CHAPTER XXI. How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir Lamorak
came in, and overthrew Sir Gawaine and many other.

THEN within three days after the king let make a jousting at a priory.
And there made them ready many knights of the Round Table, for Sir
Gawaine and his brethren made them ready to joust; but Tristram,
Launcelot, nor Dinadan, would not joust, but suffered Sir Gawaine, for
the love of King Arthur, with his brethren, to win the gree if they
might. Then on the morn they apparelled them to joust, Sir Gawaine and
his four brethren, and did there great deeds of arms. And Sir Ector de
Maris did marvellously well, but Sir Gawaine passed all that fellowship;
wherefore King Arthur and all the knights gave Sir Gawaine the honour at
the beginning.

Right so King Arthur was ware of a knight and two squires, the which
came out of a forest side, with a shield covered with leather, and then
he came slyly and hurtled here and there, and anon with one spear he had
smitten down two knights of the Round Table. Then with his hurtling he
lost the covering of his shield, then was the king and all other ware
that he bare a red shield. O Jesu, said King Arthur, see where rideth
a stout knight, he with the red shield. And there was noise and crying
Beware the Knight with the Red Shield. So within a little while he had
overthrown three brethren of Sir Gawaine's. So God me help, said King
Arthur, meseemeth yonder is the best jouster that ever I saw. With that
he saw him encounter with Sir Gawaine, and he smote him down with so
great force that he made his horse to avoid his saddle. How now, said
the king, Sir Gawaine hath a fall; well were me an I knew what knight he
were with the red shield. I know him well, said Dinadan, but as at
this time ye shall not know his name. By my head, said Sir Tristram, he
jousted better than Sir Palomides, and if ye list to know his name, wit
ye well his name is Sir Lamorak de Galis.

As they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine and he encountered together
again, and there he smote Sir Gawaine from his horse, and bruised him
sore. And in the sight of King Arthur he smote down twenty knights,
beside Sir Gawaine and his brethren. And so clearly was the prize
given him as a knight peerless. Then slyly and marvellously Sir Lamorak
withdrew him from all the fellowship into the forest side. All this
espied King Arthur, for his eye went never from him. Then the king, Sir
Launcelot, Sir Tristram, a