{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart112.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart112.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart112.htm","text":"CHAPTER XII\nHow Sir Launcelot rode disguised in Sir Kay's harness, and\nhow he smote down a knight.\nNOW turn we unto Sir Launcelot that had ridden long in a great\nforest, and at the last he came into a low country, full of fair\nrivers and meadows. And afore him he saw a long bridge, and\nthree pavilions stood thereon, of silk and sendal of divers hue.\nAnd without the pavilions hung three white shields on truncheons\nof spears, and great long spears stood upright by the pavilions,\nand at every pavilion's door stood three fresh squires, and so\nSir Launcelot passed by them and spake no word. When he was\npassed the three knights said them that it was the proud Kay; He\nweeneth no knight so good as he, and the contrary is ofttime\nproved. By my faith, said one of the knights, his name was Sir\nGaunter, I will ride after him and assay him for all his pride,\nand ye may behold how that I speed. So this knight, Sir Gaunter,\narmed him, and hung his shield upon his shoulder, and mounted\nupon a great horse, and gat his spear in his hand, and walloped\nafter Sir Launcelot. And when he came nigh him, he cried, Abide,\nthou proud knight Sir Kay, for thou shalt not pass quit. So Sir\nLauncelot turned him, and either feutred their spears, and came\ntogether with all their mights, and Sir Gaunter's spear brake,\nbut Sir Launcelot smote him down horse and man. And when Sir\nGaunter was at the earth his brethren said each one to other,\nYonder knight is not Sir Kay, for he is bigger than he. I dare\nlay my head, said Sir Gilmere, yonder knight hath slain Sir Kay\nand hath taken his horse and his harness. Whether it be so or\nno, said Sir Raynold, the third brother, let us now go mount upon\nour horses and rescue our brother Sir Gaunter, upon pain of\ndeath. We all shall have work enough to match that knight, for\never meseemeth by his person it is Sir <197>Launcelot, or Sir\nTristram, or Sir Pelleas, the good knight.\nThen anon they took their horses and overtook Sir Launcelot, and\nSir Gilmere put forth his spear, and ran to Sir Launcelot, and\nSir Launcelot smote him down that he lay in a swoon. Sir knight,\nsaid Sir Raynold, thou art a strong man, and as I suppose thou\nhast slain my two brethren, for the which raseth my heart sore\nagainst thee, and if I might with my worship I would not have ado\nwith you, but needs I must take part as they do, and therefore,\nknight, he said, keep thyself. And so they hurtled together with\nall their mights, and all to-shivered both their spears. And\nthen they drew their swords and lashed together eagerly. Anon\ntherewith arose Sir Gaunter, and came unto his brother Sir\nGilmere, and bade him, Arise, and help we our brother Sir\nRaynold, that yonder marvellously matched yonder good knight.\nTherewithal, they leapt on their horses and hurtled unto Sir\nLauncelot.\nAnd when he saw them come he smote a sore stroke unto Sir\nRaynold, that he fell off his horse to the ground, and then he\nstruck to the other two brethren, and at two strokes he struck\nthem down to the earth. With that Sir Raynold began to start up\nwith his head all bloody, and came straight unto Sir Launcelot.\nNow let be, said Sir Launcelot, I was not far from thee when thou\nwert made knight, Sir Raynold, and also I know thou art a good\nknight, and loath I were to slay thee. Gramercy, said Sir\nRaynold, as for your goodness; and I dare say as for me and my\nbrethren, we will not be loath to yield us unto you, with that we\nknew your name, for well we know ye are not Sir Kay. As for that\nbe it as it be may, for ye shall yield you unto dame Guenever,\nand look that ye be with her on Whitsunday, and yield you unto\nher as prisoners, and say that Sir Kay sent you unto her. Then\nthey swore it should be done, and so passed forth Sir Launcelot,\nand each one of the brethren holp other as well as they might.\n<198>","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VI CHAPTER XII","type":"page"}