الفصل الفصل 243 · How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot, and

. How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot, and

how they fought together unknown.

Then departed Sir Tristram and rode straight unto Camelot, to the peron

that Merlin had made to-fore, where Sir Lanceor, that was the king’s

son of Ireland, was slain by the hands of Balin. And in that same place

was the fair lady Colombe slain, that was love unto Sir Lanceor; for

after he was dead she took his sword and thrust it through her body.

And by the craft of Merlin he made to inter this knight, Lanceor, and

his lady, Colombe, under one stone. And at that time Merlin prophesied

that in that same place should fight two the best knights that ever

were in Arthur’s days, and the best lovers. So when Sir Tristram came

to the tomb where Lanceor and his lady were buried he looked about him

after Sir Palomides. Then was he ware of a seemly knight came riding

against him all in white, with a covered shield. When he came nigh Sir

Tristram he said on high: Ye be welcome, sir knight, and well and truly

have ye holden your promise. And then they dressed their shields and

spears, and came together with all their might of their horses; and

they met so fiercely that both their horses and knights fell to the

earth, and as fast as they might avoided their horses, and put their

shields afore them; and they struck together with bright swords, as men

that were of might, and either wounded other wonderly sore, that the

blood ran out upon the grass. And thus they fought the space of four

hours, that never one would speak to other one word, and of their

harness they had hewn off many pieces. O Lord Jesu, said Gouvernail, I

marvel greatly of the strokes my master hath given to your master. By

my head, said Sir Launcelot’s servant, your master hath not given so

many but your master has received as many or more. O Jesu, said

Gouvernail, it is too much for Sir Palomides to suffer or Sir

Launcelot, and yet pity it were that either of these good knights

should destroy other’s blood. So they stood and wept both, and made

great dole when they saw the bright swords over-covered with blood of

their bodies.

Then at the last spake Sir Launcelot and said: Knight, thou fightest

wonderly well as ever I saw knight, therefore, an it please you, tell

me your name. Sir, said Sir Tristram, that is me loath to tell any man

my name. Truly, said Sir Launcelot, an I were required I was never

loath to tell my name. It is well said, said Sir Tristram, then I

require you to tell me your name? Fair knight, he said, my name is Sir

Launcelot du Lake. Alas, said Sir Tristram, what have I done! for ye

are the man in the world that I love best. Fair knight, said Sir

Launcelot, tell me your name? Truly, said he, my name is Sir Tristram

de Liones. O Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, what adventure is befallen me!

And therewith Sir Launcelot kneeled down and yielded him up his sword.

And therewith Sir Tristram kneeled adown, and yielded him up his sword.

And so either gave other the degree. And then they both forthwithal

went to the stone, and set them down upon it, and took off their helms

to cool them, and either kissed other an hundred times. And then anon

after they took off their helms and rode to Camelot. And there they met

with Sir Gawaine and with Sir Gaheris that had made promise to Arthur

never to come again to the court till they had brought Sir Tristram

with them.