Le Morte Darthur
that ever they might endure it. And so at the last by both their
assents they were made friends and sworn brethren for ever, and no man
can judge the better knight. And now is Sir Tristram made a knight of
the Round Table, and he sitteth in the siege of the noble knight Sir
Marhaus. By my head, said Sir Palamides, Sir Tristram is far bigger
than Sir Launcelot, and the hardier knight. Have ye assayed them both?
said Sir Dinadan. I have seen Sir Tristram fight, said Sir Palamides,
but never Sir Launcelot to my witting.—But at the fountain where Sir
Launcelot lay on sleep, there with one spear he smote down Sir Tristram
and Sir Palamides, but at that time they knew not either other. Fair
knight, said Sir Dinadan, as for Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram let
them be, for the worst of them will not be lightly matched of no knight
that I know living. No, said Sir Palamides; but and I had a quarrel to
the better of them both, I would with as good a will fight with him as
with you. Sir, said Sir Dinadan, I require you tell me your name, and
in good faith I shall hold you company till that we come to Camelot,
and there ye shall have great worship now at this great tournament; for
there shall be queen Guenever and La Beale Isoud of Cornwall. Wit you
well, Sir knight, said Sir Palamides, for the love of La Beale Isoud I
will be there, and else not, but I will not have ado in king Arthur’s
court. Sir, said Dinadan, I shall ride with you and do you service, so
ye will tell me your name. Sir knight, ye shall understand that my name
is Sir Palamides, brother to Sir Safere, the good and noble knight, and
Sir Segwarides and I we be Saracens born of father and mother. Sir,
said Sir Dinadan, I thank you much for the telling of your name. For I
am glad of that I know your name, and I promise you by the faith of my
body ye shall not be hurt by me by my will, but rather be advanced. And
thereto will I help you with all my power I promise you, doubt ye not.
And certainly on my life ye shall win great worship in the court of
king Arthur, and be right welcome. So then they dressed on their helms
and put on their shields, and mounted upon their horses, and took the
broad way toward Camelot. And then were they ware of a castle that was
fair and rich, and also passing strong as any was within this realm.
CHAP. XVII.
_How Sir Lamorak justed with divers knights of the castle wherein was
Morgan le Fay._
Sir Palamides, said Dinadan, here is a castle that I know well, and
therein dwelleth queen Morgan le Fay, king Arthur’s sister, and king
Arthur gave her this castle, the which he hath repented him since a
thousand times; for since king Arthur and she have been at debate and
strife; but this castle could he never get nor win of her by no manner
of engine; and ever as she might she made war on king Arthur. And all
dangerous knights she withholdeth with her for to destroy all these
knights that king Arthur loveth. And there shall no knight pass this
way but he must just with one knight, or with two or with three. And if
it hap that king Arthur’s knight be beaten, he shall lose his horse and
his harness and all that he hath, and hard if that he escape but that
he shall be prisoner. Truly, said Palamides, this is a shameful custom,
and a villainous usage for a queen to use, and, namely, to make such
war upon her own lord that is called the flower of chivalry that is
christian or heathen, and with all my heart I would destroy that
shameful custom. And I will that all the world wit she shall have no
service of me. And if she send out any knights, as I suppose she will,
for to just, they shall have both their hands full. And I shall not
fail you, said Sir Dinadan, unto my puissance, upon my life. So as they
stood on horseback afore the castle there came a knight with a red
shield, and two squires after him. And he came straight unto Sir
Palamides the good knight, and said to him, Fair and gentle knight
errant, I require thee for the love thou owest unto knighthood, that ye
will not have ado here with these men of this castle. (For this was Sir
Lamorak that thus said.) For I came hitherto to seek this deed, and it
is my request. And therefore I beseech you, knight, let me deal, and if
I be beaten revenge me. Well, said Palamides, let see how ye will
speed, and we shall behold you. Then anon came forth a knight of the
castle, and proffered to just with the knight with the red shield. Anon
they encountered together, and he with the red shield smote him so hard
that he bare him over to the earth. Therewith anon came another knight
of the castle, and he was smitten so sore that he avoided his saddle.
And forthwith came the third knight, and the knight with the red shield
smote him to the earth. Then came Sir Palamides and besought him that
he might help him to just. Fair knight, said he unto him, suffer me as
at this time to have my will, for and they were twenty knights I shall
not doubt them. And ever there were upon the walls of the castle many
lords and ladies that cried and said, Well have ye justed, knight with
the red shield. But as soon as the knight had smitten them down, his
squire took their horses and avoided the saddles and bridles of their
horses, and turned them into the forest, and made the knights to be
kept to the end of the justs. Right so came out of the castle the
fourth knight, and freshly proffered to just with the knight with the
red shield. And he was ready, and he smote him so hard that horse and
man fell to the earth, and the knight’s back brake with the fall, and
his neck also. Truly, said Sir Palamides, that yonder is a passing good
knight, and the best juster that ever I saw. By my head, said Sir
Dinadan, he is as good as ever was Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram, what
knight somever he be.
CHAP. XVIII.
_How Sir Palamides would have justed for Sir Lamorak with the knights
of the castle._
Then forthwithal came out a knight of the castle with a shield bended
with black and with white. And anon the knight with the red shield and
he encountered together so hard that he smote the knight of the castle
through the bended shield and through the body, and brake the horse’s
back. Fair knight, said Sir Palamides, ye have overmuch in hand,
therefore I pray you let me just, for ye had need to be reposed. Why
sir, said the knight, seem ye that I am weak and feeble? and, sir, me
thinketh ye proffer me wrong, and to me shame, when I do well enough. I
tell you now as I told you erst, for and they were twenty knights I
shall beat them. And if I be beaten or slain then may ye revenge me.
And if ye think that I be weary, and ye have an appetite to just with
me, I shall find you justing enough. Sir, said Palamides, I said it not
because I would just with you, but me seemeth that ye have overmuch on
hand. And therefore, and ye were gentle, said the knight with the red
shield, ye should not proffer me shame; therefore I require you to just
with me, and ye shall find that I am not weary. Sith ye require me,
said Sir Palamides, take keep to yourself. Then they two knights came
together as fast as their horses might run, and the knight smote Sir
Palamides so sore on the shield that the spear went into his side, a
great wound and a perilous. And therewithal Sir Palamides voided his
saddle. And that knight turned unto Sir Dinadan. And when he saw him
coming, he cried aloud and said, Sir, I will not have ado with you. But
for that he let it not, but came straight upon him. So Sir Dinadan for
shame put forth his spear and all to-shivered it upon the knight. But
he smote Sir Dinadan again so hard that he smote him clean from his
saddle; but their horses he would not suffer his squires to meddle
with, and because they were knights errant. Then he dressed him again
to the castle, and justed with seven knights more, and there was none
of them might withstand him, but he bare him to the earth. And of these
twelve knights he slew in plain justs four. And the eight knights he
made them to swear on the cross of a sword that they should never use
the evil customs of the castle. And when he had made them to swear that
oath, he let them pass. And ever stood the lords and the ladies on the
castle walls crying and saying, Knight with the red shield, ye have
marvellously well done, as ever we saw knight do. And therewith came a
knight out of the castle unarmed, and said, Knight with the red shield,
overmuch damage hast thou done to us this day, therefore return whither
thou wilt, for here are no more that will have ado with thee, for we
repent sore that ever thou camest here, for by thee is fordone the old
custom of this castle. And with that word he turned again into the
castle, and shut the gates. Then the knight with the red shield turned
and called his squires, and so past forth on his way, and rode a great
pace. And when he was past, Sir Palamides went to Sir Dinadan and said,
I had never such a shame of one knight that ever I met, and therefore I
cast me to ride after him, and to be revenged with my sword. For a
horseback I deem I shall get no worship of him. Sir Palamides, said
Dinadan, ye shall not meddle with him by my counsel, for ye shall get
no worship of him, and for this cause,—ye have seen him this day have
had overmuch to do, and overmuch travailed. Truly, said Sir Palamides,
I shall never be at ease till that I have had ado with him. Sir, said
Dinadan, I shall give you my beholding. Well, said Sir Palamides, then
shall ye see how we shall redress our mights. So they took their horses
of their varlets, and rode after the knight with the red shield; and
down in a valley beside a fountain they were ware where he was alight
to repose him, and had done off his helm for to drink at the well.
CHAP. XIX.
_How Sir Lamorak justed with Sir Palamides and hurt him grievously._
Then Palamides rode fast till he came nigh him. And then he said,
Knight, remember ye of the shame ye did to me right now at the castle,
therefore dress thee, for I will have ado with thee. Fair knight, said
he unto Sir Palamides, of me ye win no worship, for ye have seen this
day that I have been travailed sore. As for that, said Palamides, I
will not let; for wit ye well I will be revenged. Well, said the
knight, I may happen to endure you. And therewithal he mounted upon his
horse, and took a great spear in his hand, ready for to just. Nay, said
Palamides, I will not just, for I am sure at justing I get no prize.
Fair knight, said that knight, it would beseem a knight to just and to
fight on horseback. Ye shall see what I will do, said Palamides. And
therewith he alight down upon foot, and dressed his shield afore him,
and pulled out his sword. Then the knight with the red shield descended
down from his horse, and dressed his shield afore him, and so he drew
out his sword. And then they came together a soft pace, and wonderly
they lashed together passing thick, the mountenance of an hour, or ever
they breathed. Then they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly
wroth, and either behight other death. They hewed so fast with their
swords, that they cut in down half their swords and mails, that the
bare flesh in some places stood above their harness. And when Sir
Palamides beheld his fellow’s sword over covered with his blood, it
grieved him sore. Somewhile they foined, somewhile they strake as wild
men. But at the last Sir Palamides waxed faint, because of his first
wound that he had at the castle with a spear, for that wound grieved
him wonderly sore. Fair knight, said Palamides, me seemeth we have
assayed either other passing sore, and if it may please thee I require
thee of thy knighthood tell me thy name. Sir, said the knight to