Le Morte Darthur
may know it ye will repent it. And since my quarrel is not here, ye
shall have this day the worship as for me; considering the great
travail and pain that ye have had this day, it were no worship for me
to put you from it. And therewithal Sir Launcelot suffered Sir
Palamides to depart. Then Sir Launcelot by great force and might gat
his own horse, maugre twenty knights. So when Sir Launcelot was horsed
he did many marvels, and so did Sir Tristram, and Sir Palamides in
likewise. Then Sir Launcelot smote down with a spear Sir Dinadan, and
the king of Scotland, and the king of Wales, and the king of
Northumberland, and the king of Listinoise. So then Sir Launcelot and
his fellows smote down well a forty knights. Then came the king of
Ireland and the king of the Straight Marches to rescue Sir Tristram and
Sir Palamides. There began a great meddle, and many knights there were
smitten down on both parties, and always Sir Launcelot spared Sir
Tristram, and he spared him. And Sir Palamides would not meddle with
Sir Launcelot. And so there was hurtling here and there. And then king
Arthur sent out many knights of the Table Round. And Sir Palamides was
ever in the foremost front. And Sir Tristram did so strongly well that
the king and all other had marvel. And then the king let blow to
lodging. And because Sir Palamides began first, and never he went nor
rode out of the field to repose, but ever he was doing marvellously
well, either on foot or on horseback, and longest enduring, king Arthur
and all the kings gave Sir Palamides the honour and the gree as for
that day. Then Sir Tristram commanded Sir Dinadan to fetch the queen La
Beale Isoud, and bring her to his two pavilions that stood by the well.
And so Dinadan did as he was commanded. But when Sir Palamides
understood and wist that Sir Tristram was in the red armour, and on the
red horse, wit ye well that he was glad, and so was Sir Gareth, and Sir
Dinadan. For they all wend that Sir Tristram had been taken prisoner.
And then every knight drew to his inn. And then king Arthur and every
knight spake of those knights. But above all men they gave Sir
Palamides the prize, and all knights that knew Sir Palamides had wonder
of his deeds. Sir, said Sir Launcelot unto Arthur, as for Sir
Palamides, and he be the green knight, I dare say as for this day he is
best worthy to have the degree, for he reposed him never, ne never
changed his weeds. And he began first and longest held on. And yet well
I wot, said Sir Launcelot, that there was a better knight than he, and
that shall be proved or we depart, upon pain of my life. Thus they
talked on either party, and so Sir Dinadan railed with Sir Tristram and
said, What the devil is upon thee this day, for Sir Palamides’ strength
feebled never this day, but ever he doubled his strength.
CHAP. LXXII.
_How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well._
And thou Sir Tristram faredst all this day as though thou hadst been
asleep, and therefore I call thee coward. Well, Dinadan, said Sir
Tristram, I was never called coward or now, of none earthly knight, in
my life: and, wit thou well, sir, I call myself never the more coward
though Sir Launcelot gave me a fall, for I outcept him of all knights.
And doubt ye not, Sir Dinadan, and Sir Launcelot have a quarrel good,
he is too over good for any knight that now is living; and yet of his
sufferance, largesse, bounty, and courtesy, I call him knight peerless.
And so Sir Tristram was in manner wroth with Sir Dinadan. But all this
language Sir Dinadan said because he would anger Sir Tristram, for to
cause him to awake his spirits, and to be wroth. For well knew Sir
Dinadan that and Sir Tristram were thoroughly wroth, Sir Palamides
should not get the prize upon the morn. And for this intent Sir Dinadan
said all this railing and language against Sir Tristram. Truly, said
Sir Palamides, as for Sir Launcelot, of his noble knighthood, courtesy,
and prowess, and gentleness, I know not his peer: for this day, said
Sir Palamides, I did full uncourteously unto Sir Launcelot, and full
unknightly, and full knightly and courteously he did to me again: for
and he had been as ungentle to me as I was to him, this day I had won
no worship. And therefore, said Palamides, I shall be Sir Launcelot’s
knight whiles my life lasteth. This talking was in the houses of kings.
But all kings, lords, and knights said, of clear knighthood and pure
strength, of bounty, and courtesy, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram bare
the prize above all knights that ever were in Arthur’s days. And there
were never knights in Arthur’s days did half so many deeds as they did:
as the book saith, no ten knights did not half the deeds that they did;
and there was never knight in their days that required Sir Launcelot or
Sir Tristram of any quest, so it were not to their shame, but they
performed their desire.
CHAP. LXXIII.
_How king Arthur and Sir Launcelot came to see La Beale Isoud, and how
Palamides smote down king Arthur._
So on the morn Sir Launcelot departed, and Sir Tristram was ready, and
La Beale Isoud with Sir Palamides and Sir Gareth. And so they rode all
in green, full freshly beseen, unto the forest. And Sir Tristram left
Sir Dinadan sleeping in his bed. And so as they rode, it happed the
king and Launcelot stood in a window, and saw Sir Tristram ride and
Isoud. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, yonder rideth the fairest lady of the
world, except your queen dame Guenever. Who is that? said Sir Arthur.
Sir, said he, it is queen Isoud, that, out-taken my lady your queen,
she is matchless. Take your horse, said Arthur, and array you at all
rights, as I will do, and I promise you, said the king, I will see her.
Then anon they were armed and horsed, and either took a spear and rode
unto the forest. Sir, said Launcelot, it is not good that ye go too
nigh them, for wit ye well there are two as good knights as now are
living; and therefore, Sir, I pray you be not too hasty. For
peradventure there will be some knights be displeased and we come
suddenly upon them. As for that, said Arthur, I will see her, for I
take no force whom I grieve. Sir, said Launcelot, ye put yourself in
great jeopardy. As for that, said the king, we will take the adventure.
Right so anon the king rode even to her, and saluted her, and said, God
you save. Sir, said she, ye are welcome. Then the king beheld her, and
liked her wonderly well. With that came Sir Palamides unto Arthur and
said, Uncourteous knight, what seeketh thou here? Thou art uncourteous,
to come upon a lady thus suddenly; therefore withdraw thee. Sir Arthur
took none heed of Sir Palamides’ words, but ever he looked still upon
queen Isoud. Then was Sir Palamides wroth, and therewith he took a
spear and came hurtling upon king Arthur, and smote him down with a
spear. When Sir Launcelot saw that despite of Sir Palamides, he said to
himself, I am loth to have ado with yonder knight, and not for his own
sake but for Sir Tristram. And one thing I am sure of, if I smite down
Sir Palamides I must have ado with Sir Tristram, and that were over
much for me to match them both, for they are two noble knights:
notwithstanding, whether I live or die, needs must I revenge my lord,
and so will I whatsoever befal of me. And therewith Sir Launcelot cried
to Sir Palamides, Keep thee from me! And then Sir Launcelot and Sir
Palamides rashed together with two spears strongly. But Sir Launcelot
smote Sir Palamides so hard that he went quite out of his saddle, and
had a great fall. When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palamides have that fall,
he said to Sir Launcelot, Sir knight keep thee, for I must just with
thee. As for to just with me, said Sir Launcelot, I will not fail you
for no dread I have of you, but I am loth to have ado with you and I
might choose: for I will that ye wit that I must revenge my special
lord, that was unhorsed unwarily and unknightly. And therefore, though
I have revenged that fall, take ye no displeasure therein, for he is to
me such a friend that I may not see him shamed. Anon Sir Tristram
understood by his person and by his knightly words that it was Sir
Launcelot du Lake, and verily Sir Tristram deemed that it was king
Arthur, he that Sir Palamides had smitten down.
And then Sir Tristram put his spear from him, and put Sir Palamides
again on horseback; and Sir Launcelot put king Arthur on horseback, and
so departed. Truly, said Sir Tristram unto Palamides, ye did not
worshipfully when ye smote down that knight so suddenly as ye did. And
wit ye well ye did yourself great shame: for the knights came hither of
their gentleness to see a fair lady, and that is every good knight’s
part to behold a fair lady, and ye had not ado to play such masteries
afore my lady. Wit thou well it will turn to anger, for he that ye
smote down was king Arthur, and that other was the good knight Sir
Launcelot. But I shall not forget the words of Sir Launcelot, when that
he called him a man of great worship: thereby I wist that it was king
Arthur. And as for Sir Launcelot, and there had been five hundred
knights in the meadow he would not have refused them, and yet he said
he would refuse me: by that again I wist that it was Sir Launcelot, for
ever he forbeareth me in every place, and sheweth me great kindness;
and of all knights—I out-take none, say what men will say—he beareth
the flower of all chivalry, say it him whosoever will, and he be well
angered, and that him list to do his utterance without any favour, I
know him not on live but Sir Launcelot is over hard for him, be it on
horseback or on foot. I may never believe, said Sir Palamides, that
king Arthur will ride so privily as a poor errant knight. Ah, said Sir
Tristram, ye know not my lord Arthur, for all knights may learn to be a
knight of him. And therefore ye may be sorry, said Sir Tristram, of
your unkindly deeds to so noble a king. And a thing that is done may
not be undone, said Sir Palamides. Then Sir Tristram sent queen Isoud
unto her lodging in the priory, there to behold all the tournament.
CHAP. LXXIV.
_How the second day Palamides forsook Sir Tristram, and went to the
contrary part against him._
Then there was a cry unto all knights, that when they heard an horn
blow they should make justs as they did the first day. And like as the
brethren Sir Edward and Sir Sadok began the justs the first day, Sir
Uwaine, the king’s son Urein, and Sir Lucanere de Buttelere, began the
justs the second day. And at the first encounter Sir Uwaine smote down
the king’s son of Scots, and Sir Lucanere ran against the king of
Wales, and they brake their spears all to pieces, and they were so
fierce both, that they hurtled together that both fell to the earth.
Then they of Orkney horsed again Sir Lucanere. And then came in Sir
Tristram de Liones; and then Sir Tristram smote down Sir Uwaine and Sir
Lucanere; and Sir Palamides smote down other two knights; and Sir
Gareth smote down other two knights. Then said Sir Arthur unto Sir
Launcelot, See yonder three knights do passing well, and namely the
first that justed. Sir, said Launcelot, that knight began not yet, but
ye shall see him this day do marvellously. And then came into the place
the duke’s son of Orkney, and then they began to do many deeds of arms.
When Sir Tristram saw them so begin, he said to Palamides, How feel ye
yourself? may ye do this day as ye did yesterday? Nay, said Palamides,
I feel myself so weary and so sore bruised of the deeds of yesterday,
that I may not endure as I did yesterday. That me repenteth, said Sir
Tristram, for I shall lack you this day. Sir Palamides said, Trust not
to me, for I may not do as I did. All these words said Palamides for to