nephew, I believe
you; therefore tell me now what is your best counsel. Sir, said Sir
Gawaine, ye shall have my counsel: let blow unto lodging, for an he be
Sir Launcelot du Lake, and my brother, Sir Gareth, with him, with the
help of that good young knight, Sir Lavaine, trust me truly it will be
no boot to strive with them but if we should fall ten or twelve upon
one knight, and that were no worship, but shame. Ye say truth, said the
king; and for to say sooth, said the king, it were shame to us so many
as we be to set upon them any more; for wit ye well, said King Arthur,
they be three good knights, and namely that knight with the sleeve of
gold.

So then they blew unto lodging; but forthwithal King Arthur let send
unto the four kings, and to the mighty duke, and prayed them that the
knight with the sleeve of gold depart not from them, but that the king
may speak with him. Then forthwithal King Arthur alighted and unarmed
him, and took a little hackney and rode after Sir Launcelot, for ever
he had a spy upon him. And so he found him among the four kings and the
duke; and there the king prayed them all unto supper, and they said they
would with good will. And when they were unarmed then King Arthur knew
Sir Launcelot, Sir Lavaine, and Sir Gareth. Ah, Sir Launcelot, said King
Arthur, this day ye have heated me and my knights.

So they yede unto Arthur's lodging all together, and there was a great
feast and great revel, and the prize was given unto Sir Launcelot; and
by heralds they named him that he had smitten down fifty knights, and
Sir Gareth five-and-thirty, and Sir Lavaine four-and-twenty knights.
Then Sir Launcelot told the king and the queen how the lady huntress
shot him in the forest of Windsor, in the buttock, with an broad arrow,
and how the wound thereof was that time six inches deep, and in like
long. Also Arthur blamed Sir Gareth because he left his fellowship and
held with Sir Launcelot. My lord, said Sir Gareth, he made me a knight,
and when I saw him so hard bestead, methought it was my worship to help
him, for I saw him do so much, and so many noble knights against him;
and when I understood that he was Sir Launcelot du Lake, I shamed to
see so many knights against him alone. Truly, said King Arthur unto Sir
Gareth, ye say well, and worshipfully have ye done and to yourself great
worship; and all the days of my life, said King Arthur unto Sir Gareth,
wit you well I shall love you, and trust you the m