sir Gareth prayed Dame Lionesse and the Red Knight of
the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother, and Sir Gringamore,
that in no wise there should none of them tell not his name, and make
no more of him than of the least knight that there was, For, he said, I
will not be known of neither more nor less, neither at the beginning
neither at the ending. Then Dame Lionesse said unto Sir Gareth: Sir, I
will lend you a ring, but I would pray you as you love me heartily let
me have it again when the tournament is done, for that ring increaseth
my beauty much more than it is of himself. And the virtue of my ring is
that, that is green it will turn to red, and that is red it will turn
in likeness to green, and that is blue it will turn to likeness of
white, and that is white it will turn in likeness to blue, and so it
will do of all manner of colours. Also who that beareth my ring shall
lose no blood, and for great love I will give you this ring. Gramercy,
said Sir Gareth, mine own lady, for this ring is passing meet for me,
for it will turn all manner of likeness that I am in, and that shall
cause me that I shall not be known. Then Sir Gringamore gave Sir Gareth
a bay courser that was a passing good horse; also he gave him good
armour and sure, and a noble sword that sometime Sir Gringamore’s
father won upon an heathen tyrant. And so thus every knight made him
ready to that tournament. And King Arthur was come two days to-fore the
Assumption of our Lady. And there was all manner of royalty of all
minstrelsy that might be found. Also there came Queen Guenever and the
Queen of Orkney, Sir Gareth’s mother.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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