hat is truth, said some knights, but
they were slain in the hurtling as Sir Launcelot thrang in the thick of
the press; and as they were unarmed he smote them and wist not whom
that he smote, and so unhappily they were slain. The death of them, said
Arthur, will cause the greatest mortal war that ever was; I am sure,
wist Sir Gawaine that Sir Gareth were slain, I should never have rest
of him till I had destroyed Sir Launcelot's kin and himself both, outher
else he to destroy me. And therefore, said the king, wit you well my
heart was never so heavy as it is now, and much more I am sorrier for
my good knights' loss than for the loss of my fair queen; for queens I
might have enow, but such a fellowship of good knights shall never be
together in no company. And now I dare say, said King Arthur, there was
never Christian king held such a fellowship together; and alas that ever
Sir Launcelot and I should be at debate. Ah Agravaine, Agravaine, said
the king, Jesu forgive it thy soul, for thine evil will, that thou and
thy brother Sir Mordred hadst unto Sir Launcelot, hath caused all this
sorrow: and ever among these complaints the king wept and swooned.

Then there came one unto Sir Gawaine, and told him how the queen was led
away with Sir Launcelot, and nigh a twenty-four knights slain. O Jesu
defend my brethren, said Sir Gawaine, for full well wist I that Sir
Launcelot would rescue her, outher else he would die in that field; and
to say the truth he had not been a man of worship had he not rescued the
queen that day, insomuch she should have been brent for his sake. And
as in that, said Sir Gawaine, he hath done but knightly, and as I would
have done myself an I had stood in like case. But where are my brethren?
said Sir Gawaine, I marvel I hear not of them. Truly, said that man, Sir
Gareth and Sir Gaheris be slain. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, for
all the world I would not that they were slain, and in especial my good
brother, Sir Gareth. Sir, said the man, he is slain, and that is great
pity. Who slew him? said Sir Gawaine. Sir, said the man, Launcelot slew
them both. That may I not believe, said Sir Gawaine, that ever he slew
my brother, Sir Gareth; for I dare say my brother Gareth loved him
better than me, and all his brethren, and the king both. Also I dare
say, an Sir Launcelot had desired my brother Sir Gareth, with him he
would have been with him against the king and us all, and therefore I
may never believe that