Kabanata Kabanata 312 · How the second day Palomides forsook Sir Tristram, and

. How the second day Palomides forsook Sir Tristram, and

went to the contrary part against him.

Then there was a cry unto all knights, that when they heard an horn

blow they should make jousts as they did the first day. And like as the

brethren Sir Edward and Sir Sadok began the jousts the first day, Sir

Uwaine the king’s son Urien and Sir Lucanere de Buttelere began the

jousts the second day. And at the first encounter

Sir Uwaine smote down the King’s son of Scots; and Sir Lucanere ran

against the King of Wales, and they brake their spears all to pieces;

and they were so fierce both, that they hurtled together that both fell

to the earth. Then they of Orkney horsed again Sir Lucanere. And then

came in Sir Tristram de Liones; and then Sir Tristram smote down Sir

Uwaine and Sir Lucanere; and Sir Palomides smote down other two knights

and Sir Gareth smote down other two knights. Then said Sir Arthur unto

Sir Launcelot: See yonder three knights do passingly well, and namely

the first that jousted. Sir, said Launcelot, that knight began not yet

but ye shall see him this day do marvellously. And then came into the

place the duke’s son of Orkney, and then they began to do many deeds of

arms.

When Sir Tristram saw them so begin, he said to Palomides: How feel ye

yourself? may ye do this day as ye did yesterday? Nay, said Palomides,

I feel myself so weary, and so sore bruised of the deeds of yesterday,

that I may not endure as I did yesterday. That me repenteth, said Sir

Tristram, for I shall lack you this day. Sir Palomides said: Trust not

to me, for I may not do as I did. All these words said Palomides for to

beguile Sir Tristram. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Gareth, then must

I trust upon you; wherefore I pray you be not far from me to rescue me.

An need be, said Sir Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I may do.

Then Sir Palomides rode by himself; and then in despite of Sir Tristram

he put himself in the thickest press among them of Orkney, and there he

did so marvellously deeds of arms that all men had wonder of him, for

there might none stand him a stroke.

When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palomides do such deeds, he marvelled and

said to himself: He is weary of my company. So Sir Tristram beheld him

a great while and did but little else, for the noise and cry was so

huge and great that Sir Tristram marvelled from whence came the

strength that Sir Palomides had there in the field. Sir, said Sir

Gareth unto Sir Tristram, remember ye not of the words that Sir Dinadan

said to you yesterday, when he called you a coward; forsooth, sir, he

said it for none ill, for ye are the man in the world that he most

loveth, and all that he said was for your worship. And therefore, said

Sir Gareth to Sir Tristram, let me know this day what ye be; and wonder

ye not so upon Sir Palomides, for he enforceth himself to win all the

worship and honour from you. I may well believe it, said Sir Tristram.

And sithen I understand his evil will and his envy, ye shall see, if

that I enforce myself, that the noise shall be left that now is upon

him.

Then Sir Tristram rode into the thickest of the press, and then he did

so marvellously well, and did so great deeds of arms, that all men said

that Sir Tristram did double so much deeds of arms as Sir Palomides had

done aforehand. And then the noise went plain from Sir Palomides, and

all the people cried upon Sir Tristram. O Jesu, said the people, see

how Sir Tristram smiteth down with his spear so many knights. And see,

said they all, how many knights he smiteth down with his sword, and of

how many knights he rashed off their helms and their shields; and so he

beat them all of Orkney afore him. How now, said Sir Launcelot unto

King Arthur, I told you that this day there would a knight play his

pageant. Yonder rideth a knight ye may see he doth knightly, for he

hath strength and wind. So God me help, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye

say sooth, for I saw never a better knight, for he passeth far Sir

Palomides. Sir, wit ye well, said Launcelot, it must be so of right,

for it is himself, that noble knight Sir Tristram. I may right well

believe it, said Arthur.

But when Sir Palomides heard the noise and the cry was turned from him,

he rode out on a part and beheld Sir Tristram. And when Sir Palomides

saw Sir Tristram do so marvellously well he wept passingly sore for

despite, for he wist well he should no worship win that day; for well

knew Sir Palomides, when Sir Tristram would put forth his strength and

his manhood, be should get but little worship that day.