SIR PALAMEDES
WHILE Sir Tristram and the fair Isoude abode yet at La Joyeuse Garde,
Sir Tristram rode forth one day, without armor, having no weapon but his
spear and his sword. And as he rode he came to a place where he saw two
knights in battle, and one of them had gotten the better and the other
lay overthrown. The knight who had the better was Sir Palamedes. When
Sir Palamedes knew Sir Tristram, he cried out, “Sir Tristram, now we be
met, and ere we depart we will redress our old wrongs.” “As for that,”
said Sir Tristram, “there never yet was Christian man that might make
his boast that I ever fled from him, and thou that art a Saracen shalt
never say that of me.” And therewith Sir Tristram made his horse to run,
and with all his might came straight upon Sir Palamedes, and broke his
spear upon him. Then he drew his sword and struck at Sir Palamedes six
great strokes, upon his helm. Sir Palamedes saw that Sir Tristram had
not his armor on, and he marvelled at his rashness and his great folly;
and said to himself, “If I meet and slay him, I am shamed wheresoever I
go.” Then Sir Tristram cried out and said, “Thou coward knight, why wilt
thou not do battle with me? for have thou no doubt I shall endure all
thy malice.” “Ah, Sir Tristram!” said Sir Palamedes, “thou knowest I may
not fight with thee for shame; for thou art here naked, and I am armed;
now I require that thou answer me a question that I shall ask you.”
“Tell me what it is,” said Sir Tristram. “I put the case,” said
Palamedes, “that you were well armed, and I naked as ye be; what would
you do to me now, by your true knighthood?” “Ah!” said Sir Tristram,
“now I understand thee well, Sir Palamedes; and, as God bless me, what I
shall say shall not be said for fear that I have of thee. But if it were
so, thou shouldest depart from me, for I would not have to do with
thee.” “No more will I with thee,” said Sir Palamedes, “and therefore
ride forth on thy way.” “As for that, I may choose,” said Sir Tristram,
“either to ride or to abide. But, Sir Palamedes, I marvel at one
thing,—that thou art so good a knight, yet that thou wilt not be
christened.” “As for that,” said Sir Palamedes, “I may not yet be
christened, for a vow which I made many years ago; yet in my heart I
believe in our Saviour and his mild mother, Mary; but I have yet one
battle to do, and when that is done I will be christened, with a good
will.” “By my head,” said Sir Tristram, “as for that one battle, thou
shalt seek it no longer; for yonder is a knight, whom you have smitten
down. Now help me to be clothed in his armor, and I will soon fulfil thy
vow.” “As ye will,” said Sir Palamedes, “so shall it be.” So they rode
both unto that knight that sat on a bank; and Sir Tristram saluted him,
and he full weary saluted him again. “Sir,” said Sir Tristram, “I pray
you to lend me your whole armor; for I am unarmed, and I must do battle
with this knight.” “Sir,” said the hurt knight, “you shall have it, with
a right good will.” Then Sir Tristram unarmed Sir Galleron, for that was
the name of the hurt knight, and he as well as he could helped to arm
Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristram mounted upon his own horse, and in his
hand he took Sir Galleron’s spear. Thereupon Sir Palamedes was ready,
and so they came hurling together, and each smote the other in the midst
of their shields. Sir Palamedes’ spear broke, and Sir Tristram smote
down the horse. Then Sir Palamedes leapt from his horse, and drew out
his sword. That saw Sir Tristram, and therewith he alighted and tied his
horse to a tree. Then they came together as two wild beasts, lashing the
one on the other, and so fought more than two hours; and often Sir
Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palamedes that he made him to kneel,
and Sir Palamedes broke away Sir Tristram’s shield, and wounded him.
Then Sir Tristram was wroth out of measure, and he rushed to Sir
Palamedes and wounded him passing sore through the shoulder, and by
fortune smote Sir Palamedes’ sword out of his hand. And if Sir Palamedes
had stooped for his sword Sir Tristram had slain him. Then Sir Palamedes
stood and beheld his sword with a full sorrowful heart. “Now,” said Sir
Tristram, “I have thee at a vantage, as thou hadst me to-day; but it
shall never be said, in court, or among good knights, that Sir Tristram
did slay any knight that was weaponless; therefore take thou thy sword,
and let us fight this battle to the end.” Then spoke Sir Palamedes to
Sir Tristram: “I have no wish to fight this battle any more. The offence
that I have done unto you is not so great but that, if it please you, we
may be friends. All that I have offended is for the love of the queen,
La Belle Isoude, and I dare maintain that she is peerless among ladies;
and for that offence ye have given me many grievous and sad strokes, and
some I have given you again. Wherefore I require you, my lord Sir
Tristram, forgive me all that I have offended you, and this day have me
unto the next church; and first I will be clean confessed, and after
that see you that I be truly baptized, and then we will ride together
unto the court of my lord, King Arthur, so that we may be there at the
feast of Pentecost.” “Now take your horse,” said Sir Tristram, “and as
you have said, so shall it be done.” So they took their horses, and Sir
Galleron rode with them. When they came to the church of Carlisle, the
bishop commanded to fill a great vessel with water; and when he had
hallowed it, he then confessed Sir Palamedes clean, and christened him,
and Sir Tristram and Sir Galleron were his godfathers. Then soon after
they departed, and rode towards Camelot, where the noble King Arthur and
Queen Guenever were keeping a court royal. And the king and all the
court were glad that Sir Palamedes was christened. Then Sir Tristram
returned again to La Joyeuse Garde, and Sir Palamedes went his way.
Not long after these events Sir Gawain returned from Brittany, and
related to King Arthur the adventure which befell him in the forest of
Breciliande, how Merlin had there spoken to him, and enjoined him to
charge the king to go without delay upon the quest of the Holy Greal.
While King Arthur deliberated Tristram determined to enter upon the
quest, and the more readily, as it was well known to him that this holy
adventure would, if achieved, procure him the pardon of all his sins. He
immediately departed for the kingdom of Brittany, hoping there to obtain
from Merlin counsel as to the proper course to pursue to insure success.
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