Le Morte Darthur
that he fell over his horse croup. Then there came in a knight of king
Marsil, to revenge his lord: and king Bagdemagus smote him down, horse
and man, to the earth. So there came an earl that hight Arrouse, and
Sir Breuse, and an hundred knights with them of Pomitain, and the king
of Northgalis was with them; and all these were against them of
Surluse. And then there began great battle, and many knights were cast
under horse feet. And ever king Bagdemagus did best, for he first
began, and ever he held on. Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, smote ever at
the face of king Bagdemagus: and at the last king Bagdemagus hurtled
down Gaheris, horse and man. Then, by adventure, Sir Palamides, the
good knight, met with Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis’ brother, and
there either smote other with great spears, that both their horses and
knights fell to the earth. But Sir Blamor had such a fall that he had
almost broken his neck; for the blood brast out at nose, mouth, and his
ears; but at the last he recovered well by good surgeons. Then there
came in duke Chaleins of Clarance, and in his governance there came a
knight that hight Elis la Noire; and there encountered with him king
Bagdemagus, and he smote Elis that he made him to avoid his saddle. So
the duke Chaleins of Clarance did there great deeds of arms; and of so
late as he came in the third day there was no man did so well, except
king Bagdemagus and Sir Palamides; that the prize was given that day
unto king Bagdemagus. And then they blew unto lodging, and unarmed
them, and went to the feast. Right so there came Sir Dinadan, and
mocked and jested with king Bagdemagus, that all knights laughed at
him; for he was a fine jester, and well loving all good knights. So
anon as they had dined there came a varlet, bearing four spears on his
back, and he came to Palamides and said thus: Here is a knight by hath
sent you the choice of four spears, and requireth you for your lady’s
sake to take that one half of these spears, and just with him in the
field. Tell him, said Palamides, I will not fail him. When Sir Galahalt
wist of this, he bad Palamides make him ready. So the queen Guenever,
the haut prince, and Sir Launcelot, they were set upon scaffolds to
give the judgment of these two knights.
Then Sir Palamides and the strange knight ran so eagerly together that
their spears brake to their hands. Anon withal either of them look a
great spear in his hand and all to-shivered them in pieces. And then
either took a greater spear. And then the knight smote down Sir
Palamides, horse and man, to the earth. And as he would have passed
over him, the strange knight’s horse stumbled, and fell down upon
Palamides. Then they drew their swords, and lashed together wonderly
sore a great while. Then the haut prince and Sir Launcelot said they
saw never two knights fight better than they did. But ever the strange
knight doubled his strokes, and put Palamides aback. Therewith the haut
prince cried, Ho; and then they went to lodging. And when they were
unarmed they knew it was the noble knight Sir Lamorak. When Sir
Launcelot knew that it was Sir Lamorak he made much of him; for above
all earthly men he loved him best except Sir Tristram. Then queen
Guenever commended him, and so did all other good knights make much of
him, except Sir Gawaine’s brethren. Then queen Guenever said unto Sir
Launcelot, Sir, I require you that and ye just any more, that ye just
with none of the blood of my lord Arthur. So he promised he would not
as at that time.
CHAP. XLV.
_Of the fourth day, and of many great feats of arms._
Here beginneth the fourth day. Then came into the field the king with
the hundred knights, and all they of Northgalis, and the duke Chaleins
of Clarance, and king Marsil of Pomitain. And there came Safere,
Palamides’ brother, and there he told him tidings of his mother, and
how he appealed an earl before king Arthur:—For he made war upon our
father and mother, and there I slew him in plain battle. So they went
into the field, and the damsel with them; and there came to encounter
against them Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris. Sir
Palamides encountered with Sir Bleoberis, and either smote other down;
and in the same wise did Sir Safere and Sir Ector, and those two
couples did battle on foot. Then came in Sir Lamorak, and he
encountered with the king with the hundred knights, and smote him quite
over his horse tail; and in the same wise he served the king of
Northgalis, and also he smote down king Marsil. And so, or ever he
stint, he smote down with his spear and with his sword thirty knights.
When duke Chaleins saw Lamorak do so great prowess, he would not meddle
with him for shame; and then he charged all his knights in pain of
death that none of you touch him, for it were shame to all good knights
and that knight were shamed. Then the two kings gathered them together,
and all they set upon Sir Lamorak, and he failed them not, but rashed
here and there, smiting on the right hand and on the left, and rased
off many helms, so that the haut prince and queen Guenever said they
saw never knight do such deeds of arms on horseback. Alas, said
Launcelot to king Bagdemagus, I will arm me and help Sir Lamorak. And I
will ride with you, said king Bagdemagus. And when they two were
horsed, they came to Sir Lamorak, that stood among thirty knights, and
well was him that might reach him a buffet: and ever he smote again
mightily. Then came there into the press Sir Launcelot, and he threw
down Sir Mador de la Porte, and with the truncheon of that spear he
threw down many knights. And king Bagdemagus smote on the left hand and
on the right hand marvellously well. And then the three kings fled
aback. Therewithal then Sir Galahalt let blow to lodging, and all the
heralds gave Sir Lamorak the prize. And all this while fought
Palamides, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Safere, Sir Ector, on foot. Never were
there four knights evener matched. And then they were parted, and had
unto their lodging, and unarmed them, and so they went to the great
feast.
But when Sir Lamorak was come unto the court, queen Guenever took him
in her arms, and said, Sir, well have ye done this day. Then came the
haut prince, and he made of him great joy, and so did Dinadan, for he
wept for joy. But the joy that Sir Launcelot made of Sir Lamorak there
might no man tell. Then they went unto rest; and on the morn the haut
prince let blow unto the field.
CHAP. XLVI.
_Of the fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak behaved him._
Here beginneth the fifth day. So it befell that Sir Palamides came in
the morn-tide and proffered to just there as king Arthur was, in a
castle there beside Surluse; and there encountered with him a
worshipful duke, and there Sir Palamides smote him over his horse
croup. And this duke was uncle unto king Arthur. Then Sir Elise’s son
rode unto Palamides, and Palamides served Elise in the same wise. When
Sir Uwaine saw this, he was wroth. Then he took his horse, and
encountered with Sir Palamides, and Palamides smote him so hard that he
went to the earth, horse and man. And for to make a short tale, he
smote down three brethren of Sir Gawaine’s, that is for to say,
Mordred, Gaheris, and Agravaine. Truly, said Arthur, this is a great
despite of a Saracen, that he shall smite down my blood. And
therewithal king Arthur was wood wroth, and thought to have made him
ready to just. That espied Sir Lamorak, that Arthur and his blood were
discomfited. And anon he was ready, and asked Palamides if he would any
more just. Why should I not? said Palamides. Then they hurtled
together, and brake their spears and all to-shivered them, that all the
castle rang of their dints. Then either gat a greater spear in his
hand, and they came so fiercely together; but Sir Palamides’ spear all
to-brast, and Sir Lamorak’s did hold. Therewithal Sir Palamides lost
his stirrups and lay upright on his horse’s back. And then Sir
Palamides returned again, and took his damsel, and Sir Safere returned
his way. So when he was departed, king Arthur came to Sir Lamorak, and
thanked him of his goodness, and prayed him to tell him his name. Sir,
said Lamorak, wit you well, I owe you my service: but as at this time I
will not abide here, for I see of mine enemies many about me. Alas,
said Arthur, now wot I well it is Sir Lamorak de Galis. O, Lamorak,
abide with me, and by my crown I shall never fail thee: and not so
hardy in Gawaine’s head, nor none of his brethren, to do thee any
wrong. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, wrong have they done me and to you both.
That is truth, said king Arthur, for they slew their own mother and my
sister, which me sore grieveth. It had been much fairer and better that
ye had wedded her, for ye are a king’s son as well as they. Truly, said
the noble knight Sir Lamorak unto Arthur, her death shall I never
forget; I promise you and make mine avow I shall avenge her death as
soon as I see time convenient. And if it were not at the reverence of
your highness I should now have been revenged upon Sir Gawaine and his
brethren. Truly, said Arthur, I will make you at accord. Sir, said
Lamorak, as at this time I may not abide with you, for I must to the
justs, where is Sir Launcelot and the haut prince Sir Galahalt.
Then there was a damsel that was daughter to king Bandes; and there was
a Saracen knight that hight Corsabrin, and he loved the damsel, and in
no wise he would suffer her to be married. For ever this Sir Corsabrin
defamed her, and named her that she was out of her mind; and thus he
let her that she might not be married.
CHAP. XLVII.
_How Sir Palamides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and how Palamides
slew Corsabrin._
So by fortune this damsel heard tell that Palamides did much for
damsels’ sakes; so she sent to him a pensel, and prayed him to fight
with Sir Corsabrin for her love, and he should have her, and her lands
of her father’s that should fall to her. Then the damsel sent unto
Corsabrin, and bad him go unto Sir Palamides, that was a Paynim as well
as he: and she gave him warning that she had sent him her pensel; and
if he might overcome Palamides she would wed him. When Corsabrin wist
of her deeds, then was he wood wroth and angry, and rode unto Surluse,
where the haut prince was, and there he found Sir Palamides ready, the
which had the pensel. So there they waged battle either with other
afore Galahalt. Well, said the haut prince, this day must noble knights
just, and at after dinner we shall see how ye can speed. Then they blew
to justs. And in came Dinadan, and met with Sir Gerin, a good knight,
and he threw him down over his horse croup: and Sir Dinadan overthrew
four knights more; and there he did great deeds of arms. For he was a
good knight, but he was a scoffer, and a jester, and the merriest
knight among fellowship that was that time living. And he had such a
custom that he loved every good knight, and every good knight loved him
again. So then when the haut prince saw Dinadan do so well, he sent
unto Sir Launcelot, and bade him strike down Sir Dinadan:—And when
that ye have done so, bring him afore me and the noble queen Guenever.
Then Sir Launcelot did as he was required. Then Sir Lamorak and he
smote down many knights, and rased off helms, and drove all the knights
afore them. And so Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Dinadan, and made his
men to unarm him, and so brought him to the queen and the haut prince,
and then laughed at Sir Dinadan so sore that they might not stand.
Well, said Sir Dinadan, yet have I no shame, for the old shrew Sir
Launcelot smote me down. So they went to dinner, and all the court had
good sport at Dinadan. Then when the dinner was done, they blew to the