Merlin : or, the early history of King Arthur : a prose romance / edited ... by Henry B. Wheatley

CHAPTER XIII.
THE ADVENTURES OF GAWEIN, AGRAVAYN, GAHARET, GAHERIES, AND GALESHYN; AND THEIR BATTLE WITH THE SAXONS.

Now, seith the boke, that as soone as Galeshene hadde lerned of the tydinges of kynge Arthur, and knewe that he was his oncle, he toke a messenger, and sente to Gawein his cosyn, and prayde hym to speke with hym at newerk in privy wise, and to brynge with hym his bretheren, and that he faile not to be ther the thirde day after Pasche. The messenger iourneyed forth till he com in to walis, in the marche af Orcanye, and spake with Gawein and his bretheren, and seide how Galeshene grete hym wele, and sente hym worde and praide hym as dere as he hym loved, to mete with hym at newerk, in brochelonde, the thirde day after Pasch, for ther he wolde be with-oute faile yef he were in hele of his body. And whan thei herde this message they made grete ioye, and seide ther wolde thei be with-oute faile, for thei wiste wele he ne sente not for hem with-oute grete cause. And thei yaf the messager a gode stede, and sente hym a-gein glad and mery. And he spedde hym till he come to Galeshene, and tolde hym his ansuere that he hadde of his cosyns.

Whan the messengere com be-fore Galeshene, his lorde, he seide how his cosyns grete hym wele, and that thei wolde be at newerke, in brochelonde, the thirde day after Pasch with-oute faile. Than Galeshene dide hym appareile, and wente the [folio 65a] nexte day after pasch to newerke, in brochelonde. And whan he com thider, Gawein ne hys bretheren were not yet I-come. And ther he a-bode till they were come. Whan Gawein and his bretheren were come, Galashin made to hem grete feste. And than seide Gawein to Galashin, "Feire cosin, ye sente for to seche me this othir day by youre message that I and my bretheren sholde come speke with yow; and trewly ne were that I wolde take my leve of yow, I wolde elles by this time haue be elles where, that I haue moche for to do, and so moche I desire

to be there a-bove alle other thynge." "Sire," seide Galeshin, "whider sholde ye haue gon, for with-oute me ne sholde ye not go, but that I therof sholde haue wytinge; and ther-fore telle me what wey ye purposeth yow to go, and after I shall telle yow my corage, and why I have sente for to speke with yow and my cosins youre bretheren." Than seide Gawein, "Trewly, cosin, I will go se the grete prowesse and largesse of the free and deboniere and the moste worthi knyght of the worlde, of whom I haue herde reporte the moste wurship and honoure." "A god mercy!" quod Galeshyn, "who is that? god graunte that it be he that causeth me to come speke with yow." "Forsothe," seide Gawein, "his name ne ought not to be hidde, but to be publisshed a-fore eny worthy man, for it is the kynge Arthur; but with grete wronge and a-gein right do the barouns of this londe a-gein hym werre, and in especiall thei that ought hym to love and holde moste dere; and wite ye well, so god me helpe," seide Gawein, "that I shall neuer be with swerde girte till that he me girde." Whan Galashyn hadde herde that Gawein hadde seide, he was neuer er so gladde, and ran to Gawein with armes spredde, and made to hym soche ioye and feste as all the worlde hadde ben his, and seide that for noon thynge ellis hadde he sente to hym fore, and tolde hym worde for worde all his corage, and the wordes of his moder that she hadde seide; and ther a-gein Gawein hym tolde the wordes of hys moder. Whan the childeren hadde spoke to-geder, thei acorded to meve with-inne xv dayes. Than thei departed, and made redy theire horse and theire armes, as was convenient to so high men sones; and, to sey brefly, Galashyn purchesed in his company CC of the beste knyghtes that he cowde chese, and than departed with-oute witynge of his fader, and rode be the moste vn-couthe weyes that thei myght till he com to newerke, in brochelonde, and ther a-bode the comynge of Gawein and his bretheren, that brought in her company v^C men of knyghtes and squyres that alle were knyghtes sones; but ther ne were lx knyghtes, and amonge hem

that com with Galashin but xx knyghtes. And whan thei were all assembled thei made to-geder grete ioye. And than thei toke counseile to-geder how it was to do; and thei a-corded to go to logres in bretein, the chief Citee of kynge Arthur; and ther sholde thei here speke of the kynge her oncle, and also of the sarazins that repaired ther-a-boute.

Now, seith the boke, that a-boute the entre of may, in the tyme whan these briddes syngith with clier voys and all thynge reioyseth, and than these wodes and medowes beth florished grene, and these medowes full of newe tendir erbys and entermedled with [folio 65b] dyuerse colours that swote be of odoures, and these amerouse yonge lusty peple reioyse be-cause of the lusty seson, it be-fill that Gawein and Agrauayn and Gaharet and Gaheries and Galashyn, and thei that be-come in here companye, ben risen erly, for the heete that dide hem grete anoye on the day, as they that wolde ride in the cole of the mornynge that was feire and stille and a softe weder, and thei were yonge and tender to suffre grete trauayle, and thei were wele armed, and hadde on hattes of stile as squyres vsed in tho dayes, and theire swerdes hangynge at the pomell of theire sadeles be-fore, for the contrey was not sure for the saisnes that rode and ronne thourgh the contrey for vitaile and for to robbe and distrye the londe that was so plentenouse and riche er the mysbelevynge peple were entred, wherof was grete pite that so goode a londe sholde be distroyed for synne and for myslyvinge, as god hath ofte sithes chastysed diuerse remes.

The thirde daye that thise childeren rode to-geder lyke as that ye haue herde, thei mette the kynge leodobron and the kynge Segagan and the kynge Mandalet and the kynge Sernagut, of the londe of yroys, that hadde the contre a-boute logres brent and wasted, and ledde with hem grete plente of vitaile, so that the hoste for longe tyme was refresshed of brede and wyne and of flesh, for thei hadde so piled and robbed thourgh the contrey and the portes where the shippes were a-ryved, and the

marchaundise was so grete, that v^C someres were charged, and xxv cartes and vij carres, and the cariage and the multitude of peple was so grete, that the duste a-rose so huge, that vn-nethe oon myght knowe a-nother; and also the fiere and the smoke so grete in the contrey that half a iourney a-boute men myght knowe what peple ther were. And whan thise childeren approched to this chyuachie, and herde the playntes and the cryes that the mene peple made for the saisnes that hem so distroyed, that were well x^Ml of horse-men, with-oute the putaile that ronne vp and down and robbed the peple and brente the vilages as they passed thourgh the Contrey.

Whan the childeren saugh this doloure and this sorowe, thei asked of hem that passed by that thei saugh so affraied where that kynge Arthur was, and they seyde he was gon in to Tamalide at mydlenton, and hadde wele garnysshed alle the forteresses of his londe that noon ne myght not gretly forfete, and thei were so doilfull that the sarazins so distroied the londe as ye haue herde. And whan the childeren herde that the kynge was not in the contrey, thei seide thei wolde the londe and the contrey for her oncle, and also the pray that the saisnes ledden, and that thei wolde kepe the londe and it deffende till here oncle were come home. And whan the peple of the contrey herde hem speke thus, thei asked of hem what thei were that so wolde deffende the londe [folio 66a] of kynge Arthur, as thei seiden; and thei lete hem be knowen what thei were. And whan the peple knewe what the childeren weren thei hadde grete ioye, for by hem thei trowed that the kynge Arthur sholde be lorde of all the reame of logres, and the love of the fadres he sholde haue thourgh the childeren that ther were come, with thise v cosins, and with other that were ryche mennes sones, as Castelleins and vauasours of the londe, that after were of grete prowesse in the house of kynge Arthur, and of soche as were moste preysed. And as soone as the childeren saugh the grete damage, theire hertis begonne to ryse, and cried, "As armes, gentill squyres, for now shall it be sene how is goode and hardy and worthy to bere armes, for we be in oure heritages, and ther-fore we sholde deffende

oure right a-gein these mysbelevynge peple, that thus this londe robbed and wasted."

Hastely ronne these squyers to armes, and lepen to horse, and hem renged and distreyned, as the knyghtes hem taughten, whereof were xxiiij that were noble men and right gode knyghtes and trewe. And whan the peple of the contre saugh that thei hadde socoure, ther com to hem more than v^C what on horse and on fote. And than thei yede to-geder as starlynges, and mette firste the cariage and the vitaile that the saisnes ledden towarde the hoste, and were moo than iij^Ml with the cariage. And, as the storye seith, it was passed mydday and was right hote weder. And the duste a-rose so thikke that scantly a man myght se fro hym-self the caste of a stone. And as soone at that the childeren saugh theire enmyes, thei lete theire horse renne, and overthrewe and slowgh alle that thei ateyned, that ther ne ascaped oon ne other. That day Gawein slowgh many a sarazin of the saxouns more than eny of his felowes, so that he was all blody, bothe he and his horse. And he heiled an axe in his honde, and he was so crewell and fiers that whom he a-raught a full stroke neded hym no salue. And his other bretheren dide also right wele, so that noon of hem ne durste a-bide of hem a stroke. And Galashyn was all day with Gawein, that merveilously dide wele, for ther myght noon endure his strokes that he ne smote of arme, or legge, or heede, or other membre; but, a-bove alle othir, it was merveile to se the martire that Gawein made, for a-gein his strokys ne myght not endure Iren ne style, ne no mannys body, were he neuer so myghty ne stronge. And so the childeren smyten vp and down a-boute hem that of iij^Ml that ledde the pray towarde the hoste, ne ascaped not xxx^ti. And x of hem that ascaped returned vn-to her chiuachie, that were comynge after with vij^Ml, but thei were not wele armed, for thei hadde made it to be trussed for the grete hete that hem greved. And whan the x that fledden com in to the hoste thei cryed that all was deed that were lefte with the cariage. Whan thei herde that all was loste, thei ronne to theire armes alle they that eny hadden, [folio 66b] and hem armed in the beste wise that thei myght. And the thirde

part of hem ne myght not come to theire armoure, for theire squyers were gon be-fore with the cariage that the childeren hadde wonne, and let it be ledde to logres, and lete it be condited by men of the same contrey, that the were dwellynge and weren fallen in to theire company; and after thei pursude the saisnes that fledden in to the tyme that thei were fallen in amonge the rerewarde. Ther than was fierce bataile and stronge stoure, and harde and crewell, that merveile it was to haue seyn. Ther Gawein slowe the kynge noas, of Iselonde, for he smote hym with an axe with bothe hondis, that he cleft hym to the briste bon. And Galashyn smote so the kynge Sarnagut with a swerde trenchaunt that he made his heede fle in to the feilde. And Agrauayn, that was plonged in to the presse, smote on bothe sides hym a-boute, and began yeve so grete strokes that sore thei hym douted. And Gaheries hadde chased Gynebande the length of a bowe draught from his felowes, for that he hadde smyte down his brother Gaheret with a spere, but he hadde noon other harm; and, therfore, wende well Gaheries he hadde be slayn; and, therfore, he pursude vpon hym with swerde drawen, as fiercely as a wilde boor.

Whan Guynebans saugh Gaheries so fiercely come, he turned to flight, for he ne durste not a-bide for the grete merveilouse occision that he hadde seyn hym do; and, withoute faile, he was of merveilouse prowesse, for, as the story reherseth, it failed but litill that he was even like of bounte to Gawein his brother, whan he com to his right age and was knyght. And whan Gaheries saugh the sarazin thus fleynge, he swore be god that he sholde neuer cesse ne leve hym, for playn ne wode, till he were a-venged of his brother deth. And so he hym chased as faste as his horse myght hym bere till he hadde lefte his felowes be-hynde the space of an arblaste. And so he hym overtoke a-monge the meyne of Guynebans, that com redy to fight, and gladde were they of the pray that thei hadde so ledde.

Whan Gaheries hadde overtake Guynebans, he stroke hym so sore vpon the helme that he kutte a-wey a quarter that he made hym to stope, and the swerde swarued be-twene the shelde and the nekke, and kyutte the gyge of the shelde with all the arme so that he dide it falle in to the felde. And whan this kynge saugh hym-self so dismembred he fill in swowne; and than Gaheries was gladde of the vengaunce of his brother, and turned his horse hede. But the saisnes that this stroke hadde sein ne contented not to lete hym passe; and than thei hem renged by hundredes and by thowsandes, and closed hym in on alle partyes, and smote vpon hym with theire speres at ones, and ouer-threwe hym and his horse. And whan the tymbir of theire speres were broken, he lepe vp-on his fete vigerousely, as he that hadde I-nough of breth; and myght that ther was noon so hardy that durste put to hys honde hym to take, and launched at hym fro fer speres and swerdes [folio 67a] and knyves, that thei made hym falle on his knees two tymes or thre; but so myght he not longe endure but that he sholde haue be take or deed. Than a squyer that saugh hym chase so the hethyn kynge, com cryinge and betynge his hondes to-geder, and rendinge his heer to Gawein, that hadde remounted Gaheret vpon a-nother horse, that hadde smeten down the kynge Sernage fro. Than the squyer cried, "Ha, Gawein! where-a-boute arte thow? for thow hast loste thy brother Gaheries but thow hym socoure delyuerly; for he chased a saisne that he hath ouertake in this derke valey, and hath hym smetyn down; but the sarasins haue be-sette hym on all partyes, and haue hym ouerthrowen, and slayn his horse, and made hym falle vpon his kne I wote not how often; and yef ye hym thus lese it is grete doel and grete damage." Whan Gawein vndirstode hym that made soche doel for his brother, he seide, "Ha! seint Marie Virgin and moder of Jeshu criste, ne suffre not that I lese my brother, for than myn herte shall neuer be gladde; and yef I hym thus lese, shall ther neuer shelde hange a-boute my nekke." Than he asked of the squyer whiche wey it was. And he shewed hym the valey be the wode side. And he cryed to his felowes with high voys, "Now shall it be sein who that shall me serve."

"Feire cosyn," quod Galashyn, "whider will ye go in so grete haste, shall noon a-bide from yow, and therfore set forth smartly, for I drede lest we tarye to longe?" Than the childeren hem renged and priked as faste as quarelles of arblast, and perced the presse with his gode horse and heilde an axe in bothe handes wherewith he made soche martire and soche slaughter, that thei fly from hym on alle partyes; and it lasted the space of a myle a-boute of the peple that thei hadde leide to grounde, and thei sought vp and down till thei founde Gaheries, that was lyggynge at erthe vp-right, and thei hadde pulled of his hatte of stiell and his coyf of mayle for to smyte of his heed, but thei thought to haue take hym quyk, and lede hym to Bernage, the kynge of Saxon. Than thei fillen vpon hym at ones, and wolde bynde his hondes be-hynde hys bakke. Than com Gawein prikinge gripynge a spere, and sprange in a-monge hem so full of ire and maltelent for that he sawgh his brother so vileinliche a-raide, that ny he yede out of witte, and than he leide a-boute hym so grym strokes and rude that noon durste hym a-bide, but disparbled a-brode fro hym as from a wode lyon in rage. Whan that thei that heilde his brother saugh the merveile that he dide, thei ne durste not a-bide ne holde his brother no lenger, but yef thei wolde haue receyved the deth, but turned to flight and made hym wey. Whan Gaheries saugh his brother Gawein, he lepte vpon his feet, and sette on his heed his hatte delyuerly, and hente a-gein his swerde, and appareilede hym to diffende. And Agrauayn hym brought an horse, and seide, "Brother, now lepe vp lightly, for grete foly haue ye do to go so fer oute of oure company, for full nygh hadde ye more loste than wonne." Whan Gaheries saugh hym-self hooll and sounde, and that he was a-gein I-horsed and delyuered, he was right gladde. Than the bretheren drough hem to-geder to relied her peple; and the saisnes blewe hornes and trumpes, and armed hem and assembled hem thourgh all the contrey, and ordeyned theire batailes. But now cesseth [folio 67b] a-while to speke of thise childeren and of the saisnes, and speke of the men of the contrey that ledde the pray that the childeren hadde conquered, and the cariage to the Cite of logres.

Here seith the storye that full gladde were the peple of the contrey of the wynnynge that the childeren hadde geten, and wente ioyfull and mery with the vitaile, for thei were but two scottissh myle fro the town, and therfore thei peyned hem faste to come to the Cite saf, for well thei knewe that the saisnes were to moche peple to fight a-geyn the childeren and her feliship; and therfore thei douted that the pray sholde be rescued, and take a-gein be strength; and therfor thei hasted to come tymely to saf garde. And whan thei that kepte the Cite saugh come the riche pray, thei asked how it was geten. And thei tolde how Gawein, the kynges sone loot, and his bretheren, and Galashin, the kynges sone ventreȝ, that is cosin to Gawein, be come to helpe the kynge Arthur, and haue lefte theire londes and theire contrey, and sey thei will neuer faile the kynge Arthur while that thei be lyvinge, for thei be come with xxvij felowes, and mette with thre thousande forrayoures that this pray ledden, and foughten with hem till thei haue hem alle slayn and discounfited, and sesed vs with the pray to brynge to this Citee saf; and, therfore, open the yates and receyve it in; and after we shull returne hem for to socoure, for grete pite it were yef thei were deed or taken in so tendre age, for thei ben of high valoure and grete worthynesse.

Whan the Cetezeins vndirstode these wordes of the childeren that were come in soche manere, a-noon thei opened the gates and receyved hem in to the Citee; and after thei seiden that a parte of hem sholde go helpe the childeren. Thanne thei lete blowe an horn in the maister toure, and than ronne to armes thourgh the town. A-noon they were armed with grete spede, and Issed oute at the maister gate. And than a-bode the Castelein of Cardoell, that was a noble man and a trewe. And whan he was come, he fonde oute of the town vij^Ml, and than he seide "Sirs, it were no wisdom to leve the town vn-garnysshed of peple, for we knowe not what shall falle ne what peple we shall mete." And than þei ansuerde that he seide well, ne thei wolde not go but soche as he wolde haue. Than he toke oute v^Ml, and two thousande he lefte for to kepe the town, that it were not surprised.

Than thei rode forth and renged close that wey where as the childeren foughten full sore, ffor the saisnes were mo than vij^Ml in a flote. And as soone as thei hem saugh, thei ne douted nothinge so small a peple that were so ynge. And ther was of hem but xxiiij knyghtes, and v^C squyers, and xx^ti that were not yet a-dubbed, and CCC men what on horsebak, and of fote-men of peple of the contrei that were falle to hem, and seide thei wolde rather be deed than thei wolde forsake her companye. But Madelans and Guynehan hadde departed her men in two partyes, and eche was iiij^Ml, for alle the saisnes [folio 68a] were assembled to hem two. Than come Guynehan first with a grete spere, for he was myghty and stronge, and moche oute of mesure, and ther-to right hardy; and ran vpon hem so fiercely as he hymself alone all wolde haue confounded. And Gawein, that was be-fore his felowes, and heilde an ax trenchaunt, and com a-gein hym fiercely. And Guynehan, that com formest, ran a-gein hym, and smote Gawein so harde with his spere that it fley all to peces, for the haubreke was so stronge of dubble maile, and the squyer so full of prowesse, that he ne meved not for the stroke, but yaf Gynehans soche a stroke with his ax vpon the helme that he bente ouer his horse croupe; and the stroke of the ax glenched, and smote the horse bakke a-sonder, that thei fill to the grounde bothe vpon oon heepe. Whan the saisnes saugh that stroke, thei shodered a-boute hym, for thei wende that the kynge Guynehan hadde ben deed; and than thei pressed faste to the rescowe. And Gawein smote amonge hem, and thei smote hym with theire speres and slow his horse vnder hym. And he lepte lightly vpon his feet, and yaf so grete strokes that noon durste hym aproche. Than com the socours on bothe sides, and ther be-gan the bataile a-bowte Gawein fell and longe lastinge, for the saisnes coueyted to remounte Gynehans and for to take Gawein; and his felowes so hym defended that it was merveile for to be-holden.

Whan Gawein saugh that thei desired so hym to take and holde, he griped hys axe and com to a saisne that hadde made Agrauayn to stoupe in his sadill, and moche he hym payned for to smyten of the heed. And whan Gawein saugh

this he wax ny wode for ire. Than he threste thourgh the presse to that saisne, and for to yeve hym a gret stroke he reysed his ax; and the saisne saugh he myght not voyde the stroke, and caste his shelde ther a-geins. And Gawein hym hitte so harde that he slytte the shelde in two partyes. And the stroke descended on the lifte shulder so grete that he slyt hym to the girdill, and than he fill to grounde. Than Gawein sesed the stede and lepte in to the sadill, and than he cryed to his felowes, "Now shewe youre hardynesse, that these Sarazins not vs ascape, and that nother wode ne playn hem shall warante, for ye shall se my strokes and my prowesse double." Than he smote the stede, and rode in a-monge hem, and made of hem soche martire that thei lay vpon hepes in the feilde, as hey in a medowe; but for all that the saisnes haue horsed Guynehans. And whan he was remounted a-monge the saisnes, he hente a stronge spere and a rude, and com to Agrauayn, that hadde his nevewe slayn be-fore hys iyen. And he hitte Agrauayn with his spere so sore that it preced two folde thurgh his haubreke, and therto he shof ther-on so harde that Agravayn fill to the erthe bothe he and his horse on an hepe.

Whan Gaheries and Galashin saugh Agrauayn falle, thei hadde grete drede that he were slayn; and Galashin come formest and smote Guynehans with his swerde [foliio 68b] vpon the helme, that he made hym enclyne on his sadill bowe; and Gaheries smote hym with his swerde vpon the arme, that it fly in to the feilde; and Gaheriet smote hym be-twene the nekke and the shulders as he was stopynge, that he made the heed fle in to the playn, and Galashin with his fote spurned his body to grounde, and laught the steede, and ledde it to Agravayn that sore hym deffended on fote. And whan Agravayn hadde the horse, he lepte vp as soone as he myght, and than be-gan the meddelynge amonge hem full crewell and fell; but of Gawein knewe thei no tidynges, for he was so depe in a-monge the saisnes that it was no light thynge hym for to fynde. Whan the saisnes sawgh the kynge Gynehans deed, thei were so a-masid that thei wiste not what to do, but turned to flight vpon the

bataile of kynge Madelen that was theire chief lorde, and there recouered thei that fledde; and Gawein, that hadde gon here and there, that nothynge cowde here of his bretheryn, and wiste not whether thei were discounfited or noon, he hovid stille till he saugh his felowes comynge, and whan that he knewe it were thei, he was gladde; and thei renged hem aboute Gawein, for of hym thei hadde be in grete feere. And Madalen rode with grete plente of peple, and were vj^Ml, and it ne myght not longe endure but the Gawein sholde haue ben loste, wher-of it hadde ben grete damage and harme to all the londe of logres, but as the socoure com oute of the Citee, and were v^Ml men of armes. Whan the childeren saugh the socour that com oute of logres, and the baner that doo of Cardoell brought, The men of contrey that were with the childeren badde hem be of gode counforte, for "loo! heere cometh the Citee of logres yow for to helpe and to socoure." Whan the childeren vndirstode that thei of logres were come hem for to helpe thei were gladde and ioyfull. Than thei refresshed theire horse, and girde hem newe agein, and lepten vp, and hem renged, and after rode streyte and close, and the saisness com hem ageins full Irouse and crewell for the deth of Guynehans. Than thei braste theire speres in theire counterynge vpon sheldes and helmes, and be-gan a bataile full fell and merveillouse, whiche myght not be with-oute grete losse on bothe partyes. Than com in a-monge hem the socour that com out of logres as faste as theire horse myght renne, and ther sholde ye haue herde grete crasinge of speres, and than thei drowgh oute swerdes, and begonne ther a stronge bataile and mortall, ffor ther was shedde so moche blode that it ran like stremes doun the valey.

Full grete was the stour and the medle in the playnes be-fore logres of the childeren and the socoure that com oute of logres, and of the saisnes, and dured all the day till it was nyght. Ther dide Gawein soche merveiles in armes that wondirfully was he be-holden of hem of logres, for he smote down men and horse, and slow so many, that noon ne durste hym no stroke a-bide. Than fill it that he mette with the kynge Madelen, that hadde ouerthrowe Doo of Cardoell, that was the captein of logres, and

heilde hym be the helme at the erthe, and peyned sore hys heede of to smyten; and ther-with com Gawein, [folio 69a] but ther tho was grete stoure and hidouse, for that oon part bisied for the rescew, and the tother hym for to sle or with-holde; but the kynge ther myght thei not take, for he hadde so grete plente of peple; and ther-with Gawein smote so grete strokes a-monge hem that he made hem alle to disseuer, and it fill so that Madalen com in his wey, and he smote hym so with bothe hondes with his axe vpon the helme that he slitte hym to the brayn, and he fell ded to the erthe.

Whan the saisnes saugh the kynge Madalen deed, thei were so mased that they turned to flight, oon here and a-nother there, and toke the wey to Valdesbires ther the sege lay. Than a-roos the duste and the powder so grete that vn-nethe oon myght knowe a-nother, ne noon ne a-bode his felowe; but there were many ouerthrown in that chase, for as soone as Doo was remounted he hem chased vigerously, but the childeren were euer to foren, that made soche martirdom vpon the saisnes, that fyve myle lay the wey full of hem that were wounded and caste to grounde, and thourgh the helpe of god and of hem that come oute of the Citee, thei slough of hem so many that of xij^Ml ne ascaped not iij^Ml that ne were deed or wounded, and thus were the saisnes discounfited, and the chase endured till nyght. Than thei turned gladde and ioyfull to the Citee, where as thei founde merveilouse richesse that thei hadde rescued fro the saisnes of that thei hadde robbed and piled thourgh the londe and the contrey, whiche was all ledde in to the Cite of logres.

Whan the childeren were alle come to logres, the Citee made of hem grete ioye whan thei hem knewe. Than thei brought be-fore theym all the riche prise that thei hadde geten, and seide vnto Gewein, that thei heilde for the chief lorde, that he sholde it departe at his voluntee; and he ansuerde that he wolde ther-of medle in no manere before Doo of Cardoel, "for," he seide, "he can it beter departe and yeve than can I, ffor he knoweth beste the pore and the suffretouse, and ther-fore do his volunte."

Whan the Citezins herde Gawein thus speke, thei hym comended and preysed moche, and seide he myght not faile to be a worthy man; and thei hym loved hertely a-bove alle thynge, and preised the grete gentilnesse that thei hym founden. Thus restede the childeren and soiournede in the Citee of logres, that the saisnes ne dide hem no forfete. But now cesseth the story of the childeren at this tyme that ne speketh a gret while, aud returneth to kynge Arthur and kynge ban and kynge boors, and her companye, that be gon in to the reame of Tamelide for to serue the kynge leodogan.