mountain, and there met him a
knight, his name was Sir Bendelaine, and said to Sir Gareth: Thou shalt
not pass this way, for either thou shalt joust with me, or else be my
prisoner. Then will I joust, said Sir Gareth. And so they let their
horses run, and there Sir Gareth smote him throughout the body; and Sir
Bendelaine rode forth to his castle there beside, and there died. So Sir
Gareth would have rested him, and he came riding to Bendelaine's castle.
Then his knights and servants espied that it was he that had slain their
lord. Then they armed twenty good men, and came out and assailed Sir
Gareth; and so he had no spear, but his sword, and put his shield afore
him; and there they brake their spears upon him, and they assailed him
passingly sore. But ever Sir Gareth defended him as a knight.

CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his
castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him.

SO when they saw that they might not overcome him, they rode from him,
and took their counsel to slay his horse; and so they came in upon Sir
Gareth, and with spears they slew his horse, and then they assailed him
hard. But when he was on foot, there was none that he fought but he gave
him such a buffet that he did never recover. So he slew them by one and
one till they were but four, and there they fled; and Sir Gareth took a
good horse that was one of theirs, and rode his way.

Then he rode a great pace till that he came to a castle, and there he
heard much mourning of ladies and gentlewomen. So there came by him
a page. What noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this
castle? Sir knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty
ladies, and all they be widows; for here is a knight that waiteth daily
upon this castle, and his name is the Brown Knight without Pity, and
he is the periloust knight that now liveth; and therefore sir, said the
page, I rede you flee. Nay, said Sir Gareth, I will not flee though thou
be afeard of him. And then the page saw where came the Brown Knight: Lo,
said the page, yonder he cometh. Let me deal with him, said Sir Gareth.
And when either of other had a sight they let their horses run, and the
Brown Knight brake his spear, and Sir Gareth smote him throughout the
body, that he overthrew him to the ground stark dead. So Sir Gareth rode
into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might repose him. Alas,
said the ladies, ye may not be lodged here. Make him good