_How Sir Tristram and Sir Palamides fought long together, and after
accorded; and how Sir Tristram made him to be christened._
And then they came together as two wild boars, lashing together,
tracing and traversing as noble men that oft had been well proved in
battle; but ever Sir Palamides dread the might of Sir Tristram, and
therefore he suffered him to breathe him. Thus they fought more than
two hours; and often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palamides
that he made him to kneel; and Sir Palamides brake and cut away many
pieces of Sir Tristram’s shield, and then Sir Palamides wounded Sir
Tristram, for he was a well fighting man. Then Sir Tristram was wood
wrath out of measure, and rashed upon Sir Palamides with such a might
that Sir Palamides fell groveling to the earth, and therewithal he
leapt up lightly upon his feet, and then Sir Tristram wounded Sir
Palamides sore through the shoulder. And ever Sir Tristram fought still
in like hard, and Sir Palamides failed not, but gave him many sad
strokes. And at the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes, and by
fortune Sir Tristram smote Sir Palamides’ sword out of his hand, and if
Sir Palamides had stooped for his sword, he had been slain. Then
Palamides stood still and beheld his sword with a sorrowful heart. How
now, said Sir Tristram unto Palamides, now have I thee at advantage as
thou hadst me this day, but it shall never be said in no court, nor
among good knights, that Sir Tristram shall slay any knight that is
weaponless, and therefore take thou thy sword, and let us make an end
of this battle. As for to do this battle, said Palamides, I dare right
well end it; but I have no great lust to fight no more, and for this
cause, said Palamides, mine offence to you is not so great but that we
may be friends. All that I have offended is and was for the love of La
Beale Isoud. And as for her, I dare say she is peerless above all other
ladies, and also I proffered her never no dishonour; and by her I have
gotten the most part of my worship, and sithen I offended never as to
her own person. And as for the offence that I have done, it was against
your own person, and for that offence ye have given me this day many
sad strokes, and some I have given you again; and now I dare say I felt
never man of your might, nor so well breathed, but if it were Sir
Launcelot du Lake. Wherefore I require you, my lord, forgive me all
that I have offended unto you. And this same day have me to the next
church, and first let me be clean confessed, and after see you now that
I be truly baptized. And then will we all ride together unto the court
of Arthur, that we be there at the high feast. Now take your horse,
said Sir Tristram, and as ye say, so it shall be; and all your evil
will God forgive it you, and I do. And here, within this mile, is the
suffragan of Carlisle, that shall give you the sacrament of baptism.
Then they took their horses, and Sir Galleron rode with them. And when
they came to the suffragan Sir Tristram told him their desire. Then the
suffragan let fill a great vessel with water. And when he had hallowed
it, he then confessed clean Sir Palamides, and Sir Tristram and Sir
Galleron were his godfathers. And then soon after they departed, riding
towards Camelot, where king Arthur and queen Guenever was, and for the
most part all the knights of the Round Table. And so the king and all
the court were glad that Sir Palamides was christened. And at the same
feast in came Galahad and sat in the Siege Perilous.
And so therewithal departed and dissevered all the knights of the Round
Table. And Sir Tristram returned again unto Joyous Gard, and Sir
Palamides followed the questing beast.
Here endeth the second book of syr Tristram that was drawen oute of
Frensshe in to Englysshe.
But here is no rehersal of the thyrd book. And here foloweth the noble
tale of the Sancgreal that called is the hooly vessel and the
sygnefycacyon of the blessid blood of our lord Jhesu Cryste, blessid
mote it be, the which was brought in to this land by Joseph of
Armathye, therefor on al synful souls blessid lord haue thou mercy.
Explicit liber xii. Et incipit Decimustercius.
The Thirteenth Book.