الفصل الفصل 300 · The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king’s

. The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king’s

death, and how Sir Palomides fought for to have the battle.

Recommending unto King Arthur and to all his knights errant, beseeching

them all that insomuch as I, King Hermance, King of the Red City, thus

am slain by felony and treason, through two knights of mine own, and of

mine own bringing up and of mine own making, that some worshipful

knight will revenge my death, insomuch I have been ever to my power

well willing unto Arthur’s court. And who that will adventure his life

with these two traitors for my sake in one battle, I, King Hermance,

King of the Red City, freely give him all my lands and rents that ever

I wielded in my life. This letter, said Ebel, I wrote by my lord’s

commandment, and then he received his Creator; and when he was dead, he

commanded me or ever he were cold to put that letter fast in his hand.

And then he commanded me to put forth that same vessel down Humber, and

I should give these mariners in commandment never to stint until that

they came unto Logris, where all the noble knights shall assemble at

this time. And there shall some good knight have pity on me to revenge

my death, for there was never king nor lord falslier nor traitorlier

slain than I am here to my death. Thus was the complaint of our King

Hermance. Now, said Sir Ebel, ye know all how our lord was betrayed, we

require you for God’s sake have pity upon his death, and worshipfully

revenge his death, and then may ye wield all these lands. For we all

wit well that an ye may slay these two traitors, the Red City and all

those that be therein will take you for their lord.

Truly, said Sir Palomides, it grieveth my heart for to hear you tell

this doleful tale; and to say the truth I saw the same letter that ye

speak of, and one of the best knights on the earth read that letter to

me, and by his commandment I came hither to revenge your king’s death;

and therefore have done, and let me wit where I shall find those

traitors, for I shall never be at ease in my heart till I be in hands

with them. Sir, said Sir Ebel, then take your ship again, and that ship

must bring you unto the Delectable Isle, fast by the Red City, and we

in this castle shall pray for you, and abide your again-coming. For

this same castle, an ye speed well, must needs be yours; for our King

Hermance let make this castle for the love of the two traitors, and so

we kept it with strong hand, and therefore full sore are we threated.

Wot ye what ye shall do, said Sir Palomides; whatsomever come of me,

look ye keep well this castle. For an it misfortune me so to be slain

in this quest I am sure there will come one of the best knights of the

world for to revenge my death, and that is Sir Tristram de Liones, or

else Sir Launcelot du Lake.

Then Sir Palomides departed from that castle. And as he came nigh the

city, there came out of a ship a goodly knight armed against him, with

his shield on his shoulder, and his hand upon his sword. And anon as he

came nigh Sir Palomides he said: Sir knight, what seek ye here? leave

this quest for it is mine, and mine it was or ever it was yours, and

therefore I will have it. Sir knight, said Palomides, it may well be

that this quest was yours or it was mine, but when the letter was taken

out of the dead king’s hand, at that time by likelihood there was no

knight had undertaken to revenge the death of the king. And so at that

time I promised to revenge his death, and so I shall or else I am

ashamed. Ye say well, said the knight, but wit ye well then will I

fight with you, and who be the better knight of us both, let him take

the battle upon hand. I assent me, said Sir Palomides. And then they

dressed their shields, and pulled out their swords, and lashed together

many sad strokes as men of might; and this fighting was more than an

hour, but at the last Sir Palomides waxed big and better winded, so

that then he smote that knight such a stroke that he made him to kneel

upon his knees. Then that knight spake on high and said: Gentle knight,

hold thy hand. Sir Palomides was goodly and withdrew his hand. Then

this knight said: Wit ye well, knight, that thou art better worthy to

have this battle than I, and require thee of knighthood tell me thy

name. Sir, my name is Palomides, a knight of King Arthur’s, and of the

Table Round, that hither I came to revenge the death of this dead king.