Then Sir Launcelot went to Sir Gaheris—­for Sir Gaheris had been sitting for all that while upon that slab of stone.  Sir Launcelot said to Sir Gaheris:  “Fair Lord, be not angry if I take your horse, for I must presently go with this damsel, and you see mine own horse hath broke his back.”

“Sir Knight,” said Sir Gaheris, “this day you have saved both me and my horse, wherefore it is altogether fitting that my horse or anything that is mine should be yours to do with as you please.  So I pray you take my horse, only tell me your name and what knight you are; for I swear by my sword that I never saw any knight in all the world do battle so wonderfully as you have done to-day.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot makes himself known to Sir Gaheris] “Sir,” said Sir Launcelot, “I am called Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and I am a knight of King Arthur’s.  So it is altogether fitting that I should do such service unto you as this, seeing that you are the brother of that dear knight, Sir Gawaine.  For if I should not do this battle that I have done for your sake, I should yet do it for the sake of my lord, King Arthur, who is your uncle and Sir Gawaine’s uncle.”

Now when Sir Gaheris heard who Sir Launcelot was, he made great exclamation of amazement.  “Ha, Sir Launcelot!” he cried, “and is it thou!  Often have I heard of thee and of thy prowess at arms!  I have desired to meet thee more than any knight in the world; but never did I think to meet thee in such a case as this.”  Therewith Sir Gaheris arose, and went to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot came to him and they met and embraced and kissed one another upon the face; and from that time forth they were as brethren together.

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot bids Sir Gaheris to free the castle captives] Then Sir Launcelot said to Sir Gaheris:  “I pray you, Lord, for to go up unto yonder castle, and bring succor to those unfortunates who lie therein.  For I think you will find there many fellow-knights of the Round Table.  And I believe that you will find therein my brother, Sir Ector, and my cousin, Sir Lionel.  And if you find any other of my kindred I pray you to set them free and to do what you can for to comfort them and to put them at their ease.  And if there is any treasure in that castle, I bid you give it unto those knights who are prisoners there, for to compensate them for the pains they have endured.  Moreover, I pray you tell Sir Ector and Sir Lionel not to follow after me, but to return to court and wait for me there, for I have two adventures to undertake and I must essay them alone.”

Then Sir Gaheris was very much astonished, and he cried out upon Sir Launcelot:  “Sir!  Sir!  Surely you will not go forth upon another adventure at this time, seeing that you are so sorely wounded.”

But Sir Launcelot said:  “Yea, I shall go now; for I do not think that my wounds are so deep that I shall not be able to do my devoirs when my time cometh to do them.”