Now saith this story, when Galahad had rescued Percivale from the
twenty knights, he yede tho into a waste forest wherein he rode many
journeys; and he found many adventures the which he brought to an end,
whereof the story maketh here no mention. Then he took his way to the
sea on a day, and it befell as he passed by a castle where was a wonder
tournament, but they without had done so much that they within were put
to the worse, yet were they within good knights enough. When Galahad
saw that those within were at so great a mischief that men slew them at
the entry of the castle, then he thought to help them, and put a spear
forth and smote the first that he fell to the earth, and the spear
brake to pieces. Then he drew his sword and smote thereas they were
thickest, and so he did wonderful deeds of arms that all they
marvelled. Then it happed that Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris were with
the knights without. But when they espied the white shield with the red
cross the one said to the other: Yonder is the good knight, Sir
Galahad, the haut prince: now he should be a great fool which should
meet with him to fight. So by adventure he came by Sir Gawaine, and he
smote him so hard that he clave his helm and the coif of iron unto his
head, so that Gawaine fell to the earth; but the stroke was so great
that it slanted down to the earth and carved the horse’s shoulder in
two.
When Ector saw Gawaine down he drew him aside, and thought it no wisdom
for to abide him, and also for natural love, that he was his uncle.
Thus through his great hardiness he beat aback all the knights without.
And then they within came out and chased them all about. But when
Galahad saw there would none turn again he stole away privily, so that
none wist where he was become. Now by my head, said Gawaine to Ector,
now are the wonders true that were said of Launcelot du Lake, that the
sword which stuck in the stone should give me such a buffet that I
would not have it for the best castle in this world; and soothly now it
is proved true, for never ere had I such a stroke of man’s hand. Sir,
said Ector, meseemeth your quest is done. And yours is not done, said
Gawaine, but mine is done, I shall seek no further. Then Gawaine was
borne into a castle and unarmed him, and laid him in a rich bed, and a
leech found that he might live, and to be whole within a month. Thus
Gawaine and Ector abode together, for Sir Ector would not away till
Gawaine were whole.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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