RIGHT so as they stood talking thus Sir Lamorak was ware how Sir Launcelot came riding straight toward them;then Sir Lamorak saluted him,and he him again.And then Sir Lamorak asked Sir Launcelot if there were anything that he might do for him in these marches.Nay,said Sir Launcelot,not at this time I thank you.Then either departed from other,and Sir Lamorak rode again thereas he left the two knights,and then he found them hid in the leaved wood.Fie on you,said Sir Lamorak,false cowards,pity and shame it is that any of you should take the high order of knighthood.So Sir Lamorak departed from them,and within a while he met with Sir Meliagaunce.And then Sir Lamorak asked him why he loved Queen Guenever as he did:For I was not far from you when ye made your complaint by the chapel.Did ye so?
said Sir Meliagaunce,then will I abide by it:I love Queen Guenever,what will ye with it?I will prove and make good that she is the fairest lady and most of beauty in the world.As to that,said Sir Lamorak,I say nay thereto,for Queen Morgawse of Orkney,mother to Sir Gawaine,and his mother is the fairest queen and lady that beareth the life.That is not so,said Sir Meliagaunce,and that will I prove with my hands upon thy body.
Will ye so?said Sir Lamorak,and in a better quarrel keep I not to fight.Then they departed either from other in great wrath.
And then they came riding together as it had been thunder,and either smote other so sore that their horses fell backward to the earth.And then they avoided their horses,and dressed their shields,and drew their swords.And then they hurtled together as wild boars,and thus they fought a great while.For Meliagaunce was a good man and of great might,but Sir Lamorak was hard big for him,and put him always aback,but either had wounded other sore.
And as they stood thus fighting,by fortune came Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis riding.And then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt them,and asked them for what cause they fought so together:And ye are both knights of King Arthur!
CHAPTER XIV
How Sir Meliagaunce told for what cause they fought,and how Sir Lamorak jousted with King Arthur.
SIR,said Meliagaunce,I shall tell you for what cause we do this battle.I praised my lady,Queen Guenever,and said she was the fairest lady of the world,and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto,for he said Queen Morgawse of Orkney was fairer than she and more of beauty.Ah,Sir Lamorak,why sayest thou so?it is not thy part to dispraise thy princess that thou art under her obeissance,and we all.And therewith he alighted on foot,and said:For this quarrel,make thee ready,for I will prove upon thee that Queen Guenever is the fairest lady and most of bounty in the world.
Sir,said Sir Lamorak,I am loath to have ado with you in this quarrel,for every man thinketh his own lady fairest;and though I praise the lady that I love most ye should not be wroth;for though my lady Queen Guenever,be fairest in your eye,wit ye well Queen Morgawse of Orkney is fairest in mine eye,and so every knight thinketh his own lady fairest;and wit ye well,sir,ye are the man in the world except Sir Tristram that I am most loathest to have ado withal,but,an ye will needs fight with me I shall endure you as long as I may.Then spake Sir Bleoberis and said:My lord Sir Launcelot,I wist you never so misadvised as ye are now,for Sir Lamorak sayeth you but reason and knightly;for I warn you I have a lady,and methinketh that she is the fairest lady of the world.Were this a great reason that ye should be wroth with me for such language?And well ye wot,that Sir Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know,and he hath ought you and us ever good will,and therefore I pray you be good friends.Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak.I pray you forgive me mine evil will,and if I was misadvised I will amend it.Sir,said Sir Lamorak,the amends is soon made betwixt you and me.And so Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis departed,and Sir Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak took their horses,and either departed from other.
And within a while came King Arthur,and met with Sir Lamorak,and jousted with him;and there he smote down Sir Lamorak,and wounded him sore with a spear,and so he rode from him;wherefore Sir Lamorak was wroth that he would not fight with him on foot,howbeit that Sir Lamorak knew not King Arthur.
CHAPTER XV
How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram,and after of the shame spoken of the knights of Cornwall,and how they jousted.
NOW leave we of this tale,and speak we of Sir Tristram,that as he rode he met with Sir Kay,the Seneschal;and there Sir Kay asked Sir Tristram of what country he was.He answered that he was of the country of Cornwall.It may well be,said Sir Kay,for yet heard I never that ever good knight came out of Cornwall.
That is evil spoken,said Sir Tristram,but an it please you to tell me your name I require you.Sir,wit ye well,said Sir Kay,that my name is Sir Kay,the Seneschal.Is that your name?said Sir Tristram,now wit ye well that ye are named the shamefullest knight of your tongue that now is living;howbeit ye are called a good knight,but ye are called unfortunate,and passing overthwart of your tongue.And thus they rode together till they came to a bridge.And there was a knight would not let them pass till one of them jousted with him;and so that knight jousted with Sir Kay,and there that knight gave Sir Kay a fall:
his name was Sir Tor,Sir Lamorak's half-brother.And then they two rode to their lodging,and there they found Sir Brandiles,and Sir Tor came thither anon after.And as they sat at supper these four knights,three of them spake all shame by Cornish knights.Sir Tristram heard all that they said and he said but little,but he thought the more,but at that time he discovered not his name.