many divers colours? Truly, meseemeth, said Tristram, that
he putteth himself in great pain, for he never ceaseth. Wot ye not what
he is? said Sir Ironside. No, said Sir Tristram. Then shall ye know that
this is he that loveth the lady of the castle, and she him again; and
this is he that won me when I besieged the lady of this castle, and this
is he that won Sir Persant of Inde, and his three brethren. What is his
name, said Sir Tristram, and of what blood is he come? He was called in
the court of King Arthur, Beaumains, but his right name is Sir Gareth of
Orkney, brother to Sir Gawaine. By my head, said Sir Tristram, he is a
good knight, and a big man of arms, and if he be young he shall prove
a full noble knight. He is but a child, they all said, and of Sir
Launcelot he was made knight. Therefore he is mickle the better, said
Tristram. And then Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside, Sir Persant, and his
brother, rode together for to help Sir Gareth; and then there were given
many strong strokes.

And then Sir Gareth rode out on the one side to amend his helm; and then
said his dwarf: Take me your ring, that ye lose it not while that ye
drink. And so when he had drunk he gat on his helm, and eagerly took his
horse and rode into the field, and left his ring with his dwarf; and the
dwarf was glad the ring was from him, for then he wist well he should be
known. And then when Sir Gareth was in the field all folks saw him well
and plainly that he was in yellow colours; and there he rased off helms
and pulled down knights, that King Arthur had marvel what knight he was,
for the king saw by his hair that it was the same knight.

CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Gareth was espied by the heralds, and how he
escaped out of the field.

BUT before he was in so many colours, and now he is but in one colour;
that is yellow. Now go, said King Arthur unto divers heralds, and ride
about him, and espy what manner knight he is, for I have spered of many
knights this day that be upon his party, and all say they know him not.
And so an herald rode nigh Gareth as he could; and there he saw written
about his helm in gold, This helm is Sir Gareth of Orkney. Then the
herald cried as he were wood, and many heralds with him:--This is Sir
Gareth of Orkney in the yellow arms; wherby[*4] all kings and knights
of Arthur's beheld him and awaited; and then they pressed all to behold
him, and ever the heralds cried: This is Sir Gareth of Orkney, King
Lot's son. And w