Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table, Adapted from the Book of Romance

“O King Arthur, mine uncle, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain, and Sir Gaheris also,’ and the King wept with him. At length Sir Gawaine said, ‘ Sir, I will go and see my brother Sir Gareth.’ ‘ You cannot do that,’ returned the King, ‘for I have caused him to be buried with Sir Gaheris, as I knew well that the sight would cause you overmuch sorrow.’ ‘How came he, Sir Lancelot, to slay Sir Gareth ?’ asked Sir Gawaine; ‘mine own good lord, I pray you tell me, for neither Sir Gareth nor Sir Gaheris bore arms against him.’ ‘It is said,’ answered the King, ‘that Sir Lancelot slew them in the thickest of the press and knew them not. Therefore let us think upon a plan to avenge their deaths.’ ‘My King, my lord and mine uncle,’ said Sir Gawaine, ‘ I swear to you by my knighthood that from this day I will never rest until Sir Lancelot or I be slain. And I will go to the world’s end till I find him.’ ‘ You need not seek him so far,’ answered the King, ‘ for I am told that Sir Lancelot will await me and you in the Castle of Joyous Gard, and many people are flocking to him. But call your friends together, and I will call mine,’ and the King ordered letters to be sent throughout all England summoning his Knights and vassals to the siege of Joyous Gard. The Castle of Joyous Gard was strong, and after fifteen weeks had passed no breach had been made in its walls. And one day, at the time of harvest, Sir Lancelot came forth on a truce, and the King and Sir Gawaine challenged him to do battle. ‘Nay,’ answered Sir Lancelot, ‘with yourself I will never strive, and I grieve sorely that I have slain your Knights.””

— Unknown

“But now, since you are set among Knights of heavenly adventures, if you were worsted at that tournament it is no marvel. For the tournament was meant for a sign, and the earthly Knights were they who were clothed in black in token of the sins of which they were not yet purged.””

— Unknown