they fought, that often they fell to the ground together.  Then, when the bells sounded for evensong, the knights rested again a while, unlacing their helms to breathe the evening air.  But looking up to the castle windows, Gareth saw the Lady Liones gazing earnestly upon him; then he caught up his helmet, and calling to the Red Knight, bade him make ready for the battle; “And this time,” said he, “we will make an end of it.”  “So be it,” said the Red Knight.  Then the Red Knight smote Gareth on the hand that his sword flew from his grasp, and with another blow he brought him grovelling to the earth.  At the sight of this, Linet cried aloud, and hearing her, Gareth, with a mighty effort, threw off the Red Knight, leaped to his sword and got it again within his hand.  Then he pressed the Red Knight harder than ever, and at the last bore him to the earth, and unlacing his helm, made ready to slay him; but the Red Knight cried aloud:  “Mercy; I yield.”  At first, remembering the evil deaths of the forty good knights, Gareth was unwilling to spare him; but the Red Knight besought him to have mercy, telling him how, against his will, he had been bound by a vow to make war on Arthur’s knights.  So Sir Gareth relented, and bade him set forth at once for Kink Kenadon and entreat the King’s pardon for his evil past.  And this the Red Knight promised to do.

Then amidst much rejoicing, Sir Gareth was borne into the castle.  There his wounds were dressed by the Lady Liones, and there he rested until he recovered his strength.  And having won her love, when Gareth returned to Arthur’s court, the Lady Liones rode with him, and they two were wed with great pomp in the presence of the whole Fellowship of the Round Table; the King rejoicing much that his nephew had done so valiantly.  So Sir Gareth lived happily with Dame Liones, winning fame and the love of all true knights.  As for Linet, she came again to Arthur’s court and wedded Sir Gareth’s younger brother, Sir Gaheris.

BOOK V

SIR GERAINT

CHAPTER XIX

THE ADVENTURES OF GERAINT

It befell, one Whitsunday, that Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon, when word was brought to him of a splendid white stag that ranged the Forest of Dean, and forthwith the King proclaimed a hunt for the morrow.

So, with the dawn, there was much trampling of hoofs and baying of hounds as all the knights got to horse; but Queen Guenevere herself, though she had said she would ride with the hunt, slept late, and when she called her maidens to her, it was broad day.  Then, with much haste, she arrayed herself, and taking one of her ladies with her, rode to a little rising ground in the forest, near which, as she well knew, the hunt must pass.