_How king Arthur and Sir Launcelot came to see La Beale Isoud, and how
Palamides smote down king Arthur._
So on the morn Sir Launcelot departed, and Sir Tristram was ready, and
La Beale Isoud with Sir Palamides and Sir Gareth. And so they rode all
in green, full freshly beseen, unto the forest. And Sir Tristram left
Sir Dinadan sleeping in his bed. And so as they rode, it happed the
king and Launcelot stood in a window, and saw Sir Tristram ride and
Isoud. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, yonder rideth the fairest lady of the
world, except your queen dame Guenever. Who is that? said Sir Arthur.
Sir, said he, it is queen Isoud, that, out-taken my lady your queen,
she is matchless. Take your horse, said Arthur, and array you at all
rights, as I will do, and I promise you, said the king, I will see her.
Then anon they were armed and horsed, and either took a spear and rode
unto the forest. Sir, said Launcelot, it is not good that ye go too
nigh them, for wit ye well there are two as good knights as now are
living; and therefore, Sir, I pray you be not too hasty. For
peradventure there will be some knights be displeased and we come
suddenly upon them. As for that, said Arthur, I will see her, for I
take no force whom I grieve. Sir, said Launcelot, ye put yourself in
great jeopardy. As for that, said the king, we will take the adventure.
Right so anon the king rode even to her, and saluted her, and said, God
you save. Sir, said she, ye are welcome. Then the king beheld her, and
liked her wonderly well. With that came Sir Palamides unto Arthur and
said, Uncourteous knight, what seeketh thou here? Thou art uncourteous,
to come upon a lady thus suddenly; therefore withdraw thee. Sir Arthur
took none heed of Sir Palamides’ words, but ever he looked still upon
queen Isoud. Then was Sir Palamides wroth, and therewith he took a
spear and came hurtling upon king Arthur, and smote him down with a
spear. When Sir Launcelot saw that despite of Sir Palamides, he said to
himself, I am loth to have ado with yonder knight, and not for his own
sake but for Sir Tristram. And one thing I am sure of, if I smite down
Sir Palamides I must have ado with Sir Tristram, and that were over
much for me to match them both, for they are two noble knights:
notwithstanding, whether I live or die, needs must I revenge my lord,
and so will I whatsoever befal of me. And therewith Sir Launcelot cried
to Sir Palamides, Keep thee from me! And then Sir Launcelot and Sir
Palamides rashed together with two spears strongly. But Sir Launcelot
smote Sir Palamides so hard that he went quite out of his saddle, and
had a great fall. When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palamides have that fall,
he said to Sir Launcelot, Sir knight keep thee, for I must just with
thee. As for to just with me, said Sir Launcelot, I will not fail you
for no dread I have of you, but I am loth to have ado with you and I
might choose: for I will that ye wit that I must revenge my special
lord, that was unhorsed unwarily and unknightly. And therefore, though
I have revenged that fall, take ye no displeasure therein, for he is to
me such a friend that I may not see him shamed. Anon Sir Tristram
understood by his person and by his knightly words that it was Sir
Launcelot du Lake, and verily Sir Tristram deemed that it was king
Arthur, he that Sir Palamides had smitten down.
And then Sir Tristram put his spear from him, and put Sir Palamides
again on horseback; and Sir Launcelot put king Arthur on horseback, and
so departed. Truly, said Sir Tristram unto Palamides, ye did not
worshipfully when ye smote down that knight so suddenly as ye did. And
wit ye well ye did yourself great shame: for the knights came hither of
their gentleness to see a fair lady, and that is every good knight’s
part to behold a fair lady, and ye had not ado to play such masteries
afore my lady. Wit thou well it will turn to anger, for he that ye
smote down was king Arthur, and that other was the good knight Sir
Launcelot. But I shall not forget the words of Sir Launcelot, when that
he called him a man of great worship: thereby I wist that it was king
Arthur. And as for Sir Launcelot, and there had been five hundred
knights in the meadow he would not have refused them, and yet he said
he would refuse me: by that again I wist that it was Sir Launcelot, for
ever he forbeareth me in every place, and sheweth me great kindness;
and of all knights—I out-take none, say what men will say—he beareth
the flower of all chivalry, say it him whosoever will, and he be well
angered, and that him list to do his utterance without any favour, I
know him not on live but Sir Launcelot is over hard for him, be it on
horseback or on foot. I may never believe, said Sir Palamides, that
king Arthur will ride so privily as a poor errant knight. Ah, said Sir
Tristram, ye know not my lord Arthur, for all knights may learn to be a
knight of him. And therefore ye may be sorry, said Sir Tristram, of
your unkindly deeds to so noble a king. And a thing that is done may
not be undone, said Sir Palamides. Then Sir Tristram sent queen Isoud
unto her lodging in the priory, there to behold all the tournament.