_How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight fleeing, and how
they both were overthrown, and of Sir Dinadan._
Now leave we of Sir Lamorak, and speak of Sir Gawaine’s brethren, and
specially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred. As they rode on their
adventures, they met with a knight flying sore wounded, and they asked
him what tidings? Fair knights, said he, here cometh a knight after me
that will slay me. With that came Sir Dinadan, riding to them by
adventure, but he would promise them no help. But Sir Agravaine and Sir
Mordred promised him to rescue him. Therewithal came that knight
straight unto them. And anon he proffered to just. That saw Sir
Mordred, and rode to him; but he strake Sir Mordred over his horse
tail. That saw Sir Agravaine, and straight he rode toward that knight.
And right so as he served Mordred, so he served Agravaine, and said to
them, Sirs, wit ye well both, that I am Breuse Sance Pité, that hath
done this to you. And yet he rode over Agravaine five or six times.
When Dinadan saw this, he must needs just with him for shame. And so
Dinadan and he encountered together, that with pure strength Sir
Dinadan smote him over his horse tail. Then he took his horse and fled.
For he was on foot one of the valiantest knights in Arthur’s days, and
a great destroyer of all good knights. Then rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir
Mordred and unto Sir Agravaine. Sir knight, said they all, well have ye
done, and well have ye revenged us; wherefore we pray you tell us your
name. Fair sirs, ye ought to know my name, the which is called Sir
Dinadan. When they understood that it was Dinadan, they were more wroth
than they were before, for they hated him out of measure, because of
Sir Lamorak. For Dinadan had such a custom that he loved all good
knights that were valiant, and he hated all those that were destroyers
of good knights. And there were none that hated Dinadan but those that
ever were called murderers. Then spake the hurt knight that Breuse
Sance Pité had chased, his name was Dalan, and said, If thou be
Dinadan, thou slewest my father. It may well be so, said Dinadan, but
then it was in my defence, and at his request. By my head, said Dalan,
thou shalt die therefore. And therewith he dressed his spear and his
shield. And to make the shorter tale, Sir Dinadan smote him down off
his horse, that his neck was nigh broken. And in the same wise he smote
Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine. And after, in the quest of the
Sancgreal, cowardly and feloniously they slew Dinadan, the which was
great damage, for he was a great jester and a passing good knight. And
so Sir Dinadan rode to a castle that hight Beale-Valet, and there he
found Sir Palamides, that was not yet whole of the wound that Sir
Lamorak gave him. And there Dinadan told Palamides all the tidings that
he heard and saw of Sir Tristram, and how he was gone with king Mark,
and with him he hath all his will and desire. Therewith Sir Palamides
waxed wroth, for he loved La Beale Isoud, and then he wist well that
Sir Tristram should see her.