ut the red sleeve upon his head, and
fastened it fast. Then he with Sir Lavaine came in at the thickest of
the press, and did marvellous deeds of arms, so that all wondered what
knight he might be. Sir Gawaine said it might be Sir Launcelot by his
riding and his buffets, but ever it seemed it should not be he, for he
bore the red sleeve upon his head, and he never wist Sir Launcelot bear
token of lady or gentleman at any jousts.

At the last by misfortune Sir Bors unhorsed Sir Launcelot, and smote
him through the shield into the side; and the spear brake, and the head
was left still in his side. But Sir Lavaine by great force took the
horse from the King of Scots and brought it to his lord, Sir Launcelot,
and in spite of them all he made him to mount upon that horse. Then
Launcelot gat a spear in his hand, and then he smote Sir Bors horse and
man to the earth. In the same wise served he other knights, and, as
the book saith, he might have slain them, but his heart might not serve
him thereto, and he left them there.

Then afterwards he hurled in the thickest press of them all, and did
there the marvellousest deeds of arms that ever man saw or heard speak
of; and ever Sir Lavaine, the good knight, was with him. And there Sir
Launcelot with his sword smote and pulled down, as the French book
maketh mention, more than thirty knights, and the most part were of the
Table Round. And Sir Lavaine also did full well that day.

At the last the King blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by
heralds unto the knight with the white shield, that bare the red
sleeve. But Sir Launcelot was sore hurt, and cared not for honour; and
groaning piteously, he rode at a great gallop away-ward from all the
knights, until he came under a wood's side. When he saw that he was
from the field nigh a mile, so that he was sure he might not be seen,
he besought Sir Lavaine as he loved him to draw the truncheon out of
his side. This Sir Lavaine dreaded sore to do, lest Sir Launcelot
should be in peril of death from loss of blood, if the truncheon were
drawn out. Yet he did as his lord would have him do, and Sir Launcelot
gave a great shriek, and so swooned pale and deadly.

Thereupon Sir Lavaine took him to a hermitage fast by within two miles,
where dwelt a gentle hermit, that sometime was a full noble knight and
a great lord of possessions. For great goodness he had taken himself
to wilful poverty, and forsaken many lands. He was a