Chapter Chapter 227 · How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and how he

. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and how he

jousted with King Arthur, and other feats.

So the King of Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights, they

two encountered with King Carados and with the King of Ireland; and

there the King with the Hundred Knights smote down King Carados, and

the King of Northgalis smote down the King of Ireland. With that came

in Sir Palomides, and when he came he made great work, for by his

indented shield he was well known. So came in King Arthur, and did

great deeds of arms together, and put the King of Northgalis and the

King with the Hundred Knights to the worse. With this came in Sir

Tristram with his black shield, and anon he jousted with Sir Palomides,

and there by fine force Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides over his

horse’s croup. Then King Arthur cried: Knight with the Black Shield,

make thee ready to me, and in the same wise Sir Tristram smote King

Arthur. And then by force of King Arthur’s knights the King and Sir

Palomides were horsed again. Then King Arthur with a great eager heart

he gat a spear in his hand, and there upon the one side he smote Sir

Tristram over his horse. Then foot-hot Sir Palomides came upon Sir

Tristram, as he was upon foot, to have overridden him. Then Sir

Tristram was ware of him, and there he stooped aside, and with great

ire he gat him by the arm, and pulled him down from his horse. Then Sir

Palomides lightly arose, and then they dashed together mightily with

their swords; and many kings, queens, and lords, stood and beheld them.

And at the last Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides upon the helm three

mighty strokes, and at every stroke that he gave him he said: This for

Sir Tristram’s sake. With that Sir Palomides fell to the earth

grovelling.

Then came the King with the Hundred Knights, and brought Sir Tristram

an horse, and so was he horsed again. By then was Sir Palomides horsed,

and with great ire he jousted upon Sir Tristram with his spear as it

was in the rest, and gave him a great dash with his sword. Then Sir

Tristram avoided his spear, and gat him by the neck with his both

hands, and pulled him clean out of his saddle, and so he bare him afore

him the length of ten spears, and then in the presence of them all he

let him fall at his adventure. Then Sir Tristram was ware of King

Arthur with a naked sword in his hand, and with his spear Sir Tristram

ran upon King Arthur; and then King Arthur boldly abode him and with

his sword he smote a-two his spear, and therewithal Sir Tristram

stonied; and so King Arthur gave him three or four strokes or he might

get out his sword, and at the last Sir Tristram drew his sword and

[either] assailed other passing hard. With that the great press

departed [them]. Then Sir Tristram rode here and there and did his

great pain, that eleven of the good knights of the blood of King Ban,

that was of Sir Launcelot’s kin, that day Sir Tristram smote down; that

all the estates marvelled of his great deeds and all cried upon the

Knight with the Black Shield.