_How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and how after Sir Tristram smote
down Palamides._
Then this cry was so large that Sir Launcelot heard it. And then he gat
a great spear in his hand, and came towards the cry. Then Sir Launcelot
cried, The knight with the black shield, make thee ready to just with
me. When Sir Tristram heard him say so, he gat his spear in his hand,
and either abashed down their heads, and came together as thunder, and
Sir Tristram’s spear brake in pieces, and Sir Launcelot by mal-fortune
struck Sir Tristram on the side a deep wound nigh to the death. But yet
Sir Tristram avoided not his saddle, and so the spear brake:
therewithal Sir Tristram that was wounded gat out his sword, and he
rashed to Sir Launcelot, and gave him three great strokes upon the helm
that the fire spang there out, and Sir Launcelot abashed his head lowly
toward his saddle-bow. And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from the
field, for he felt him so wounded that he wend he should have died. And
Sir Dinadan espied him, and followed him into the forest. Then Sir
Launcelot abode and did many marvellous deeds. So when Sir Tristram was
departed by the forest side, he alight, and unlaced his harness and
refreshed his wound. Then wend Sir Dinadan that he should have died.
Nay, nay, said Sir Tristram, Dinadan never dread thee, for I am heart
whole, and of this wound I shall soon be whole by the mercy of God. By
that Sir Dinadan was ware where came Sir Palamides riding straight upon
them. And then Sir Tristram was ware that Sir Palamides came to have
destroyed him. And so Sir Dinadan gave him warning and said, Sir
Tristram, my lord, ye are so sore wounded that ye may not have ado with
him, therefore I will ride against him and do to him what I may; and if
I be slain ye may pray for my soul, and in the meanwhile ye may
withdraw you and go into the castle, or into the forest, that he shall
not meet with you. Sir Tristram smiled and said, I thank you, Sir
Dinadan, of your good will, but ye shall wit that I am able to handle
him. And then anon hastily he armed him and took his horse and gat a
great spear in his hand, and said to Sir Dinadan, Adieu, and rode
toward Sir Palamides a soft pace.
Then when Sir Palamides saw that, he made countenance to amend his
horse; but he did it for this cause, for he abode Sir Gaheris that came
after him. And when he was come, he rode toward Sir Tristram. Then Sir
Tristram sent unto Sir Palamides and required him to just with him; and
if he smote down Sir Palamides he would do no more to him; and if it so
happened that Sir Palamides smote down Sir Tristram he bad him do his
utterance. So they were accorded. Then they met together, and Sir
Tristram smote down Sir Palamides, that he had a grievous fall, so that
he lay still as he had been dead. And then Sir Tristram ran upon Sir
Gaheris, and he would not have justed, but whether he would or not Sir
Tristram smote him over his horse croup, that he lay still as though he
had been dead. And then Sir Tristram rode his way, and left Sir
Persides’ squire within the pavilions, and Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan
rode to an old knight’s place to lodge them. And that old knight had
five sons at the tournament, for whom he prayed heartily for their
coming home. And so, as the French book saith, they came home all five
well beaten.
And when Sir Tristram departed into the forest, Sir Launcelot held
alway the fight like hard as a man enraged that took no heed to
himself, and wit ye well there was many a noble knight against him. And
when king Arthur saw Sir Launcelot do so marvellous deeds of arms, he
then armed him, and took his horse and armour, and rode into the field
to help Sir Launcelot, and so many knights came in with king Arthur.
And to make short tale, in conclusion, the king of Northgalis and the
king of the hundred knights were put to the worse, and because Sir
Launcelot abode and was the last in the field, the prize was given him.
But Sir Launcelot would neither for king, queen, nor knight have the
prize. But where the cry was cried through the field, Sir Launcelot,
Sir Launcelot, hath won the field this day, Sir Launcelot let make
another cry contrary, Sir Tristram hath won the field, for he began
first, and last he hath endured, and so hath he done the first day, the
second, and the third day.