Le Morte Darthur
the degree, and on the other side all the people gave to the noble
knight Sir Tristram the honour and the degree. But Launcelot said nay
thereto:—For I am not worthy to have this honour, for I will report me
unto all knights that Sir Tristram hath been longer in the field than
I, and he hath smitten down many more knights this day than I have
done; and therefore I will give Sir Tristram my voice and my name, and
so I pray all my lords and fellows so to do. Then there was the whole
voice of dukes and earls, barons and knights, that Sir Tristram this
day is proved the best knight.
CHAP. LXXVII.
_How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud, and how Palamides
followed and excused him._
Then they blew unto lodging, and queen Isoud was led unto her
pavilions. But wit you well she was wroth out of measure with Sir
Palamides, for she saw all his treason from the beginning to the
ending. And all this while neither Sir Tristram, neither Sir Gareth,
nor Dinadan, knew not of the treason of Sir Palamides. But afterward ye
shall hear that there befel the greatest debate betwixt Sir Tristram
and Sir Palamides that might be. So when the tournament was done, Sir
Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan rode with La Beale Isoud to these
pavilions. And ever Sir Palamides rode with them in their company
disguised as he was. But when Sir Tristram had espied him, that he was
the same knight with the shield of silver that held him so hot that
day, Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, wit you well here is none that hath
need of your fellowship, and therefore I pray you depart from us. Sir
Palamides answered again, as though he had not known Sir Tristram, Wit
ye well, sir knight, from this fellowship will I never depart, for one
of the best knights of the world commanded me to be in this company,
and till he discharge me of my service I will not be discharged. By
that Sir Tristram knew that it was Sir Palamides. Ah Sir Palamides,
said the noble knight Sir Tristram, are ye such a knight? Ye have been
named wrong, for ye have long been called a gentle knight, and as this
day ye have shewed me great ungentleness, for ye had almost brought me
unto my death. But as for you I suppose I should have done well enough,
but Sir Launcelot with you was overmuch, for I know no knight living
but Sir Launcelot is over good for him, and he will do his uttermost.
Alas, said Sir Palamides, are ye my lord Sir Tristram? Yea, sir, and
that ye know well enough. By my knighthood, said Palamides, until now I
knew you not, for I wend that ye had been the king of Ireland, for well
I wot that ye bare his arms. His arms I bare, said Sir Tristram, and
that will I stand by, for I won them once in a field of a full noble
knight, his name was Sir Marhaus, and with great pain I won that
knight, for there was none other recover, but Sir Marhaus died through
false leeches, and yet was he never yielden to me. Sir, said Palamides,
I wend ye had been turned upon Sir Launcelot’s party, and that caused
me to turn. Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, and so I take you, and I
forgive you. So then they rode into their pavilions, and when they were
alight they unarmed them, and washed their faces and hands, and so went
to meat, and were set at their table. But when Isoud saw Sir Palamides
she changed then her colours, and for wrath she might not speak. Anon
Sir Tristram espied her countenance, and said, Madam, for what cause
make ye us such cheer? we have been sore travailed this day. Mine own
lord, said La Beale Isoud, be ye not displeased with me, for I may none
otherwise do, for I saw this day how ye were betrayed, and nigh brought
to your death. Truly, sir, I saw every deal, how, and in what wise; and
therefore, sir, how should I suffer in your presence such a felon and
traitor as Sir Palamides. For I saw him with mine eyes how he beheld
you when ye went out of the field. For ever he hoved still upon his
horse till he saw you come in againward. And then forthwithal I saw him
ride to the hurt knight, and change harness with him, and then straight
I saw him how he rode into the field. And anon as he had found you he
encountered with you, and thus wilfully Sir Palamides did battle with
you, and as for him, sir, I was not greatly afeard, but I dread sore
Launcelot, that knew you not. Madam, said Palamides, ye may say what so
ye will, I may not contrary you, but by my knighthood I knew not Sir
Tristram. Sir Palamides, said Sir Tristram, I will take your excuse,
but well I wot ye spared me but little, but all is pardoned on my part.
Then La Beale Isoud held down her head, and said no more at that time.
CHAP. LXXVIII.
_How king Arthur and Sir Launcelot came into their pavilions as they
sat at supper; and of Palamides._
And therewithal two knights armed came unto the pavilion, and there
they alight both, and came in armed at all pieces. Fair knights, said
Sir Tristram, ye are to blame to come thus armed at all pieces upon me
while we are at our meat. If ye would anything, when we were in the
field there might ye have eased your hearts. Not so, said the one of
those knights, we come not for that intent; but wit ye well, Sir
Tristram, we be come hither as your friends. And I am come here, said
the one, for to see you, and this knight is come for to see La Beale
Isoud. Then, said Sir Tristram, I require you do off your helms, that I
may see you. That will we do at your desire, said the knights. And when
their helms were off, Sir Tristram thought he should know them. Then
said Sir Dinadan privily unto Sir Tristram, Sir, that is Sir Launcelot
du Lake that spake unto you first, and the other is my lord king
Arthur. Then said Sir Tristram unto La Beale Isoud, Madam, arise, for
here is my lord king Arthur. Then the king and the queen kissed, and
Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram braced either other in arms, and then
there was joy without measure, and at the request of La Beale Isoud
king Arthur and Launcelot were unarmed. And then there was merry
talking.
Madam, said Sir Arthur, it is many a day sithen that I have desired to
see you. For ye have been praised so far, and now I dare say ye are the
fairest that ever I saw; and Sir Tristram is as fair and as good a
knight as any that I know, therefore me beseemeth ye are well beset
together. Sir, I thank you, said the noble knight Sir Tristram, and
Isoud; of your great goodness and largesse ye are peerless. Thus they
talked of many things, and of all the whole justs. But for what cause,
said king Arthur, were ye, Sir Tristram, against us? Ye are a knight of
the Table Round; of right ye should have been with us. Sir, said Sir
Tristram, here is Dinadan and Sir Gareth your own nephew caused me to
be against you. My lord Arthur, said Gareth, I may well bear the blame,
but it were Sir Tristram’s own deeds. That may I repent, said Sir
Dinadan, for this unhappy Sir Tristram brought us to this tournament,
and many great buffets he caused us to have. Then the king and
Launcelot laughed that they might not sit. What knight was that, said
Arthur, that held you so short, this with the shield of silver? Sir,
said Sir Tristram, here he sitteth at this board. What, said Arthur,
was it Sir Palamides? Wit ye well it was he, said La Beale Isoud.
Truly, said Arthur, that was unknightly done of you of so good a
knight, for I have heard many people call you a courteous knight. Sir,
said Palamides I knew not Sir Tristram, for he was so disguised. Truly,
said Launcelot, it may well be, for I knew not Sir Tristram, but I
marvel why ye turned on our party. That was done for the same cause,
said Launcelot. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I have pardoned him,
and I would be right loth to leave his fellowship, for I love right
well his company. So they left off, and talked of other things. And in
the evening king Arthur and Sir Launcelot departed unto their lodging.
But wit ye well Sir Palamides had envy heartily, for all that night he
had never rest in his bed, but wailed and wept out of measure. So on
the morn Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan arose early, and then they
went unto Sir Palamides’ chamber, and there they found him fast on
sleep, for he had all night watched. And it was seen upon his cheeks
that he had wept full sore. Say nothing, said Sir Tristram, for I am
sure he hath taken anger and sorrow for the rebuke that I gave to him,
and La Beale Isoud.
CHAP. LXXIX.
_How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides did the next day, and how king
Arthur was unhorsed._
Then Sir Tristram let call Sir Palamides, and bade him make him ready,
for it was time to go to the field. When they were ready they were
armed and clothed all in red, both Isoud and all they. And so they led
her passing freshly through the field, into the priory where was her
lodging. And then they heard three blasts blow, and every king and
knight dressed him unto the field; and the first that was ready to just
was Sir Palamides and Sir Kainus le Strange, a knight of the Table
Round. And so they two encountered together, but Sir Palamides smote
Sir Kainus so hard, that he smote him quite over his horse croup: and
forth withal Sir Palamides smote down another knight, and brake then
his spear, and pulled out his sword and did wonderly well. And then the
noise began greatly upon Sir Palamides. Lo, said king Arthur, yonder
Palamides beginneth to play his pageant. Truly, said Arthur, he is a
passing good knight. And right as they stood talking thus, in came Sir
Tristram as thunder, and he encountered Sir Kay the seneschal, and
there he smote him down quite from his horse, and with that same spear
Sir Tristram smote down three knights more; and then he pulled out his
sword and did marvellously. Then the noise and cry changed from Sir
Palamides and turned to Sir Tristram, and all the people cried, O
Tristram! O Tristram! And then was Sir Palamides clean forgotten. How
now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, yonder rideth a knight that playeth
his pageants. Truly, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye shall see this day
that yonder two knights shall here do this day wonders. Sir, said
Launcelot, the one knight waiteth upon the other, and enforceth himself
through envy to pass the noble knight Sir Tristram, and he knoweth not
of the privy envy the which Sir Palamides hath to him. For all that the
noble Sir Tristram doth is through clean knighthood. And then Sir
Gareth and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of arms as two noble
knights, so that king Arthur spake of them great honour and worship;
and the kings and knights of Sir Tristram’s side did passing well, and
held them truly together. Then Sir Arthur and Sir Launcelot took their
horses and dressed them, and gat into the thickest of the press. And
there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down king Arthur, and then Sir
Launcelot would have rescued him, but there were so many upon Sir
Launcelot that they pulled him down from his horse. And then the king
of Ireland and the king of Scots, with their knights, did their pain to
take king Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner. When Sir Launcelot heard
them say so, he fared as it had been an hungry lion, for he fared so
that no knight durst nigh him. Then came Sir Ector de Maris, and he
bare a spear against Sir Palamides, and brake it upon him all to
shivers. And then Sir Ector came again, and gave Sir Palamides such a
dash with a sword that he stooped down upon his saddle-bow. And forth
withal Sir Ector pulled down Sir Palamides under his feet. And then Sir
Ector de Maris gat Sir Launcelot du Lake an horse, and brought it to
him, and bad him mount upon him. But Sir Palamides lept afore, and gat
the horse by the bridle, and lept into the saddle. Truly, said
Launcelot, ye are better worthy to have that horse than I. Then Sir