Then was the cry of heralds and all manner of common people: The Green
Knight hath done marvellously, and beaten all them of Orkney. And there
the heralds numbered that Sir Tristram that sat upon the black horse
had smitten down with spears and swords thirty knights; and Sir
Palomides had smitten down twenty knights, and the most part of these
fifty knights were of the house of King Arthur, and proved knights. So
God me help, said Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, this is a great shame to
us to see four knights beat so many knights of mine; and therefore make
you ready, for we will have ado with them. Sir, said Launcelot, wit ye
well that there are two passing good knights, and great worship were it
not to us now to have ado with them, for they have this day sore
travailed. As for that, said Arthur, I will be avenged; and therefore
take with you Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector, and I will be the fourth,
said Arthur. Sir, said Launcelot, ye shall find me ready, and my
brother Sir Ector, and my cousin Sir Bleoberis. And so when they were
ready and on horseback: Now choose, said Sir Arthur unto Sir Launcelot,
with whom that ye will encounter withal. Sir, said Launcelot, I will
meet with the green knight upon the black horse, that was Sir Tristram;
and my cousin Sir Bleoberis shall match the green knight upon the white
horse, that was Sir Palomides; and my brother Sir Ector shall match
with the green knight upon the white horse, that was Sir Gareth. Then
must I, said Sir Arthur, have ado with the green knight upon the
grisled horse, and that was Sir Dinadan. Now every man take heed to his
fellow, said Sir Launcelot. And so they trotted on together, and there
encountered Sir Launcelot against Sir Tristram. So Sir Launcelot smote
Sir Tristram so sore upon the shield that he bare horse and man to the
earth; but Sir Launcelot weened that it had been Sir Palomides, and so
he passed forth. And then Sir Bleoberis encountered with Sir Palomides,
and he smote him so hard upon the shield that Sir Palomides and his
white horse rustled to the earth. Then Sir Ector de Maris smote Sir
Gareth so hard that down he fell off his horse. And the noble King
Arthur encountered with Sir Dinadan, and he smote him quite from his
saddle. And then the noise turned awhile how the green knights were
slain down.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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