_How Sir Palamides brought to Sir Epinogris his lady; and how Sir
Palamides and Sir Safere were assailed._
Nay, nay, said Epinogris, your sorrow is but a jest to my sorrow, for I
rejoiced my lady and wan her with my hands, and lost her again, alas
that day. Thus first I wan her, said Epinogris: my lady was an earl’s
daughter, and as the earl and two knights came from the tournament of
Lonazep, for her sake I set upon this earl and on his two knights, my
lady there being present, and so by fortune there I slew the earl and
one of the knights, and the other knight fled, and so I had my lady.
And on the morn, as she and I reposed us at this well side, there came
there to me an errant knight, his name was Sir Helior le Preuse, an
hardy knight; and this Sir Helior challenged me to fight for my lady.
And then we went to battle, first upon horse and after on foot. But at
the last Sir Helior wounded me so that he left me for dead, and so he
took my lady with him. And thus my sorrow is more than yours, for I
have rejoiced, and ye rejoiced never. That is truth, said Sir
Palamides, but sith I can never recover myself, I shall promise you, if
I can meet with Sir Helior I shall get you your lady again, or else he
shall beat me. Then Sir Palamides made Sir Epinogris to take his horse,
and so they rode to an hermitage, and there Sir Epinogris rested him.
And in the mean while Sir Palamides walked privily out, to rest him
under the leaves; and there beside he saw a knight come riding with a
shield that he had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear aforehand, and there
came after him a ten knights, and so these ten knights hoved under the
leaves for heat. And anon after there came a knight, with a green
shield and therein a white lion, leading a lady upon a palfrey. Then
this knight with the green shield, that seemed to be master of the ten
knights, he rode fiercely after Sir Helior; for it was he that hurt Sir
Epinogris. And when he came nigh Sir Helior he bad him defend his lady.
I will defend her, said Helior, unto my power. And so they ran together
so mightily that either of these two knights smote other down, horse
and all, to the earth, and then they wan up lightly and drew their
swords and their shields, and lashed together mightily more than an
hour. All this Sir Palamides saw and beheld, but ever at the last the
knight with Sir Ector’s shield was bigger, and at the last this knight
smote Sir Helior down, and then that knight unlaced his helm, to have
stricken off his head. And then he cried mercy, and prayed him to save
his life, and bad him take his lady.
Then Sir Palamides dressed him up, because he wist well that that same
lady was Epinogris’ lady, and he promised him to help him. Then Sir
Palamides went straight to that lady, and took her by the hand, and
asked her whether she knew a knight that hight Epinogris. Alas, she
said, that ever he knew me, or I him, for I have for his sake lost my
worship, and also his life grieveth me most of all. Not so, lady, said
Palamides, come on with me, for here is Epinogris in this hermitage.
Ah, well is me, said the lady, and he be on live. Whither wilt thou
with that lady? said the knight with Sir Ector’s shield. I will do with
her what me list, said Palamides. Wit you well, said that knight, thou
speakest over large, though thou seemest me to have at advantage,
because thou sawest me do battle but late. Thou weenest, sir knight, to
have that lady away from me so lightly; nay, think it never not, and
thou were as good a knight as is Sir Launcelot, or as is Sir Tristram,
or Sir Palamides, but thou shalt win her dearer than ever did I. And so
they went unto battle upon foot, and there they gave many sad strokes,
and either wounded other passing sore; and thus they fought still more
than an hour. Then Sir Palamides had marvel what knight he might be
that was so strong and so well breathed during, and thus said
Palamides: Knight, I require thee tell me thy name. Wit thou well, said
that knight, I dare tell thee my name, so that thou wilt tell me thy
name. I will, said Palamides. Truly, said that knight, my name is
Safere, son of king Astlabor, and Sir Palamides and Sir Segwarides are
my brethren. Now, and wit thou well my name is Sir Palamides. Then Sir
Safere kneeled down upon his knees, and prayed him of mercy; and then
they unlaced their helms, and either kissed other weeping. And in the
mean while Sir Epinogris arose out of his bed, and heard them by the
strokes, and so he armed him to help Sir Palamides if need were.