_How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir Tristram rode armed, and how
he met with Sir Palamides._
So on a day La Beale Isoud said unto Sir Tristram, I marvel me much,
said she, that ye remember not yourself, how that ye be here in a
strange country, and here be many perilous knights, and well ye wote
that king Mark is full of treason, and that ye will ride thus to chase
and hunt unarmed; ye might be destroyed. My fair lady and my love, I
cry you mercy, I will no more do so. So then Sir Tristram rode daily on
hunting armed, and his men bearing his shield and his spear. So on a
day, a little afore the month of May, Sir Tristram chased an hart
passing eagerly, and so the hart passed by a fair well. And then Sir
Tristram alighted, and put off his helm to drink of that burbley water.
Right so he heard and saw the questing beast come to the well. When Sir
Tristram saw that beast, he put on his helm, for he deemed he should
hear of Sir Palamides, for that beast was his quest. Right so Tristram
saw where came a knight armed, upon a noble courser, and he saluted
him, and they spake of many things; and this knight’s name was Breuse
Sance Pité. And right so withal there came unto them the noble knight
Sir Palamides, and either saluted other, and spake fair to other. Fair
knights, said Sir Breuse Sance Pité, I can tell you tidings. What is
that? said those knights. Sirs, wit ye well that king Mark is put in
prison by his own knights, and all was for love of Sir Tristram: for
king Mark had put Sir Tristram twice in prison; and once Sir Percivale
delivered the noble knight Sir Tristram out of prison; and at the last
time queen La Beale Isoud delivered him, and went clearly away with him
into this realm: and all this while king Mark the false traitor is in
prison. Is this truth? said Sir Palamides; then shall we hastily hear
of Sir Tristram. And as for to say that I love La Beale Isoud, I dare
make good that I do, and that she hath my service above all other
ladies, and shall have the term of my life. And right so as they stood
talking they saw afore them where came a knight, all armed on a great
horse, and one of his men bare his shield, and the other his spears.
And anon as that knight espied them, he gat his shield and his spear,
and dressed him to just. Fair fellows, said Sir Tristram, yonder is a
knight will just with us; let see which of us shall encounter with him,
for I see well he is of the court of king Arthur. It shall not be long
or he be met withal, said Sir Palamides, for I found never no knight in
my quest of this glasting beast but, and he would just, I never refused
him. As well may I, said Breuse Sance Pité, follow that beast as ye.
Then shall ye do battle with me, said Sir Palamides. So Sir Palamides
dressed him unto the other knight, Sir Bleoberis, that was a full noble
knight, nigh kin unto Sir Launcelot. And so they met so hard that Sir
Palamides fell to the earth, horse and all. Then Sir Bleoberis cried
aloud, and said thus: Make thee ready, thou false traitor knight,
Breuse Sance Pité, for wit thou certainly I will have ado with thee to
the utterance, for the noble knights and ladies that thou hast falsely
betrayed. When this false knight and traitor, Breuse Sance Pité, heard
him say so, he took his horse by the bridle, and fled his way as fast
as his horse might run, for sore he was of him afeard. When Sir
Bleoberis saw him flee, he followed fast after him, through thick and
through thin. And by fortune as Sir Breuse fled, he saw even afore him
three knights of the Table Round, of the which the one hight Sir Ector
de Maris, the other hight Sir Percivale de Galis, the third hight Sir
Harry le Fise Lake, a good knight and an hardy. And as for Sir
Percivale, he was called that time of his time one of the best knights
of the world, and the best assured. When Breuse saw these knights, he
rode straight unto them, and cried unto them, and prayed them of
rescues. What need have ye? said Sir Ector. Ah, fair knights, said Sir
Breuse, here followeth me the most traitor knight and most coward, and
most of villainy: his name is Breuse Sance Pité; and if he may get me,
he will slay me without mercy and pity. Abide with us, said Sir
Percivale, and we shall warrant you. Then were they ware of Sir
Bleoberis, that came riding all that he might. Then Sir Ector put
himself forth for to just afore them all. When Sir Bleoberis saw that
they were four knights, and he but himself, he stood in a doubt whether
he would turn or hold his way. Then he said to himself, I am a knight
of the Table Round, and rather than I should shame mine oath and my
blood I will hold my way whatsoever fall thereof. And then Sir Ector
dressed his spear, and smote either other passing sore, but Sir Ector
fell to the earth. That saw Sir Percivale, and he dressed his horse
toward him all that he might drive; but Sir Percivale had such a stroke
that horse and man fell to the earth. When Sir Harry saw that they were
both to the earth, then he said to himself, Never was Breuse of such
prowess. So Sir Harry dressed his horse, and they met together so
strongly that both the horses and knights fell to the earth; but Sir
Bleoberis’s horse began to recover again. That saw Sir Breuse, and he
came hurtling, and smote him over and over, and would have slain him as
he lay on the ground. Then Sir Harry le Fise Lake arose lightly, and
took the bridle of Sir Breuse’s horse, and said, Fie for shame, strike
never a knight when he is at the earth; for this knight may be called
no shameful knight of his deeds: for yet as men may see there as he
lieth on the ground, he hath done worshipfully, and put to the worse
passing good knights. Therefore will I not let, said Sir Breuse. Thou
shalt not choose, said Sir Harry, as at this time. Then when Sir Breuse
saw that he might not choose, nor have his will, he spake fair. Then
Sir Harry let him go. And then anon he made his horse to run over Sir
Bleoberis, and rashed him to the earth like if he would have slain him.
When Sir Harry saw him do so villainously, he cried, Traitor knight,
leave off for shame. And as Sir Harry would have taken his horse to
fight with Sir Breuse, then Sir Breuse ran upon him as he was half upon
his horse, and smote him down horse and man to the earth, and had near
slain Sir Harry the good knight. That saw Sir Percivale, and then he
cried, Traitor knight what dost thou? And when Sir Percivale was upon
his horse, Sir Breuse took his horse, and fled all that ever he might,
and Sir Percivale and Sir Harry followed after him fast, but ever the
longer they chased the further were they behind. Then they turned
again, and came to Sir Ector de Maris and to Sir Bleoberis. Ah fair
knights, said Bleoberis, why have ye succoured that false knight and
traitor? Why, said Sir Harry, what knight is he? for well I wot it is a
false knight, said Sir Harry, and a coward, and a felonious knight.
Sir, said Bleoberis, he is the most coward knight, and a devourer of
ladies, and a destroyer of good knights, and specially of Arthur’s.
What is your name? said Sir Ector. My name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis.
Alas, fair cousin, said Ector, forgive it me, for I am Sir Ector de
Maris. Then Sir Percivale and Sir Harry made great joy that they met
with Bleoberis, but all they were heavy that Sir Breuse was escaped
them, whereof they made great dole.