said Sir Bors, and who that would otherwise, except you, madam, we
that be of his blood should help to short their lives. But madam, said
Sir Bors, ye have been oft-times displeased with my lord, Sir Launcelot,
but at all times at the end ye find him a true knight: and so he
departed.

And then every knight of the Round Table that were there at that time
present made them ready to be at that jousts at All Hallowmass, and
thither drew many knights of divers countries. And as All Hallowmass
drew near, thither came the King of Northgalis, and the King with the
Hundred Knights, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince, of Surluse, and
thither came King Anguish of Ireland, and the King of Scots. So these
three kings came on King Arthur's party. And so that day Sir Gawaine did
great deeds of arms, and began first. And the heralds numbered that Sir
Gawaine smote down twenty knights. Then Sir Bors de Ganis came in the
same time, and he was numbered that he smote down twenty knights; and
therefore the prize was given betwixt them both, for they began first
and longest endured. Also Sir Gareth, as the book saith, did that day
great deeds of arms, for he smote down and pulled down thirty knights.
But when he had done these deeds he tarried not but so departed, and
therefore he lost his prize. And Sir Palomides did great deeds of arms
that day, for he smote down twenty knights, but he departed suddenly,
and men deemed Sir Gareth and he rode together to some manner
adventures.

So when this tournament was done Sir Bors departed and rode till he came
to Sir Launcelot, his cousin; and then he found him walking on his
feet, and there either made great joy of other; and so Sir Bors told Sir
Launcelot of all the Jousts like as ye have heard. I marvel, said Sir
Launcelot, that Sir Gareth, when he had done such deeds of arms, that he
would not tarry. Thereof we marvelled all, said Sir Bors, for but if it
were you, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, I saw never knight
bear down so many in so little a while as did Sir Gareth: and anon he
was gone we wist not where. By my head, said Sir Launcelot, he is a
noble knight, and a mighty man and well breathed; and if he were well
assayed, said Sir Launcelot I would deem he were good enough for any
knight that beareth the life; and he is a gentle knight, courteous,
true, and bounteous, meek, and mild, and in him is no manner of mal
engin, but plain, faithful, and true.

So then they made them rea