_How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how Palamides sent a
damsel to seek Tristram, and how Palamides met with king Mark._
And upon a day Sir Dagonet, king Arthur’s fool, came into Cornwall,
with two squires with him, and as they rode through that forest they
came by a fair well where Sir Tristram was wont to be, and the weather
was hot, and they alight to drink of that well, and in the mean while
their horses brake loose. Right so Sir Tristram came unto them, and
first he soused Sir Dagonet in that well, and after his squires, and
thereat laughed the shepherds, and forthwithal he ran after their
horses, and brought them again one by one, and right so, wet as they
were, he made them leap up and ride their ways. Thus Sir Tristram
endured there an half year naked, and would never come in town nor
village. The mean while the damsel that Sir Palamides sent to seek Sir
Tristram she went unto Sir Palamides, and told him all the mischief
that Sir Tristram endured. Alas, said Sir Palamides, it is great pity
that ever so noble a knight should be so mischieved for the love of a
lady. But nevertheless I will go and seek him, and comfort him and I
may. Then a little before that time La Beale Isoud had commanded Sir
Kehydius out of the country of Cornwall. So Sir Kehydius departed with
a dolorous heart. And by adventure he met with Sir Palamides, and they
enfellowshipped together, and either complained to other of their love,
that they loved La Beale Isoud. Now let us, said Sir Palamides, seek
Sir Tristram that loved her as well as we, and let us prove whether we
may recover him. So they rode into that forest, and three days and
three nights they would never take their lodging, but ever sought Sir
Tristram. And upon a time by adventure they met with king Mark that was
ridden from his men all alone. When they saw him, Sir Palamides knew
him, but Sir Kehydius knew him not. Ah, false king, said Sir Palamides,
it is pity thou hast thy life, for thou art a destroyer of all
worshipful knights, and by thy mischief, and thy vengeance, thou hast
destroyed that most noble knight Sir Tristram de Liones; and therefore
defend thee, said Sir Palamides, for thou shalt die this day. That were
shame, said king Mark, for ye two are armed, and I am unarmed. As for
that, said Sir Palamides, I shall find a remedy therefore. Here is a
knight with me, and thou shalt have his harness. Nay, said king Mark, I
will not have ado with you, for cause have ye none to me. For all the
misease that Sir Tristram hath was for a letter that he found; for, as
to me, I did to him no displeasure, and I am full sorry for his disease
and malady. So when the king had thus excused him, they were friends,
and king Mark would have had them unto Tintagil, but Sir Palamides
would not, but turned unto the realm of Logris, and Sir Kehydius said
he would go into Britanny.
Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, then when he and his squires were
upon horseback, he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to
array them so because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto
the keepers of beasts, and all to beat them. Sir Tristram saw them
beaten that were wont to give him meat and drink, then he ran thither
and gat Sir Dagonet by the head, and gave him such a fall to the earth
that he bruised him sore, so that he lay still. And then he wrast his
sword out of his hand and therewith he ran to one of his squires and
smote off his head, and the other fled. And so Sir Tristram took his
way with that sword in his hand, running as he had been wild wood. Then
Sir Dagonet rode to king Mark and told him how he had sped in that
forest. And therefore, said Sir Dagonet, beware, king Mark, that thou
come not about that well in the forest, for there is a fool naked, and
that fool and I fool met together, and he had almost slain me. Ah, said
king Mark, that is Sir Matto le Breune, that fell out of his wit
because he lost his lady. For when Sir Gaheris smote down Sir Matto and
won his lady of him, never since was he in his mind, and that was pity,
for he was a good knight.