第93章 BOOK VII(20)

BUT before he was in so many colours,and now he is but in one colour;that is yellow.Now go,said King Arthur unto divers heralds,and ride about him,and espy what manner knight he is,for I have spered of many knights this day that be upon his party,and all say they know him not.And so an herald rode nigh Gareth as he could;and there he saw written about his helm in gold,This helm is Sir Gareth of Orkney.Then the herald cried as he were wood,and many heralds with him:--This is Sir Gareth of Orkney in the yellow arms;wherby all kings and knights of Arthur's beheld him and awaited;and then they pressed all to behold him,and ever the heralds cried:This is Sir Gareth of Orkney,King Lot's son.And when Sir Gareth espied that he was discovered,then he doubled his strokes,and smote down Sir Sagramore,and his brother Sir Gawaine.O brother,said Sir Gawaine,I weened ye would not have stricken me.

So when he heard him say so he thrang here and there,and so with great pain he gat out of the press,and there he met with his dwarf.O boy,said Sir Gareth,thou hast beguiled me foul this day that thou kept my ring;give it me anon again,that I may hide my body withal;and so he took it him.And then they all wist not where he was become;and Sir Gawaine had in manner espied where Sir Gareth rode,and then he rode after with all his might.That espied Sir Gareth,and rode lightly into the forest,that Sir Gawaine wist not where he was become.And when Sir Gareth wist that Sir Gawaine was passed,he asked the dwarf of best counsel.Sir,said the dwarf,meseemeth it were best,now that ye are escaped from spying,that ye send my lady Dame Lionesse her ring.It is well advised,said Sir Gareth;now have it here and bear it to her,and say that I recommend me unto her good grace,and say her I will come when I may,and I pray her to be true and faithful to me as I will be to her.Sir,said the dwarf,it shall be done as ye command:and so he rode his way,and did his errand unto the lady.Then she said,Where is my knight,Sir Gareth?Madam,said the dwarf,he bade me say that he would not be long from you.And so lightly the dwarf came again unto Sir Gareth,that would full fain have had a lodging,for he had need to be reposed.And then fell there a thunder and a rain,as heaven and earth should go together.And Sir Gareth was not a little weary,for of all that day he had but little rest,neither his horse nor he.So this Sir Gareth rode so long in that forest until the night came.And ever it lightened and thundered,as it had been wood.At the last by fortune he came to a castle,and there he heard the waits upon the walls.

CHAPTER XXXI

How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well lodged,and he jousted with a knight and slew him.

THEN Sir Gareth rode unto the barbican of the castle,and prayed the porter fair to let him into the castle.The porter answered ungoodly again,and said,Thou gettest no lodging here.Fair sir,say not so,for I am a knight of King Arthur's,and pray the lord or the lady of this castle to give me harbour for the love of King Arthur.Then the porter went unto the duchess,and told her how there was a knight of King Arthur's would have harbour.

Let him in,said the duchess,for I will see that knight,and for King Arthur's sake he shall not be harbourless.Then she yode up into a tower over the gate,with great torchlight.

When Sir Gareth saw that torch-light he cried on high:Whether thou be lord or lady,giant or champion,I take no force so that I may have harbour this night;and if it so be that I must needs fight,spare me not to-morn when I have rested me,for both I and mine horse be weary.Sir knight,said the lady,thou speakest knightly and boldly;but wit thou well the lord of this castle loveth not King Arthur,nor none of his court,for my lord hath ever been against him;and therefore thou were better not to come within this castle;for an thou come in this night,thou must come in under such form,that wheresomever thou meet my lord,by stigh or by street,thou must yield thee to him as prisoner.Madam,said Sir Gareth,what is your lord,and what is his name?Sir,my lord's name is the Duke de la Rowse.Well madam,said Sir Gareth,I shall promise you in what place I meet your lord I shall yield me unto him and to his good grace;with that I understand he will do me no harm:and if I understand that he will,I will release myself an I can with my spear and my sword.Ye say well,said the duchess;and then she let the drawbridge down,and so he rode into the hall,and there he alighted,and his horse was led into a stable;and in the hall he unarmed him and said,Madam,I will not out of this hall this night;and when it is daylight,let see who will have ado with me,he shall find me ready.Then was he set unto supper,and had many good dishes.Then Sir Gareth list well to eat,and knightly he ate his meat,and eagerly;there was many a fair lady by him,and some said they never saw a goodlier man nor so well of eating.Then they made him passing good cheer,and shortly when he had supped his bed was made there;so he rested him all night.

And on the morn he heard mass,and brake his fast and took his leave at the duchess,and at them all;and thanked her goodly of her lodging,and of his good cheer;and then she asked him his name.Madam,he said,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 Lionesse.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 joust with me,or else be my prisoner.

Then will I joust,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.