Chapter Chapter 280 · How Sir Galahalt and Palomides fought together, and of

. How Sir Galahalt and Palomides fought together, and of

Sir Dinadan and Sir Galahalt.

Here beginneth the second day. Anon as Sir Palomides came into the

field, Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was at the range end, and met

with Sir Palomides, and he with him, with great spears. And then they

came so hard together that their spears all to-shivered, but Sir

Galahalt smote him so hard that he bare him backward over his horse,

but yet he lost not his stirrups. Then they drew their swords and

lashed together many sad strokes, that many worshipful knights left

their business to behold them. But at the last Sir Galahalt, the haut

prince, smote a stroke of might unto Palomides, sore upon the helm; but

the helm was so hard that the sword might not bite, but slipped and

smote off the head of the horse of Sir Palomides. When the haut prince

wist and saw the good knight fall unto the earth he was ashamed of that

stroke. And therewith he alighted down off his own horse, and prayed

the good knight, Palomides, to take that horse of his gift, and to

forgive him that deed. Sir, said Palomides, I thank you of your great

goodness, for ever of a man of worship a knight shall never have

disworship; and so he mounted upon that horse, and the haut prince had

another anon. Now, said the haut prince, I release to you that maiden,

for ye have won her. Ah, said Palomides, the damosel and I be at your

commandment.

So they departed, and Sir Galahalt did great deeds of arms. And right

so came Dinadan and encountered with Sir Galahalt, and either came to

other so fast with their spears that their spears brake to their hands.

But Dinadan had weened the haut prince had been more weary than he was.

And then he smote many sad strokes at the haut prince; but when Dinadan

saw he might not get him to the earth he said: My lord, I pray you

leave me, and take another. The haut prince knew not Dinadan, and left

goodly for his fair words. And so they departed; but soon there came

another and told the haut prince that it was Dinadan. Forsooth, said

the prince, therefore am I heavy that he is so escaped from me, for

with his mocks and japes now shall I never have done with him. And then

Galahalt rode fast after him, and bade him: Abide, Dinadan, for King

Arthur’s sake. Nay, said Dinadan, so God me help, we meet no more

together this day. Then in that wrath the haut prince met with

Meliagaunce, and he smote him in the throat that an he had fallen his

neck had broken; and with the same spear he smote down another knight.

Then came in they of Northgalis and many strangers, and were like to

have put them of Surluse to the worse, for Sir Galahalt, the haut

prince, had ever much in hand. So there came the good knight, Semound

the Valiant, with forty knights, and he beat them all aback. Then the

Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot let blow to lodging, and every knight

unarmed him, and dressed him to the feast.