Le Morte Darthur
Ector brought Sir Launcelot another horse. Gramercy, said Launcelot
unto his brother. And so when he was horsed again, with one spear he
smote down four knights. And then Sir Launcelot brought to king Arthur
one of the best of the four horses. Then Sir Launcelot with king Arthur
and a few of his knights of Sir Launcelot’s kin, did marvellous deeds;
for that time, as the book recordeth, Sir Launcelot smote down and
pulled down thirty knights. Notwithstanding, the other part held them
so fast together that king Arthur and his knights were overmatched. And
when Sir Tristram saw that, what labour king Arthur and his knights, in
especial the noble deeds that Sir Launcelot did with his own hands, he
marvelled greatly.
CHAP. LXXX.
_How Sir Tristram turned to king Arthur’s side, and how Sir Palamides
would not._
Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Palamides, Sir Gareth, and Sir
Dinadan, and said thus to them, My fair fellows, wit ye well that I
will turn unto king Arthur’s party, for I saw never so few men do so
well, and it will be shame unto us knights that be of the Round Table
to see our lord king Arthur, and that noble knight Sir Launcelot, to be
dishonoured. It will be well done, said Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan. Do
your best, said Palamides, for I will not change my party that I came
in withal. That is for my sake, said Sir Tristram: speed you well in
your journey. And so departed Sir Palamides from them. Then Sir
Tristram, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan, turned with Sir Launcelot. And
then Sir Launcelot smote down the king of Ireland quite from his horse;
and so Sir Launcelot smote down the king of Scots, and the king of
Wales. And then Sir Arthur ran unto Sir Palamides, and smote him quite
from his horse. And then Sir Tristram bare down all that he met. Sir
Gareth and Sir Dinadan did there as noble knights. Then all the parties
began to flee. Alas, said Palamides, that ever I should see this day,
for now have I lost all the worship that I wan. And then Sir Palamides
went his way wailing, and so withdrew him till he came to a well, and
there he put his horse from him, and did off his armour, and wailed and
wept like as he had been a wood man.
Then many knights gave the prize to Sir Tristram, and there were many
that gave the prize unto Sir Launcelot. Fair lords, said Sir Tristram,
I thank you of the honour ye would give me, but I pray you heartily
that ye would give your voice to Sir Launcelot, for by my faith, said
Sir Tristram, I will give Sir Launcelot my voice. But Sir Launcelot
would not have it. And so the prize was given betwixt them both. Then
every man rode to his lodging. And Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector rode
with Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud unto her pavilions. Then as Sir
Palamides was at the well, wailing and weeping, there came by him
fleeing the king of Wales, and of Scotland, and they saw Sir Palamides
in that rage. Alas, said they, that so noble a man as ye be should be
in this array. And then those kings gat Sir Palamides’ horse again, and
made him to arm him and mount upon his horse, and so he rode with them,
making great dole. So when Sir Palamides came nigh the pavilions there
as Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud were in, then Sir Palamides prayed
the two kings to abide him there the while that he spake with Sir
Tristram. And when he came to the port of the pavilions, Sir Palamides
said on high, Where art thou, Sir Tristram de Liones? Sir, said
Dinadan, that is Palamides. What, Sir Palamides, will ye not come in
here among us? Fie on thee traitor, said Sir Palamides, for wit you
well, and it were daylight as it is night, I would slay thee with mine
own hands. And if ever I may get thee, said Palamides, thou shalt die
for this day’s deed. Sir Palamides, said Sir Tristram, ye blame me with
wrong, for had ye done as I did ye had won worship. But since ye give
me so large warning I shall be well ware of you. Fie on thee traitor,
said Palamides, and therewith departed. Then on the morn Sir Tristram,
Bleoberis, and Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Gareth, Sir Dinadan, what by
water and what by land, they brought La Beale Isoud unto Joyous Gard,
and there reposed them a seven night, and made all the mirths and
disports that they could devise. And king Arthur and his knights drew
unto Camelot, and Sir Palamides rode with the two kings; and ever he
made the greatest dole that any man could think. For he was not all
only so dolorous for the departing from La Beale Isoud, but he was a
part as sorrowful to depart from the fellowship of Sir Tristram, for
Sir Tristram was so kind and so gentle that when Sir Palamides
remembered him thereof he might never be merry.
CHAP. LXXXI.
_How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector reported to queen Guenever of the
beauty of La Beale Isoud._
So at the seven night’s end Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector departed from
Sir Tristram and from the queen, and these two good knights had great
gifts, and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan abode with Sir Tristram. And when
Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector were come there as the queen Guenever was
lodged in a castle by the sea side, and through the grace of God the
queen was recovered from her malady, then she asked the two knights
from whence they came. They said they came from Sir Tristram and from
La Beale Isoud. How doth Sir Tristram, said the queen, and La Beale
Isoud? Truly, said those two knights, he doth as a noble knight should
do, and as for the queen Isoud, she is peerless of all ladies; for to
speak of her beauty, bounty, and mirth, and of her goodness, we saw
never her match as far as we have ridden and gone. Oh mercy, said queen
Guenever, so saith all the people that have seen her and spoken with
her. Would that I had part of her conditions. And it is misfortuned me
of my sickness while that tournament endured; and, as I suppose, I
shall never see in all my life such an assembly of knights and ladies
as ye have done. Then the knights told her how Sir Palamides wan the
degree at the first day with great noblesse; and the second day Sir
Tristram wan the degree; and the third day Sir Launcelot wan the
degree. Well, said queen Guenever, who did best all these three days?
Truly, said these knights, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram had least
dishonour. And wit ye well Sir Palamides did passing well and mightily,
but he turned against the party that he came in withal, and that caused
him to lose a great part of his worship, for it seemed that Sir
Palamides is passing envious. Then shall he never win worship, said
queen Guenever, for, and it happeth an envious man once to win worship,
he shall be dishonoured twice therefore. And for this cause all men of
worship hate an envious man, and will shew him no favour. And he that
is courteous, kind, and gentle, hath favour in every place.
CHAP. LXXXII.
_How Sir Palamides complained by a well, and how Epinogris came and
found him, and of their both sorrows._
Now leave we of this matter, and speak we of Sir Palamides that rode
and lodged him with the two kings, whereof the kings were heavy. Then
the king of Ireland sent a man of his to Sir Palamides, and gave him a
great courser. And the king of Scotland gave him great gifts, and fain
they would have had Sir Palamides to have abiden with them, but in no
wise he would abide, and so he departed and rode as adventures would
guide him, till it was nigh noon. And then in a forest by a well Sir
Palamides saw where lay a fair wounded knight, and his horse bound by
him, and that knight made the greatest dole that ever he heard man
make, for ever he wept and sighed as though he would die. Then Sir
Palamides rode near him, and saluted him mildly and said, Fair knight,
why wail ye so? let me lie down and wail with you, for doubt ye not I
am much more heavier than ye are; for I dare say, said Palamides, that
my sorrow is an hundred fold more than yours is, and therefore let us
complain either to other. First, said the wounded knight, I require you
tell me your name, for and thou be none of the noble knights of the
Round Table thou shalt never know my name, whatsoever come of me. Fair
knight, said Palamides, such as I am, be it better or be it worse, wit
thou well that my name is Sir Palamides, son and heir unto king
Astlabor, and Sir Safere and Sir Segwarides are my two brethren, and
wit thou well as for myself I was never christened, but my two brethren
are truly christened. Oh noble knight, said that knight, well is me
that I have met with you, and wit ye well my name is Epinogris, the
king’s son of Northumberland. Now sit down, said Epinogris, and let us
either complain to other. Then Sir Palamides began his complaint. Now
shall I tell you, said Palamides, what woe I endure. I love the fairest
queen and lady that ever bare life, and wit ye well her name is La
Beale Isoud, king Mark’s wife of Cornwall. That is great folly, said
Sir Epinogris, for to love queen Isoud, for one of the best knights of
the world loveth her, that is Sir Tristram de Liones. That is truth,
said Palamides, for no man knoweth that matter better than I do, for I
have been in Sir Tristram’s fellowship this month, and with La Beale
Isoud together; and alas, said Palamides, unhappy man that I am, now
have I lost the fellowship of Sir Tristram for ever, and the love of La
Beale Isoud for ever, and I am never like to see her more, and Sir
Tristram and I be either to other mortal enemies. Well, said Epinogris,
sith that ye loved La Beale Isoud, loved she you ever again, by
anything that ye could think or wit? Nay, by my knighthood, said
Palamides, I never espied that ever she loved me more than all the
world. But the last day she gave me the greatest rebuke that ever I
had, the which shall never go from my heart, and yet I well deserved
that rebuke, for I had not done knightly, and therefore I have lost the
love of her and of Sir Tristram for ever. And I have many times
enforced myself to do many deeds for La Beale Isoud’s sake, and she was
the causer of my worship winning. Alas, said Sir Palamides, now have I
lost all the worship that ever I wan, for never shall me befal such
prowess as I had in the fellowship of Sir Tristram.
CHAP. LXXXIII.
_How Sir Palamides brought to Sir Epinogris his lady; and how Sir
Palamides and Sir Safere were assailed._
Nay, nay, said Epinogris, your sorrow is but a jest to my sorrow, for I
rejoiced my lady and wan her with my hands, and lost her again, alas
that day. Thus first I wan her, said Epinogris: my lady was an earl’s
daughter, and as the earl and two knights came from the tournament of
Lonazep, for her sake I set upon this earl and on his two knights, my
lady there being present, and so by fortune there I slew the earl and
one of the knights, and the other knight fled, and so I had my lady.
And on the morn, as she and I reposed us at this well side, there came
there to me an errant knight, his name was Sir Helior le Preuse, an
hardy knight; and this Sir Helior challenged me to fight for my lady.
And then we went to battle, first upon horse and after on foot. But at
the last Sir Helior wounded me so that he left me for dead, and so he
took my lady with him. And thus my sorrow is more than yours, for I
have rejoiced, and ye rejoiced never. That is truth, said Sir
Palamides, but sith I can never recover myself, I shall promise you, if
I can meet with Sir Helior I shall get you your lady again, or else he
shall beat me. Then Sir Palamides made Sir Epinogris to take his horse,
and so they rode to an hermitage, and there Sir Epinogris rested him.
And in the mean while Sir Palamides walked privily out, to rest him
under the leaves; and there beside he saw a knight come riding with a