_How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides did the next day, and how king
Arthur was unhorsed._
Then Sir Tristram let call Sir Palamides, and bade him make him ready,
for it was time to go to the field. When they were ready they were
armed and clothed all in red, both Isoud and all they. And so they led
her passing freshly through the field, into the priory where was her
lodging. And then they heard three blasts blow, and every king and
knight dressed him unto the field; and the first that was ready to just
was Sir Palamides and Sir Kainus le Strange, a knight of the Table
Round. And so they two encountered together, but Sir Palamides smote
Sir Kainus so hard, that he smote him quite over his horse croup: and
forth withal Sir Palamides smote down another knight, and brake then
his spear, and pulled out his sword and did wonderly well. And then the
noise began greatly upon Sir Palamides. Lo, said king Arthur, yonder
Palamides beginneth to play his pageant. Truly, said Arthur, he is a
passing good knight. And right as they stood talking thus, in came Sir
Tristram as thunder, and he encountered Sir Kay the seneschal, and
there he smote him down quite from his horse, and with that same spear
Sir Tristram smote down three knights more; and then he pulled out his
sword and did marvellously. Then the noise and cry changed from Sir
Palamides and turned to Sir Tristram, and all the people cried, O
Tristram! O Tristram! And then was Sir Palamides clean forgotten. How
now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, yonder rideth a knight that playeth
his pageants. Truly, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye shall see this day
that yonder two knights shall here do this day wonders. Sir, said
Launcelot, the one knight waiteth upon the other, and enforceth himself
through envy to pass the noble knight Sir Tristram, and he knoweth not
of the privy envy the which Sir Palamides hath to him. For all that the
noble Sir Tristram doth is through clean knighthood. And then Sir
Gareth and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of arms as two noble
knights, so that king Arthur spake of them great honour and worship;
and the kings and knights of Sir Tristram’s side did passing well, and
held them truly together. Then Sir Arthur and Sir Launcelot took their
horses and dressed them, and gat into the thickest of the press. And
there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down king Arthur, and then Sir
Launcelot would have rescued him, but there were so many upon Sir
Launcelot that they pulled him down from his horse. And then the king
of Ireland and the king of Scots, with their knights, did their pain to
take king Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner. When Sir Launcelot heard
them say so, he fared as it had been an hungry lion, for he fared so
that no knight durst nigh him. Then came Sir Ector de Maris, and he
bare a spear against Sir Palamides, and brake it upon him all to
shivers. And then Sir Ector came again, and gave Sir Palamides such a
dash with a sword that he stooped down upon his saddle-bow. And forth
withal Sir Ector pulled down Sir Palamides under his feet. And then Sir
Ector de Maris gat Sir Launcelot du Lake an horse, and brought it to
him, and bad him mount upon him. But Sir Palamides lept afore, and gat
the horse by the bridle, and lept into the saddle. Truly, said
Launcelot, ye are better worthy to have that horse than I. Then Sir
Ector brought Sir Launcelot another horse. Gramercy, said Launcelot
unto his brother. And so when he was horsed again, with one spear he
smote down four knights. And then Sir Launcelot brought to king Arthur
one of the best of the four horses. Then Sir Launcelot with king Arthur
and a few of his knights of Sir Launcelot’s kin, did marvellous deeds;
for that time, as the book recordeth, Sir Launcelot smote down and
pulled down thirty knights. Notwithstanding, the other part held them
so fast together that king Arthur and his knights were overmatched. And
when Sir Tristram saw that, what labour king Arthur and his knights, in
especial the noble deeds that Sir Launcelot did with his own hands, he
marvelled greatly.