Le Morte Darthur
Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were gone. Then king Arthur and Sir
Launcelot were heavy, and returned again to the Castle of Maidens
making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram, and his sudden
departing. Truly, said king Arthur, I am more heavy that I cannot meet
with him than for all the hurts that all my knights have had at the
tournament. Right so came Sir Gaheris and told to king Arthur how Sir
Tristram had smitten down Sir Palamides, and it was at Sir Palamides’s
own request. Alas, said king Arthur, that was great dishonour to Sir
Palamides, inasmuch as Sir Tristram was sore wounded, and now may we
all, kings, and knights, and men of worship, say that Sir Tristram may
be called a noble knight, and one of the best knights that ever I saw
the days of my life. For I will that ye all kings and knights know,
said king Arthur, that I never saw knight do so marvellously as he hath
done these three days, for he was the first that began, and that
longest held on, save this last day. And though he was hurt, it was a
manly adventure of two noble knights: and when two noble men encounter
needs must the one have the worse, like as God will suffer at that
time. As for me, said Sir Launcelot, for all the lands that ever my
father left me I would not have hurt Sir Tristram and I had known him
at that time. That I hurt him was for I saw not his shield, for if I
had seen his black shield I would not have meddled with him for many
causes, for late he did as much for me as ever knight did, and that is
well known that he had ado with thirty knights, and no help save Sir
Dinadan. And one thing shall I promise, said Sir Launcelot, Sir
Palamides shall repent it, as in his unkindly dealing for to follow
that noble knight that I by mishap hurt thus. Sir Launcelot said all
the worship that might be said by Sir Tristram. Then king Arthur made a
great feast to all that would come.
And thus let we pass king Arthur, and a little we will turn unto Sir
Palamides, that, after he had a fall of Sir Tristram, he was nigh hand
enraged out of his wit for despite of Sir Tristram. And so he followed
him by adventure. And as he came by a river in his woodness he would
have made his horse to have lept over; and the horse failed footing and
fell in the river, wherefore Sir Palamides was adread lest he should
have been drowned, and then he avoided his horse and swam to the land,
and let his horse go down by adventure.
CHAP. XXXVI.
_How Sir Palamides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was, and of
the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir Tristram._
And when he came to the land he took off his harness, and sat roaring
and crying as a man out of his mind. Right so came a damsel even by Sir
Palamides, that was sent from Sir Gawaine and his brother unto Sir
Mordred, that lay sick in the same place with that old knight where Sir
Tristram was. For, as the French book saith, Sir Persides hurt so Sir
Mordred a ten days afore; and had it not been for the love of Sir
Gawaine and his brother, Sir Persides had slain Sir Mordred. And so
this damsel came by Sir Palamides, and she and he had language
together, the which pleased neither of them: and so the damsel rode her
ways till she came to the old knight’s place, and there she told that
old knight how she had met with the woodest knight by adventure that
ever she met withal. What bare he in his shield? said Sir Tristram. It
was indented with white and black, said the damsel. Ah, said Sir
Tristram, that was Sir Palamides the good knight, for well I know him,
said Sir Tristram, for one of the best knights living in this realm.
Then that old knight took a little hackney, and rode for Sir Palamides,
and brought him unto his own manor; and then full well knew Sir
Tristram Sir Palamides, but he said but little, for at that time Sir
Tristram was walking upon his feet, and well amended of his hurts, and
always when Sir Palamides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full
marvellously. And ever him seemed that he had seen him. Then would he
say to Sir Dinadan, And ever I may meet with Sir Tristram, he shall not
escape my hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, that ye boast behind Sir
Tristram, for it is but late that he was in your hands, and ye in his
hands; why would ye not hold him when ye had him? for I saw myself
twice or thrice that ye gat but little worship of Sir Tristram. Then
was Sir Palamides ashamed. So leave we them a little while in the
castle with the old knight Sir Darras.
Now shall we speak of king Arthur, that said to Sir Launcelot, Had not
ye been, we had not lost Sir Tristram, for he was here daily unto the
time ye met with him, and in an evil time, said Arthur, ye encountered
with him. My lord Arthur, said Launcelot, ye put upon me that I should
be cause of his departure: truly it was against my will. But when men
be hot in deeds of arms, often they hurt their friends as well as their
foes; and my lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall understand that Sir
Tristram is a man that I am loth to offend, for he hath done for me
more than ever I did for him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot made to
bring forth a book, and then Sir Launcelot said, Here we are ten
knights that will swear upon a book never to rest one night where we
rest another, this twelvemonth, until that we find Sir Tristram. And as
for me, said Sir Launcelot, I promise you upon this book that and I may
meet with him, either by fairness or foulness I shall bring him to this
court, or else I shall die therefore. And the names of these ten
knights that had undertaken this quest were these following. First was
Sir Launcelot; Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis,
and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and Lucan the butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir Galihud,
Sir Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the
court of king Arthur; and so they rode upon their quest together until
they came to a cross where departed four highways, and there departed
the fellowship in four, to seek Sir Tristram. And as Sir Launcelot rode
by adventure he met with dame Bragwaine, that was sent into that
country to seek Sir Tristram, and she fled as fast as her palfrey might
go. So Sir Launcelot met with her, and asked her why she fled. Ah, fair
knight, said dame Bragwaine, I flee for dread of my life, for here
followeth me Sir Breuse Sance Pité to slay me. Hold you nigh me, said
Sir Launcelot. Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse Sance Pité, Sir
Launcelot cried unto him and said, False knight, destroyer of ladies
and damsels, now thy last days be come. When Sir Breuse Sance Pité saw
Sir Launcelot’s shield he knew it well, for at that time he bare not
the arms of Cornwall, but he bare his own shield. And then Sir Breuse
fled, and Sir Launcelot followed after him. But Sir Breuse was so well
horsed, that when him list to flee he might well flee, and also abide
when him list. And then Sir Launcelot returned unto dame Bragwaine, and
she thanked him of his great labour.
CHAP. XXXVII.
_How Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, and Sir Dinadan were taken and put in
prison._
Now will we speak of Sir Lucan the butler, that by fortune came riding
to the same place there as was Sir Tristram, and in he came in none
other intent but to ask harbour. Then the porter asked what was his
name. Tell your lord that my name is Sir Lucan the butler, a knight of
the Round Table. So the porter went unto Sir Darras, lord of the place,
and told him who was there to ask harbour. Nay, nay, said Sir Daname,
that was nephew unto Sir Darras, say him that he shall not be lodged
here. But let him wit that I Sir Daname will meet with him anon, and
bid him make him ready. So Sir Daname came forth on horseback, and
there they met together with spears, and Sir Lucan smote down Sir
Daname over his horse croup, and then he fled into that place, and Sir
Lucan rode after him, and asked after him many times. Then Sir Dinadan
said to Sir Tristram, It is shame to see the lord’s cousin of this
place defoiled. Abide, said Sir Tristram, and I shall redress it. And
in the mean while Sir Dinadan was on horseback, and he justed with
Lucan the butler, and there Sir Lucan smote Dinadan through the thick
of the thigh, and so he rode his way, and Sir Tristram was wroth that
Sir Dinadan was hurt, and followed after, and thought to avenge him.
And within a mile he overtook Sir Lucan and bade him turn: and so they
met together, so that Sir Tristram hurt Sir Lucan passing sore, and
gave him a fall. With that came Sir Uwaine, a gentle knight, and when
he saw Sir Lucan so hurt, he called Sir Tristram to just with him. Fair
knight, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name I require you. Sir knight,
wit ye well my name is Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy Ureine. Ah, said Sir
Tristram, by my will I would not have ado with you at no time. Ye shall
not so, said Sir Uwaine, but ye shall have ado with me. And then Sir
Tristram saw none other boot, but rode against him, and overthrew Sir
Uwaine, and hurt him in the side, and so he departed unto his lodging
again. And when Sir Dinadan understood that Sir Tristram had hurt Sir
Lucan, he would have ridden after Sir Lucan to have slain him, but Sir
Tristram would not suffer him.
Then Sir Uwaine let ordain an horse-litter, and brought Sir Lucan to
the abbey of Ganis, and the castle thereby hight the castle of Ganis,
of the which Sir Bleoberis was lord. And at that castle Sir Launcelot
promised all his fellows to meet in the quest of Sir Tristram. So when
Sir Tristram was come to his lodging, there came a damsel that told Sir
Darras that three of his sons were slain at that tournament, and two
grievously wounded that they were never like to help themselves, and
all this was done by a noble knight that bare the black shield, and
that was he that bare the prize. Then came there one and told Sir
Darras that the same knight was within him that bare the black shield.
Then Sir Darras went unto Sir Tristram’s chamber, and there he found
his shield and shewed it to the damsel. Ah, sir, said the damsel, that
same is he that slew your three sons. Then without any tarrying Sir
Darras put Sir Tristram, and Sir Palamides, and Sir Dinadan within a
strong prison, and there Sir Tristram was like to have died of great
sickness, and every day Sir Palamides would reprove Sir Tristram of old
hate betwixt them. And ever Sir Tristram spake fair and said little.
But when Sir Palamides saw the falling of sickness of Sir Tristram then
was he heavy for him, and comforted him in all the best wise he could.
And, as the French book saith, there came forty knights to Sir Darras
that were of his own kin, and they would have slain Sir Tristram and
his two fellows, but Sir Darras would not suffer that, but kept them in
prison, and meat and drink they had. So Sir Tristram endured there
great pain, for sickness had undertaken him, and that is the greatest
pain a prisoner may have. For all the while a prisoner may have his
health of body, he may endure under the mercy of God, and in hope of
good deliverance; but when sickness toucheth a prisoner’s body, then
may a prisoner say all wealth is him bereft, and then he hath cause to
wail and to weep. And so did Sir Tristram when sickness had undertaken
him, for then he took such sorrow that he had almost slain himself.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
_How king Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir Tristram: some of
king Arthur’s knights justed with knights of Cornwall._
Now will we speak, and leave Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, and Sir
Dinadan in prison, and speak we of other knights that sought after Sir
Tristram many divers parts of this land. And some went into Cornwall,
and by adventure Sir Gaheris, nephew unto king Arthur, came unto king