Kabanata Kabanata 317 · How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day, and

. How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day, and

how King Arthur was unhorsed.

Then Sir Tristram let call Sir Palomides, and bade him make him ready,

for it was time to go to the field. When they were ready they were

armed, and clothed all in red, both Isoud and all they; and so they led

her passing freshly through the field, into the priory where was her

lodging. And then they heard three blasts blow, and every king and

knight dressed him unto the field. And the first that was ready to

joust was Sir Palomides and Sir Kainus le Strange, a knight of the

Table Round. And so they two encountered together, but Sir Palomides

smote Sir Kainus so hard that he smote him quite over his horse’s

croup. And forthwithal Sir Palomides smote down another knight, and

brake then his spear, and pulled out his sword and did wonderly well.

And then the noise began greatly upon Sir Palomides. Lo, said King

Arthur, yonder Palomides beginneth to play his pageant. So God me help,

said Arthur, he is a passing good knight. And right as they stood

talking thus, in came Sir Tristram as thunder, and he encountered with

Sir Kay the Seneschal, and there he smote him down quite from his

horse; and with that same spear Sir Tristram smote down three knights

more, and then he pulled out his sword and did marvellously. Then the

noise and cry changed from Sir Palomides and turned to Sir Tristram,

and all the people cried: O Tristram, O Tristram. And then was Sir

Palomides clean forgotten.

How now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, yonder rideth a knight that

playeth his pageants. So God me help, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye

shall see this day that yonder two knights shall here do this day

wonders. Sir, said Launcelot, the one knight waiteth upon the other,

and enforceth himself through envy to pass the noble knight Sir

Tristram, and he knoweth not of the privy envy the which Sir Palomides

hath to him; for all that the noble Sir Tristram doth is through clean

knighthood. And then Sir Gareth and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of

arms, as two noble knights, so that King Arthur spake of them great

honour and worship; and the kings and knights of Sir Tristram’s side

did passingly well, and held them truly together. Then Sir Arthur and

Sir Launcelot took their horses and dressed them, and gat into the

thickest of the press. And there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down King

Arthur, and then Sir Launcelot would have rescued him, but there were

so many upon Sir Launcelot that they pulled him down from his horse.

And then the King of Ireland and the King of Scots with their knights

did their pain to take King Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner. When Sir

Launcelot heard them say so, he fared as it had been an hungry lion,

for he fared so that no knight durst nigh him.

Then came Sir Ector de Maris, and he bare a spear against Sir

Palomides, and brast it upon him all to shivers. And then Sir Ector

came again and gave Sir Palomides such a dash with a sword that he

stooped down upon his saddle bow. And forthwithal Sir Ector pulled down

Sir Palomides under his feet; and then Sir Ector de Maris gat Sir

Launcelot du Lake an horse, and brought it to him, and bade him mount

upon him; but Sir Palomides leapt afore and gat the horse by the

bridle, and leapt into the saddle. So God me help, said Launcelot, ye

are better worthy to have that horse than I. Then Sir Ector brought Sir

Launcelot another horse. Gramercy, said Launcelot unto his brother. And

so when he was horsed again, with one spear he smote down four knights.

And then Sir Launcelot brought to King Arthur one of the best of the

four horses. Then Sir Launcelot with King Arthur and a few of his

knights of Sir Launcelot’s kin did marvellous deeds; for that time, as

the book recordeth, Sir Launcelot smote down and pulled down thirty

knights. Notwithstanding the other party held them so fast together

that King Arthur and his knights were overmatched. And when Sir

Tristram saw that, what labour King Arthur and his knights, and in

especial the noble deeds that Sir Launcelot did with his own hands, he

marvelled greatly.