Le Morte Darthur
That saw Sir Tristram, and therewith he alight, and tied his horse to a
tree.
CHAP. XIV.
_How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides fought long together, and after
accorded; and how Sir Tristram made him to be christened._
And then they came together as two wild boars, lashing together,
tracing and traversing as noble men that oft had been well proved in
battle; but ever Sir Palamides dread the might of Sir Tristram, and
therefore he suffered him to breathe him. Thus they fought more than
two hours; and often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palamides
that he made him to kneel; and Sir Palamides brake and cut away many
pieces of Sir Tristram’s shield, and then Sir Palamides wounded Sir
Tristram, for he was a well fighting man. Then Sir Tristram was wood
wrath out of measure, and rashed upon Sir Palamides with such a might
that Sir Palamides fell groveling to the earth, and therewithal he
leapt up lightly upon his feet, and then Sir Tristram wounded Sir
Palamides sore through the shoulder. And ever Sir Tristram fought still
in like hard, and Sir Palamides failed not, but gave him many sad
strokes. And at the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes, and by
fortune Sir Tristram smote Sir Palamides’ sword out of his hand, and if
Sir Palamides had stooped for his sword, he had been slain. Then
Palamides stood still and beheld his sword with a sorrowful heart. How
now, said Sir Tristram unto Palamides, now have I thee at advantage as
thou hadst me this day, but it shall never be said in no court, nor
among good knights, that Sir Tristram shall slay any knight that is
weaponless, and therefore take thou thy sword, and let us make an end
of this battle. As for to do this battle, said Palamides, I dare right
well end it; but I have no great lust to fight no more, and for this
cause, said Palamides, mine offence to you is not so great but that we
may be friends. All that I have offended is and was for the love of La
Beale Isoud. And as for her, I dare say she is peerless above all other
ladies, and also I proffered her never no dishonour; and by her I have
gotten the most part of my worship, and sithen I offended never as to
her own person. And as for the offence that I have done, it was against
your own person, and for that offence ye have given me this day many
sad strokes, and some I have given you again; and now I dare say I felt
never man of your might, nor so well breathed, but if it were Sir
Launcelot du Lake. Wherefore I require you, my lord, forgive me all
that I have offended unto you. And this same day have me to the next
church, and first let me be clean confessed, and after see you now that
I be truly baptized. And then will we all ride together unto the court
of Arthur, that we be there at the high feast. Now take your horse,
said Sir Tristram, and as ye say, so it shall be; and all your evil
will God forgive it you, and I do. And here, within this mile, is the
suffragan of Carlisle, that shall give you the sacrament of baptism.
Then they took their horses, and Sir Galleron rode with them. And when
they came to the suffragan Sir Tristram told him their desire. Then the
suffragan let fill a great vessel with water. And when he had hallowed
it, he then confessed clean Sir Palamides, and Sir Tristram and Sir
Galleron were his godfathers. And then soon after they departed, riding
towards Camelot, where king Arthur and queen Guenever was, and for the
most part all the knights of the Round Table. And so the king and all
the court were glad that Sir Palamides was christened. And at the same
feast in came Galahad and sat in the Siege Perilous.
And so therewithal departed and dissevered all the knights of the Round
Table. And Sir Tristram returned again unto Joyous Gard, and Sir
Palamides followed the questing beast.
Here endeth the second book of syr Tristram that was drawen oute of
Frensshe in to Englysshe.
But here is no rehersal of the thyrd book. And here foloweth the noble
tale of the Sancgreal that called is the hooly vessel and the
sygnefycacyon of the blessid blood of our lord Jhesu Cryste, blessid
mote it be, the which was brought in to this land by Joseph of
Armathye, therefor on al synful souls blessid lord haue thou mercy.
Explicit liber xii. Et incipit Decimustercius.
The Thirteenth Book.
CHAP. I.
_How at the Vigil of the feast of Pentecost entered into the hall,
before king Arthur, a damsel, and desired Sir Launcelot for to come
and dub a knight, and how he went with her._
At the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the Round Table
were comen unto Camelot, and there heard their service, and the tables
were set ready to the meat, right so entered into the hall a full fair
gentlewoman on horseback, that had ridden full fast, for her horse was
all besweat. Then she there alight, and came before the king, and
saluted him; and then he said, Damsel, God thee bless! Sir, said she, I
pray you say me where Sir Launcelot is? Yonder ye may see him, said the
king. Then she went unto Launcelot and said, Sir Launcelot, I salute
you on king Pelles’ behalf, and I require you come on with me hereby
into a forest. Then Sir Launcelot asked her with whom she dwelled? I
dwell, said she, with king Pelles. What will ye with me? said Sir
Launcelot. Ye shall know, said she, when ye come thither. Well, said
he, I will gladly go with you. So Sir Launcelot bade his squire saddle
his horse and bring his arms; and in all haste he did his commandment.
Then came the queen unto Launcelot and said, Will ye leave us at this
high feast? Madam, said the gentlewoman, wit ye well he shall be with
you to-morrow by dinner-time. If I wist, said the queen, that he should
not be with us here to-morn, he should not go with you by my good will.
Right so departed Sir Launcelot with the gentlewoman, and rode until
that he came into a forest, and into a great valley, where they saw an
abbey of nuns; and there was a squire ready, and opened the gates; and
so they entered, and descended off their horses, and there came a fair
fellowship about Sir Launcelot and welcomed him, and were passing glad
of his coming. And then they led him into the Abbess’s chamber, and
unarmed him, and right so he was ware upon a bed lying two of his
cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and then he waked them, and when they
saw him they made great joy. Sir, said Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot,
what adventure hath brought thee hither, for we wend to-morrow to have
found you at Camelot? Truly, said Sir Launcelot, a gentlewoman brought
me hither, but I know not the cause. In the meanwhile, as they thus
stood talking together, there came twelve nuns which brought with them
Galahad, the which was passing fair and well made, that unneth in the
world men might not find his match; and all those ladies wept. Sir,
said the ladies, we bring you here this child, the which we have
nourished, and we pray you to make him a knight; for of a more worthier
man’s hand may he not receive the order of knighthood. Sir Launcelot
beheld that young squire, and saw him seemly and demure as a dove, with
all manner of good features, that he wend of his age never to have seen
so fair a man of form. Then said Sir Launcelot, Cometh this desire of
himself? He and all they said, Yea. Then shall he, said Sir Launcelot,
receive the high order of knighthood as to-morrow at the reverence of
the high feast. That night Sir Launcelot had passing good cheer, and on
the morn at the hour of prime, at Galahad’s desire, he made him knight,
and said, God make him a good man, For beauty faileth you not as any
that liveth.
CHAP. II.
_How the letters were found written in the siege perilous, and of the
marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone._
Now, fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will ye come with me unto the court
of king Arthur? Nay, said he, I will not go with you as at this time.
Then he departed from them and took his two cousins with him, and so
they came unto Camelot by the hour of undorne on Whitsunday. By that
time the king and the queen were gone to the minster to hear their
service: then the king and the queen were passing glad of Sir Bors and
Sir Lionel, and so was all the fellowship. So when the king and all the
knights were come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of the
Round Table, all about written with gold letters. Here ought to sit he,
and he ought to sit here. And thus they went so long until that they
came to the siege perilous, where they found letters newly written of
gold, that said: Four hundred winters and fifty-four accomplished after
the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be fulfilled.
Then all they said, This is a marvellous thing, and an adventurous. In
the name of God, said Sir Launcelot; and then he accounted the term of
the writing, from the birth of our Lord unto that day. It seemeth me,
said Sir Launcelot, this siege ought to be fulfilled this same day, for
this is the Feast of Pentecost after the four hundred and four and
fifty year; and if it would please all parties, I would none of these
letters were seen this day, till he be come that ought to achieve this
adventure. Then made they to ordain a cloth of silk for to cover these
letters in the siege perilous. Then the king bad haste unto dinner.
Sir, said Sir Kay the steward, if ye go now unto your meat, ye shall
break your old custom of your court. For ye have not used on this day
to sit at your meat or that ye have seen some adventure. Ye say sooth,
said the king, but I had so great joy of Sir Launcelot and of his
cousins, which be come to the court whole and sound, that I bethought
me not of my old custom. So as they stood speaking, in came a squire,
and said unto the king, Sir, I bring unto you marvellous tidings. What
be they? said the king. Sir, there is here beneath at the river a great
stone, which I saw fleet above the water, and therein saw I sticking a
sword. The king said, I will see that marvel. So all the knights went
with him, and when they came unto the river, they found there a stone
fleeting, as it were of red marble, and therein stack a fair and a rich
sword, and in the pomell thereof were precious stones, wrought with
subtil letters of gold. Then the barons read the letters, which said in
this wise: Never shall man take me hence but only he by whose side I
ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight of the world. When the
king had seen these letters, he said unto Sir Launcelot, Fair sir, this
sword ought to be yours, for I am sure ye be the best knight of the
world. Then Sir Launcelot answered full soberly: Certes, sir, it is not
my sword: also, sir, wit ye well I have no hardiness to set my hand to,
for it longed not to hang by my side. Also who that assayeth to take
that sword, and faileth of it, he shall receive a wound by that sword,
that he shall not be whole long after. And I will that ye wit that this
same day will the adventures of the Sancgreal, that is called the holy
vessel, begin.
CHAP. III.
_How Sir Gawaine assayed to draw out the sword, and how an old man
brought in Galahad._
Now, fair nephew, said the king unto Sir Gawaine, assay ye for my love.
Sir, he said, save your good grace, I shall not do that. Sir, said the
king, assay to take the sword, and at my commandment. Sir, said
Gawaine, your commandment I will obey. And therewith he took up the
sword by the handles, but he might not stir it. I thank you, said the
king to Sir Gawaine. My lord Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, now wit
ye well, this sword shall touch you so sore that ye shall will ye had
never set your hand thereto, for the best castle of this realm. Sir, he