Sir Launcelot slew my brother. Sir, said this
man, it is noised that he slew him.

CHAPTER X. How King Arthur at the request of Sir Gawaine concluded to
make war against Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to his castle called
Joyous Gard.

ALAS, said Sir Gawaine, now is my joy gone. And then he fell down and
swooned, and long he lay there as he had been dead. And then, when he
arose of his swoon, he cried out sorrowfully, and said: Alas! And right
so Sir Gawaine ran to the king, crying and weeping: O King Arthur, mine
uncle, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain, and so is my brother Sir
Gaheris, the which were two noble knights. Then the king wept, and he
both; and so they fell a-swooning. And when they were revived then spake
Sir Gawaine: Sir, I will go see my brother, Sir Gareth. Ye may not see
him, said the king, for I caused him to be interred, and Sir Gaheris
both; for I well understood that ye would make over-much sorrow, and
the sight of Sir Gareth should have caused your double sorrow. Alas,
my lord, said Sir Gawaine, how slew he my brother, Sir Gareth? Mine own
good lord I pray you tell me. Truly, said the king, I shall tell you how
it is told me, Sir Launcelot slew him and Sir Gaheris both. Alas, said
Sir Gawaine, they bare none arms against him, neither of them both. I
wot not how it was, said the king, but as it is said, Sir Launcelot slew
them both in the thickest of the press and knew them not; and therefore
let us shape a remedy for to revenge their deaths.

My king, my lord, and mine uncle, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well now I
shall make you a promise that I shall hold by my knighthood, that from
this day I shall never fail Sir Launcelot until the one of us have slain
the other. And therefore I require you, my lord and king, dress you to
the war, for wit you well I will be revenged upon Sir Launcelot;
and therefore, as ye will have my service and my love, now haste you
thereto, and assay your friends. For I promise unto God, said Sir
Gawaine, for the death of my brother, Sir Gareth, I shall seek Sir
Launcelot throughout seven kings' realms, but I shall slay him or else
he shall slay me. Ye shall not need to seek him so far, said the king,
for as I hear say, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in the Joyous
Gard; and much people draweth unto him, as I hear say. That may I
believe, said Sir Gawaine; but my lord, he said, assay your friends, and
I will assay mine. It shall be done, said the king, and as I