_How Palamides demanded queen Isoud, and how Lambegus rode after to
rescue her, and of the escape of Isoud._
Sir, said Palamides, I promised your queen Isoud to bring again dame
Bragwaine that she had lost, upon this covenant, that she should grant
me a boon that I would ask, and without grudging other advisement she
granted me. What say ye, my lady? said the king. It is truly as he
saith, said the queen, to say the sooth I promised him his asking for
love and joy that I had to see her. Well madam, said the king, and if
ye were hasty to grant him what boon he would ask, I will well that ye
perform your promise. Then said Sir Palamides, I will that ye wit that
I will have your queen to lead her and govern her where as me list.
Therewith the king stood still, and bethought him of Sir Tristram, and
deemed that he would rescue her. And then hastily the king answered,
Take her with the adventures that shall fall of it, for Sir Palamides
as I suppose thou wilt not keep her no while. As for that, said Sir
Palamides, I dare right well abide the adventure. And so to make short
tale, Sir Palamides took her by the hand and said, Madam, grudge not to
go with me, for I desire nothing but your own promise. As for that,
said the queen, I fear not greatly to go with thee, howbeit thou hast
me at advantage upon my promise. For I doubt not I shall be
worshipfully rescued from thee. As for that, said Sir Palamides, be it
as it be may. So queen Isoud was set behind Palamides, and rode his
way. Anon the king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could be
found, for he was in the forest an hunting; for that was always his
custom, but if he used arms, to chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas,
said the king, now I am shamed for ever, that by mine own assent my
lady and my queen shall be devoured. Then came forth a knight, his name
was Lambegus, and he was a knight of Sir Tristram. My lord, said this
knight, sith ye have trust in my lord Sir Tristram, wit ye well for his
sake I will ride after your queen and rescue her, or else I shall be
beaten. Gramercy, said the king, and I live, Sir Lambegus, I shall
deserve it. And then Sir Lambegus armed him, and rode after as fast as
he might. And then within awhile he overtook Sir Palamides: and then
Sir Palamides left the queen. What art thou? said Sir Palamides, art
thou Tristram? Nay, he said, I am his servant, and my name is Sir
Lambegus. That me repenteth, said Sir Palamides, I had lever thou hadst
been Sir Tristram. I believe you well, said Sir Lambegus, but when thou
meetest with Sir Tristram thou shalt have thy hands full. And then they
hurtled together and all to-brast their spears, and then they pulled
out their swords and hewed on helms and hauberks. At the last Sir
Palamides gave Sir Lambegus such a wound that he fell down like a dead
knight to the earth. Then he looked after La Beale Isoud, and then she
was gone he nist where. Wit ye well Sir Palamides was never so heavy.
So the queen ran into the forest, and there she found a well, and
therein she had thought to have drowned herself. And as good fortune
would, there came a knight to her that had a castle thereby, his name
was Sir Adtherp. And when he found the queen in that mischief he
rescued her, and brought her to his castle. And when he wist what she
was, he armed him and took his horse, and said he would be avenged upon
Palamides, and so he rode till he met with him, and there Sir Palamides
wounded him sore, and by force he made him to tell him the cause why he
did battle with him, and how he had led the queen unto his castle. Now
bring me there, said Palamides, or thou shalt die of my hands. Sir,
said Sir Adtherp, I am so wounded I may not follow, but ride you this
way, and it shall bring you into my castle, and there within is the
queen. And then Sir Palamides rode still till he came to the castle,
and at a window La Beale Isoud saw Sir Palamides, then she made the
gates to be shut strongly. And when he saw he might not come within the
castle, he put off his bridle and his saddle, and put his horse to
pasture, and set himself down at the gate like a man that was out of
his wit that recked not of himself.