Kabanata Kabanata 308 · How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red,

. How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red,

and how he demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides slew Launcelot’s horse.

And when the queen La Beale Isoud saw that Sir Tristram was unhorsed,

and she wist not where he was, then she wept greatly. But Sir Tristram,

when he was ready, came dashing lightly into the field, and then La

Beale Isoud espied him. And so he did great deeds of arms; with one

spear, that was great, Sir Tristram smote down five knights or ever he

stint. Then Sir Launcelot espied him readily, that it was Sir Tristram,

and then he repented him that he had smitten him down; and so Sir

Launcelot went out of the press to repose him and lightly he came

again. And now when Sir Tristram came into the press, through his great

force he put Sir Palomides upon his horse, and Sir Gareth, and Sir

Dinadan, and then they began to do marvellously; but Sir Palomides nor

none of his two fellows knew not who had holpen them on horseback

again. But ever Sir Tristram was nigh them and succoured them, and they

[knew] not him, because he was changed into red armour: and all this

while Sir Launcelot was away.

So when La Beale Isoud knew Sir Tristram again upon his horse-back she

was passing glad, and then she laughed and made good cheer. And as it

happened, Sir Palomides looked up toward her where she lay in the

window, and he espied how she laughed; and therewith he took such a

rejoicing that he smote down, what with his spear and with his sword,

all that ever he met; for through the sight of her he was so enamoured

in her love that he seemed at that time, that an both Sir Tristram and

Sir Launcelot had been both against him they should have won no worship

of him; and in his heart, as the book saith, Sir Palomides wished that

with his worship he might have ado with Sir Tristram before all men,

because of La Beale Isoud. Then Sir Palomides began to double his

strength, and he did so marvellously that all men had wonder of him,

and ever he cast up his eye unto La Beale Isoud. And when he saw her

make such cheer he fared like a lion, that there might no man withstand

him; and then Sir Tristram beheld him, how that Sir Palomides bestirred

him; and then he said unto Sir Dinadan: So God me help, Sir Palomides

is a passing good knight and a well enduring, but such deeds saw I him

never do, nor never heard I tell that ever he did so much in one day.

It is his day, said Dinadan; and he would say no more unto Sir

Tristram; but to himself he said: An if ye knew for whose love he doth

all those deeds of arms, soon would Sir Tristram abate his courage.

Alas, said Sir Tristram, that Sir Palomides is not christened. So said

King Arthur, and so said all those that beheld him. Then all people

gave him the prize, as for the best knight that day, that he passed Sir

Launcelot outher Sir Tristram. Well, said Dinadan to himself, all this

worship that Sir Palomides hath here this day he may thank the Queen

Isoud, for had she been away this day Sir Palomides had not gotten the

prize this day.

Right so came into the field Sir Launcelot du Lake, and saw and heard

the noise and cry and the great worship that Sir Palomides had. He

dressed him against Sir Palomides, with a great mighty spear and a

long, and thought to smite him down. And when Sir Palomides saw Sir

Launcelot come upon him so fast, he ran upon Sir Launcelot as fast with

his sword as he might; and as Sir Launcelot should have stricken him he

smote his spear aside, and smote it a-two with his sword. And Sir

Palomides rushed unto Sir Launcelot, and thought to have put him to a

shame; and with his sword he smote his horse’s neck that Sir Launcelot

rode upon, and then Sir Launcelot fell to the earth. Then was the cry

huge and great: See how Sir Palomides the Saracen hath smitten down Sir

Launcelot’s horse. Right then were there many knights wroth with Sir

Palomides because he had done that deed; therefore many knights held

there against that it was unknightly done in a tournament to kill an

horse wilfully, but that it had been done in plain battle, life for

life.