_Of the battle between Sir Palamides and the two brethren, and how the
two brethren were slain._
Then they departed, and the two brethren came against Sir Palamides,
and he against them, as fast as their horses might run. And by fortune
Sir Palamides smote Helake through his shield, and through the breast
more than a fathom. All this while Sir Helius held up his spear, and
for pride and presumption he would not smite Sir Palamides with his
spear. But when he saw his brother lie on the earth, and saw he might
not help himself, then he said unto Sir Palamides, Help thyself: and
therewith he came hurtling unto Sir Palamides with his spear, and smote
him quite from his saddle. Then Sir Helius rode over Sir Palamides
twice or thrice. And therewith Sir Palamides was ashamed, and gat the
horse of Sir Helius by the bridle, and therewithal the horse areared,
and Sir Palamides halp after, and so they fell both to the earth, but
anon Sir Helius start up lightly, and there he smote Sir Palamides a
mighty stroke upon the helm, so that he kneeled upon his own knee. Then
they lashed together many sad strokes, and traced and traversed, now
backward, now sideling, hurtling together like two boars, and that same
time they fell both groveling to the earth. Thus they fought still
without any reposing two hours, and never breathed, and then Sir
Palamides waxed faint and weary, and Sir Helius waxed passing strong,
and doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Palamides overthwart and endlong
all the field, that they of the city, when they saw Sir Palamides in
this case, they wept, and cried, and made great dole, and the other
party made as great joy. Alas, said the men of the city, that this
noble knight should thus be slain for our king’s sake. And as they were
thus weeping and crying, Sir Palamides that had suffered an hundred
strokes, that it was wonder that he stood upon his feet, at the last,
Sir Palamides beheld as he might the common people how they wept for
him, and then he said to himself, Ah, fie for shame, Sir Palamides, why
hangest thou thy head so low? And therewith he bear up his shield, and
looked Sir Helius in the visage, and he smote him a great stroke upon
the helm, and after that another and another. And then he smote Sir
Helius with such a might that he fell to the earth groveling, and then
he rased off his helm from his head, and there he smote him such a
buffet that he departed his head from the body. And then were the
people of the city the joyfullest people that might be. So they brought
him to his lodging with great solemnity, and there all the people
became his men. And then Sir Palamides prayed them all to take keep
unto all the lordship of king Hermance;—For, fair sirs, wit ye well, I
may not as at this time abide with you, for I must in all haste be with
my lord king Arthur at the castle of Lonazep, the which I have promised.
Then were the people full heavy at his departing. For all that city
proffered Sir Palamides the third part of their goods so that he would
abide with them: but in no wise as at that time he would not abide. And
so Sir Palamides departed. And so he came unto the castle, there as Sir
Ebel was lieutenant. And when they in the castle wist how Sir Palamides
had sped there was a joyful company. And so Sir Palamides departed, and
came to the castle of Lonazep. And when he wist that Sir Tristram was
not there, he took his way over Humber, and came unto Joyous Gard where
as Sir Tristram was, and La Beale Isoud. Sir Tristram had commanded
that what knight errant came within the Joyous Gard, as in the town,
that they should warn Sir Tristram. So there came a man of the town,
and told Sir Tristram how there was a knight in the town a passing
goodly man. What manner of man is he? said Sir Tristram, and what sign
beareth he? So the man told Sir Tristram all the tokens of him. That is
Palamides, said Dinadan. It may well be, said Sir Tristram: go ye to
him, said Sir Tristram unto Dinadan. So Dinadan went unto Sir
Palamides, and there either made of other great joy, and so they lay
together that night, and on the morn early came Sir Tristram and Sir
Gareth, and took them in their beds, and so they arose and brake their
fast.