_How king Arthur and Sir Launcelot came into their pavilions as they
sat at supper; and of Palamides._
And therewithal two knights armed came unto the pavilion, and there
they alight both, and came in armed at all pieces. Fair knights, said
Sir Tristram, ye are to blame to come thus armed at all pieces upon me
while we are at our meat. If ye would anything, when we were in the
field there might ye have eased your hearts. Not so, said the one of
those knights, we come not for that intent; but wit ye well, Sir
Tristram, we be come hither as your friends. And I am come here, said
the one, for to see you, and this knight is come for to see La Beale
Isoud. Then, said Sir Tristram, I require you do off your helms, that I
may see you. That will we do at your desire, said the knights. And when
their helms were off, Sir Tristram thought he should know them. Then
said Sir Dinadan privily unto Sir Tristram, Sir, that is Sir Launcelot
du Lake that spake unto you first, and the other is my lord king
Arthur. Then said Sir Tristram unto La Beale Isoud, Madam, arise, for
here is my lord king Arthur. Then the king and the queen kissed, and
Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram braced either other in arms, and then
there was joy without measure, and at the request of La Beale Isoud
king Arthur and Launcelot were unarmed. And then there was merry
talking.
Madam, said Sir Arthur, it is many a day sithen that I have desired to
see you. For ye have been praised so far, and now I dare say ye are the
fairest that ever I saw; and Sir Tristram is as fair and as good a
knight as any that I know, therefore me beseemeth ye are well beset
together. Sir, I thank you, said the noble knight Sir Tristram, and
Isoud; of your great goodness and largesse ye are peerless. Thus they
talked of many things, and of all the whole justs. But for what cause,
said king Arthur, were ye, Sir Tristram, against us? Ye are a knight of
the Table Round; of right ye should have been with us. Sir, said Sir
Tristram, here is Dinadan and Sir Gareth your own nephew caused me to
be against you. My lord Arthur, said Gareth, I may well bear the blame,
but it were Sir Tristram’s own deeds. That may I repent, said Sir
Dinadan, for this unhappy Sir Tristram brought us to this tournament,
and many great buffets he caused us to have. Then the king and
Launcelot laughed that they might not sit. What knight was that, said
Arthur, that held you so short, this with the shield of silver? Sir,
said Sir Tristram, here he sitteth at this board. What, said Arthur,
was it Sir Palamides? Wit ye well it was he, said La Beale Isoud.
Truly, said Arthur, that was unknightly done of you of so good a
knight, for I have heard many people call you a courteous knight. Sir,
said Palamides I knew not Sir Tristram, for he was so disguised. Truly,
said Launcelot, it may well be, for I knew not Sir Tristram, but I
marvel why ye turned on our party. That was done for the same cause,
said Launcelot. As for that, said Sir Tristram, I have pardoned him,
and I would be right loth to leave his fellowship, for I love right
well his company. So they left off, and talked of other things. And in
the evening king Arthur and Sir Launcelot departed unto their lodging.
But wit ye well Sir Palamides had envy heartily, for all that night he
had never rest in his bed, but wailed and wept out of measure. So on
the morn Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan arose early, and then they
went unto Sir Palamides’ chamber, and there they found him fast on
sleep, for he had all night watched. And it was seen upon his cheeks
that he had wept full sore. Say nothing, said Sir Tristram, for I am
sure he hath taken anger and sorrow for the rebuke that I gave to him,
and La Beale Isoud.