{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart113.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart113.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart113.htm","text":"CHAPTER XIII\nHow Sir Launcelot jousted against four knights of the\nRound Table and overthrew them.\nSO Sir Launcelot rode into a deep forest, and thereby in a slade,\nhe saw four knights hoving under an oak, and they were of\nArthur's court, one was Sir Sagramour le Desirous, and Ector de\nMaris, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine. Anon as these four\nknights had espied Sir Launcelot, they weened by his arms it had\nbeen Sir Kay. Now by my faith, said Sir Sagramour, I will prove\nSir Kay's might, and gat his spear in his hand, and came toward\nSir Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot was ware and knew him\nwell, and feutred his spear against him, and smote Sir Sagramour\nso sore that horse and man fell both to the earth. Lo, my\nfellows, said he, yonder ye may see what a buffet he hath; that\nknight is much bigger than ever was Sir Kay. Now shall ye see\nwhat I may do to him. So Sir Ector gat his spear in his hand and\nwalloped toward Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot smote him\nthrough the shield and shoulder, that man and horse went to the\nearth, and ever his spear held.\nBy my faith, said Sir Uwaine, yonder is a strong knight, and I am\nsure he hath slain Sir Kay; and I see by his great strength it\nwill be hard to match him. And therewithal, Sir Uwaine gat his\nspear in his hand and rode toward Sir Launcelot, and Sir\nLauncelot knew him well, and so he met him on the plain, and gave\nhim such a buffet that he was astonied, that long he wist not\nwhere he was. Now see I well, said Sir Gawaine, I must encounter\nwith that knight. Then he dressed his shield and gat a good\nspear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew him well; and then they\nlet run their horses with all their mights, and either knight\nsmote other in midst of the shield. But Sir Gawaine's spear to-\nbrast, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him that his horse\n<199>reversed up-so-down. And much sorrow had Sir Gawaine to\navoid his horse, and so Sir Launcelot passed on a pace and\nsmiled, and said, God give him joy that this spear made, for\nthere came never a better in my hand.\nThen the four knights went each one to other and comforted each\nother. What say ye by this guest? said Sir Gawaine, that one\nspear hath felled us all four. We commend him unto the devil,\nthey said all, for he is a man of great might. Ye may well say\nit, said Sir Gawaine, that he is a man of might, for I dare lay\nmy head it is Sir Launcelot, I know it by his riding. Let him\ngo, said Sir Gawaine, for when we come to the court then shall we\nwit; and then had they much sorrow to get their horses again.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VI CHAPTER XIII","type":"page"}