The Story of King Arthur and his KnightsPyle, Howard
General
The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
Pyle, Howard
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
As for those four knights-companion that remained of the Duke of North
Umber’s party, they came not forth to this second encounter with so much
readiness of spirit as they had done aforetime. For they were now well
aware of how great was the excellent prowess of those other knights, and
they beheld that their enemies came forth to this second encounter very
fiercely, and with great valor and readiness of spirit. Wherefore their
hearts melted away within them with doubt and anxiety as to the outcome
of this second encounter.
Nevertheless, they prepared themselves with such resolve as might be,
and came forth as they were called upon to do.
Then Sir Gawaine drave straight up to the foremost knight, who was a
very well-known champion, hight Sir Dinador of Montcalm. And when he had
come sufficiently nigh to him, he lifted himself up in his stirrups and
he smote Sir Dinador so fierce a blow that he cleft the shield of that
knight asunder, and he cleft his helmet, and a part of the blade of his
sword brake away and remained therein.
[Sidenote: _The knights-challenger flee before the knights-defender._]
And when Sir Dinador felt that blow, his brains swam like water, and he
was fain to catch the horn of his saddle for to save himself from
falling therefrom. Then a great terror straightway fell upon him, so
that he drew rein violently to one side. So he fled away from that place
with the terror of death hanging above him like to a black cloud of
smoke. And when his companions beheld that stroke that Sir Gawaine
delivered, and when they beheld Sir Dinador flee away from before him,
they also drew rein to one side and fled away with all speed, pursued
with an entire terror of their enemies. And Sir Gawaine and Sir Ewaine
and Sir Geraint and Sir Pellias pursued them as they fled. And they
chased them straight through the Court of King Ryence, so that the
knights and nobles of that Court scattered hither and thither like chaff
at their coming. And they chased those fleeing knights in among the
pavilions of King Ryence’s Court, and no man stayed them; and when they
had chased those knights entirely away, they returned to that place
where King Arthur still held his station, steadfastly awaiting them.
Now when the people of Cameliard beheld the overthrow of their enemies,
and when they beheld how those enemies fled away from before the faces
of their champions, they shouted with might and main, and made great
acclaim. Nor did they stint their loud shouting when those four knights
returned from pursuing their enemies and came back unto the White
Champion again. And still more did they give acclaim when those five
knights rode across the drawbridge and into the gateway of the town and
into the town.
Thus ended the great bout-at-arms, which was one of the most famous in
all the history of chivalry of King Arthur’s Court.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur returneth his armor to the merchant._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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