_How the prize of the third day was given to Sir Launcelot, and Sir
Launcelot gave it unto Sir Tristram._
Then all the estates and degrees high and low said of Sir Launcelot
great worship for the honour that he did unto Sir Tristram, and for
that honour doing to Sir Tristram he was at that time more praised and
renowned than if he had overthrown five hundred knights: and all the
people wholly for this gentleness, first the estates both high and low,
and after the commonalty, cried at once, Sir Launcelot hath won the
field, whosoever say nay. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth and ashamed, and
so therewithal he rode to king Arthur. Alas, said the king, we are all
dismayed that Sir Tristram is thus departed from us. Truly, said king
Arthur, he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw hold spear or
sword in hand, and the most courteyest knight in his fighting, for full
hard I saw him, said king Arthur, when he smote Sir Palamides upon his
helm, thrice that he abashed his helm with his strokes, and also he
said, here is a stroke for Sir Tristram, and thus thrice he said. Then
king Arthur, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Dodinas le Savage took their horses
to seek Sir Tristram, and by the means of Sir Persides he had told king
Arthur where Sir Tristram was in his pavilion, but when they came there
Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were gone. Then king Arthur and Sir
Launcelot were heavy, and returned again to the Castle of Maidens
making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram, and his sudden
departing. Truly, said king Arthur, I am more heavy that I cannot meet
with him than for all the hurts that all my knights have had at the
tournament. Right so came Sir Gaheris and told to king Arthur how Sir
Tristram had smitten down Sir Palamides, and it was at Sir Palamides’s
own request. Alas, said king Arthur, that was great dishonour to Sir
Palamides, inasmuch as Sir Tristram was sore wounded, and now may we
all, kings, and knights, and men of worship, say that Sir Tristram may
be called a noble knight, and one of the best knights that ever I saw
the days of my life. For I will that ye all kings and knights know,
said king Arthur, that I never saw knight do so marvellously as he hath
done these three days, for he was the first that began, and that
longest held on, save this last day. And though he was hurt, it was a
manly adventure of two noble knights: and when two noble men encounter
needs must the one have the worse, like as God will suffer at that
time. As for me, said Sir Launcelot, for all the lands that ever my
father left me I would not have hurt Sir Tristram and I had known him
at that time. That I hurt him was for I saw not his shield, for if I
had seen his black shield I would not have meddled with him for many
causes, for late he did as much for me as ever knight did, and that is
well known that he had ado with thirty knights, and no help save Sir
Dinadan. And one thing shall I promise, said Sir Launcelot, Sir
Palamides shall repent it, as in his unkindly dealing for to follow
that noble knight that I by mishap hurt thus. Sir Launcelot said all
the worship that might be said by Sir Tristram. Then king Arthur made a
great feast to all that would come.
And thus let we pass king Arthur, and a little we will turn unto Sir
Palamides, that, after he had a fall of Sir Tristram, he was nigh hand
enraged out of his wit for despite of Sir Tristram. And so he followed
him by adventure. And as he came by a river in his woodness he would
have made his horse to have lept over; and the horse failed footing and
fell in the river, wherefore Sir Palamides was adread lest he should
have been drowned, and then he avoided his horse and swam to the land,
and let his horse go down by adventure.