_How Sir Lamorak justed with divers knights of the castle wherein was
Morgan le Fay._
Sir Palamides, said Dinadan, here is a castle that I know well, and
therein dwelleth queen Morgan le Fay, king Arthur’s sister, and king
Arthur gave her this castle, the which he hath repented him since a
thousand times; for since king Arthur and she have been at debate and
strife; but this castle could he never get nor win of her by no manner
of engine; and ever as she might she made war on king Arthur. And all
dangerous knights she withholdeth with her for to destroy all these
knights that king Arthur loveth. And there shall no knight pass this
way but he must just with one knight, or with two or with three. And if
it hap that king Arthur’s knight be beaten, he shall lose his horse and
his harness and all that he hath, and hard if that he escape but that
he shall be prisoner. Truly, said Palamides, this is a shameful custom,
and a villainous usage for a queen to use, and, namely, to make such
war upon her own lord that is called the flower of chivalry that is
christian or heathen, and with all my heart I would destroy that
shameful custom. And I will that all the world wit she shall have no
service of me. And if she send out any knights, as I suppose she will,
for to just, they shall have both their hands full. And I shall not
fail you, said Sir Dinadan, unto my puissance, upon my life. So as they
stood on horseback afore the castle there came a knight with a red
shield, and two squires after him. And he came straight unto Sir
Palamides the good knight, and said to him, Fair and gentle knight
errant, I require thee for the love thou owest unto knighthood, that ye
will not have ado here with these men of this castle. (For this was Sir
Lamorak that thus said.) For I came hitherto to seek this deed, and it
is my request. And therefore I beseech you, knight, let me deal, and if
I be beaten revenge me. Well, said Palamides, let see how ye will
speed, and we shall behold you. Then anon came forth a knight of the
castle, and proffered to just with the knight with the red shield. Anon
they encountered together, and he with the red shield smote him so hard
that he bare him over to the earth. Therewith anon came another knight
of the castle, and he was smitten so sore that he avoided his saddle.
And forthwith came the third knight, and the knight with the red shield
smote him to the earth. Then came Sir Palamides and besought him that
he might help him to just. Fair knight, said he unto him, suffer me as
at this time to have my will, for and they were twenty knights I shall
not doubt them. And ever there were upon the walls of the castle many
lords and ladies that cried and said, Well have ye justed, knight with
the red shield. But as soon as the knight had smitten them down, his
squire took their horses and avoided the saddles and bridles of their
horses, and turned them into the forest, and made the knights to be
kept to the end of the justs. Right so came out of the castle the
fourth knight, and freshly proffered to just with the knight with the
red shield. And he was ready, and he smote him so hard that horse and
man fell to the earth, and the knight’s back brake with the fall, and
his neck also. Truly, said Sir Palamides, that yonder is a passing good
knight, and the best juster that ever I saw. By my head, said Sir
Dinadan, he is as good as ever was Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram, what
knight somever he be.