Le Morte Darthur
had ado with three or with four. And there was never knight that put
him to the worse. And at the twelvemonth’s end he departed with his
lady Alice la Beale Pilgrim. And the damsel would never go from him:
and so they went into their country of Benoye, and lived there in great
joy.
CHAP. XL.
_How Sir Galahalt did do cry a justs in Surluse, and queen Guenever’s
knights should just against all that would come._
But as the book saith, king Mark would never stint till he had slain
him by treason. And by Alice he gat a child which hight Bellengerus le
Beuse. And by good fortune he came to the court of king Arthur, and
proved a passing good knight: and he revenged his father’s death; for
the false king Mark slew both Sir Tristram and Alisander falsely and
feloniously. And it happed so that Alisander had never grace nor
fortune to come unto king Arthur’s court. For and he had come to Sir
Launcelot, all knights said that knew him, he was one of the strongest
knights that was in Arthur’s days. And great dole was made for him.
So let we of him pass, and turn we to another tale. So it befell that
Sir Galahalt the haut prince was lord of the country of Surluse,
whereof came many good knights. And this noble prince was a passing
good man of arms, and ever he held a noble fellowship together. And
then he came to Arthur’s court, and told him his intent, how this was
his will, how he would let cry a justs in the country of Surluse, the
which country was within the lands of king Arthur, and there he asked
leave to let cry a justs. I will give you leave, said king Arthur. But
wit thou well, said king Arthur, I may not be there. Sir, said queen
Guenever, please it you to give me leave to be at that justs. With
right good will, said Arthur, for Sir Galahalt the haut prince shall
have you in governance. Sir, said Galahalt, I will as ye will. Sir,
then the queen I will take with me, and such knights as please me best.
Do as ye list, said king Arthur. So anon she commanded Sir Launcelot to
make him ready with such knights as he thought best. So in every good
town and castle of this land was made a cry, that in the country of
Surluse Sir Galahalt should make a justs that should last eight days:
and how the haut prince with the help of queen Guenever’s knights
should just against all manner of men that would come. When this cry
was known, kings and princes, dukes and earls, barons and noble
knights, made them ready to be at that justs. And at the day of justing
there came in Sir Dinadan disguised, and did many great deeds of arms.
CHAP. XLI.
_How Sir Launcelot fought in the tournament, and how Sir Palamides did
arms there for a damsel._
Then at the request of queen Guenever and of king Bagdemagus, Sir
Launcelot came into the range, but he was disguised, and that was the
cause that few folk knew him. And there met with him Sir Ector de Maris
his own brother, and either brake their spears upon other to their
hands. And then either gat another spear, and then Sir Launcelot smote
down Sir Ector de Maris his own brother. That saw Sir Bleoberis, and he
smote Sir Launcelot such a buffet upon the helm that he wist not well
where he was. Then Sir Launcelot was wroth, and smote Sir Bleoberis so
sore upon the helm that his head bowed down backward. And he smote eft
another buffet that he avoided his saddle. And so he rode by and thrust
forth to the thickest. When the king of Northgalis saw Sir Ector and
Sir Bleoberis lie on the ground, then he was wonderous wroth, for they
came on his part against them of Surluse. So the king of Northgalis ran
to Sir Launcelot, and brake a spear upon him all to pieces. Therewith
Sir Launcelot overtook the king of Northgalis and smote him such a
buffet on the helm with his sword that he made him to avoid his horse;
and anon the king was horsed again. So both the king Bagdemagus and the
king of Northgalis party hurled together: and then began a strong
meddle, but they of Northgalis were far bigger.
When Sir Launcelot saw his party go to the worst, he thronged into the
thickest press with a sword in his hand, and there he smote down on the
right hand and on the left hand, and pulled down knights, and rased off
their helms, that all men had wonder that ever one knight might do such
deeds of arms. When Sir Meliagant, that was son unto king Bagdemagus,
saw how Sir Launcelot fared, he marvelled greatly. And when he
understood that it was he, he wist well that he was disguised for his
sake. Then Sir Meliagant prayed a knight to slay Sir Launcelot’s horse,
either with sword or with spear. At that time king Bagdemagus met with
a knight that hight Sauseise, a good knight, to whom he said, Now fair
Sauseise, encounter with my son Meliagant, and give him large payment;
for I would he were well beaten of thy hands, that he might depart out
of the field. And then Sir Sauseise encountered with Sir Meliagant, and
either smote other down. And then they fought on foot, and there
Sauseise had won Sir Meliagant had not there come rescues. So then the
haut prince blew to lodging. And every knight unarmed him and went to
the great feast. Then in the meanwhile there came a damsel unto the
haut prince, and complained that there was a knight that hight
Goneries, that withheld her all her lands. Then the knight was there
present, and cast his glove to him, or to any that would fight in her
name. So the damsel took up the glove all heavily for default of a
champion. Then there came a varlet to her and said, Damsel, will ye do
after me? Full fain, said the damsel. Then go ye unto such a knight
that lyeth here beside in an hermitage, and that followeth the questing
beast, and pray him to take the battle upon him, and anon I wot well he
will grant you.
So anon she took her palfrey, and within awhile she found that knight,
that was Sir Palamides. And when she required him, he armed him and
rode with her, and made her to go to the haut prince, and to ask leave
for her knight to do battle. I will well, said the haut prince. Then
the knights were ready in the field to just on horseback: and either
gat a spear in their hands, and met so fiercely together that their
spears all to-shivered. And then they flung out swords, and Sir
Palamides smote Sir Goneries down to the earth, and then he rased off
his helm, and smote off his head. Then they went to supper. And the
damsel loved Sir Palamides, but the book saith she was of his kin. So
then Sir Palamides disguised him in this manner; in his shield he bear
the questing beast, and in all his trappings. And when he was thus
ready, he sent to the haut prince to give him leave to just with other
knights, but he was adoubted of Sir Launcelot. The haut prince sent him
word again that he should be welcome, and that Sir Launcelot should not
just with him. Then Sir Galahalt the haut prince let cry what knight
soever he were that smote down Sir Palamides should have his damsel to
himself.
CHAP. XLII.
_How Sir Galahalt and Palamides fought together, and of Sir Dinadan and
Sir Galahalt._
Here beginneth the second day. Anon as Sir Palamides came into the
field, Sir Galahalt the haut prince was at the range end, and met with
Sir Palamides, and he with him, with great spears. And then they came
so hard together that their spears all to-shivered. But Sir Galahalt
smote him so hard that he bare him backward over his horse, but yet he
lost not his stirrups. Then they drew their swords and lashed together
many sad strokes that many worshipful knights left their business to
behold them. But at the last Sir Galahalt the haut prince smote a
stroke of might unto Sir Palamides sore upon the helm, but the helm was
so hard that the sword might not bite, but slipped and smote off the
head of the horse of Sir Palamides. When the haut prince wist, and saw
the good knight fall unto the earth, he was ashamed of that stroke. And
therewith he alighted down off his own horse, and prayed the good
knight Sir Palamides to take that horse of his gift, and to forgive him
that deed. Sir, said Palamides, I thank you of your great goodness, for
ever of a man of worship a knight shall never have disworship. And so
he mounted upon that horse, and the haut prince had another anon. Now,
said the haut prince, I release to you that maiden, for ye have won
her. Ah, said Palamides, the damsel and I be at your commandment. So
they departed, and Sir Galahalt did great deeds of arms. And right so
came Dinadan and encountered with Sir Galahalt, and either came to
other so fast with their spears, that their spears brake to their
hands. But Dinadan had wend the haut prince had been more weary than he
was. And then he smote many sad strokes at the haut prince. But when
Dinadan saw he might not get him to the earth, he said, My lord, I pray
you leave me and take another. The haut prince knew not Dinadan, and
left goodly for his fair words, and so they departed. But soon there
came another, and told the haut prince that it was Dinadan. Forsooth,
said the prince, therefore am I heavy that he is so escaped from me:
for with his mocks and jests now shall I never have done with him. And
then Galahalt rode fast after him, and bad him, Abide, Dinadan, for
king Arthur’s sake. Nay, said Sir Dinadan, we meet no more together
this day. Then in that wrath the haut prince met with Meliagant, and he
smote him in the throat, that and he had fallen his neck had broken,
and with the same spear he smote down another knight. Then came in they
of Northgalis, and many strangers, and were like to have put them of
Surluse to the worse, for Sir Galahalt the haut prince had ever much in
hand. So there came in the good knight Semound the Valiant, with forty
knights, and he beat them all aback. Then the queen Guenever and Sir
Launcelot let blow to lodging: and every knight unarmed him, and
dressed him to the feast.
CHAP. XLIII.
_How Sir Archade appealed Sir Palamides of treason, and how Sir
Palamides slew him._
When Palamides was unarmed, he asked lodging for himself and the
damsel. Anon the haut prince commanded them to lodging. And he was not
so soon in his lodging, but there came a knight that hight Archade; he
was brother unto Goneries, that Sir Palamides slew afore in the
damsel’s quarrel. And this knight Archade called Sir Palamides traitor,
and appealed him for the death of his brother. By the leave of the haut
prince, said Sir Palamides, I shall answer thee. When the haut prince
understood their quarrel, he bad them go to dinner, and as soon as ye
have dined, look that either knight be ready in the field. So when they
had dined, they were armed both, and took their horses; and the queen,
and the prince, and Sir Launcelot, were set to behold them. And so they
let run their horses, and there Sir Palamides bare Archade on his spear
over his horse tail. And then Palamides alight, and drew his sword; but
Sir Archade might not arise, and there Sir Palamides rased off his
helm, and smote off his head. Then the haut prince and queen Guenever
went to supper. Then king Bagdemagus sent away his son Meliagant,
because Sir Launcelot should not meet with him, for he hated Sir
Launcelot, and that knew he not.
CHAP. XLIV.
_Of the third day, and how Sir Palamides justed with Sir Lamorak, and
other things._
Now beginneth the third day of justing, and at that day king Bagdemagus
made him ready, and there came against him king Marsil, that had in
gift an island of Sir Galahalt the haut prince; and this island had the
name Pomitain. Then it befell that king Bagdemagus and king Marsil of
Pomitain met together with spears, and king Marsil had such a buffet