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Chapter VIII
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ThenPrianiusandSirGawainalightedandlettheirhorsesgrazewhiletheyunarmed,andwhentheytooktheirarmourandtheirclothingoff,thehotbloodrandownfreshlyfromtheirwoundstillitwaspiteoustosee.ButPrianiustookfromhispageavialfilledfromthefourriversthatflowoutofParadise,andanointedboththeirwoundswithacertainbalm,andwashedthemwiththatwater,andwithinanhourafterwardstheywerebothassoundandwholeasevertheyhadbeen.Then,atthesoundofatrumpet,alltheknightswereassembledtocouncil;andaftermuchtalking,Prianiussaid,“Ceaseyourwords,forIwarnyouinyonderwoodyeshallfindknightsoutofnumber,whowillputoutcattleforadecoytoleadyouon;andyearenotsevenhundred!”
“Nevertheless,”saidSirGawain,“letusatonceencounterthem,andseewhattheycando;andmaythebesthavethevictory.”
ThentheysawsuddenlyanearlnamedSirEthelwold,andtheDukeofDuchmencomeleapingoutofambushofthewoodsinfront,withmanyathousandafterthem,andallrodestraightdowntothebattle.AndSirGawain,fullofardourandcourage,comfortedhisknights,saying,“Theyallareours.”Thenthesevenhundredknights,inoneclosecompany,setspurstotheirhorsesandbegantogallop,andfiercelymettheirenemies.Andthenweremenandhorsesslainandoverthrownoneveryside,andinandoutamidstthemall,theknightsoftheRoundTablepressedandthrust,andsmotedowntotheearthallwhowithstoodthem,tillatlengththewholeofthemturnedbackandfled.
