{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart151.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart151.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart151.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER XXXIII\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 XXXIII\n \n How Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine fought each against other,\n and how they knew each other by the damosel Linet.\n \n SO the duke departed, and Sir Gareth stood there alone; and there\n he saw an armed knight coming toward him. Then Sir Gareth took\n the duke's shield, and mounted upon horseback, and so without\n biding they ran together as it had been the thunder. And there\n that knight hurt Sir Gareth under the side with his spear. And\n then they alighted and drew their swords, and gave great strokes\n that the blood trailed to the ground. And so they fought two\n hours.\n \n At the last there came the damosel Linet, that some men called\n the damosel Savage, and she came riding upon an ambling mule; and\n there she cried all on high, Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine, leave thy\n fighting with thy brother Sir Gareth. And when he heard her say\n so he threw away his shield and his sword, and ran to Sir Gareth,\n and took him in his arms, and sithen kneeled down and asked him\n mercy. What are ye, said Sir Gareth, that right now were so\n strong and so mighty, and now so suddenly yield you to me? O\n Gareth, I am your brother Sir Gawaine, that for your sake have\n had great sorrow and labour. Then Sir Gareth unlaced his helm,\n and kneeled down to him, and asked him mercy. Then they rose\n both, and embraced either other in their arms, and wept a great\n while or they might speak, and either of them gave other the\n prize of the battle. And there were many kind words between\n them. Alas, my fair brother, said Sir Gawaine, perdy I owe of\n right to worship you an ye were not my brother, for ye have\n worshipped King Arthur and all his court, for ye have sent\n him[*5] more worshipful knights this twelvemonth than six the\n best of the Round Table have done, except Sir Launcelot.\n \n \n [*5] So W. de Worde; Caxton ``me.''\n \n \n <272>\n \n Then came the damosel Savage that was the Lady Linet, that rode\n with Sir Gareth so long, and there she did staunch Sir Gareth's\n wounds and Sir Gawaine's. Now what will ye do? said the damosel\n Savage; meseemeth that it were well done that Arthur had witting\n of you both, for your horses are so bruised that they may not\n bear. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Gawaine, I pray you ride unto\n my lord mine uncle, King Arthur, and tell him what adventure is\n to me betid here, and I suppose he will not tarry long. Then she\n took her mule, and lightly she came to King Arthur that was but\n two mile thence. And when she had told him tidings the king bade\n get him a palfrey. And when he was upon his back he bade the\n lords and ladies come after, who that would; and there was\n saddling and bridling of queens' horses and princes' horses, and\n well was him that soonest might be ready.\n \n So when the king came thereas they were, he saw Sir Gawaine and\n Sir Gareth sit upon a little hill-side, and then the king avoided\n his horse. And when he came nigh Sir Gareth he would have spoken\n but he might not; and therewith he sank down in a swoon for\n gladness. And so they stert unto their uncle, and required him\n of his good grace to be of good comfort. Wit ye well the king\n made great joy, and many a piteous complaint he made to Sir\n Gareth, and ever he wept as he had been a child. With that came\n his mother, the Queen of Orkney, Dame Morgawse, and when she saw\n Sir Gareth readily in the visage she might not weep, but suddenly\n fell down in a swoon, and lay there a great while like as she had\n been dead. And then Sir Gareth recomforted his mother in such\n wise that she recovered and made good cheer. Then the king\n commanded that all manner of knights that were under his\n obeissance should make their lodging right there for the love of\n his nephews. And so it was done, and all manner of purveyance\n purveyed, that there lacked nothing that might be gotten of tame\n nor wild for gold or silver. And then by the means of the\n damosel Savage Sir Gawaine and Sir Gareth were healed of their\n wounds; and there they sojourned eight days.\n \n <273>\n Then said King Arthur unto the damosel Savage: I marvel that\n your sister, Dame Lionesse, cometh not here to me, and in\n especial that she cometh not to visit her knight, my nephew Sir\n Gareth, that hath had so much travail for her love. My lord,\n said the damosel Linet, ye must of your good grace hold her\n excused, for she knoweth not that my lord, Sir Gareth, is here. \n Go then for her, said King Arthur, that we may be appointed what\n is best to be done, according to the pleasure of my nephew. Sir,\n said the damosel, that shall be done, and so she rode unto her\n sister. And as lightly as she might she made her ready; and she\n came on the morn with her brother Sir Gringamore, and with her\n forty knights. And so when she was come she had all the cheer\n that might be done, both of the king, and of many other kings and\n queens.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER XXXIII","type":"page"}