Le Morte Darthur
either knights made them ready with two great spears. Nay, said Sir
Dinadan, ye shall see that Sir Palamides will quit him right well. It
may be so, said Sir Tristram, but I undertake that knight with the
shield of Cornwall shall give him a fall. I believe it not, said Sir
Dinadan. Right so they spurred their horses, and feutred their spears,
and either hit other, and Sir Palamides brake a spear upon Sir
Launcelot, and he sat and moved not, but Sir Launcelot smote him so
lightly that he made his horse to avoid the saddle, and the stroke
brake his shield and the hauberk, and had he not fallen he had been
slain. How now, said Sir Tristram, I wist well by the manner of their
riding both that Sir Palamides should have a fall. Right so Sir
Launcelot rode his way, and rode to a well to drink and to repose him,
and they of Northgalis espied him whither he rode, and then there
followed him twelve knights for to have mischieved him, for this cause,
that upon the morn, at the tournament of the Castle of Maidens, that he
should not win the victory. So they came upon Sir Launcelot suddenly,
and scarcely he might put upon him his helm and take his horse but they
were in hands with him. And then Sir Launcelot gat his spear and rode
through them, and there he slew a knight, and brake his spear in his
body. Then he drew his sword and smote upon the right hand and upon the
left hand, so that within a few strokes he had slain other three
knights, and the remnant that abode he wounded them sore, all that did
abide. Thus Sir Launcelot escaped from his enemies of North Wales, and
then he rode forth on his way to a friend, and lodged him till on the
morn, for he would not the first day have ado in the tournament,
because of his great labour. And on the first day he was with king
Arthur, there as he was set on high upon a scaffold, to discern who was
best worthy of his deeds. So Sir Launcelot was with king Arthur, and
justed not the first day.
CHAP. XXX.
_How Sir Tristram behaved him the first day of the tournament, and
there he had the prize._
Now turn we unto Sir Tristram de Liones, that commanded Gouvernail his
servant to ordain him a black shield with none other remembrance
therein. And so Sir Persides and Sir Tristram departed from their host
Sir Pellounes and they rode early toward the tournament, and then they
drew them to king Carados’ side of Scotland: and anon knights began the
field, what of the king of Northgalis’ part, and what of king Carados’
part, and there began great party. Then there was hurling and rashing.
Right so came in Sir Persides and Sir Tristram, and so they did fare
that they put the king of Northgalis aback. Then came in Sir Bleoberis
de Ganis and Sir Gaheris with them of Northgalis, and then was Sir
Persides smitten down and almost slain, for more than forty horsemen
went over him. For Sir Bleoberis did great deeds of arms, and Sir
Gaheris failed him not. When Sir Tristram beheld them, and saw them do
such deeds of arms, he marvelled what they were. Also Sir Tristram
thought shame that Sir Persides was so done to; and then he gat a great
spear in his hand, and then he rode to Sir Gaheris and smote him down
from his horse. And then was Bleoberis wroth, and gat a spear and rode
against Sir Tristram in great ire, and there Sir Tristram met with him,
and smote Sir Bleoberis from his horse. So then the king with the
hundred knights was wroth, and he horsed Sir Bleoberis and Sir Gaheris
again, and there began a great meddle; and ever Sir Tristram held them
passing short, and ever Sir Bleoberis was passing busy upon Sir
Tristram. And there came Sir Dinadan against Sir Tristram, and Sir
Tristram gave him such a buffet that he swooned in his saddle. Then
anon Sir Dinadan came to Sir Tristram, and said, Sir, I know thee
better than thou weenest, but here I promise thee my troth I will never
come against thee more, for I promise thee that sword of thine shall
never come on my helm. With that came Sir Bleoberis, and Sir Tristram
gave him such a buffet that down he laid his head: and then he caught
him so sore by the helm that he pulled him under his horse feet. And
then king Arthur blew to lodging. Then Sir Tristram departed to his
pavilion, and Sir Dinadan rode with him. And Sir Persides and king
Arthur then, and the kings upon both parties, marvelled what knight
that was with the black shield. Many said their advice, and some knew
him for Sir Tristram, and held their peace, and would nought say. So
that first day king Arthur and all the kings and lords that were judges
gave Sir Tristram the prize, how be it they knew him not, but named him
the knight with the black shield.
CHAP. XXXI.
_How Sir Tristram returned against king Arthur’s party, because he saw
Sir Palamides on that party._
Then upon the morn Sir Palamides returned from the king of Northgalis,
and rode to king Arthur’s side, where was king Carados, and the king of
Ireland, and Sir Launcelot’s kin, and Sir Gawaine’s kin. So Sir
Palamides sent the damsel unto Sir Tristram that he sent to seek him
when he was out of his mind in the forest; and this damsel asked Sir
Tristram what he was, and what was his name. As for that, said Sir
Tristram, tell Sir Palamides he shall not wit as at this time, unto the
time I have broken two spears upon him. But let him wit thus much, said
Sir Tristram, that I am the same knight that he smote down in over
evening at the tournament, and tell him plainly, on what part that Sir
Palamides be I will be on the contrary part. Sir, said the damsel, ye
shall understand that Sir Palamides will be on king Arthur’s side,
where the most noble knights of the world be. Then, said Sir Tristram,
will I be with the king of Northgalis, because Sir Palamides will be on
king Arthur’s side, and else I would not but for his sake. So when king
Arthur was come they blew unto the field, and then there began a great
party, and so king Carados justed with the king with the hundred
knights, and there king Carados had a fall; then there was hurling and
rashing, and right so came in knights of king Arthur’s, and they bare
back the king of Northgalis’ knights. Then Sir Tristram came in, and
began so roughly and so bigly that there was none might withstand him,
and thus Sir Tristram endured long. And at the last Sir Tristram fell
among the fellowship of king Ban, and there fell upon him Sir Bors de
Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and many other
knights. And then Sir Tristram smote on the right hand and on the left
hand, that all lords and ladies spake of his noble deeds. But at the
last Sir Tristram should have had the worse had not the king with the
hundred knights been. And then he came with his fellowship and rescued
Sir Tristram, and brought him away from those knights that bare the
shields of Cornwall. And then Sir Tristram saw another fellowship by
themselves, and there were a forty knights together, and Sir Kay the
seneschal was their governor. Then Sir Tristram rode in amongst them,
and there he smote down Sir Kay from his horse, and there he fared
among those knights like a grey hound among conies. Then Sir Launcelot
found a knight that was sore wounded upon the head. Sir, said Sir
Launcelot, who wounded you so sore? Sir, he said, a knight that beareth
a black shield, and I may curse the time that ever I met with him, for
he is a devil and no man. So Sir Launcelot departed from him, and
thought to meet with Sir Tristram, and so he rode with his sword drawn
in his hand to seek Sir Tristram, and then he espied him how he hurled
here and there, and at every stroke Sir Tristram well nigh smote down a
knight. O mercy, said the king, sith the time I bare arms saw I never
no knight do so marvellous deeds of arms. And if I should set upon this
knight, said Sir Launcelot to himself, I did shame to myself; and
therewithal Sir Launcelot put up his sword. And then the king with the
hundred knights and a hundred more of North Wales set upon the twenty
of Sir Launcelot’s kin: and they twenty knights held them ever together
as wild swine, and none would fail other. And so when Sir Tristram
beheld the noblesse of these twenty knights, he marvelled of their good
deeds, for he saw by their fare and by their rule, that they had lever
die than avoid the field. Now, said Sir Tristram, well may he be
valiant and full of prowess that hath such a sort of noble knights unto
his kin, and full like is he to be a noble man that is their leader and
governor. He meant it by Sir Launcelot du Lake. So when Sir Tristram
had beholden them long, he thought shame to see two hundred knights
battering upon twenty knights. Then Sir Tristram rode unto the king
with the hundred knights and said, Sir, leave your fighting with those
twenty knights, for ye win no worship of them, ye be so many, and they
so few; and wit ye well they will not out of the field, I see by their
cheer and countenance; and worship get ye none and ye slay them.
Therefore leave your fighting with them, for I to increase my worship I
will ride to the twenty knights and help them with all my might and
power. Nay, said the king with the hundred knights, ye shall not do so.
Now I see your courage and courtesy I will withdraw my knights for your
pleasure, for evermore a good knight will favour another, and like will
draw to like.
CHAP. XXXII.
_How Sir Tristram found Palamides by a well, and brought him with him
to his lodging._
Then the king with the hundred knights withdrew his knights. And all
this while, and long tofore, Sir Launcelot had watched upon Sir
Tristram with a very purpose to have fellowshipped with him. And then
suddenly Sir Tristram, Sir Dinadan, and Gouvernail his man, rode their
way into the forest, that no man perceived where they went. So then
king Arthur blew unto lodging, and gave the king of Northgalis the
prize, because Sir Tristram was upon his side. Then Sir Launcelot rode
here and there, so wood as lion that wanted his fill, because he had
lost Sir Tristram, and so he returned unto king Arthur. And then in all
the field was a noise that with the wind it might be heard two mile
thence, how the lords and ladies cried. The knight with the black
shield hath won the field. Alas, said king Arthur, where is that knight
become? It is shame to all those in the field so to let him escape away
from you; but with gentleness and courtesy ye might have brought him
unto me to the Castle of Maidens. Then the noble king Arthur went unto
his knights, and comforted them in the best wise that he could, and
said, My fair fellows be not dismayed, howbeit ye have lost the field
this day. And many were hurt and sore wounded, and many were whole. My
fellows, said king Arthur, look that ye be of good cheer, for to-morrow
I will be in the field with you, and revenge you of your enemies.
So that night king Arthur and his knights reposed themselves. The
damsel that came from La Beale Isoud unto Sir Tristram, all the while
the tournament was a doing she was with queen Guenever, and ever the
queen asked her for what cause she came into that country. Madam, she
answered, I come for none other cause but from my lady La Beale Isoud
to wit of your welfare. For in no wise she would not tell the queen
that she came for Sir Tristram’s sake. So this lady, dame Bragwaine,
took her leave of queen Guenever, and she rode after Sir Tristram. And
as she rode through the forest she heard a great cry, then she
commanded her squire to go into that forest to wit what was that noise.
And so he came to a well, and there he found a knight bound to a tree,
crying as he had been wood, and his horse and his harness standing by