was cleared of all
save a few who lingered and whom the guardians of the lists pushed back
into their places.

[Sidenote: _The knights-contestant enter the field-of-battle._]

Then, all being thus brought to order, the Marshal of the Tourney blew
his trumpet, and straightway there entered upon this side of that wide
meadow and upon that side thereof the two companies of knights who were
to contend the one against the other.

Then, lo! how the sunlight flashed upon shining armor! How it catched
the pens and bannerets so that they twinkled at tips of lances like to
sparks of fire! How war-horses neighed for love of battle! How armor
clashed and shield plates rang as those goodly companies of knights
brought themselves by degrees into array for battle!

Upon the one end of the meadow there gathered the knights-champion who
were of the party of King Arthur, and the chiefs of that party were the
King of Scots and the King of Ireland, and with them were many knights
of the Round Table, much renowned both in song and battle. And the
number of knights of that company were two hundred and ten in all.

[Sidenote: _Of the two parties-contestant._]

Upon the other end of the meadow of battle there assembled the party of
those who were to withstand the party of King Arthur; and the chiefs of
that company were the King of North Wales and the King of an Hundred
Knights, and the King of Northumberland and Galahaut the High Prince.
And though there were no knights of the Round Table in that company, yet
there were many champions of very great renown and high credit in courts
of chivalry. And the number of that party were two hundred thirty and
two.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine overlook the field of
Astolat._]

Now near to a certain part of the field-of-battle the trees of the
forest came down close to the meadow, and made, as it were, a green wall
of foliage circumjacent to that part of the field. Here, beneath the
shade of the green trees of the forest where it was cool and shady and
very still, Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine had taken stand at a certain
place whence they could look out upon those two parties of knights there
gathered in battle array. And, that while, the eyes of Sir Lavaine shone
like sparks of light and his cheeks were flaming red, like as though
they were on fire, and his breath was thick and stifled when he breathed
it. For this was the first great battle in which he had ever taken a
part and