So likewise in the Fr. l. 928, A cheualier l’out adubbé. The ceremony of knighthood is described with greater minuteness in the Romance of Ly beaus Desconus, l. 73; and see Kyng Horn, ed. Lumby, ll. 495-504.
[2320.] Hwan he was king, ther mouthe men se, &c. Ritson has justly remarked, Notes to Ywaine and Gawaine, l. 15, that the elaborate description of Arthur’s feast at Carlisle, given by Geoffrey of Monmouth, l. ix. c. 12, has served as a model to all his successors. The original passage stands thus in a fine MS. of the 13th century, MS. Harl. 3773. fol. 33 b. “Refecti autem epulis diversos ludos acturi campos extra civitatem adeunt. Tunc milites simulachra belli scientes equestrem ludum componunt, mulieribus ab edito murorum aspicientibus. Alii cum cestibus, alii cum hastis, alii gravium lapidum jactu, alii cum facis, [saxis, Edd.] alii cum aleis, diversisque alii alteriusmodi jocis contendentes.” In the translation of this description by Wace we approach still nearer to the imitation of the Romance before us.
A plusurs iuis se departirent,
Li vns alerent buhurder,
E lur ignels cheuals mustrer,
Li altre alerent eskermir,
V pere geter, v saillir;
Tels i-aueit ki darz lanconent,
E tels i-aueit ki lutouent:
Chescon del gru [geu?] s’entremetait