{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart051.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart051.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart051.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK III CHAPTER VI\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK III\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER VI\n \n How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the hart, and how\n two brethren fought each against other for the hart.\n \n SIR GAWAINE rode more than a pace, and Gaheris his brother that\n rode with him instead of a squire to do him service. So as they\n rode they saw two knights fight on horseback passing sore, so Sir\n Gawaine and his brother rode betwixt them, and asked them for\n what cause they fought so. The one knight answered and said, We\n fight <86>for a simple matter, for we two be two brethren born\n and begotten of one man and of one woman. Alas, said Sir\n Gawaine, why do ye so? Sir, said the elder, there came a white\n hart this way this day, and many hounds chased him, and a white\n brachet was alway next him, and we understood it was adventure\n made for the high feast of King Arthur, and therefore I would\n have gone after to have won me worship; and here my younger\n brother said he would go after the hart, for he was better knight\n than I: and for this cause we fell at debate, and so we thought\n to prove which of us both was better knight. This is a simple\n cause, said Sir Gawaine; uncouth men ye should\n debate withal, and not brother with brother; therefore but if you\n will do by my counsel I will have ado with you, that is ye shall\n yield you unto me, and that ye go unto King Arthur and yield you\n unto his grace. Sir knight, said the two brethren, we are\n forfoughten and much blood have we lost through our wilfulness,\n and therefore we would be loath to have ado with you. Then do as\n I will have you, said Sir Gawaine. We will agree to fulfil your\n will; but by whom shall we say that we be thither sent? Ye may\n say, By the knight that followeth the quest of the hart that was\n white. Now what is your name? said Gawaine. Sorlouse of the\n Forest, said the elder. And my name is, said the younger, Brian\n of the Forest. And so they departed and went to the king's\n court, and Sir Gawaine on his quest.\n \n And as Gawaine followed the hart by the cry of the hounds, even\n afore him there was a great river, and the hart swam over; and as\n Sir Gawaine would follow after, there stood a knight over the\n other side, and said, Sir knight, come not over after this hart\n but if thou wilt joust with me. I will not fail as for that,\n said Sir Gawaine, to follow the quest that I am in, and so made\n his horse to swim over the water. And anon they gat their spears\n and ran together full hard; but Sir Gawaine smote him off his\n horse, and then he turned his horse and bade him yield him. Nay,\n said the knight, not so, though thou have the better of me on\n horseback. I pray thee, valiant <87>knight, alight afoot, and\n match we together with swords. What is your name? said Sir\n Gawaine. Allardin of the Isles, said the other. Then either\n dressed their shields and smote together, but Sir Gawaine smote\n him so hard through the helm that it went to the brains, and the\n knight fell down dead. Ah! said Gaheris, that was a mighty\n stroke of a young knight.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK III CHAPTER VI","type":"page"}