Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble; Knights of the Round TableMalory, Thomas, Sir
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Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble; Knights of the Round Table
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances
Madam, said he, truly,
my name is Gareth of Orkney, and some men call me Beaumains. Then knew
she well it was the same knight that fought for dame Liones. So Sir
Gareth departed, and rode up into a mountain, and there met him a
knight, his name was Sir Bendelaine, and said to Sir Gareth, Thou shalt
not pass this way, for either thou shalt just with me, or be my
prisoner. Then will I just, said Sir Gareth. And so they let their
horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote him throughout the body, and Sir
Bendelaine rode forth to his castle there beside, and there died. So
Sir Gareth would have rested him, and he came riding to Bendelaine’s
castle. Then his knights and his servants espied that it was he that
had slain their lord. Then they armed twenty good men, and came out and
assailed Sir Gareth, and so he had no spear, but his sword, and put his
shield afore him, and there they brake their spears upon him, and they
assailed him passingly sore. But ever Sir Gareth defended him as a
knight.
CHAP. XXXII.
_How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his castle thirty
ladies, and how he slew him._
So when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him
and took their counsel to slay his horse, and so they came in upon Sir
Gareth, and with spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him
hard. But when he was on foot there was none that he fought but he gave
him such a buffet that he did never recover. So he slew them by one and
one till they were but four, and there they fled, and Sir Gareth took a
good horse that was one of theirs, and rode his way. Then he rode a
great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he heard much
mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him a page: What
noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this castle? Sir
knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty ladies, and
all they be widows, for here is a knight that waiteth daily upon this
castle, and his name is the brown knight without pity, and he is the
most perilous knight that now liveth. And, therefore, sir, said the
page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir Gareth, I will not flee, though
thou be afeard of him. And then the page saw where came the brown
knight. Lo, said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal with him, said
Sir Gareth. And when either of other had a sight, they let their horses
run, and the brown knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him
throughout the body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So
Sir Gareth rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might
repose him. Alas, said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him
good cheer, said the page, for this knight hath slain your enemy. Then
they all made him good cheer as lay in their power. But wit ye well
they made him good cheer, for they might none otherwise do, for they
were but poor. And so on the morn he went to mass, and there he saw the
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