{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart149.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart149.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart149.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER XXXI\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK VII\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER XXXI\n \n How Sir Gareth came to a castle where he was well lodged,\n and he jousted with a knight and slew him.\n \n THEN Sir Gareth rode unto the barbican of the castle, and prayed\n the porter fair to let him into the castle. The porter answered\n ungoodly again, and said, Thou gettest no lodging here. Fair\n sir, say not so, for I am a knight of King Arthur's, and pray the\n lord or the lady of this castle to give me harbour for the love\n of King Arthur. Then the porter went unto the duchess, and told\n her how there was a knight of King Arthur's would have harbour. \n Let him in, said the duchess, for I will see that knight, and for\n King Arthur's sake he shall not be harbourless. Then she yode up\n into a tower over the gate, with great torchlight.\n \n When Sir Gareth saw that torch-light he cried on high: Whether\n thou be lord or lady, giant or champion, I take no force so that\n I may have harbour this night; and if it so be that I must needs\n fight, spare me not to-morn when I have rested me, for both I and\n mine horse be weary. Sir knight, said the lady, thou speakest\n knightly and boldly; but wit thou well the lord of this castle\n loveth not King Arthur, nor none of his court, for my lord hath\n ever been against him; and therefore thou were better not to come\n within this castle; for an thou come in this night, thou must\n come in under such form, that wheresomever <268>thou meet my\n lord, by stigh or by street, thou must yield thee to him as\n prisoner. Madam, said Sir Gareth, what is your lord, and what is\n his name? Sir, my lord's name is the Duke de la Rowse. Well\n madam, said Sir Gareth, I shall promise you in what place I meet\n your lord I shall yield me unto him and to his good grace; with\n that I understand he will do me no harm: and if I understand that\n he will, I will release myself an I can with my spear and my\n sword. Ye say well, said the duchess; and then she let the\n drawbridge down, and so he rode into the hall, and there he\n alighted, and his horse was led into a stable; and in the hall he\n unarmed him and said, Madam, I will not out of this hall this\n night; and when it is daylight, let see who will have ado with\n me, he shall find me ready. Then was he set unto supper, and had\n many good dishes. Then Sir Gareth list well to eat, and knightly\n he ate his meat, and eagerly; there was many a fair lady by him,\n and some said they never saw a goodlier man nor so well of\n eating. Then they made him passing good cheer, and shortly when\n he had supped his bed was made there; so he rested him all night.\n \n And on the morn he heard mass, and brake his fast and took his\n leave at the duchess, and at them all; and thanked her goodly of\n her lodging, and of his good cheer; and then she asked him his\n name. Madam, he said, truly my name is Gareth of Orkney, and\n some men call me Beaumains. Then knew she well it was the same\n knight that fought for Dame Lionesse. So Sir Gareth departed and\n rode up into a mountain, and there met him a knight, his name was\n Sir Bendelaine, and said to Sir Gareth: Thou shalt not pass this\n way, for either thou shalt joust with me, or else be my prisoner. \n Then will I joust, said Sir Gareth. And so they let their horses\n run, and there Sir Gareth smote him throughout the body; and Sir\n Bendelaine rode forth to his castle there beside, and there died. \n So Sir Gareth would have rested him, and he came riding to\n Bendelaine's castle. Then his knights and servants espied that\n it was he that had slain their lord. Then they armed twenty good\n men, and <269>came out and assailed Sir Gareth; and so he had no\n spear, but his sword, and put his shield afore him; and there\n they brake their spears upon him, and they assailed him passingly\n sore. But ever Sir Gareth defended him as a knight.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER XXXI","type":"page"}