For now I will make avaunt,said Sir Launcelot,I will that ye all wit that yet I found never no manner of knight but that I was overhard for him,an I had done my utterance,thanked be God;howbeit I have been matched with good knights,as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak,but ever I had a favour unto them and a deeming what they were.And I take God to record,said Sir Launcelot,I never was wroth nor greatly heavy with no good knight an I saw him busy about to win worship;and glad I was ever when I found any knight that might endure me on horseback and on foot:howbeit Sir Carados of the Dolorous Tower was a full noble knight and a passing strong man,and that wot ye,my lord Sir Gawaine;for he might well be called a noble knight when he by fine force pulled you out of your saddle,and bound you overthwart afore him to his saddle bow;and there,my lord Sir Gawaine,I rescued you,and slew him afore your sight.Also I found his brother,Sir Turquin,in likewise leading Sir Gaheris,your brother,bounden afore him;and there I rescued your brother and slew that Turquin,and delivered three-score-and-four of my lord Arthur's knights out of his prison.And now I dare say,said Sir Launcelot,I met never with so strong knights,nor so well fighting,as was Sir Carados and Sir Turquin,for I fought with them to the uttermost.And therefore,said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine,meseemeth ye ought of right to remember this;for,an I might have your good will,I would trust to God to have my lord Arthur's good grace.
CHAPTER XVI
Of the communication between Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot,with much other language THE king may do as he will,said Sir Gawaine,but wit thou well,Sir Launcelot,thou and I shall never be accorded while we live,for thou hast slain three of my brethren;and two of them ye slew traitorly and piteously,for they bare none harness against thee,nor none would bear.God would they had been armed,said Sir Launcelot,for then had they been alive.And wit ye well Sir Gawaine,as for Sir Gareth,I love none of my kinsmen so much as I did him;and ever while I live,said Sir Launcelot,I will bewail Sir Gareth's death,not all only for the great fear I have of you,but many causes cause me to be sorrowful.One is,for I made him knight;another is,I wot well he loved me above all other knights;and the third is,he was passing noble,true,courteous,and gentle,and well conditioned;the fourth is,I wist well,anon as I heard that Sir Gareth was dead,I should never after have your love,but everlasting war betwixt us;and also I wist well that ye would cause my noble lord Arthur for ever to be my mortal foe.And as Jesu be my help,said Sir Launcelot,I slew never Sir Gareth nor Sir Gaheris by my will;but alas that ever they were unarmed that unhappy day.But thus much I shall offer me,said Sir Launcelot,if it may please the king's good grace,and you,my lord Sir Gawaine,I shall first begin at Sandwich,and there I shall go in my shirt,barefoot;and at every ten miles'end I will found and gar make an house of religion,of what order that ye will assign me,with an whole convent,to sing and read,day and night,in especial for Sir Gareth's sake and Sir Gaheris.And this shall I perform from Sandwich unto Carlisle;and every house shall have sufficient livelihood.And this shall I perform while I have any livelihood in Christendom;and there nis none of all these religious places,but they shall be performed,furnished and garnished in all things as an holy place ought to be,I promise you faithfully.
And this,Sir Gawaine,methinketh were more fairer,holier,and more better to their souls,than ye,my most noble king,and you,Sir Gawaine,to war upon me,for thereby shall ye get none avail.
Then all knights and ladies that were there wept as they were mad,and the tears fell on King Arthur's cheeks.
Sir Launcelot,said Sir Gawaine,I have right well heard thy speech,and thy great proffers,but wit thou well,let the king do as it pleased him,I will never forgive my brothers'death,and in especial the death of my brother,Sir Gareth.And if mine uncle,King Arthur,will accord with thee,he shall lose my service,for wit thou well thou art both false to the king and to me.Sir,said Launcelot he beareth not the life that may make that good and if ye,Sir Gawaine,will charge me with so high a thing,ye must pardon me,for then needs must I answer you.
Nay,said Sir Gawaine,we are past that at this time,and that caused the Pope,for he hath charged mine uncle,the king,that he shall take his queen again,and to accord with thee,Sir Launcelot,as for this season,and therefore thou shalt go safe as thou camest.But in this land thou shalt not abide past fifteen days,such summons I give thee:so the king and we were consented and accorded or thou camest.And else,said Sir Gawaine,wit thou well thou shouldst not have come here,but if it were maugre thy head.And if it were not for the Pope's commandment,said Sir Gawaine,I should do battle with mine own body against thy body,and prove it upon thee,that thou hast been both false unto mine uncle King Arthur,and to me both;and that shall I prove upon thy body,when thou art departed from hence,wheresomever I find thee.
CHAPTER XVII
How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous Gard over seaward,and what knights went with him THEN Sir Launcelot sighed,and therewith the tears fell on his cheeks,and then he said thus:Alas,most noble Christian realm,whom I have loved above all other realms,and in thee I have gotten a great part of my worship,and now I shall depart in this wise.Truly me repenteth that ever I came in this realm,that should be thus shamefully banished,undeserved and causeless;but fortune is so variant,and the wheel so moveable,there nis none constant abiding,and that may be proved by many old chronicles,of noble Ector,and Troilus,and Alisander,the mighty conqueror,and many mo other;when they were most in their royalty,they alighted lowest.