Le Morte Darthur
with such a cognisance, with a covered shield. Fair sir, said these
knights, such a knight met with us to our great damage. And first he
smote down my fellow Sir Bleoberis, and sore wounded him because he bad
me I should not have ado with him, for why, he was over strong for me.
That strong knight took his words at scorn, and said he said it for
mockery. And then they rode together, and so he hurt my fellow. And
when he had done so, I might not for shame but I must just with him.
And at the first course, he smote me down and my horse to the earth.
And there he had almost slain me, and from us he took his horse and
departed, and in an evil time we met with him. Fair knights, said Sir
Tristram, so he met with me and with another knight that hight
Palamides, and he smote us both down with one spear, and hurt us right
sore. By my faith, said Sir Gawaine, by my counsel ye shall let him
pass and seek him no farther, for at the next feast of the Round Table
upon pain of my head ye shall find him there. By my faith, said Sir
Tristram, I shall never rest till that I find him. And then Sir Gawaine
asked him his name. Then he said, My name is Sir Tristram. And so
either told other their names. And then departed Sir Tristram, and rode
his way. And by fortune in a meadow Sir Tristram met with Sir Kay the
seneschal and Sir Dinadan. What tidings with you, said Sir
Tristram,—with you knights? Not good, said these knights. Why so? said
Sir Tristram, I pray you tell me, for I ride to seek a knight. What
cognisance beareth he? said Sir Kay. He beareth, said Sir Tristram, a
covered shield close with a cloth. By my head, said Sir Kay, that is
the same knight that met with us, for this night we were lodged within
a widow’s house, and there was that knight lodged. And when he wist we
were of Arthur’s court, he spake great villainy by the king, and
specially by the queen Guenever. And then on the morrow we waged battle
with him for that cause. And at the first recounter, said Sir Kay, he
smote me down from my horse, and hurt me passing sore. And when my
fellow Sir Dinadan saw me smitten down and hurt, he would not revenge
me, but fled from me. And thus is he departed. And then Sir Tristram
required them to tell him their names, and so either told other their
names. And so Sir Tristram departed from Sir Kay and from Sir Dinadan,
and so he passed through a great forest into a plain, till he was ware
of a priory, and there he reposed him with a good man six days.
CHAP. IV.
_How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramor le Desirous, and Sir Dodinas
le Savage._
And then he sent his man that hight Gouvernail, and commanded him to go
to a city there by to fetch him new harness; for it was long time afore
that that Sir Tristram had been refreshed; his harness was bruised and
broken. And when Gouvernail his servant was come with his apparel, he
took his leave at the widow, and mounted upon his horse, and rode his
way early on the morn. And, by sudden adventure Sir Tristram met with
Sir Sagramor le Desirous, and with Sir Dodinas le Savage. And these two
knights met with Sir Tristram and questioned with him, and asked him if
he would just with them. Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, with a good
will I would just with you, but I have promised at a day set near hand
to do battle with a strong knight. And therefore I am loth to have ado
with you, for and it misfortuned me here to be hurt, I should not be
able to do my battle which I promised. As for that, said Sir Sagramor,
maugre your head ye shall just with us or ye pass from us. Well, said
Sir Tristram, if ye enforce me thereto, I must do what I may. And then
they dressed their shields, and came running together with great ire.
But through Sir Tristram’s great force, he strake Sir Sagramor from his
horse. Then he hurled his horse farther, and said to Sir Dodinas,
Knight, make thee ready. And so through fine force Sir Tristram strake
Dodinas from his horse. And when he saw them lie on the earth he took
his bridle, and rode forth on his way, and his man Gouvernail with him.
Anon as Sir Tristram was past, Sir Sagramor and Sir Dodinas gat again
their horses, and mounted up lightly, and followed after Sir Tristram.
And when Sir Tristram saw them come so fast after him, he returned with
his horse to them, and asked them what they would. It is not long ago
since I smote you down to the earth at your own request and desire: I
would have ridden by you but ye would not suffer me, and now me seemeth
ye would do more battle with me. That is truth, said Sir Sagramor and
Sir Dodinas, for we will be revenged of the despite that ye have done
to us. Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, that shall little need you, for
all that I did to you ye caused it, wherefore I require you of your
knighthood leave me as at this time, for I am sure and I do battle with
you I shall not escape without great hurts, and as I suppose ye shall
not escape all lotless. And this is the cause why I am so loth to have
ado with you. For I must fight within these three days with a good
knight and as valiant as any is now living, and if I be hurt I shall
not be able to do battle with him. What knight is that, said Sir
Sagramor, that ye shall fight withal? Sir, said he, it is a good knight
called Sir Palamides. By my head, said Sir Sagramor and Sir Dodinas, ye
have cause to dread him, for ye shall find him a passing good knight
and a valiant. And because ye shall have ado with him we will forbear
you as at this time, and else ye should not escape us lightly. But fair
knight, said Sir Sagramor, tell us your name. Sir, said he, my name is
Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Sagramor and Sir Dodinas, well be ye
found, for much worship have we heard of you. And then either took
leave of other, and departed on their way.
CHAP. V.
_How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot, and how they
fought together unknown._
Then departed Sir Tristram and rode straight unto Camelot, to the peron
that Merlin had made tofore, where Sir Lanceor, that was the king’s son
of Ireland, was slain by the hands of Balin. And in that same place was
the fair lady Columbe slain, that was love unto Sir Lanceor, for after
he was dead she took his sword and thrust it through her body. And by
the craft of Merlin he made to inter this knight Sir Lanceor and his
lady Columbe under one stone. And at that time Merlin prophesied that
in that same place should fight two the best knights that ever were in
Arthur’s days, and the best lovers. So when Sir Tristram came to the
tomb where Lanceor and his lady were buried, he looked about him after
Sir Palamides. Then was he ware of a seemly knight came riding against
him all in white, with a covered shield. When he came nigh Sir
Tristram, he said on high, Ye be welcome, Sir knight, and well and
truly have ye holden your promise. And then they dressed their shields
and spears, and came together with all their mights of their horses.
And they met so fiercely that both their horses and knights fell to the
earth. And as fast as they might they avoided their horses, and put
their shields before them, and they strake together with bright swords,
as men that were of might, and either wounded other wonderly sore, that
the blood ran out upon the grass. And thus they two fought the space of
four hours, that never one would speak to other one word, and of their
harness they had hewn off many pieces. Oh, said Gouvernail, I have
marvel greatly of the strokes my master hath given to your master. By
my head, said Sir Launcelot’s servant, your master hath not given so
many but your master hath received as many or more. Oh, said
Gouvernail, it is too much for Sir Palamides to suffer, or Sir
Launcelot, and yet pity it were that either of these good knights
should destroy other’s blood. So they stood and wept both, and made
great dole when they saw the bright swords over covered with blood of
their bodies. Then at the last spake Sir Launcelot and said: Knight,
thou fightest wonderly well as ever I saw knight, therefore and it
please you tell me your name. Sir, said Sir Tristram, that is me loth
to tell any man my name. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, and I were
required, I was never loth to tell my name. It is well said, quoth Sir
Tristram, then I require you to tell me your name. Fair knight, he
said, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Tristram, what
have I done, for ye are the man in the world that I love best. Fair
knight, said Sir Launcelot, tell me your name. Truly, said he, my name
is Sir Tristram de Liones. Oh, said Sir Launcelot, what adventure is
befallen me! And therewith Sir Launcelot kneeled down and yielded him
up his sword. And therewithal Sir Tristram kneeled adown, and yielded
him up his sword. And so either gave other the degree. And then they
both forthwithal went to the stone, and set them down upon it, and took
off their helms to cool them, and either kissed other an hundred times.
And then anon after they took their helms and rode to Camelot. And
there they met with Sir Gawaine and with Sir Gaheris that had made
promise to Arthur never to come again to the court till they had
brought Sir Tristram with them.
CHAP. VI.
_How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and of the great
joy that the king and other made for the coming of Sir Tristram._
Return again, said Sir Launcelot, for your quest is done, for I have
met with Sir Tristram: lo here is his own person. Then was Sir Gawaine
glad, and said to Sir Tristram, Ye are welcome, for now have ye eased
me greatly of my labour. For what cause, said Sir Gawaine, came ye into
this court? Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, I came into this country
because of Sir Palamides, for he and I had assigned at this day to have
done battle together at the peron, and I marvel I hear not of him. And
thus by adventure my lord Sir Launcelot and I met together. With this
came king Arthur. And when he wist that there was Sir Tristram, then he
ran unto him and took him by the hand and said, Sir Tristram, ye be as
welcome as any knight that ever came to this court. And when the king
had heard how Sir Launcelot and he had foughten, and either had wounded
other wonderly sore, then the king made great dole. Then Sir Tristram
told the king how he came thither for to have had ado with Sir
Palamides. And then he told the king how he had rescued him from the
nine knights and Breuse Sance Pité, and how he found a knight lying by
a well, and that knight smote down Sir Palamides and me, but his shield
was covered with a cloth. So Sir Palamides left me, and I followed
after that knight. And in many places I found where he had slain
knights, and forjusted many. By my head, said Sir Gawaine, that same
knight smote me down and Sir Bleoberis, and hurt us sore both, he with
the covered shield. Ah, said Sir Kay, that knight smote me adown and
hurt me passing sore, and fain would I have known him, but I might not.
Mercy, said Arthur, what knight was that with the covered shield? I
know not, said Sir Tristram; and so said they all. Now, said king
Arthur, then wot I, for it is Sir Launcelot. Then they all looked upon
Sir Launcelot and said, Ye have beguiled us with your covered shield.
It is not the first time, said Arthur, he hath done so. My lord, said
Sir Launcelot, truly wit ye well I was the same knight that bare the
covered shield. And because I would not be known that I was of your
court I said no worship of your house. That is truth, said Sir Gawaine,
Sir Kay, and Sir Bleoberis. Then king Arthur took Sir Tristram by the
hand, and went to the Table Round. Then came queen Guenever and many
ladies with her, and all the ladies said at one voice, Welcome, Sir