_How Sir Lamorak justed with Sir Palamides and hurt him grievously._
Then Palamides rode fast till he came nigh him. And then he said,
Knight, remember ye of the shame ye did to me right now at the castle,
therefore dress thee, for I will have ado with thee. Fair knight, said
he unto Sir Palamides, of me ye win no worship, for ye have seen this
day that I have been travailed sore. As for that, said Palamides, I
will not let; for wit ye well I will be revenged. Well, said the
knight, I may happen to endure you. And therewithal he mounted upon his
horse, and took a great spear in his hand, ready for to just. Nay, said
Palamides, I will not just, for I am sure at justing I get no prize.
Fair knight, said that knight, it would beseem a knight to just and to
fight on horseback. Ye shall see what I will do, said Palamides. And
therewith he alight down upon foot, and dressed his shield afore him,
and pulled out his sword. Then the knight with the red shield descended
down from his horse, and dressed his shield afore him, and so he drew
out his sword. And then they came together a soft pace, and wonderly
they lashed together passing thick, the mountenance of an hour, or ever
they breathed. Then they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly
wroth, and either behight other death. They hewed so fast with their
swords, that they cut in down half their swords and mails, that the
bare flesh in some places stood above their harness. And when Sir
Palamides beheld his fellow’s sword over covered with his blood, it
grieved him sore. Somewhile they foined, somewhile they strake as wild
men. But at the last Sir Palamides waxed faint, because of his first
wound that he had at the castle with a spear, for that wound grieved
him wonderly sore. Fair knight, said Palamides, me seemeth we have
assayed either other passing sore, and if it may please thee I require
thee of thy knighthood tell me thy name. Sir, said the knight to
Palamides, that is me loth to do, for thou hast done me wrong and no
knighthood to proffer me battle, considering my great travail: but and
thou wilt tell me thy name, I will tell thee mine. Sir, said he, wit
thou well my name is Palamides. Ah sir, ye shall understand my name is
Sir Lamorak de Galis, son and heir unto the good knight and king, king
Pellinore; and Sir Tor the good knight is my half brother. When Sir
Palamides heard him say so, he kneeled down and asked mercy: For
outrageously have I done to you this day, considering the great deeds
of arms I have seen you do, shamefully and unknightly I have required
you to do battle. Ah, Sir Palamides, said Sir Lamorak, over much have
ye done and said to me. And therewith he embraced him with both his
hands, and said, Palamides the worthy knight, in all this land is no
better than ye, nor of more prowess, and me repented sore that we
should fight together. So it doth not me, said Sir Palamides, and yet
am I sorer wounded than ye be; but as for that, I shall soon thereof be
whole. But certainly I would not for the fairest castle in this land
but if thou and I had met, for I shall love you the days of my life
afore all other knights, except my brother Sir Safere. I say the same,
said Sir Lamorak, except my brother Sir Tor. Then came Sir Dinadan, and
he made great joy of Sir Lamorak. Then their squires dressed both their
shields and their harness, and stopped their wounds. And thereby at a
priory they rested them all night.