Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How Sir Gareth fought with a knight that held within his castle thirty ladies, and how he slew him explained
Sir Gareth, after defeating a group of knights who slew his horse, arrives at a castle where thirty widowed ladies mourn their husbands, slain by the Brown Knight without Pity.
What happens
Sir Gareth, after defeating a group of knights who slew his horse, arrives at a castle where thirty widowed ladies mourn their husbands, slain by the Brown Knight without Pity. Gareth slays the Brown Knight in single combat, then rests at the castle. He instructs the ladies to present themselves at King Arthur's court at Pentecost. Later, he encounters the Duke de la Rowse, defeats him in battle, and accepts his homage, sending him also to Arthur's court.
Themes in this chapter
Chivalry and Knighthood
Sir Gareth embodies chivalric ideals by rescuing widowed ladies and compelling defeated knights to pledge fealty to King Arthur.
Violence and Vengeance
The chapter features violent combat as Gareth slays the Brown Knight and defeats the duke, avenging the ladies' husbands.
Characters to notice
- Sir Gareth of Orkney
Protagonist of the chapter; defeats the Brown Knight without Pity and the Duke de la Rowse, sending them to King Arthur's court.
- King Arthur
Referenced as the lord to whom Sir Gareth sends the rescued ladies and the defeated duke.
Key passages
“What noise is this, said Sir Gareth, that I hear within this castle? Sir knight, said the page, here be within this castle thirty ladies, and all they be widows; for here is a knight that waiteth daily upon this castle, and his name is the Brown Knight without Pity, and he is the periloust knight that now liveth; and therefore sir, said the page, I rede you flee.”
Sir Gareth asks about the lamentation he hears, and a page explains that thirty widowed ladies are imprisoned by the fearsome Brown Knight without Pity, advising Gareth to flee.
Introduces the plight of the ladies and the antagonist.
“Then must ye go, said Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur my lord at the next feast, and say that I, Sir Gareth of Orkney, sent you unto him. It shall be done, said the duke, and I will do to you homage and fealty with an hundred knights with me; and all the days of my life to do you service where ye will command me.”
Sir Gareth commands the defeated duke to present himself to King Arthur at the next feast, and the duke pledges homage and service with a hundred knights.
Demonstrates Gareth's role as a loyal knight of Arthur and the feudal system of homage.