Le Morte Darthur
shield that he had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear aforehand, and there
came after him a ten knights, and so these ten knights hoved under the
leaves for heat. And anon after there came a knight, with a green
shield and therein a white lion, leading a lady upon a palfrey. Then
this knight with the green shield, that seemed to be master of the ten
knights, he rode fiercely after Sir Helior; for it was he that hurt Sir
Epinogris. And when he came nigh Sir Helior he bad him defend his lady.
I will defend her, said Helior, unto my power. And so they ran together
so mightily that either of these two knights smote other down, horse
and all, to the earth, and then they wan up lightly and drew their
swords and their shields, and lashed together mightily more than an
hour. All this Sir Palamides saw and beheld, but ever at the last the
knight with Sir Ector’s shield was bigger, and at the last this knight
smote Sir Helior down, and then that knight unlaced his helm, to have
stricken off his head. And then he cried mercy, and prayed him to save
his life, and bad him take his lady.
Then Sir Palamides dressed him up, because he wist well that that same
lady was Epinogris’ lady, and he promised him to help him. Then Sir
Palamides went straight to that lady, and took her by the hand, and
asked her whether she knew a knight that hight Epinogris. Alas, she
said, that ever he knew me, or I him, for I have for his sake lost my
worship, and also his life grieveth me most of all. Not so, lady, said
Palamides, come on with me, for here is Epinogris in this hermitage.
Ah, well is me, said the lady, and he be on live. Whither wilt thou
with that lady? said the knight with Sir Ector’s shield. I will do with
her what me list, said Palamides. Wit you well, said that knight, thou
speakest over large, though thou seemest me to have at advantage,
because thou sawest me do battle but late. Thou weenest, sir knight, to
have that lady away from me so lightly; nay, think it never not, and
thou were as good a knight as is Sir Launcelot, or as is Sir Tristram,
or Sir Palamides, but thou shalt win her dearer than ever did I. And so
they went unto battle upon foot, and there they gave many sad strokes,
and either wounded other passing sore; and thus they fought still more
than an hour. Then Sir Palamides had marvel what knight he might be
that was so strong and so well breathed during, and thus said
Palamides: Knight, I require thee tell me thy name. Wit thou well, said
that knight, I dare tell thee my name, so that thou wilt tell me thy
name. I will, said Palamides. Truly, said that knight, my name is
Safere, son of king Astlabor, and Sir Palamides and Sir Segwarides are
my brethren. Now, and wit thou well my name is Sir Palamides. Then Sir
Safere kneeled down upon his knees, and prayed him of mercy; and then
they unlaced their helms, and either kissed other weeping. And in the
mean while Sir Epinogris arose out of his bed, and heard them by the
strokes, and so he armed him to help Sir Palamides if need were.
CHAP. LXXXIV.
_How Sir Palamides and Sir Safere conducted Sir Epinogris to his
castle, and of other adventures._
Then Sir Palamides took the lady by the hand and brought her to Sir
Epinogris, and there was great joy betwixt them, for either swooned for
joy. When they were met,—Fair knight and lady, said Sir Safere, it
were pity to depart you, Heaven send you joy either of other. Gramercy,
gentle knight, said Epinogris, and much more thank be to my lord Sir
Palamides, that thus hath through his prowess made me to get my lady.
Then Sir Epinogris required Sir Palamides and Sir Safere his brother to
ride with them unto his castle, for the safeguard of his person. Sir,
said Palamides, we will be ready to conduct you, because that ye are
sore wounded. And so was Epinogris and his lady horsed, and his lady
behind him, upon a soft ambler.
And then they rode unto his castle, where they had great cheer, and joy
as great as ever Sir Palamides and Sir Safere ever had in their life
days. So on the morn Sir Safere and Sir Palamides departed, and rode as
fortune led them: and so they rode all that day until afternoon. And at
the last they heard a great weeping and a great noise down in a manor.
Sir, said then Sir Safere, let us wit what noise this is. I will well,
said Sir Palamides. And so they rode forth till that they came to a
fair gate of a manor, and there sat an old man saying his prayers and
beads. Then Sir Palamides and Sir Safere alight, and left their horses,
and went within the gates, and there they saw full many goodly men
weeping. Fair sirs, said Sir Palamides, wherefore weep ye, and make
this sorrow? Anon one of the knights of the castle beheld Sir Palamides
and knew him, and then went to his fellows and said, Fair fellows, wit
ye well all, we have in this castle the same knight that slew our lord
at Lonazep, for I know him well, it is Sir Palamides. Then they went
unto harness all that might bear harness, some on horseback and some on
foot, to the number of threescore. And when they were ready, they came
freshly upon Sir Palamides and upon Sir Safere with a great noise, and
said thus, Keep thee, Sir Palamides, for thou art known, and by right
thou must be dead, for thou hast slain our lord, and therefore, wit ye
well, we will slay thee, therefore defend thee. Then Sir Palamides and
Sir Safere the one set his back to other, and gave many great strokes,
and took many great strokes; and thus they fought with a twenty knights
and forty gentlemen and yeomen, nigh two hours. But at the last, though
they were loth, Sir Palamides and Sir Safere were taken and yielden,
and put in a strong prison. And within three days twelve knights passed
upon them, and they found Sir Palamides guilty, and Sir Safere not
guilty, of their lord’s death. And when Sir Safere should be delivered,
there was great dole betwixt Sir Palamides and him, and many piteous
complaints that Sir Safere made at his departing, that there is no
maker can rehearse the tenth part. Fair brother, said Palamides, let be
thy dolour and thy sorrow: and if I be ordained to die a shameful
death, welcome be it; but and I had wist of this death that I am doomed
unto, I should never have been yielden. So Sir Safere departed from his
brother with the greatest dolour and sorrow that ever made knight. And
on the morn they of the castle ordained twelve knights to ride with Sir
Palamides unto the father of the same knight that Sir Palamides slew;
and so they bound his legs under an old steed’s belly. And then they
rode with Sir Palamides unto a castle by the sea side, that hight
Pelownes, and there Sir Palamides should have justice: thus was their
ordinance. And so they rode with Sir Palamides fast by the castle of
Joyous Gard; and as they passed by that castle, there came riding out
of that castle by them one that knew Sir Palamides; and when that
knight saw Sir Palamides bounden upon a crooked courser, the knight
asked Sir Palamides for what cause he was led so. Ah, my fair fellow
and knight, said Palamides, I ride toward my death, for the slaying of
a knight at a tournament of Lonazep; and if I had not departed from my
lord Sir Tristram, as I ought not to have done, now might I have been
sure to have had my life saved. But I pray you, sir knight, recommand
me unto my lord Sir Tristam, and unto my lady queen Isoud, and say to
them, if ever I trespassed to them I ask them forgiveness. And also, I
beseech you, recommand me unto my lord king Arthur, and unto all the
fellowship of the Round Table, unto my power. Then that knight wept for
pity of Sir Palamides; and therewithal he rode unto Joyous Gard as fast
as his horse might run. And lightly that knight descended down off his
horse, and went unto Sir Tristram, and there he told him all as ye have
heard: and ever the knight wept as he had been mad.
CHAP. LXXXV.
_How Sir Tristram made him ready to rescue Sir Palamides, but Sir
Launcelot rescued him or he came._
When Sir Tristram heard how Sir Palamides went to his death, he was
heavy to hear that, and said, Howbeit that I am wrath with Sir
Palamides, yet will not I suffer him to die so shameful a death, for he
is a full noble knight. And then anon Sir Tristram was armed, and took
his horse, and two squires with him, and rode a great pace toward the
castle of Pelownes, where Sir Palamides was judged to death. And these
twelve knights that led Sir Palamides passed by a well whereas Sir
Launcelot was, which was alight there, and had tied his horse to a
tree, and taken off his helm to drink of that well; and when he saw
these knights, Sir Launcelot put on his helm, and suffered them to pass
by him. And then was he ware of Sir Palamides bounden, and led
shamefully to his death. Oh, mercy, said Launcelot, what misadventure
is befallen him, that he is thus led toward his death? Forsooth, said
Launcelot, it were shame to me to suffer this noble knight so to die
and I might help him, therefore I will help him whatsoever come of it,
or else I shall die for Sir Palamides’ sake. And then Sir Launcelot
mounted upon his horse, and gat his spear in his hand, and rode after
the twelve knights that led Sir Palamides. Fair knights, said Sir
Launcelot, whither lead ye that knight? it beseemeth him full ill to
ride bounden. Then these twelve knights suddenly turned their horses,
and said to Sir Launcelot, Sir knight, we counsel thee not to meddle
with this knight, for he hath deserved death, and unto death he is
judged. That me repenteth, said Launcelot, that I may not ransom him
with fairness, for he is over good a knight to die such a shameful
death. And therefore, fair knights, said Sir Launcelot, keep you as
well as ye can, for I will rescue that knight, or die for it. Then they
began to dress their spears, and Sir Launcelot smote the foremost down,
horse and man; and so he served three more with one spear, and then
that spear brake; and therewithal Sir Launcelot drew his sword, and
then he smote on the right hand and on the left hand: then within
awhile he left none of those twelve knights but he had laid them to the
earth, and the most part of them were sore wounded. And then Sir
Launcelot took the best horse that he found, and loosed Sir Palamides,
and set him upon that horse, and so they returned again unto Joyous
Gard. And then was Sir Palamides ware of Sir Tristram how he came
riding; and when Sir Launcelot saw him he knew him right well; but Sir
Tristram knew not him, because Sir Launcelot had on his shoulder a
golden shield. So Sir Launcelot made him ready to just with Sir
Tristram, that Sir Tristram should not wend that he were Sir Launcelot.
Then Sir Palamides cried on loud unto Sir Tristram, O my lord, I
require you just not with this knight, for this good knight hath saved
me from my death. When Sir Tristram heard him say so, he came a soft
trotting pace toward them. And then Sir Palamides said, My lord Sir
Tristram, much am I beholding unto you of your great goodness that
would proffer your noble body to rescue me undeserved, for I have
greatly offended you. Notwithstanding, said Sir Palamides, here met we
with this noble knight, that worshipfully and manly rescued me from
twelve knights, and smote them down all, and wounded them sore.
CHAP. LXXXVI.
_How Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot, with Palamides, came to Joyous
Gard; and of Palamides and Sir Tristram._
Fair knight, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Launcelot, of whence be ye? I
am a knight errant, said Sir Launcelot, that rideth to seek many
adventures. What is your name? said Sir Tristram. Sir, at this time I
will not tell you. Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram and to