Chapter Chapter 353 · How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,

. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,

and after accorded, and how Sir Tristram made him to be christened.

And then they came together as two wild boars, lashing together,

tracing and traversing as noble men that oft had been well proved in

battle; but ever Sir Palomides dread the might of Sir Tristram, and

therefore he suffered him to breathe him. Thus they fought more than

two hours, but often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palomides

that he made him to kneel; and Sir Palomides brake and cut away many

pieces of Sir Tristram’s shield; and then Sir Palomides wounded Sir

Tristram, for he was a well fighting man. Then Sir Tristram was wood

wroth out of measure, and rushed upon Sir Palomides with such a might

that Sir Palomides fell grovelling to the earth; and therewithal he

leapt up lightly upon his feet, and then Sir Tristram wounded Palomides

sore through the shoulder. And ever Sir Tristram fought still in like

hard, and Sir Palomides failed not, but gave him many sad strokes. And

at the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes, and by fortune Sir

Tristram smote Sir Palomides sword out of his hand, and if Sir

Palomides had stooped for his sword he had been slain.

Then Palomides stood still and beheld his sword with a sorrowful heart.

How now, said Sir Tristram unto Palomides, now have I thee at advantage

as thou haddest me this day; but it shall never be said in no court,

nor among good knights, that Sir Tristram shall slay any knight that is

weaponless; and therefore take thou thy sword, and let us make an end

of this battle. As for to do this battle, said Palomides, I dare right

well end it, but I have no great lust to fight no more. And for this

cause, said Palomides: mine offence to you is not so great but that we

may be friends. All that I have offended is and was for the love of La

Beale Isoud. And as for her, I dare say she is peerless above all other

ladies, and also I proffered her never no dishonour; and by her I have

gotten the most part of my worship. And sithen I offended never as to

her own person, and as for the offence that I have done, it was against

your own person, and for that offence ye have given me this day many

sad strokes, and some I have given you again; and now I dare say I felt

never man of your might, nor so well breathed, but if it were Sir

Launcelot du Lake; wherefore I require you, my lord, forgive me all

that I have offended unto you; and this same day have me to the next

church, and first let me be clean confessed, and after see you now that

I be truly baptised. And then will we all ride together unto the court

of Arthur, that we be there at the high feast. Now take your horse,

said Sir Tristram, and as ye say so it shall be, and all thine evil

will God forgive it you, and I do. And here within this mile is the

Suffragan of Carlisle that shall give you the sacrament of baptism.

Then they took their horses and Sir Galleron rode with them. And when

they came to the Suffragan Sir Tristram told him their desire. Then the

Suffragan let fill a great vessel with water, and when he had hallowed

it he then confessed clean Sir Palomides, and Sir Tristram and Sir

Galleron were his godfathers. And then soon after they departed, riding

toward Camelot, where King Arthur and Queen Guenever was, and for the

most part all the knights of the Round Table. And so the king and all

the court were glad that Sir Palomides was christened. And at the same

feast in came Galahad and sat in the Siege Perilous. And so therewithal

departed and dissevered all the knights of the Round Table. And Sir

Tristram returned again unto Joyous Gard, and Sir Palomides followed

the Questing Beast.

_Here endeth the second book of Sir Tristram that was drawn out of

French into English. But here is no rehersal of the third book. And

here followeth the noble tale of the Sangreal, that called is the Holy

Vessel; and the signification of the blessed blood of our Lord Jesus

Christ, blessed mote it be, the which was brought into this land by

Joseph Aramathie. Therefore on all sinful souls blessed Lord have thou

mercy._

_Explicit liber xii. Et incipit Decimustercius._

BOOK XIII.