Le Morte Darthur
was in Petit Britain with Isoud la Blanche Mains, for he deemed, and he
had been in the realm of Logris, Sir Launcelot or some of his fellows
that were in the quest of Sir Tristram, that they should have found him
or that time. So king Arthur had marvel what knight he might be. And
ever Sir Arthur’s eye was on that shield. All that espied the queen,
and that made her sore afeard. Then ever Sir Tristram smote down
knights, wonderly to behold, what upon the right hand and upon the left
hand, that unneth no knight might withstand him. And the king of Scots
and the king of Ireland began to withdraw them. When Arthur espied
that, he thought that that knight with the strange shield should not
escape him. Then he called unto him Sir Uwaine la Blanche Mains, and
bade him arm him and make him ready. So anon king Arthur and Sir Uwaine
dressed them before Sir Tristram, and required him to tell them where
he had that shield. Sir, he said, I had it of queen Morgan le Fay,
sister unto king Arthur.
Soo here endeth this history of this book, for it is the firste book of
sire Tristram de lyones, and the second book of sir tristram foloweth.
Here begynneth the second book of sire Tristram. Howe syre Tristram
smote doune kyng Arthur and sir Uwayne, by cause he wold not telle
hem wherfor that shelde was made. But to say the sothe sire Tristram
coude not telle the cause, for he knewe it not.
The Tenth Book.
CHAP. I.
_How Sir Tristram justed and smote down king Arthur, because he told
him not the cause why he bare that shield._
And if so be ye can describe what ye bear, ye are worthy to bear the
arms. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I will answer you. This shield
was given me, not desired, of queen Morgan le Fay. And as for me, I
cannot describe these arms, for it is no point of my charge, and yet I
trust to bear them with worship. Truly, said king Arthur, ye ought to
bear none arms but if ye wist what ye bear. But I pray you tell me your
name. To what intent? said Sir Tristram. For I would wit, said king
Arthur. Sir, ye shall not wit as at this time. Then shall ye and I do
battle together, said king Arthur. Why, said Sir Tristram, will ye do
battle with me but if I tell you my name? and that little needeth you
and ye were a man of worship, for ye have seen me this day have had
great travail; and therefore ye are a villainous knight to ask battle
of me, considering my great travail, howbeit I will not fail you, and
have ye no doubt that I fear not you; though ye think ye have me at a
great advantage, yet shall I right well endure you. And therewithal
king Arthur dressed his shield and his spear, and Sir Tristram against
him, and they came so eagerly together. And there king Arthur brake his
spear all to pieces upon Sir Tristram’s shield. But Sir Tristram hit
king Arthur again, that horse and man fell to the earth. And there was
king Arthur wounded on the left side a great wound and a perilous. Then
when Sir Uwaine saw his lord Arthur lie on the ground sore wounded he
was passing heavy. And then he dressed his shield and spear, and cried
aloud unto Sir Tristram, and said, Knight, defend thee. So they came
together as thunder, and Sir Uwaine brake his spear all to pieces upon
Sir Tristram’s shield. And Sir Tristram smote him harder and sorer,
with such a might that he bare him clean out of his saddle to the
earth. With that Sir Tristram turned about and said, Fair knights, I
had no need to just with you, for I have had enough to do this day.
Then arose Arthur and went to Sir Uwaine, and said to Sir Tristram, We
have as we have deserved, for through our pride we demanded battle of
you, and yet we knew not your name. Nevertheless, said Sir Uwaine, by
saint cross he is a strong knight at mine advice as any is now living.
Then Sir Tristram departed, and in every place he asked and demanded
after Sir Launcelot, but in no place he could not hear of him whether
he were dead or on live, wherefore Sir Tristram made great dole and
sorrow. So Sir Tristram rode by a forest, and then was he ware of a
fair tower by a marsh on that one side, and on that other side a fair
meadow. And there he saw ten knights fighting together. And ever the
nearer he came he saw how there was but one knight did battle against
nine knights, and that one knight did so marvellously that Sir Tristram
had great wonder that ever one knight might do so great deeds of arms.
And then within a little while he had slain half their horses and
unhorsed them, and their horses ran in the fields and forest. Then Sir
Tristram had so great pity upon that one knight that endured so great
pain, and ever he thought it should be Sir Palamides by his shield. And
so he rode unto the knights and cried unto them, and bad them cease of
their battle, for they did themselves great shame, so many knights to
fight with one. Then answered the master of those knights, his name was
called Breuse Sance Pité, that was at that time the most mischievousest
knight living, and said thus: Sir knight, what have ye ado with us to
meddle; and therefore and ye be wise depart on your way as ye came, for
this knight shall not escape us. That were pity, said Sir Tristram,
that so good a knight as he is should be slain so cowardly. And
therefore I warn you I will succour him with all my puissance.
CHAP. II.
_How Sir Tristram saved Sir Palamides’ life, and how they promised to
fight together within a fortnight._
So Sir Tristram alight off his horse because they were on foot, that
they should not slay his horse, and then dressed his shield with his
sword in his hand: and he smote on the right hand and on the left hand
passing sore, that well nigh at every stroke he strake down a knight.
And when they espied his strokes they fled all with Breuse Sance Pité
unto the tower; and Sir Tristram followed fast after with his sword in
his hand. But they escaped into the tower and shut Sir Tristram without
the gate. And when Sir Tristram saw this he returned back unto Sir
Palamides, and found him sitting under a tree sore wounded. Ah, fair
knight, said Sir Tristram, well be ye found. Gramercy, said Sir
Palamides, of your great goodness, for ye have rescued me of my life,
and saved me from my death. What is your name? said Sir Tristram. He
said, my name is Sir Palamides. Oh, said Sir Tristram, thou hast a fair
grace of me this day that I should rescue thee, and thou art the man in
the world that I most hate. But now make thee ready, for I will do
battle with thee. What is your name? said Sir Palamides. My name is Sir
Tristram, your mortal enemy. It may be so, said Sir Palamides, but ye
have done overmuch for me this day that I should fight with you, for
inasmuch as ye have saved my life, it will be no worship for you to
have ado with me, for ye are fresh, and I am wounded sore. And
therefore and ye will needs have ado with me, assign me a day, and then
I shall meet with you without fail. Ye say well, said Sir Tristram.
Now, I assign you to meet me in the meadow by the river of Camelot,
where Merlin set the peron. So they were agreed. Then Sir Tristram
asked Sir Palamides why the ten knights did battle with him. For this
cause, said Sir Palamides, as I rode on mine adventures in a forest
here beside, I espied where lay a dead knight, and a lady weeping
beside him. And when I saw her making such dole, I asked her who slew
her lord? Sir, she said, the falsest knight of the world now living:
and he is the most villain that ever man heard speak of, and his name
is Sir Breuse Sance Pité. Then for pity I made the damsel to leap on
her palfrey, and I promised her to be her warrant, and to help her to
inter her lord. And so, suddenly, as I came riding by this tower, there
came out Sir Breuse Sance Pité, and suddenly he strake me from my
horse. And then or I might recover my horse, this Sir Breuse slew the
damsel. And so I took my horse again, and I was sore ashamed, and so
began the meddle betwixt us. And this is the cause wherefore we did
this battle. Well, said Sir Tristram, now I understand the manner of
your battle. But in any wise have remembrance of your promise that ye
have made with me to do battle with me this day fortnight. I shall not
fail you, said Sir Palamides. Well, said Sir Tristram, as at this time
I will not fail you till that ye be out of the danger of your enemies.
So they mounted upon their horses, and rode together unto that forest,
and there they found a fair well, with clear water burbling. Fair sir,
said Sir Tristram, to drink of that water have I courage. And then they
alight off their horses. And then were they ware by them where stood a
great horse tied to a tree, and ever he neighed. And then were they
ware of a fair knight armed under a tree, lacking no piece of harness,
save his helm lay under his head. Truly, said Sir Tristram, yonder
lieth a wellfaring knight, what is best to do? Awake him, said Sir
Palamides. So Sir Tristram wakened him with the butt of his spear. And
so the knight arose up hastily, and put his helm upon his head, and gat
a great spear in his hand, and without any more words he hurled unto
Sir Tristram, and smote him clean from his saddle to the earth, and
hurt him on the left side, that Sir Tristram lay in great peril. Then
he galloped farther, and fet his course, and came hurling upon Sir
Palamides, and there he strake him a part through the body, that he
fell from his horse to the earth. And then this strange knight left
them there, and took his way through the forest. With this Sir
Palamides and Sir Tristram were on foot, and gat their horses again,
and either asked counsel of other what was best to do. By my head, said
Sir Tristram, I will follow this strong knight that thus hath shamed
us. Well, said Sir Palamides, and I will repose me hereby with a friend
of mine. Beware, said Sir Tristram unto Palamides, that ye fail not
that day that ye have set with me to do battle, for, as I deem, ye will
not hold your day, for I am much bigger than ye. As for that, said Sir
Palamides, be it as it be may, for I fear you not: for and I be not
sick nor prisoner I will not fail you. But I have cause for to have
more doubt of you that ye will not meet with me, for ye ride after
yonder strong knight, and if ye meet with him it is an hard adventure
and ever ye escape his hands. Right so Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides
departed, and either took their ways diverse.
CHAP. III.
_How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten him down, and
many other knights of the Round Table._
So Sir Tristram rode long after this strong knight. And at the last he
saw where lay a lady overthwart a dead knight. Fair lady, said Sir
Tristram, who hath slain your lord? Sir, said she, there came a knight
riding as my lord and I rested us here, and asked him of whence he was,
and my lord said of Arthur’s court. Therefore, said the strong knight,
I will just with thee, for I hate all these that be of Arthur’s court.
And my lord that lieth here dead mounted upon his horse, and the strong
knight and my lord encountered together, and there he smote my lord
through out with his spear. And thus he hath brought me in great woe
and damage. That me repenteth, said Sir Tristram, of your great anger;
and it please you tell me your husband’s name? Sir, said she, his name
was Galardoun, that would have proved a good knight. So departed Sir
Tristram from that dolorous lady, and had much evil lodging. Then on
the third day Sir Tristram met with Sir Gawaine and with Sir Bleoberis
in a forest at a lodge: and either were sore wounded. Then Sir Tristram
asked Sir Gawaine and Sir Bleoberis if they met with such a knight,