Chapter Chapter 285 · How Sir Palomides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and

. How Sir Palomides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and

how Palomides slew Corsabrin.

So by fortune this damosel heard tell that Palomides did much for

damosels’ sake; so she sent to him a pensel, and prayed him to fight

with Sir Corsabrin for her love, and he should have her and her lands

of her father’s that should fall to her. Then the damosel sent unto

Corsabrin, and bade him go unto Sir Palomides that was a paynim as well

as he, and she gave him warning that she had sent him her pensel, and

if he might overcome Palomides she would wed him. When Corsabrin wist

of her deeds then was he wood wroth and angry, and rode unto Surluse

where the haut prince was, and there he found Sir Palomides ready, the

which had the pensel. So there they waged battle either with other

afore Galahalt. Well, said the haut prince, this day must noble knights

joust, and at-after dinner we shall see how ye can speed.

Then they blew to jousts; and in came Dinadan, and met with Sir Gerin,

a good knight, and he threw him down over his horse’s croup; and Sir

Dinadan overthrew four knights more; and there he did great deeds of

arms, for he was a good knight, but he was a scoffer and a japer, and

the merriest knight among fellowship that was that time living. And he

had such a custom that he loved every good knight, and every good

knight loved him again. So then when the haut prince saw Dinadan do so

well, he sent unto Sir Launcelot and bade him strike down Sir Dinadan:

And when that ye have done so bring him afore me and the noble Queen

Guenever. Then Sir Launcelot did as he was required. Then Sir Lamorak

and he smote down many knights, and raced off helms, and drove all the

knights afore them. And so Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Dinadan, and

made his men to unarm him, and so brought him to the queen and the haut

prince, and they laughed at Dinadan so sore that they might not stand.

Well, said Sir Dinadan, yet have I no shame, for the old shrew, Sir

Launcelot, smote me down. So they went to dinner, [and] all the court

had good sport at Dinadan.

Then when the dinner was done they blew to the field to behold Sir

Palomides and Corsabrin. Sir Palomides pight his pensel in midst of the

field; and then they hurtled together with their spears as it were

thunder, and either smote other to the earth. And then they pulled out

their swords, and dressed their shields, and lashed together mightily

as mighty knights, that well-nigh there was no piece of harness would

hold them, for this Corsabrin was a passing felonious knight.

Corsabrin, said Palomides, wilt thou release me yonder damosel and the

pensel? Then was Corsabrin wroth out of measure, and gave Palomides

such a buffet that he kneeled on his knee. Then Palomides arose

lightly, and smote him upon the helm that he fell down right to the

earth. And therewith he raced off his helm and said: Corsabrin, yield

thee or else thou shalt die of my hands. Fie on thee, said Corsabrin,

do thy worst. Then he smote off his head. And therewithal came a stink

of his body when the soul departed, that there might nobody abide the

savour. So was the corpse had away and buried in a wood, because he was

a paynim. Then they blew unto lodging, and Palomides was unarmed.

Then he went unto Queen Guenever, to the haut prince, and to Sir

Launcelot. Sir, said the haut prince, here have ye seen this day a

great miracle by Corsabrin, what savour there was when the soul

departed from the body. Therefore, sir, we will require you to take the

baptism upon you, and I promise you all knights will set the more by

you, and say more worship by you. Sir, said Palomides, I will that ye

all know that into this land I came to be christened, and in my heart I

am christened and christened will I be. But I have made such an avow

that I may not be christened till I have done seven true battles for

Jesu’s sake, and then will I be christened; and I trust God will take

mine intent, for I mean truly. Then Sir Palomides prayed Queen Guenever

and the haut prince to sup with him. And so they did, both Sir

Launcelot and Sir Lamorak, and many other good knights. So on the morn

they heard their mass, and blew the field, and then knights made them

ready.