ie on thy proud words, said Sir Gawaine; as for
my lady, the queen, I will never say of her shame. But thou, false and
recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, what cause hadst thou to slay my
good brother Sir Gareth, that loved thee more than all my kin? Alas thou
madest him knight thine own hands; why slew thou him that loved thee so
well? For to excuse me, said Sir Launcelot, it helpeth me not, but by
Jesu, and by the faith that I owe to the high order of knighthood, I
should with as good will have slain my nephew, Sir Bors de Ganis, at
that time. But alas that ever I was so unhappy, said Launcelot, that I
had not seen Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris.

Thou liest, recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, thou slewest him in
despite of me; and therefore, wit thou well I shall make war to
thee, and all the while that I may live. That me repenteth, said Sir
Launcelot; for well I understand it helpeth not to seek none accordment
while ye, Sir Gawaine, are so mischievously set. And if ye were not, I
would not doubt to have the good grace of my lord Arthur. I believe it
well, false recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine; for thou hast many long
days overled me and us all, and destroyed many of our good knights. Ye
say as it pleaseth you, said Sir Launcelot; and yet may it never be said
on me, and openly proved, that ever I by forecast of treason slew no
good knight, as my lord, Sir Gawaine, ye have done; and so did I never,
but in my defence that I was driven thereto, in saving of my life. Ah,
false knight, said Sir Gawaine, that thou meanest by Sir Lamorak: wit
thou well I slew him. Ye slew him not yourself, said Sir Launcelot; it
had been overmuch on hand for you to have slain him, for he was one of
the best knights christened of his age, and it was great pity of his
death.

CHAPTER XII. How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him to
go out to battle, and how they made them ready.

WELL, well, said Sir Gawaine to Launcelot, sithen thou enbraidest me of
Sir Lamorak, wit thou well I shall never leave thee till I have thee at
such avail that thou shalt not escape my hands. I trust you well enough,
said Sir Launcelot, an ye may get me I get but little mercy. But as
the French book saith, the noble King Arthur would have taken his queen
again, and have been accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine would
not suffer him by no manner of mean. And then Sir Gawaine made many
men to blow upon Sir Launcelot; and all at once they