Le Morte Darthur
well, said Sir Gawaine, he is a good knight, and yet shall ye see him
just better or he depart; and yet shall ye see, said Sir Gawaine,
another bigger knight in the same colour than he is, for that same
knight, said Sir Gawaine, that smote down right now my two cousins, he
smote me down within these two days, and seven fellows more. This
meanwhile, as they stood thus talking, there came into the place Sir
Tristram upon a black horse, and or ever he stint he smote down with
one spear four good knights of Orkney, that were of the kin of Sir
Gawaine; and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan every each of them smote down a
good knight. Truly, said Arthur, yonder knight upon the black horse
doth mightily and marvellously well. Abide you, said Sir Gawaine; that
knight with the black horse began not yet. Then Sir Tristram made to
horse again the two kings that Edward and Sadok had unhorsed at the
beginning. And then Sir Tristram drew his sword, and rode into the
thickest of the press against them of Orkney, and there he smote down
knights, and rashed off helms, and pulled away their shields, and
hurtled down many knights: he fared so that Sir Arthur and all knights
had great marvel, when they saw one knight do so great deeds of arms.
And Sir Palamides failed not upon the other side, but did so
marvellously well that all men had wonder. For there king Arthur
likened Sir Tristram, that was on the black horse, like to a wood lion,
and likened Sir Palamides, upon the white horse, unto a wood libbard,
and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan unto eager wolves. But the custom was
such among them, that none of the kings would help other, but all the
fellowship of every standard to help other as they might. But ever Sir
Tristram did so much deeds of arms that they of Orkney waxed weary of
him, and so withdrew them unto Lonazep.
CHAP. LXIX.
_How Sir Tristram was unhorsed and smitten down by Sir Launcelot, and
after that Sir Tristram smote down king Arthur._
Then was the cry of heralds and all manner of common people, The green
knight hath done marvellously, and beaten all them of Orkney. And there
the heralds numbered that Sir Tristram, that sat upon the black horse,
had smitten down twenty knights; and Sir Palamides had smitten down
twenty knights; and the most part of these fifty knights were of the
house of king Arthur, and proved knights. Truly, said Arthur unto Sir
Launcelot, this is a great shame to us to see four knights beat so many
knights of mine; and therefore make you ready, for we will have ado
with them. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well that there are two
passing good knights, and great worship were it not to us now to have
ado with them, for they have this day sore travailed. As for that, said
Arthur, I will be avenged, and therefore take with you Sir Bleoberis
and Sir Ector, and I will be the fourth, said Arthur. Sir, said
Launcelot, ye shall find me ready, and my brother Sir Ector, and my
cousin Sir Bleoberis. And so when they were ready and on horseback, Now
choose, said Sir Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, with whom that ye will
encounter withal. Sir, said Launcelot, I will meet with the green
knight upon the black horse (that was Sir Tristram), and my cousin Sir
Bleoberis shall match the green knight upon the white horse (that was
Sir Palamides), and my brother Sir Ector shall match with the green
knight upon the white horse (that was Sir Gareth). Then must I, said
Sir Arthur, have ado with the green knight upon the grisled horse (and
that was Sir Dinadan). Now every man take heed to his fellow, said Sir
Launcelot. And so they trotted on together; and there encountered Sir
Launcelot against Sir Tristram. So Sir Launcelot smote Sir Tristram so
sore upon the shield that he bare horse and man to the earth: but Sir
Launcelot wend it had been Sir Palamides, and so he passed forth. And
then Sir Bleoberis encountered with Sir Palamides, and he smote him so
hard upon the shield that Sir Palamides and his white horse rustled to
the earth. Then Sir Ector de Maris smote Sir Gareth so hard that down
he fell off his horse. And the noble king Arthur encountered with Sir
Dinadan, and he smote him quite from his saddle. And then the noise
turned awhile how the green knights were slain down. When the king of
Northgalis saw that Sir Tristram had a fall, then he remembered him how
great deeds of arms Sir Tristram had done. Then he made ready many
knights, for the custom and cry was such, that what knight were smitten
down, and might not be horsed again by his fellows, or by his own
strength, that as that day he should be prisoner unto the party that
had smitten him down. So came in the king of Northgalis, and he rode
straight unto Sir Tristram. And when he came nigh him he alight down
suddenly, and betook Sir Tristram his horse, and said thus: Noble
knight, I know thee not of what country thou art, but for the noble
deeds that thou hast done this day take there my horse, and let me do
as well as I may; for truly thou art better worthy to have mine horse
than I myself. Gramercy, said Sir Tristram, and if I may I shall
requite you. Look that ye go not far from us, and, as I suppose, I
shall win you another horse. And therewith Sir Tristram mounted upon
his horse, and there he met with king Arthur, and he gave him such a
buffet upon the helm with his sword that king Arthur had no power to
keep his saddle. And then Sir Tristram gave the king of Northgalis king
Arthur’s horse. Then was there great press about king Arthur for to
horse him again. But Sir Palamides would not suffer king Arthur to be
horsed again: but ever Sir Palamides smote on the right hand and on the
left hand mightily as a noble knight. And this mean while Sir Tristram
rode through the thickest of the press, and smote down knights on the
right and on the left hand, and rased off helms, and so passed forth
unto his pavilions, and left Sir Palamides on foot. And Sir Tristram
changed his horse, and disguised himself all in red, horse and harness.
CHAP. LXX.
_How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red, and how he
demeaned him, and how Sir Palamides slew Launcelot’s horse._
And when the queen La Beale Isoud saw that Sir Tristram was unhorsed,
and she wist not where he was, then she wept greatly. But Sir Tristram,
when he was ready, came dashing lightly into the field, and then La
Beale Isoud espied him. And so he did great deeds of arms, with one
spear that was great Sir Tristram smote down five knights or ever he
stint. Then Sir Launcelot espied him readily that it was Sir Tristram,
and then he repented him that he had smitten him down. And so Sir
Launcelot went out of the press to repose him, and lightly he came
again. And now when Sir Tristram came unto the press, through his great
force he put Sir Palamides upon his horse, and Sir Gareth, and Sir
Dinadan, and then they began to do marvellously. But Sir Palamides nor
none of his two fellows knew not who had holpen them on horseback
again. But ever Sir Tristram was nigh them and succoured them, and they
not him, because he was changed into red armour. And all this while Sir
Launcelot was away. So when La Beale Isoud knew Sir Tristram again upon
his horse back she was passing glad, and then she laughed and made good
cheer. And as it happened Sir Palamides looked up toward her, where she
lay in the window, and he espied how she laughed: and therewith he took
such a rejoicing that he smote down, what with his spear and with his
sword, all that ever he met; for through the sight of her he was so
enamoured in her love, that he seemed at that time that, and both Sir
Tristram and Sir Launcelot had been both against him, they should have
won no worship of him. And in his heart, as the book saith, Sir
Palamides wished that with his worship he might have ado with Sir
Tristram before all men because of La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Palamides
began to double his strength, and he did so marvellously that all men
had wonder of him. And ever he cast up his eye unto La Beale Isoud, and
when he saw her make such cheer he fared like a lion, that there might
no man withstand him. And then Sir Tristram beheld him how that Sir
Palamides bestirred him, and then he said unto Sir Dinadan, Truly, Sir
Palamides is a passing good knight, and a well enduring: but such deeds
saw I him never do, nor never heard I tell that ever he did so much in
one day. It is his day, said Sir Dinadan: and he would say no more unto
Sir Tristram; but to himself he said, And if ye knew for whose love he
doth all these deeds of arms, soon would Sir Tristram abate his
courage. Alas, said Sir Tristram, that Sir Palamides is not christened.
So said king Arthur, and so said all those that beheld him. Then all
people gave him the prize as for the best knight that day, that he
passed Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram. Well, said Dinadan to himself,
all this worship that Sir Palamides hath here this day, he may thank
the queen Isoud; for had she been away this day, Sir Palamides had not
gotten the prize this day.
Right so came into the field Sir Launcelot du Lake, and saw and heard
the noise and cry and the great worship that Sir Palamides had. He
dressed him against Sir Palamides with a great mighty spear, and a
long, and thought to smite him down. And when Sir Palamides saw Sir
Launcelot come upon him so fast, he ran upon Sir Launcelot as fast with
his sword as he might. And as Sir Launcelot should have stricken him he
smote his spear on side, and smote it atwo with his sword. And Sir
Palamides rashed unto Sir Launcelot and thought to have put him to a
shame, and with his sword he smote his horse’s neck that Sir Launcelot
rode upon, and then Sir Launcelot fell to the earth. Then was the cry
huge and great;—See how Sir Palamides the Saracen hath smitten down
Sir Launcelot’s horse. Right then were there many knights wroth with
Sir Palamides, because he had done that deed. Therefore many knights
held there against that it was unknightly done in a tournament to kill
a horse wilfully, but that it had been done in plain battle, life for
life.
CHAP. LXXI.
_How Sir Launcelot said to Sir Palamides, and how the prize of that day
was given unto Sir Palamides._
When Sir Ector de Maris saw Sir Launcelot his brother have such a
despite, and so set on foot, then he gat a spear eagerly and ran
against Sir Palamides, and he smote him so hard that he bare him quite
from his horse. That saw Sir Tristram that was in red harness, and he
smote down Sir Ector de Maris quite from his horse. Then Sir Launcelot
dressed his shield upon his shoulder, and with his sword naked in his
hand, and so came straight upon Sir Palamides fiercely, and said, Wit
thou well, thou hast done me this day the greatest despite that ever
any worshipful knight did to me in tournament or in justs, and
therefore I will be avenged upon thee, therefore take keep to yourself.
Ah mercy, noble knight, said Palamides, and forgive me mine unkindly
deeds, for I have no power nor might to withstand you. And I have done
so much this day, that well I wot I did never so much nor never shall
in my life days. And therefore, most noble knight, I require thee spare
me as at this day, and I promise you I shall ever be your knight while
I live. And ye put me from my worship now, ye put me from the greatest
worship that ever I had, or ever shall have, in my life days. Well,
said Sir Launcelot, I see, for to say the sooth, ye have done
marvellously well this day, and I understand a part for whose love ye
do it, and well I wot that love is a great mistress. And if my lady
were here as she is not, wit you well that ye should not bear away the
worship. But beware your love be not discovered; for and Sir Tristram