WHILE Tristram was with La Beale Isoude at Joyous Gard, he often rode
hunting, of which pastime he was exceedingly fond; and by Isoude’s
advice he always rode armed. One day as he was returning from the chase,
with his helm on, he met Sir Dinadan, who had come into that country
to seek him. Sir Dinadan told his name; but Sir Tristram would not, at
which Sir Dinadan was angry, and reproached him; and at last said that
he must either tell his name or do battle. Tristram would do neither;
so then Dinadan chid him for a coward. As they talked there came by
a knight, Sir Epinogris, and Dinadan challenged him to joust. Sir
Epinogris was nothing loath, and when they ran together he smote Sir
Dinadan out of his saddle.
“How is it with you now?” said Tristram.
“Fie upon thee, coward,” cried Dinadan. “If thou be anything of a
knight, avenge my shame.”
“Nay,” answered Sir Tristram. “I will not joust at this time; but take
your horse and let us go from hence.”
“God defend me,” said Dinadan, “from thy fellowship, for I have not sped
well since I met thee.”
“Well,” said Tristram, “peradventure I could give you tidings of Sir
Tristram.”
“I will not believe,” answered Dinadan, “that Sir Tristram would ever be
in thy company; if he were, he were so much the worse.”
And so they parted; and Tristram rode home to Joyous Gard, where
he alighted and unarmed him. He told Isoude of his meeting with Sir
Dinadan, and how he was full of mirth, and the best companion among all
knights. “Why have you not brought him with you?” asked Isoude.
“Do not be afraid,” said Sir Tristram. “He has only come here to seek
me, and I guess we shall soon hear of him.”
Even as he spoke, one of the servants in the castle came to tell Sir
Tristram that an errant-knight had come to the castle seeking lodging;
and by the device of his shield Tristram knew it was Sir Dinadan. So
Tristram bade Isoude send for him, saying that he would himself keep out
of sight; and he told his lady that if she spoke in praise of lovers,
against whom Sir Dinadan ever railed, she would have great diversion.
Dinadan was accordingly welcomed to the castle, and when he was brought
to Isoude, she questioned him as to his name, and whence he came, and
wherefore he rode in that country. He told her all she would know. Then
she led the talk to lovers, and he railed greatly against them. “Now,
I pray you,” said she, “to tell me, will you fight for my love against
three knights that have done me great wrong? Inasmuch as you be a knight
of King Arthur’s court, I require you to undertake this battle for me.”
“Madam,” answered Dinadan, “I will say plainly to you that though you
are the fairest lady I ever saw, and much fairer than is my lady Queen
Guenever, yet will I not fight for you or for any other against three
knights.” So Isoude laughed heartily at him; and they had pleasant
diversion together. In the morning Tristram armed him early, to ride to
Lonazep, where a great tournament had been appointed, to which knights
were coming from all parts; and he promised to meet with Sir Dinadan on
the way, and ride with him. Afterwards Sir Dinadan departed, and in a
while he overtook Sir Tristram.
“Ah!” said he, “art thou that coward knight with whom I met yesterday?
Make ready; for thou shalt joust with me whether thou wilt or not.”
“To that I am loath,” answered Tristram; and so they ran together. But
Tristram missed him purposely, and he broke his spear on Tristram. Then
he drew out his sword; but Tristram refused to fight with swords.
“Well,” cried Dinadan, “thou art as goodly and large a man as ever I
saw; but a greater coward I never met. What wilt thou do with those
great spears thou hast with thee?”--for Tristram’s squires were bearing
spears for his use at the tournament.
“I shall give them,” said Tristram, “to some good knight when I come to
the tournament; and if I see you do the best, I will give them to you.”
As they rode on together and talked, they saw in the way a knight that
stood ready to joust.
“Do thou meet him,” said Tristram. “I will not, for he seems to me to be
a shrewish knight.”
“Shame on thee!” answered Dinadan.
However, he encountered with the knight, who smote him clean out of his
saddle. Then Sir Dinadan rose to his feet very angry, and challenged the
other to fight on foot.
“What is thy name?” asked the knight.
“Wit you well, I am Sir Dinadan.”
“And I am Sir Gareth, brother to Sir Gawaine.”
Then were both glad of the meeting, for Sir Gareth was the best knight
of his kin, and was greatly loved of all true knights; so there was no
more talk of fighting. But as Dinadan and Gareth rode together, they
spoke of Tristram, and of his great cowardice (for they knew him not);
and he heard all they said, but only laughed at them. Presently they
overtook another knight, who wished to joust.
“Let one of you encounter with that knight,” said Tristram, “for I will
not have to deal with him.”
“Then I will,” said Gareth.
So they ran together, and the stranger knight smote Sir Gareth over his
horse’s croup.
“Now,” quoth Tristram to Sir Dinadan, “do thou avenge that good knight
Sir Gareth.”
“That will I not,” answered Dinadan; “for the stranger hath stricken
down a much stronger knight than I am.”
“Ah,” said Sir Tristram, “now, Sir Dinadan, I perceive that your heart
begins to fail you; so you shall see what I can do.” Then he rode to
the other knight, and, when they met, smote him clean out of his saddle.
Then Sir Dinadan marvelled who this man might be that he thought such a
coward. But the knight that was overthrown drew his sword, and demanded
to fight on foot.
“What is your name?” asked Tristram.
“Sir,” answered the other, “my name is Palomides.”
“What knight do you most hate?” then said Tristram.
“Sir Knight,” said Sir Palomides, “I hate Sir Tristram to the death; and
if we meet, then one of us shall die.”
“Then,” answered Tristram, “you may know that I am Sir Tristram; and so
now do your worst.”
When Sir Palomides heard that, he was astonished; and he begged Sir
Tristram to forgive his evil words, and promised ever to serve him
knightly. So they were friends, and all four rode on together; but Sir
Dinadan complained of the manner in which Sir Tristram had mocked
him. As they went, Sir Palomides told of a shameful deed that had been
wrought by Sir Gawaine and his brothers Gaheris, Agravaine, and Mordred.
They had ever had ill-will to King Pellinore and all his kin, because
King Pellinore had killed in battle their father King Lot, and they had
many years before compassed the death of King Pellinore. But even
this vengeance had not satisfied them; and they had lately beset Sir
Lamoracke de Galis, his son, as he was riding alone from a tournament,
and had killed him feloniously, giving him his death-wound from behind.
Of this deed Sir Tristram and the others spoke strongly in blame; and
Sir Gareth, though he was the brother of those who had done it, said
as much as any of the others, declaring that because of that murder he
should never love his brethren or keep fellowship with them.
The four knights went back again together to Joyous Gard, because the
day of the tournament was not yet come, and there they had good cheer
together. After some days they set out for Lonazep, and Queen Isoude
rode with them, richly attired, to see the tournament. As they went
along they saw a large body of knights: it was Sir Galihodin, who had
twenty knights with him. When Sir Galihodin beheld Tristram and his
party, he said,--
“Fair fellows, yonder ride four knights and a beautiful lady. I am
disposed to take their lady from them.”
So he sent a squire to Sir Tristram to ask whether he and his fellows
would joust or deliver up their lady.
“Tell your lord,” answered Tristram, “to come with as many as he will,
and win her and take her.”
“Sir,” said Palomides, “I pray you to let me have this adventure.”
“With all my heart,” said Sir Tristram.
Then Sir Galihodin and three of his fellows approached them; but Sir
Palomides, with one spear, unhorsed all of them. When the rest of Sir
Galihodin’s knights saw his downfall, six more of them came, and would
have set on Sir Palomides; but he stood still and awaited them; and Sir
Galihodin forbade them to meddle with him; so, as Sir Palomides saw that
they would joust no more, he returned to Tristram and the others.
“Right well and worshipfully have you done,” said Tristram, “as a good
knight should.”
Presently they fell in with four knights more--Sir Gawaine, Sir Ewaine,
Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and Sir Dodinas le Savage. Now, Sir Palomides
was eager to prove himself a good knight before Queen Isoude, and he
begged Sir Tristram that if these knights sought to joust they also
might be left to him. Sir Tristram again assented. So Sir Palomides rode
forward, encountered the four knights one after another, and smote them
all to the ground. After that, they rode on quietly to Lonazep; and
there Sir Tristram had two pavilions pitched beside a well and he and
his company abode in them.
At and about the castle of Lonazep were gathered a noble assembly of
knights and kings. King Arthur was there, with the most of the Knights
of the Round Table; and on the other side the kings of Scotland,
Ireland, Surluse, Northumberland, Listenoise, Northgalis, and others,
with their knights.
Sir Tristram and the three knights who were with him went in green
colours; and when the pavilions had been pitched, Sir Tristram and Sir
Dinadan rode into Lonazep to hear what might be doing there, and Sir
Tristram rode Sir Palomides’ horse, which was white. Sir Gawaine and
Sir Galihodin saw him, and they thought it was the same knight who had
stricken them down; and so they told King Arthur that that knight on the
white horse had unhorsed them and six of their fellows. Thereupon King
Arthur sent for Sir Tristram, and asked him his name; but Tristram would
not tell it.
“Upon what side will you be in the tournament?” asked the king.
“Truly,” replied Sir Tristram, “I cannot tell that till I come to the
field, and then I will go on the side to which my heart inclineth.”
So then he and Sir Dinadan rode again to their pavilions.
“Now, upon what party,” said Sir Tristram, “shall we be to-morrow?”
“Sir,” said Palomides, “if you will take my advice, we shall be against
King Arthur, for on his part will be Sir Lancelot and many other good
knights; and the more worshipful they, the more worship shall we win.”
“That is full knightly spoken,” said Tristram; “and we will do according
to your counsel.”
So the next morning the four knights rode into the field, arrayed with
trappings, shields, and spears of green; and Queen Isoude sat at a high
window where she could see the jousts. The knights went straight to the
party of the King of Scotland. When King Arthur saw them do that, he
asked Sir Lancelot who they were.
“I do not certainly know,” answered Lancelot; “but I should guess that
Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides are among them.”
Two knights that were brothers, named Sir Edward and Sir Sadocke, asked
leave of King Arthur to have the first jousts; and straightway they met
the kings of Scotland and Northgalis, and smote them from their saddles.
At that was Sir Palomides wroth, and he rode first against Sir Edward
and then against Sir Sadocke, and with the same spear he overthrew them
both. Then came in Sir Tristram on a black horse, and ere he stinted
he smote down with one spear four good knights; and Sir Gareth and Sir
Dinadan supported him manfully.
“By my head!” cried King Arthur, “that knight on the black horse does
marvellously well.”
“Wait a little,” said Gawaine; “that knight has scarcely yet begun.”
And Sir Tristram remounted the kings of Scotland and North-galis, and
then he pressed in among the knights of the opposite party, and smote
with his spear and his sword to the right and left, till he had struck
down thirty knights, and Sir Palomides twenty; and most of these were
proved knights of King Arthur’s court.
“As I live,” said the king to Lancelot, “it is a great shame to see
those two smite down so many knights of mine. Therefore make you ready,
for we will have to do with them.”
“Sir,” said Sir Lancelot, “they are two passing good knights, and it
will be little worship to us to have to do with them now, for they have
this day had sore travail.”
“Nevertheless,” answered King Arthur, “I will be avenged. Therefore take
Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector, and I will be the fourth, to do with them
and the other two that ride with them.”
“Sir,” said Lancelot, “you shall find us ready.”
So the four rode into the field; and there Sir Lancelot smote down Sir
Tristram, and Sir Bleoberis Sir Palomides, and Sir Ector Sir Gareth, and
King Arthur overthrew Sir Dinadan. Then there was a great cry that the
four green knights had a fall; and the King of Northgalis, remembering
how Sir Tristram had helped him, rode straight to him and said,--
“Noble knight, I know not who thou art; but for the great deeds thou
hast done this day take now my horse, and I will help myself as well
as I can; for God knows thou art better worthy to have my horse than I
myself.”
“Sir,” said Tristram, “I thank you; and mayhap I shall be able to
requite your courtesy.”
Then Sir Tristram mounted and rode to King Arthur, and gave him with his
sword such a buffet on the helm that he fell from his saddle. Then Sir
Tristram gave the king’s horse to the King of Northgalis. There was
a great press about King Arthur to horse him again; but Sir Palomides
would not suffer it, but smote with his sword to the right and left
mightily. Then, leaving Sir Palomides still on foot, Sir Tristram rode
through the thickest of the press, smiting down many knights as he went,
and passed to his pavilion. There he changed his horse, and put on red
harness; and then he dashed lightly into the field again, and overthrew
five knights with a single spear. Very soon he had again horsed Sir
Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Sir Dinadan; and they again began to do
marvellous deeds of arms; but they knew not who had succoured them,
because Tristram had changed his armour. Now La Beale Isoude, who had
watched Sir Tristram quit the field and return again, was well pleased
when she saw him doing such great deeds, and she smiled as she sat at
the window. It chanced that Sir Palomides looked up and saw her, and he
was so rejoiced--because his love for her was still unabated--that he
felt as though he could have overcome any knight, even Sir Lancelot or
Sir Tristram himself. And he did so mightily that all men marvelled at
his deeds; for he fared like a lion, and no knight could withstand him.
“By our Lady,” quoth Sir Tristram to Sir Dinadan, “I always knew Sir
Palomides for a good knight, but never before have I seen him do so
well.”
“It is his day,” answered Dinadan.
But he had seen how Palomides looked up at Isoude, and he said to
himself that if Tristram knew for whose love he wrought these great
achievements he would not be so well pleased. But all that were in the
field gave Sir Palomides the prize. Just then came in Sir Lancelot, and
when he heard the cry that Sir Palomides had done best, he got a great
spear and rode against him. But Sir Palomides smote the spear with his
sword and struck it in twain; and then, as he rode past Sir Lancelot,
he struck at his horse and slew it, so that Sir Lancelot fell to the
ground.
Then was there a loud outcry, and many knights said that Sir Palomides
had acted contrary to the rules of the tournament. When Sir Ector
de Maris saw how his brother Sir Lancelot had fared, he rode eagerly
against Sir Palomides, and smote him out of his saddle. Then came Sir
Lancelot with his sword to Sir Palomides and cried,--
“Thou hast this day done me the greatest despite that ever was done me
in tournament or joust. Therefore defend thee, for I will be avenged.”
So Sir Palomides entreated him to forgive his unkindness, and to spare
him; “for,” said he, “I know well I have not might to withstand you; and
if you put me from my worship now, you put me from the greatest worship
I ever had or shall have.”
“Well,” said Lancelot, “it is true that you have done marvellously well
this day; and I have a guess for whose love it is. If my lady were here,
you should not have borne away the worship; but as she is not here, you
shall have it for me, and I will forbear you. But beware that your love
be not discovered, for if Sir Tristram knew it, you would have cause to
repent.”
So he, of his great nobleness, suffered Palomides to depart. Then Sir
Lancelot was remounted, in spite of all the knights of the other side,
and did great feats on King Arthur’s part, as Sir Tristram and Sir
Palomides did on the other. But Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram always
spared one another. But when the tournament was ended for the day, King
Arthur and all the kings gave Sir Palomides the prize, for he had begun
at the first and had endured to the end. When King Arthur was praising
Sir Palomides, Sir Lancelot said,--
“Sir, as for Palomides, he has this day well deserved the prize; and
yet, there was on the field a far better knight than he, and that will
be proved before the tournament is over.”
When Sir Tristram and his fellows returned to their pavilions, Sir
Dinadan was angry because Sir Tristram had let Sir Palomides carry off
the prize, and he reproached him with intent to provoke him, so that he
might the next day put forth all his powers. Early the next morning Sir
Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and Queen Isoude rode out into the
forest to take the fresh air; and as they went, it chanced that King
Arthur and Sir Lancelot came near them. “Yonder,” said Sir Lancelot,
“rideth the fairest lady in all the world except my lady Queen
Guenever.”
“Who is it?” asked King Arthur: and when Lancelot told him, he said he
would go nearer and greet Queen Isoude.
“Sir,” said Lancelot, “it is not wise to go too near, for there are with
her two as good knights as any now living, and if we come suddenly upon
them, they may be displeased.”
“As for that,” replied the king, “I will greet her, for I care not who
may be displeased.”
“Sir,” said Lancelot, “you put yourself in great jeopardy.”
“Well,” quoth the king, “we will take the adventure.” So he rode
straight to Queen Isoude, and saluted her, and said, “God save you,
gracious lady.”
“Sir,” she answered, “you are welcome.”
Then the king looked at her steadfastly, and admired her beauty. With
that came Sir Palomides, and said, “Thou uncourteous knight, what
seekest thou here? Thou art uncourteous to come upon a lady so suddenly;
therefore withdraw thee.” King Arthur took no heed of his words, but
still looked on Queen Isoude. Then was Sir Palomides wroth, and he rode
against King Arthur with his spear, and smote him from his horse. When
Sir Lancelot saw that, he said to himself, “I am loath to have to do
with yonder knight, not for his own sake, but because of Sir Tristram;
for if I smite down Sir Palomides, I must encounter Sir Tristram, and
I cannot match them both. Still, whether I live or die, needs must I
avenge my lord.” And then he bade Sir Palomides make ready, and when
they rode together, he gave him a great fall. That saw Sir Tristram, and
cried to Lancelot, “Sir Knight, keep thee, for I must joust with thee.”
“I have no fear to joust with thee,” answered Lancelot, “but I am
loath to do it. I was compelled to avenge my lord, when he was unhorsed
unwarily and unknightly; but though I have done so, you should take
no displeasure, for he is such a friend to me that I could not see him
shamed.”
Then Sir Tristram understood that it was Sir Lancelot who spoke, and he
suspected that it was King Arthur whom Palomides had struck down. So he
put down his spear, and suffered Lancelot and the king to withdraw; and
he chid Sir Palomides sharply for having shown such discourtesy to
King Arthur. Sir Palomides was sore grieved at his words; and when the
tournament began, he forsook Sir Tristram, and went against him to
the opposite party. There he did great deeds of arms, and Sir Tristram
marvelled that he had gone against him, and said to Gareth, “He is weary
of my company.”
“Sir,” answered Gareth, “he desires to win worship and honour from
you. That Sir Dinadan saw yesterday, and it was for that reason that
he reproached you yesternight; for he loveth you better than any other
knight in the world, and he wished to stir you up to win worship.”
“I may well believe you,” said Tristram; “and since I now understand
Palomides’ evil will and envy, you shall see how long his worship shall
endure.” With that he went into the press, and did so mightily that all
the cry forsook Sir Palomides and followed Sir Tristram; for he smote
down forty knights with his spear, and many others with his sword.
“How now?” said Sir Lancelot to King Arthur. “I told you that this day
a better knight than Sir Palomides should play his part. See how well
yonder knight is doing; he has both strength and wind.”
“You say truth,” answered the king: “I never saw a better knight. He far
surpasses Palomides.”
“It needs must be so,” said Lancelot, “for it is the noble knight Sir
Tristram himself.”
When Palomides saw Sir Tristram doing so well, he wept from pure anger,
for he knew that if Sir Tristram put forth his might he himself should
get little worship. In a while Sir Tristram left the field, and went to
his pavilions, where he found Sir Dinadan still sleeping in his bed; and
he woke him up, and bade him come to the field. Sir Dinadan rose up and
armed him; but when he looked on Tristram’s shield and helm, and saw
there the dints of many blows, he said, “Well was it for me that I
slept; for had I been with you, I must for shame have followed you, and
I see by the marks on your shield that I should have been well beaten.”
“Leave your japes,” said Tristram, “and come with me.” Then he changed
his harness, and put on black armour.
“Ah,” said Dinadan; “have you plucked up your spirits? You are not in
the same mood you were in yesterday.”
Sir Tristram only smiled, and bade Dinadan come with him.
Now Sir Palomides saw Tristram change his armour, and so did Queen
Isoude. And Palomides thought to do Tristram a shame. So he changed his
own armour with a wounded knight that was sitting by a well near the
field, and then returned again to the tournament. This also Queen Isoude
saw, but none of the knights in the field knew of it. Then Sir Palomides
met Tristram, and both broke their spears, and after that they fought
with their swords. Sir Tristram wondered who the other knight might be,
for he felt that he was passing strong; and each gave the other many
sore strokes. Then came in Sir Lancelot; and there came knights to him,
and begged him to undertake the battle with the knight in black
armour, because he had almost overcome the good knight with the silver
shield,--which was Sir Palomides. Sir Lancelot knew not Sir Tristram,
because he had changed his armour; so he rode between Tristram and
Palomides, and said to Palomides, “Sir, let me have the battle, because
you have need of rest.” Sir Palomides assented gladly, for he knew Sir
Lancelot well, and hoped that he might beat or shame Sir Tristram. Sir
Tristram also knew Sir Lancelot, but he met him full knightly, and they
fought long and sorely together; and Queen Isoude well-nigh swooned for
sorrow. Then said Sir Dinadan to Sir Gareth,--
“That knight in the black harness is Sir Tristram, and Sir Lancelot must
needs get the better of him, for Sir Tristram hath had sore travail this
day.”
“Then let us smite him down,” said Sir Gareth.
“It were better we should do so than that Sir Tristram should be
shamed,” answered Dinadan, “for yonder there waits the strong knight
with the silver shield, ready to fall on Sir Tristram if need be.”
Then forthwith Sir Gareth rushed on Sir Lancelot, and gave him such a
stroke on the helm that he was well-nigh stunned; and immediately Sir
Dinadan came upon him from the other side with a great spear, and smote
him such a buffet that he fell to the ground, horse and all.
“For shame!” cried Tristram to Gareth and Dinadan; “why have you smitten
down that good knight while he was fighting with me?” Then came in Sir
Palomides, and struck Sir Dinadan from his horse; and Sir Lancelot,
because Dinadan had smitten him down before, assailed him with his
sword. Then Sir Palomides came fresh on Sir Tristram, who, being wishful
to help Sir Dinadan, gave Palomides a mighty buffet, and then pulled
him from his horse; and he himself leaped lightly down, and went between
Lancelot and Dinadan, so that he and Lancelot again did battle together.
Straightway Sir Dinadan got Tristram’s horse and brought it to him, and
said aloud, so that Lancelot might hear, “My lord Sir Tristram, take
your horse.”
“Ah!” cried Sir Lancelot, “what have I done? Now am I dishonoured. Ah,
my lord Sir Tristram! why are you disguised? You have put yourself in
great peril. But I pray you, noble knight, pardon me; for if I had known
you, we should not have done this battle.”
“Sir,” answered Tristram, “this is not the first kindness you have
shown me.” Then were they both horsed again; and all the people on King
Arthur’s side said that Sir Lancelot had that day done the best, and
on the other side that Sir Tristram had done the best. But said Sir
Lancelot, “I have no right to the honour, for Sir Tristram has been
longer in the field than I, and has smitten down many more knights; and
therefore he has won the degree.” And so was it proclaimed.
Then the tournament ended for that day, and Queen Isoude returned to the
pavilions, wroth out of measure with Sir Palomides, for she had seen all
that he had done; and as Sir Tristram rode to the pavilions with Gareth
and Dinadan, Sir Palomides came with them, still disguised in the armour
of the wounded knight, and bearing the silver shield. Sir Tristram
knew him not for Palomides, and therefore said they had no need of his
fellowship; and thereupon Palomides made himself known. Sir Tristram
reproached him sorely for what he had done, but he swore that he had
not known him because of the changed armour. This excuse Sir Tristram
received; but when they came to the tents, and Queen Isoude saw
Palomides, she changed colour for anger.
“Madam, wherefore look you so angrily?” asked Sir Tristram.
“My dear lord,” she answered, “how can I be otherwise, when I saw this
day how you were betrayed, and well-nigh brought to your death? I
will not suffer in my presence such a felon and traitor as this Sir
Palomides; for I saw how he watched you quit the field, and then, when
he beheld you return, he changed armour with a wounded knight and
came against you. For what he could do I was not greatly afraid, but I
dreaded because of Sir Lancelot that knew you not.”
“Madam,” said Palomides, “you may say what you will. I must not
contradict you, but by my knighthood, I knew not Sir Tristram.”
“Sir Palomides,” said Tristram, “I will hold you excused; and though you
spared me not, all is pardoned on my part.”
Then La Beale Isoude hung down her head, and said no more. But while
they sat at their meat, two armed knights came into the pavilion.
“Sirs,” said Tristram, “you do not well to come upon us armed at all
points.”
“Nay,” said one of them, “we come not with any evil intent, but as
friends. I am come to see thee, Sir Tristram, and this knight to see
Queen Isoude.”
Then Sir Tristram requested them to take off their helms; and when they
did so, they were Sir Lancelot and King Arthur. So they were joyfully
welcomed, and there was much merry talk about the tournament and other
things.
“For what cause,” said King Arthur, “are you, Sir Tristram, against us?
You are a Knight of the Round Table, and of right should be with us.”
“My lord,” said Sir Tristram, “here are Sir Dinadan and your own nephew,
Sir Gareth, that have made me be against you.”
“My lord,” quoth Sir Gareth, “though I have the blame, it was Sir
Tristram’s own will.”
“And that have we cause to repent,” said Dinadan; “for this unhappy Sir
Tristram brought us to the tournament, and many great buffets hath he
since earned us.”
At that all laughed mightily. Then said King Arthur to Tristram, “What
knight was it that fought so sturdily with you--he with the silver
shield?”
“Sir,” answered Tristram, “he is sitting at this table.”
“What?” cried the king. “Was it Sir Palomides?--Ah, sir, that was
unknightly of you.”
“Sir,” answered Palomides, “I knew not Sir Tristram, because he was so
disguised.”
“That might well be,” said Lancelot, “for I knew him not.”
“It matters not,” said Tristram, “for I have pardoned him, and I should
be sorry to lose his fellowship, for I love his company.”
After that they had much pleasant converse together, and not until night
did King Arthur and Sir Lancelot take their leave. On the following day,
in the tournament, Sir Tristram and Palomides at first went together
against King Arthur’s knights, as before, and did passing well. Sir
Lancelot came in on King Arthur’s side, and great deeds he wrought; but
he and his fellows were too few against the other party. When Tristram
saw how nobly Arthur’s knights bore them, he called Palomides, Gareth,
and Dinadan to him, and proposed that they should turn to King Arthur’s
side. Gareth and Dinadan assented, but Sir Palo-mides said he would not
depart from the side on which he came in.
“That is for my sake,” quoth Tristram; and so Sir Palomides left them.
And Tristram and the other two went to King Arthur’s side, and then they
smote down all they met, so that none could withstand them; and King
Arthur himself gave Sir Palomides a fall. So the kings who held against
King Arthur’s were fain to withdraw their knights.
“Alas!” cried Palomides, “now have I lost all the worship I had won;”
and he rode to a well, and there put off his armour, and wept and wailed
like a woman.
So the tournament was ended, and Sir Tristram would have given the chief
prize to Sir Lancelot, and Sir Lancelot to Sir Tristram; but by the
award of King Arthur it was divided between them.
Sir Tristram returned with his companions to his pavilions; but as Sir
Palomides sat by the well, the kings of Scotland and Northgalis came by,
and they got him to put on his armour again, and to ride with them. It
chanced that they passed by Sir Tristram’s tents, and Sir Palomides rode
to the entrance, and cried out, “Sir Tristram de Lyons, where art thou?”
“What, Sir Palomides!” answered Tristram; “will you not come in among
us?”
“Fie on thee, traitor!” said Palomides. “If it were daylight, now would
I slay thee with mine own hands; and if ever I meet thee, thou shalt die
for this day’s deed.”
“Sir Palomides,” replied Tristram, “you blame me wrongly. Had you done
as I did, you would have had worship: but since you give me warning,
henceforth will I beware of you.”
“Fie on thee, traitor,” again said Palomides, and then he departed. So
he went with the two kings, and Sir Tristram took his way with La Beale
Isoude to Joyous Gard.