Chapter Seventh
Of the battle betwixt Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine. Also how King Arthur returned to Little Britain.
SO came the next day and Sir Gawaine had his esquires to enclose his body in full armor of proof, and he mounted his horse and took a good stout lance of ashwood in his hand, and he set forth once more to seek Sir Launcelot as aforetime he had done. So Sir Gawaine came beneath the wall of the castle, and he paraded before the wall, and ever as he thus paraded he cried aloud and on high, “Come forth, Sir Launcelot of the Lake! Come forth, thou caitiff knight, and do me battle!”
Then Sir Launcelot wist that now the time was come for him to do that battle.
Sir Launcelot goeth against Sir Gawaine.
So Sir Launcelot mounted upon his horse and took into his hand a good stout lance of ashwood for his defence, and thus armed he gave orders and the portcullis of the castle was raised and the drawbridge was let fall and Sir Launcelot rode forth all clad in that armor of proof to meet Sir Gawaine.
Then Sir Gawaine rode up to Sir Launcelot and gave him greeting and he said to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, “Sir, I pray you tell me, are you Sir Launcelot of the Lake, or are you another knight than he? For by your figure and by your conduct and by that device which is upon your shield, I wit you to be Sir Launcelot, and yet I know not whether you are he or not he. For this is the third time I have challenged, and heretofore he would not come out against me.”
Sir Launcelot bespeaks Sir Gawaine.