Le Morte Darthur
not eat, and there was all the cheer that might be had. And on the morn
they were apparelled to ride towards Lonazep.
So Sir Tristram had three squires, and La Beale Isoud had three
gentlewomen, and both the queen and they were richly apparelled; and
other people had they none with them, but varlets to bear their shields
and their spears. And thus they rode forth. So as they rode they saw
afore them a rout of knights: it was the knight Galihodin with twenty
knights with him. Fair fellows, said Galihodin, yonder come four
knights, and a rich and a well fair lady: I am in will to take that
lady from them. That is not of the best counsel, said one of
Galihodin’s men, but send ye to them and wit what they will say. And so
it was done. There came a squire to Sir Tristram and asked him whether
they would just, or else to lose their lady? Not so, said Sir Tristram,
tell your lord, I bid him come as many as we be, and win her and take
her. Sir, said Palamides, and it please you, let me have this deed, and
I shall undertake them all four. I will that ye have it, said Sir
Tristram, at your pleasure. Now go and tell your lord Galihodin, that
this same knight will encounter with him and his fellows.
CHAP. LXVI.
_How Sir Palamides justed with Sir Galihodin and after with Sir
Gawaine, and smote them down._
Then this squire departed and told Galihodin, and then he dressed his
shield, and put forth a spear, and Sir Palamides another, and there Sir
Palamides smote Galihodin so hard that he smote both horse and man to
the earth. And there he had an horrible fall. And then came there
another knight, and in the same wise he served him, and so he served
the third and the fourth, that he smote them over their horse croups:
and always Sir Palamides’ spear was whole. Then came six knights more
of Galihodin’s men, and would have been avenged upon Sir Palamides. Let
be, said Sir Galihodin, not so hardy! None of you all meddle with this
knight, for he is a man of great bounty and honour; and if he would, ye
were not able to meddle with him. And right so they held them still.
And ever Sir Palamides was ready to just. And when he saw they would no
more, he rode unto Sir Tristram. Right well have ye done, said Sir
Tristram, and worshipfully have ye done as a good knight should. This
Galihodin was nigh cousin unto Galahalt the haut prince. And this
Galihodin was a king within the country of Surluse. So as Sir Tristram,
Sir Palamides, and La Beale Isoud rode together, they saw afore them
four knights, and every man had his spear in his hand. The first was
Sir Gawaine, the second Sir Uwaine, the third Sir Sagramor le Desirous,
and the fourth was Dodinas le Savage. When Sir Palamides beheld them,
that the four knights were ready to just, he prayed Sir Tristram to
give him leave to have ado with them all so long as he might hold him
on horseback:—And if that I be smitten down, I pray you revenge me.
Well, said Sir Tristram, I will as ye will, and ye are not so fain to
have worship, but I would as fain increase your worship. And there
withal Sir Gawaine put forth his spear, and Sir Palamides another, and
so they came so eagerly together that Sir Palamides smote Sir Gawaine
to the earth, horse and all; and in the same wise he served Uwaine, Sir
Dodinas, and Sagramor. All these four knights Sir Palamides smote down
with divers spears. And then Sir Tristram departed toward Lonazep. And
when they were departed, then came thither Galihodin with his ten
knights unto Sir Gawaine, and there he told him all how he had sped. I
marvel, said Sir Gawaine, what knights they be that are so arrayed in
green. And that knight upon the white horse smote me down, said
Galihodin, and my three fellows. And so he did to me, said Gawaine, and
well I wot, said Sir Gawaine, that either he upon the white horse is
Sir Tristram, or else Sir Palamides, and that gaybeseen lady is queen
Isoud. Thus they talked of one thing and of other. And in the mean
while Sir Tristram passed on, till that he came to the well where his
two pavilions were set, and there they alighted, and there they saw
many pavilions and great array. Then Sir Tristram left there Sir
Palamides and Sir Gareth with La Beale Isoud; and Sir Tristram and Sir
Dinadan rode to Lonazep to hearken tidings; and Sir Tristram rode upon
Sir Palamides’ white horse. And when he came into the castle, Sir
Dinadan heard a great horn blow, and to the horn drew many knights.
Then Sir Tristram asked a knight, What meaneth the blast of that horn?
Sir, said that knight, it is all those that shall hold against king
Arthur at this tournament. The first is the king of Ireland, and the
king of Surluse, the king of Listinoise, the king of Northumberland,
and the king of the best part of Wales, with many other countries: and
these draw them to a council, to understand what governance they shall
be of. But the king of Ireland, whose name was Marhalt, and father to
the good knight Sir Marhaus that Sir Tristram slew, had all the speech,
that Sir Tristram might hear it. He said: Lords and fellows, let us
look to ourselves, for wit ye well king Arthur is sure of many good
knights, or else he would not with so few knights have ado with us;
therefore, by my counsel, let every king have a standard and a
cognizance by himself, that every knight draw to his natural lord, and
then may every king and captain help his knights, if they have need.
When Sir Tristram had heard all their counsel, he rode unto king Arthur
for to hear of his counsel.
CHAP. LXVII.
_How Sir Tristram and his fellowship came unto the tournament of
Lonazep; and of divers justs and matters._
But Sir Tristram was not so soon come into the place, but Sir Gawaine
and Sir Galihodin went to king Arthur, and told him, That same green
knight in the green harness, with the white horse, smote us two down,
and six of our fellows, this same day. Well, said Arthur; and then he
called Sir Tristram, and asked him what was his name. Sir, said Sir
Tristram, ye shall hold me excused as at this time, for ye shall not
wit my name. And there Sir Tristram returned and rode his way. I have
marvel, said Arthur, that yonder knight will not tell me his name, but
go thou, Griflet le Fise de Dieu, and pray him to speak with me betwixt
us. Then Sir Griflet rode after him, and overtook him, and said to him
that king Arthur prayed him for to speak with him secretly apart. Upon
this covenant, said Sir Tristram, I will speak with him that I will
turn again, so that ye will ensure me not to desire to hear my name. I
shall undertake, said Sir Griflet, that he will not greatly desire it
of you. So they rode together until they came to king Arthur. Fair sir,
said king Arthur, what is the cause ye will not tell me your name? Sir,
said Sir Tristram, without a cause I will not hide my name. Upon what
party will ye hold? said king Arthur. Truly, my lord, said Sir
Tristram, I wot not yet on what party I will be on until I come to the
field; and there as my heart giveth me there will I hold: but to-morrow
ye shall see and prove on what party I shall come. And therewithal he
returned and went to his pavilions. And upon the morn they armed them
all in green, and came into the field; and there young knights began to
just, and did many worshipful deeds. Then spake Gareth unto Sir
Tristram, and prayed him to give him leave to break his spear, for him
thought shame to bear his spear whole again. When Sir Tristram heard
him say so he laughed, and said, I pray you, do your best. Then Sir
Gareth gat a spear, and proffered to just. That saw a nephew unto the
king of the hundred knights, his name was Selises, and a good man of
arms. So this knight Selises then dressed him unto Sir Gareth, and they
two met together so hard that either smote other down, horse and all,
to the earth; so they were both bruised and hurt, and there they lay
till the king with the hundred knights halp Selises up; and Sir
Tristram and Sir Palamides halp up Gareth again; and so they rode with
Sir Gareth unto their pavilions, and then they pulled off his helm. And
when La Beale Isoud saw Sir Gareth bruised in the face, she asked him
what ailed him. Madam, said Sir Gareth, I had a great buffet, and, as I
suppose, I gave another, but none of my fellows would not rescue me.
Forsooth, said Palamides, it longed not to none of us as this day to
just, for there have not this day justed no proved knights; and needs
ye would just, and when the other party saw ye proferred yourself to
just, they sent one to you, a passing good knight of his age, for I
know him well, his name is Selises, and worshipfully ye met with him,
and neither of you are dishonoured; and therefore refresh yourself,
that ye may be ready and whole to just to-morrow. As for that, said Sir
Gareth, I shall not fail you, and I may bestride my horse.
CHAP. LXVIII.
_How Sir Tristram and his fellowship justed, and of the noble feats
that they did in that tourneying._
Now upon what party, said Sir Tristram, is it best we be withal as
to-morn? Sir, said Palamides, ye shall have mine advice to be against
king Arthur as to-morn, for on his party will be Sir Launcelot, and
many good knights of his blood with him. And the more men of worship
that they be, the more worship we shall win. That is full knightly
spoken, said Sir Tristram, and right so as ye counsel me, so will we
do. So be it, said they all. So that night they were lodged with the
best. And on the morn when it was day, they were arrayed in green
trappings, shields, and spears; and La Beale Isoud in the same colour,
and her three damsels. And right so these four knights came into the
field endlong and through. And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as
she should stand and behold all the justs in a bay window; but always
she wimpled that no man might see her visage. And then these three
knights rode straight unto the party of the king of Scots.
When king Arthur had seen them do all this, he asked Sir Launcelot what
were these knights and that queen? Sir, said Sir Launcelot, I cannot
say you in certain, but if Sir Tristram be in this country, or Sir
Palamides, wit ye well it be they in certain, and La Beale Isoud. Then
Arthur called to him Sir Kay, and said, Go lightly and wit how many
knights there be here lacking of the Table Round, for by the sieges
thou mayest know. So went Sir Kay, and saw by the writing in the sieges
that there lacked ten knights,—And these be their names that be not
here, Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir
Epinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, and Sir
Pelleas the noble knight. Well, said Arthur, some of these I dare
undertake are here this day against us. Then came therein two brethren,
cousins unto Sir Gawaine, the one hight Sir Edward, that other hight
Sir Sadok, the which were two good knights, and they asked of king
Arthur that they might have the first justs, for they were of Orkney. I
am pleased, said king Arthur. Then Sir Edward encountered with the king
of Scots, in whose party was Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides; and Sir
Edward smote the king of Scots quite from his horse; and Sir Sadok
smote down the king of North Wales, and gave him a wonder great fall,
that there was a great cry on king Arthur’s party, and that made Sir
Palamides passing wroth; and so Sir Palamides dressed his shield and
his spear, and with all his might he met with Sir Edward of Orkney,
that he smote him so hard that his horse might not stand on his feet,
and so they hurtled to the earth: and then with the same spear Sir
Palamides smote down Sir Sadok over his horse croup. Oh, said Arthur,
what knight is that arrayed all in green? he justeth mightily. Wit you