Thus they rode until they were ware of the Castle Lonazep. And then
were they ware of four hundred tents and pavilions, and marvellous
great ordinance. So God me help, said Sir Tristram, yonder I see the
greatest ordinance that ever I saw. Sir, said Palomides, meseemeth that
there was as great an ordinance at the Castle of Maidens upon the rock,
where ye won the prize, for I saw myself where ye forjousted thirty
knights. Sir, said Dinadan, and in Surluse, at that tournament that
Galahalt of the Long Isles made, the which there dured seven days, was
as great a gathering as is here, for there were many nations. Who was
the best? said Sir Tristram. Sir, it was Sir Launcelot du Lake and the
noble knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis, and Sir Launcelot won the degree. I
doubt not, said Sir Tristram, but he won the degree, so he had not been
overmatched with many knights; and of the death of Sir Lamorak, said
Sir Tristram, it was over great pity, for I dare say he was the
cleanest mighted man and the best winded of his age that was alive; for
I knew him that he was the biggest knight that ever I met withal, but
if it were Sir Launcelot. Alas, said Sir Tristram, full woe is me for
his death. And if they were not the cousins of my lord Arthur that slew
him, they should die for it, and all those that were consenting to his
death. And for such things, said Sir Tristram, I fear to draw unto the
court of my lord Arthur; I will that ye wit it, said Sir Tristram unto
Gareth.
Sir, I blame you not, said Gareth, for well I understand the vengeance
of my brethren Sir Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Mordred. But as for
me, said Sir Gareth, I meddle not of their matters, therefore there is
none of them that loveth me. And for I understand they be murderers of
good knights I left their company; and God would I had been by, said
Gareth, when the noble knight, Sir Lamorak, was slain.
Now as Jesu be my help, said Sir Tristram, it is well said of you, for
I had liefer than all the gold betwixt this and Rome I had been there.
Iwis, said Palomides, and so would I had been there, and yet had I
never the degree at no jousts nor tournament thereas he was, but he put
me to the worse, or on foot or on horseback; and that day that he was
slain he did the most deeds of arms that ever I saw knight do in all my
life days. And when him was given the degree by my lord Arthur, Sir
Gawaine and his three brethren, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Sir Mordred,
set upon Sir Lamorak in a privy place, and there they slew his horse.
And so they fought with him on foot more than three hours, both before
him and behind him; and Sir Mordred gave him his death wound behind him
at his back, and all to-hew him: for one of his squires told me that
saw it. Fie upon treason, said Sir Tristram, for it killeth my heart to
hear this tale. So it doth mine, said Gareth; brethren as they be mine
I shall never love them, nor draw in their fellowship for that deed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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