death. Nay, my most noble lord, said Sir Gawaine, that
will I never do; for wit you well I will never be in that place where so
noble a queen as is my lady, Dame Guenever, shall take a shameful end.
For wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, my heart will never serve me to see
her die; and it shall never be said that ever I was of your counsel of
her death.

Then said the king to Sir Gawaine: Suffer your brothers Sir Gaheris and
Sir Gareth to be there. My lord, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well they
will be loath to be there present, because of many adventures the which
be like there to fall, but they are young and full unable to say you
nay. Then spake Sir Gaheris, and the good knight Sir Gareth, unto Sir
Arthur: Sir, ye may well command us to be there, but wit you well
it shall be sore against our will; but an we be there by your strait
commandment ye shall plainly hold us there excused: we will be there
in peaceable wise, and bear none harness of war upon us. In the name
of God, said the king, then make you ready, for she shall soon have her
judgment anon. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever I should endure to see
this woful day. So Sir Gawaine turned him and wept heartily, and so
he went into his chamber; and then the queen was led forth without
Carlisle, and there she was despoiled into her smock. And so then her
ghostly father was brought to her, to be shriven of her misdeeds. Then
was there weeping, and wailing, and wringing of hands, of many lords and
ladies, but there were but few in comparison that would bear any armour
for to strength the death of the queen.

Then was there one that Sir Launcelot had sent unto that place for to
espy what time the queen should go unto her death; and anon as he saw
the queen despoiled into her smock, and so shriven, then he gave Sir
Launcelot warning. Then was there but spurring and plucking up of
horses, and right so they came to the fire. And who that stood against
them, there were they slain; there might none withstand Sir Launcelot,
so all that bare arms and withstood them, there were they slain, full
many a noble knight. For there was slain Sir Belliance le Orgulous,
Sir Segwarides, Sir Griflet, Sir Brandiles, Sir Aglovale, Sir Tor;
Sir Gauter, Sir Gillimer, Sir Reynolds' three brethren; Sir Damas, Sir
Priamus, Sir Kay the Stranger, Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Herminde;
Sir Pertilope, Sir Perimones, two brethren that were called the Green
Knight and the Red Knight. And so in this