Le Morte Darthur
beguile Sir Tristram. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Gareth, then must
I trust upon you; wherefore I pray you be not far from me to rescue me.
And need be, said Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I may do.
Then Sir Palamides rode by himself, and then in despite of Sir Tristram
he put himself in the thickest press among them of Orkney: and there he
did so marvellous deeds of arms that all men had wonder of him, for
there might none stand him a stroke. When Sir Tristram saw Sir
Palamides do such deeds he marvelled, and said to himself, He is weary
of my company. So Sir Tristram beheld him a great while, and did but
little else, for the noise and cry was so huge and great that Sir
Tristram marvelled from whence came the strength that Sir Palamides had
there in the field. Sir, said Sir Gareth unto Sir Tristram, remember ye
not of the words that Sir Dinadan said to you yesterday, when he called
you coward? For sooth, Sir, he said it for none ill; for ye are the man
in the world that he most loveth, and all that he said was for your
worship. And therefore, said Sir Gareth to Sir Tristram, let me know
this day what ye be; and wonder ye not so upon Sir Palamides, for he
enforceth himself to win all the worship and honour from you. I may
well believe it, said Sir Tristram, and since I understand his evil
will and his envy ye shall see, if that I enforce myself, that the
noise shall be left that now is upon him.
Then Sir Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, and then he did
so marvellously well, and did so great deeds of arms, that all men said
that Sir Tristram did double so much deeds of arms that Sir Palamides
had done aforehand. And then the noise went plain from Sir Palamides,
and all the people cried upon Sir Tristram. See, said the people, how
Sir Tristram smiteth down with his spear so many knights. And see, said
they all, how many knights he smiteth down with his sword, and of how
many knights he rashed off their helms and their shields. And so he
beat them all of Orkney afore him. How now, said Sir Launcelot unto
king Arthur, I told you that this day there would a knight play his
pageant. Yonder rideth a knight ye may see he doth knightly, for he
hath strength and wind. Truly, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye say sooth,
for I saw never a better knight, for he passeth far Sir Palamides. Sir,
wit ye well, said Launcelot, it must be so of right, for it is himself
that noble knight Sir Tristram. I may right well believe it, said
Arthur. But when Sir Palamides heard the noise and the cry was turned
from him he rode out on a part, and beheld Sir Tristram. And when Sir
Palamides saw Sir Tristram do so marvellously well, he wept passingly
sore for despite, for he wist well he should no worship win that day.
For well knew Sir Palamides, when Sir Tristram would put forth his
strength and his manhood, he should get but little worship that day.
CHAP. LXXV.
_How Sir Tristram departed out of the field, and awaked Sir Dinadan,
and changed his array into black._
Then came king Arthur, and the king of Northgalis, and Sir Launcelot du
Lake, and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these
three knights came into the field with Sir Launcelot. And then Sir
Launcelot with the three knights of his kin did so great deeds of arms,
that all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot. And so they beat the king
of Wales and the king of Scots far aback, and made them to avoid the
field. But Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field, and
endured all that ever there came, that all men had wonder that any
knight might endure so many strokes. But ever Sir Launcelot and his
three kinsmen, by the commandment of Sir Launcelot, forbare Sir
Tristram. Then said Sir Arthur, Is that Sir Palamides that endureth so
well? Nay, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well it is the good knight Sir
Tristram, for yonder ye may see Sir Palamides beholdeth, and hoveth,
and doth little or nought. And, sir, ye shall understand that Sir
Tristram weeneth this day to beat us all out of the field. And as for
me, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not beat him, beat him who so will.
Sir, said Launcelot unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Palamides hoveth
yonder as though he were in a dream; wit ye well he is full heavy that
Tristram doth such deeds of arms. Then is he but a fool, said Arthur,
for never was Sir Palamides, nor never shall be, of such prowess as Sir
Tristram. And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram, and cometh in with
him upon his side, he is a false knight. As the king and Sir Launcelot
thus spake, Sir Tristram rode privily out of the press, that none
espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palamides, for they two would not
let of their eyes upon Sir Tristram.
And when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions, he found Sir Dinadan in
his bed asleep. Awake, said Tristram, ye ought to be ashamed so to
sleep, when knights have ado in the field. Then Sir Dinadan arose
lightly, and said, What will ye that I shall do? Make you ready, said
Sir Tristram, to ride with me into the field. So when Sir Dinadan was
armed he looked upon Sir Tristram’s helm and on his shield, and when he
saw so many strokes upon his helm and upon his shield, he said, In good
time was I thus asleep; for had I been with you I must needs for shame
there have followed you, more for shame than any prowess that is in me,
that I see well now by those strokes, that I should have been truly
beaten as I was yesterday. Leave your jests, said Sir Tristram, and
come off, that we were in the field again. What, said Sir Dinadan, is
your heart up? Yesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed. So then Sir
Tristram was arrayed in black harness. Oh, said Sir Dinadan, what
aileth you this day? me seemeth ye be wilder than ye were yesterday.
Then smiled Sir Tristram, and said to Dinadan, Await well upon me: if
ye see me over-matched look that ye be ever behind me, and I shall make
you ready way. So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their horses. All
this espied Sir Palamides, both their going and their coming, and so
did La Beale Isoud, for she knew Sir Tristram above all other.
CHAP. LXXVI.
_How Sir Palamides changed his shield and his armour for to hurt Sir
Tristram, and how Sir Launcelot did to Sir Tristram._
Then when Sir Palamides saw that Sir Tristram was disguised, then he
thought to do him a shame. So Sir Palamides rode to a knight that was
sore wounded, that sat under a fair well from the field. Sir knight,
said Sir Palamides, I pray you to lend me your armour and your shield,
for mine is over well known in this field, and that hath done me great
damage, and ye shall have mine armour and my shield, that is as sure as
yours. I will well, said the knight, that ye have mine armour and my
shield, if they may do you any avail. So Sir Palamides armed him
hastily in that knight’s armour, and his shield that shone as any
crystal or silver, and so he came riding into the field. And then there
was neither Sir Tristram nor none of king Arthur’s party that knew Sir
Palamides. And right so as Sir Palamides was come into the field Sir
Tristram smote down three knights, even in the sight of Sir Palamides.
And then Sir Palamides rode against Sir Tristram, and either met other
with great spears, that they brast to their hands. And then they dashed
together with swords eagerly. Then Sir Tristram had marvel what knight
he was that did battle so knightly with him. Then was Sir Tristram
wroth, for he felt him passing strong, so that he deemed he might not
have ado with the remnant of the knights, because of the strength of
Sir Palamides. So they lashed together, and gave many sad strokes
together, and many knights marvelled what knight he might be that so
encountered with the black knight, Sir Tristram. Full well knew La
Beale Isoud that there was Sir Palamides that fought with Sir Tristram,
for she espied all in her window where that she stood, as Sir Palamides
changed his harness with the wounded knight. And then she began to weep
so heartily for the despite of Sir Palamides that there she swooned.
Then came in Sir Launcelot with the knights of Orkney; and when the
other party had espied Sir Launcelot they cried, Return, return, here
cometh Sir Launcelot du Lake. So there came knights and said, Sir
Launcelot, ye must needs fight with yonder knight in the black harness
(that was Sir Tristram), for he hath almost overcome that good knight
that fighteth with him with the silver shield (that was Sir Palamides).
Then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides, and Sir
Launcelot said to Palamides, Sir knight, let me have the battle, for ye
have need to be reposed. Sir Palamides knew Sir Launcelot well, and so
did Sir Tristram. But because Sir Launcelot was a far hardier knight
than himself therefore he was glad, and suffered Sir Launcelot to fight
with Sir Tristram. For well wist he that Sir Launcelot knew not Sir
Tristram, and there he hoped that Sir Launcelot should beat or shame
Sir Tristram, whereof Sir Palamides was full fain. And so Sir Launcelot
gave Sir Tristram many sad strokes, but Sir Launcelot knew not Sir
Tristram, but Sir Tristram knew well Sir Launcelot. And thus they
fought long together, that La Beale Isoud was well out of her mind for
sorrow. Then Sir Dinadan told Sir Gareth how that knight in the black
harness was Sir Tristram, and this is Launcelot that fighteth with him,
that must needs have the better of him, for Sir Tristram hath had too
much travail this day. Then let us smite him down, said Sir Gareth. So
it is better that we do, said Sir Dinadan, than Sir Tristram be shamed.
For yonder hoveth the strong knight with the silver shield to fall upon
Sir Tristram if need be. Then forthwithal Gareth rushed upon Sir
Launcelot, and gave him a great stroke upon his helm so hard that he
was astonied. And then came Sir Dinadan with a spear, and he smote Sir
Launcelot such a buffet that horse and all fell to the earth. Alas,
said Sir Tristram to Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan, fie for shame, why did
ye smite down so good a knight as he is, and namely when I had ado with
him? Now ye do yourself great shame, and him no dis-worship: for I held
him reasonable hot though ye had not holpen me. Then came Sir Palamides
that was disguised, and smote down Sir Dinadan from his horse. Then Sir
Launcelot, because Sir Dinadan had smitten him aforehand, then Sir
Launcelot assailed Sir Dinadan passing sore, and Sir Dinadan defended
him mightily. But well understood Sir Tristram that Sir Dinadan might
not endure Sir Launcelot, wherefore Sir Tristram was sorry. Then came
Sir Palamides fresh upon Sir Tristram. And when Sir Tristram saw him
come, he thought to deliver him at once, because that he would help Sir
Dinadan, because he stood in great peril with Sir Launcelot. Then Sir
Tristram hurtled unto Sir Palamides, and gave him a great buffet, and
then Sir Tristram gat Sir Palamides, and pulled him down underneath
him. And so fell Sir Tristram with him, and Sir Tristram lept up
lightly, and left Sir Palamides, and went betwixt Sir Launcelot and
Dinadan, and then they began to do battle together. Right so Sir
Dinadan gat Sir Tristram’s horse, and said on high, that Sir Launcelot
might hear it, My lord Sir Tristram, take your horse. And when Sir
Launcelot heard him name Sir Tristram, Alas, said Sir Launcelot, what
have I done? I am dishonoured. Ah, my lord Sir Tristram, said
Launcelot, why were ye disguised? ye have put yourself in great peril
this day. But, I pray you, noble knight, to pardon me, for and I had
known you we had not done this battle. Sir, said Sir Tristram, this is
not the first kindness ye shewed me. So they were both horsed again.
Then all the people on the one side gave Sir Launcelot the honour and