الفصل الفصل 229 · How the prize of the third day was given to Sir

. How the prize of the third day was given to Sir

Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave it to Sir Tristram.

Then all the estates and degrees high and low said of Sir Launcelot

great worship, for the honour that he did unto Sir Tristram; and for

that honour doing to Sir Tristram he was at that time more praised and

renowned than an he had overthrown five hundred knights; and all the

people wholly for this gentleness, first the estates both high and low,

and after the commonalty cried at once: Sir Launcelot hath won the

field whosoever say nay. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth and ashamed, and

so therewithal he rode to King Arthur. Alas, said the king, we are all

dismayed that Sir Tristram is thus departed from us. By God, said King

Arthur, he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw hold spear or

sword in hand, and the most courteoust knight in his fighting; for full

hard I saw him, said King Arthur, when he smote Sir Palomides upon the

helm thrice, that he abashed his helm with his strokes, and also he

said: Here is a stroke for Sir Tristram, and thus thrice he said. Then

King Arthur, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Dodinas le Savage took their horses

to seek Sir Tristram, and by the means of Sir Persides he had told King

Arthur where Sir Tristram was in his pavilion. But when they came

there, Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were gone.

Then King Arthur and Sir Launcelot were heavy, and returned again to

the Castle of Maidens making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram,

and his sudden departing. So God me help, said King Arthur, I am more

heavy that I cannot meet with him than for all the hurts that all my

knights have had at the tournament. Right so came Sir Gaheris and told

King Arthur how Sir Tristram had smitten down Sir Palomides, and it was

at Sir Palomides’ own request. Alas, said King Arthur, that was great

dishonour to Sir Palomides, inasmuch as Sir Tristram was sore wounded,

and now may we all, kings, and knights, and men of worship, say that

Sir Tristram may be called a noble knight, and one of the best knights

that ever I saw the days of my life. For I will that ye all, kings and

knights, know, said King Arthur, that I never saw knight do so

marvellously as he hath done these three days; for he was the first

that began and that longest held on, save this last day. And though he

was hurt, it was a manly adventure of two noble knights, and when two

noble men encounter needs must the one have the worse, like as God will

suffer at that time. As for me, said Sir Launcelot, for all the lands

that ever my father left me I would not have hurt Sir Tristram an I had

known him at that time; that I hurt him was for I saw not his shield.

For an I had seen his black shield, I would not have meddled with him

for many causes; for late he did as much for me as ever did knight, and

that is well known that he had ado with thirty knights, and no help

save Sir Dinadan. And one thing shall I promise, said Sir Launcelot,

Sir Palomides shall repent it as in his unkindly dealing for to follow

that noble knight that I by mishap hurted thus. Sir Launcelot said all

the worship that might be said by Sir Tristram. Then King Arthur made a

great feast to all that would come. And thus we let pass King Arthur,

and a little we will turn unto Sir Palomides, that after he had a fall

of Sir Tristram, he was nigh-hand araged out of his wit for despite of

Sir Tristram. And so he followed him by adventure. And as he came by a

river, in his woodness he would have made his horse to have leapt over;

and the horse failed footing and fell in the river, wherefore Sir

Palomides was adread lest he should have been drowned; and then he

avoided his horse, and swam to the land, and let his horse go down by

adventure.