_How Sir Palamides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was, and of
the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir Tristram._
And when he came to the land he took off his harness, and sat roaring
and crying as a man out of his mind. Right so came a damsel even by Sir
Palamides, that was sent from Sir Gawaine and his brother unto Sir
Mordred, that lay sick in the same place with that old knight where Sir
Tristram was. For, as the French book saith, Sir Persides hurt so Sir
Mordred a ten days afore; and had it not been for the love of Sir
Gawaine and his brother, Sir Persides had slain Sir Mordred. And so
this damsel came by Sir Palamides, and she and he had language
together, the which pleased neither of them: and so the damsel rode her
ways till she came to the old knight’s place, and there she told that
old knight how she had met with the woodest knight by adventure that
ever she met withal. What bare he in his shield? said Sir Tristram. It
was indented with white and black, said the damsel. Ah, said Sir
Tristram, that was Sir Palamides the good knight, for well I know him,
said Sir Tristram, for one of the best knights living in this realm.
Then that old knight took a little hackney, and rode for Sir Palamides,
and brought him unto his own manor; and then full well knew Sir
Tristram Sir Palamides, but he said but little, for at that time Sir
Tristram was walking upon his feet, and well amended of his hurts, and
always when Sir Palamides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full
marvellously. And ever him seemed that he had seen him. Then would he
say to Sir Dinadan, And ever I may meet with Sir Tristram, he shall not
escape my hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, that ye boast behind Sir
Tristram, for it is but late that he was in your hands, and ye in his
hands; why would ye not hold him when ye had him? for I saw myself
twice or thrice that ye gat but little worship of Sir Tristram. Then
was Sir Palamides ashamed. So leave we them a little while in the
castle with the old knight Sir Darras.
Now shall we speak of king Arthur, that said to Sir Launcelot, Had not
ye been, we had not lost Sir Tristram, for he was here daily unto the
time ye met with him, and in an evil time, said Arthur, ye encountered
with him. My lord Arthur, said Launcelot, ye put upon me that I should
be cause of his departure: truly it was against my will. But when men
be hot in deeds of arms, often they hurt their friends as well as their
foes; and my lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall understand that Sir
Tristram is a man that I am loth to offend, for he hath done for me
more than ever I did for him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot made to
bring forth a book, and then Sir Launcelot said, Here we are ten
knights that will swear upon a book never to rest one night where we
rest another, this twelvemonth, until that we find Sir Tristram. And as
for me, said Sir Launcelot, I promise you upon this book that and I may
meet with him, either by fairness or foulness I shall bring him to this
court, or else I shall die therefore. And the names of these ten
knights that had undertaken this quest were these following. First was
Sir Launcelot; Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis,
and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and Lucan the butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir Galihud,
Sir Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the
court of king Arthur; and so they rode upon their quest together until
they came to a cross where departed four highways, and there departed
the fellowship in four, to seek Sir Tristram. And as Sir Launcelot rode
by adventure he met with dame Bragwaine, that was sent into that
country to seek Sir Tristram, and she fled as fast as her palfrey might
go. So Sir Launcelot met with her, and asked her why she fled. Ah, fair
knight, said dame Bragwaine, I flee for dread of my life, for here
followeth me Sir Breuse Sance Pité to slay me. Hold you nigh me, said
Sir Launcelot. Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse Sance Pité, Sir
Launcelot cried unto him and said, False knight, destroyer of ladies
and damsels, now thy last days be come. When Sir Breuse Sance Pité saw
Sir Launcelot’s shield he knew it well, for at that time he bare not
the arms of Cornwall, but he bare his own shield. And then Sir Breuse
fled, and Sir Launcelot followed after him. But Sir Breuse was so well
horsed, that when him list to flee he might well flee, and also abide
when him list. And then Sir Launcelot returned unto dame Bragwaine, and
she thanked him of his great labour.