Le Morte Darthur
Palamides, Now either of you are met together, I will depart from you.
Not so, said Sir Tristram, I pray you of knighthood to ride with me
unto my castle. Wit you well, said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride with
you, for I have many deeds to do in other places, that at this time I
may not abide with you. Truly, said Sir Tristram, I require you, as ye
be a true knight to the order of knighthood, play you with me this
night. Then Sir Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot: howbeit, though
he had not desired him he would have ridden with them, or soon would
come after them; for Sir Launcelot came for none other cause into that
country but for to see Sir Tristram. And when they were come within
Joyous Gard they alight, and their horses were led into a stable, and
then they unarmed them. And when Sir Launcelot was unhelmed, Sir
Tristram and Sir Palamides knew him. Then Sir Tristram took Sir
Launcelot in arms, and so did La Beale Isoud; and Sir Palamides kneeled
down upon his knees and thanked Sir Launcelot. When Sir Launcelot saw
Sir Palamides kneel, he lightly took him up, and said thus; Wit thou
well, Sir Palamides, I, and any knight in this land of worship, ought
of very right succour and rescue so noble a knight as ye are proved and
renowned throughout all this realm, endlong and overthwart. And then
was there joy among them; and the oftener that Sir Palamides saw La
Beale Isoud, the heavier he waxed day by day. Then Sir Launcelot within
three or four days departed; and with him rode Sir Ector de Maris: and
Dinadan and Sir Palamides were there left with Sir Tristram a two
months and more. But ever Sir Palamides faded and mourned, that all men
had marvel wherefore he faded so away. So upon a day, in the dawning
Sir Palamides went into the forest by himself alone, and there he found
a well, and then he looked into the well, and in the water he saw his
own visage, how he was disturbed and defaded, nothing like that he was.
What may this mean? said Sir Palamides. And thus he said to himself:
Ah, Palamides, Palamides, why art thou diffaded, thou that was wont be
called one of the fairest knights of the world? I will no more lead
this life, for I love that I may never get nor recover. And therewithal
he laid him down by the well. And then he began to make a rhyme of La
Beale Isoud and him. And in the meanwhile Sir Tristram was that same
day ridden into the forest to chase the hart of greese. But Sir
Tristram would not ride on hunting never more unarmed because of Sir
Breuse Sance Pité. And so as Sir Tristram rode into that forest up and
down, he heard one sing marvellously loud; and that was Sir Palamides,
that lay by the well. And then Sir Tristram rode softly thither, for he
deemed there was some knight errant that was at the well.
And when Sir Tristram came nigh him, he descended down from his horse,
and tied his horse fast till a tree, and then he came near him on foot.
And anon he was ware where lay Sir Palamides by the well, and sang loud
and merrily. And ever the complaints were of that noble queen La Beale
Isoud, the which was marvellously and wonderfully well said, and full
dolefully and piteously made. And all the whole song the noble knight
Sir Tristram heard from the beginning to the ending, the which grieved
and troubled him sore. But then at the last, when Sir Tristram had
heard all Sir Palamides’ complaints, he was wroth out of measure, and
thought for to slay him there as he lay. Then Sir Tristram remembered
himself that Sir Palamides was unarmed, and of the noble name that Sir
Palamides had, and the noble name that himself had, and then he made a
restraint of his anger, and so he went unto Sir Palamides a soft pace,
and said, Sir Palamides, I have heard your complaint, and of thy
treason that thou hast owed me so long. And wit thou well therefore
thou shalt die. And if it were not for shame of knighthood thou
shouldest not escape my hands, for now I know well thou hast awaited me
with treason. Tell me, said Sir Tristram, how thou wilt acquit thee.
Sir, said Palamides, thus I will acquit me:—as for queen La Beale
Isoud, ye shall wit well that I love her above all other ladies of the
world; and well I wot it shall befal me as for her love as befel to the
noble knight Sir Kehidius, that died for the love of La Beale Isoud;
and now, Sir Tristram, I will that ye wit that I have loved La Beale
Isoud many a day, and she hath been the causer of my worship. And else
I had been the most simplest knight in the world. For by her, and
because of her, I have won the worship that I have: for when I
remembered me of La Beale Isoud, I wan the worship wheresoever I came,
for the most part; and yet had I never reward nor bounty of her the
days of my life, and yet have I been her knight guerdonless; and
therefore Sir Tristram, as for any death I dread not, for I had as lief
die as to live. And if I were armed as thou art, I should lightly do
battle with thee. Well have ye uttered your treason, said Tristram. I
have done to you no treason, said Sir Palamides, for love is free for
all men, and though I have loved your lady she is my lady as well as
yours: howbeit I have wrong if any wrong be, for ye rejoice her, and
have her love, and so had I never, nor never am like to have. And yet
shall I love her to the uttermost days of my life as well as ye.
CHAP. LXXXVII.
_How there was a day set between Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides for to
fight, and how Sir Tristram was hurt._
Then, said Sir Tristram, I will fight with you unto the uttermost. I
grant, said Palamides, for in a better quarrel keep I never to fight,
for, and I die of your hands, of a better knight’s hands may I not be
slain. And sithen I understand that I shall never rejoice La Beale
Isoud, I have as good will to die as to live. Then set ye a day, said
Sir Tristram, that we shall do battle. This day fifteen days, said
Palamides, will I meet with you here by, in the meadow under Joyous
Gard. Fie for shame, said Sir Tristram, will ye set so long day? let us
fight to-morn. Not so, said Palamides, for I am meagre, and have been
long sick for the love of La Beale Isoud, and therefore I will repose
me till I have my strength again. So then Sir Tristram and Sir
Palamides promised faithfully to meet at the well that day fifteen
days. I am remembered, said Sir Tristram to Palamides, that ye brake me
once a promise when that I rescued you from Breuse Sance Pité and nine
knights, and then ye promised me to meet at the peron and the grave
beside Camelot, whereas at that time ye failed of your promise. Wit you
well, said Palamides unto Sir Tristram, I was at that day in prison, so
that I might not hold my promise. Truly, said Sir Tristram, and ye had
holden your promise, this work had not been here now at this time.
Right so departed Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides. And so Sir Palamides
took his horse and his harness, and he rode unto king Arthur’s court,
and there Sir Palamides gat him four knights and four serjeants of
arms, and so he returned againward unto Joyous Gard. And in the mean
while Sir Tristram chased and hunted at all manner of venery, and about
three days afore the battle should be, as Sir Tristram chased an hart,
there was an archer shot at the hart, and by misfortune he smote Sir
Tristram in the thick of the thigh, and the arrow slew Sir Tristram’s
horse, and hurt him. When Sir Tristram was so hurt, he was passing
heavy, and wit ye well he bled sore. And then he took another horse,
and rode unto Joyous Gard with great heaviness, more for the promise he
had made with Sir Palamides, as to do battle with him within three days
after, than for any hurt of his thigh. Wherefore there was neither man
nor woman that could cheer him with anything that they could make to
him, neither queen La Beale Isoud, for ever he deemed that Sir
Palamides had smitten him so that he should not be able to do battle
with him at the day set.
CHAP. LXXXVIII.
_How Sir Palamides kept his day to have foughten, but Sir Tristram
might not come; and other things._
But in no wise there was no knight about Sir Tristram that would
believe that ever Sir Palamides would hurt Sir Tristram, neither by his
own hands nor by none other consenting. Then when the fifteenth day was
come, Sir Palamides came to the well with four knights with him of
Arthur’s court, and three serjeants of arms. And for this intent Sir
Palamides brought the knights with him and the serjeants of arms, for
they should bear record of the battle betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir
Palamides. And the one serjeant brought in his helm, the other his
spear, the third his sword. So thus Sir Palamides came into the field,
and there he abode nigh two hours. And then he sent a squire unto Sir
Tristram, and desired him to come into the field to hold his promise.
When the squire was come to Joyous Gard, anon as Sir Tristram heard of
his coming, he let command that the squire should come to his presence
there as he lay in his bed. My lord Sir Tristram, said Palamides’
squire, wit you well, my lord Palamides abideth you in the field, and
he would wit whether ye would do battle or not. Ah, my fair brother,
said Sir Tristram, wit thou well that I am right heavy for these
tidings, therefore tell Sir Palamides and I were well at ease I would
not lie here, nor he should have no need to send for me, and I might
either ride or go: and for thou shalt say that I am no liar—Sir
Tristram shewed him his thigh, that the wound was six inches deep:—And
now thou hast seen my hurt, tell thy lord that this is no feigned
matter; and tell him that I had lever than all the gold of king Arthur
that I were whole: and tell Palamides, as soon as I am whole I shall
seek him endlong and overthwart, and that I promise you as I am true
knight: and if ever I may meet with him he shall have battle of me his
fill. And with this the squire departed. And when Sir Palamides wist
that Tristram was hurt, he was glad, and said, Now I am sure I shall
have no shame, for I wot well I should have had hard handling of him,
and by likely I must needs have had the worse. For he is the hardest
knight in battle that now is living except Sir Launcelot. And then
departed Sir Palamides where as fortune led him. And within a month Sir
Tristram was whole of his hurt. And then he took his horse, and rode
from country to country, and all strange adventures he achieved
wheresoever he rode, and always he enquired for Sir Palamides, but of
all that quarter of summer Sir Tristram could never meet with Sir
Palamides. But thus as Sir Tristram sought and enquired after Sir
Palamides, Sir Tristram achieved many great battles, wherethrough all
the noise fell to Sir Tristram, and it ceased of Sir Launcelot; and
therefore Sir Launcelot’s brethren and his kinsmen would have slain Sir
Tristram, because of his fame. But when Sir Launcelot wist how his
kinsmen were set, he said to them openly, Wit you well, that and the
envy of you all be so hardy to wait upon my lord Sir Tristram with any
hurt, shame, or villainy, as I am true knight I shall slay the best of
you with mine own hands. Alas, fie for shame, should ye for his noble
deeds await upon him to slay him. Jesu defend, said Launcelot, that
ever any noble knight as Sir Tristram is should be destroyed with
treason. Of this noise and fame sprang into Cornwall, and among them of
Liones, whereof they were passing glad and made great joy. And then
they of Liones sent letters unto Sir Tristram of recommendation, and
many great gifts to maintain Sir Tristram’s estate. And ever between
Sir Tristram resorted unto Joyous Gard, where as La Beale Isoud was,
that loved him as her life.
Here endeth the tenthe book which is of syr Tristram.