_How Sir Tristram and his fellowship justed, and of the noble feats
that they did in that tourneying._
Now upon what party, said Sir Tristram, is it best we be withal as
to-morn? Sir, said Palamides, ye shall have mine advice to be against
king Arthur as to-morn, for on his party will be Sir Launcelot, and
many good knights of his blood with him. And the more men of worship
that they be, the more worship we shall win. That is full knightly
spoken, said Sir Tristram, and right so as ye counsel me, so will we
do. So be it, said they all. So that night they were lodged with the
best. And on the morn when it was day, they were arrayed in green
trappings, shields, and spears; and La Beale Isoud in the same colour,
and her three damsels. And right so these four knights came into the
field endlong and through. And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as
she should stand and behold all the justs in a bay window; but always
she wimpled that no man might see her visage. And then these three
knights rode straight unto the party of the king of Scots.
When king Arthur had seen them do all this, he asked Sir Launcelot what
were these knights and that queen? Sir, said Sir Launcelot, I cannot
say you in certain, but if Sir Tristram be in this country, or Sir
Palamides, wit ye well it be they in certain, and La Beale Isoud. Then
Arthur called to him Sir Kay, and said, Go lightly and wit how many
knights there be here lacking of the Table Round, for by the sieges
thou mayest know. So went Sir Kay, and saw by the writing in the sieges
that there lacked ten knights,—And these be their names that be not
here, Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir
Epinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, and Sir
Pelleas the noble knight. Well, said Arthur, some of these I dare
undertake are here this day against us. Then came therein two brethren,
cousins unto Sir Gawaine, the one hight Sir Edward, that other hight
Sir Sadok, the which were two good knights, and they asked of king
Arthur that they might have the first justs, for they were of Orkney. I
am pleased, said king Arthur. Then Sir Edward encountered with the king
of Scots, in whose party was Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides; and Sir
Edward smote the king of Scots quite from his horse; and Sir Sadok
smote down the king of North Wales, and gave him a wonder great fall,
that there was a great cry on king Arthur’s party, and that made Sir
Palamides passing wroth; and so Sir Palamides dressed his shield and
his spear, and with all his might he met with Sir Edward of Orkney,
that he smote him so hard that his horse might not stand on his feet,
and so they hurtled to the earth: and then with the same spear Sir
Palamides smote down Sir Sadok over his horse croup. Oh, said Arthur,
what knight is that arrayed all in green? he justeth mightily. Wit you
well, said Sir Gawaine, he is a good knight, and yet shall ye see him
just better or he depart; and yet shall ye see, said Sir Gawaine,
another bigger knight in the same colour than he is, for that same
knight, said Sir Gawaine, that smote down right now my two cousins, he
smote me down within these two days, and seven fellows more. This
meanwhile, as they stood thus talking, there came into the place Sir
Tristram upon a black horse, and or ever he stint he smote down with
one spear four good knights of Orkney, that were of the kin of Sir
Gawaine; and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan every each of them smote down a
good knight. Truly, said Arthur, yonder knight upon the black horse
doth mightily and marvellously well. Abide you, said Sir Gawaine; that
knight with the black horse began not yet. Then Sir Tristram made to
horse again the two kings that Edward and Sadok had unhorsed at the
beginning. And then Sir Tristram drew his sword, and rode into the
thickest of the press against them of Orkney, and there he smote down
knights, and rashed off helms, and pulled away their shields, and
hurtled down many knights: he fared so that Sir Arthur and all knights
had great marvel, when they saw one knight do so great deeds of arms.
And Sir Palamides failed not upon the other side, but did so
marvellously well that all men had wonder. For there king Arthur
likened Sir Tristram, that was on the black horse, like to a wood lion,
and likened Sir Palamides, upon the white horse, unto a wood libbard,
and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan unto eager wolves. But the custom was
such among them, that none of the kings would help other, but all the
fellowship of every standard to help other as they might. But ever Sir
Tristram did so much deeds of arms that they of Orkney waxed weary of
him, and so withdrew them unto Lonazep.