Bab Bab 213 · How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how

. How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how

Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram, and how Palomides met with

King Mark.

And upon a day Dagonet, King Arthur’s fool, came into Cornwall with two

squires with him; and as they rode through that forest they came by a

fair well where Sir Tristram was wont to be; and the weather was hot,

and they alighted to drink of that well, and in the meanwhile their

horses brake loose. Right so Sir Tristram came unto them, and first he

soused Sir Dagonet in that well, and after his squires, and thereat

laughed the shepherds; and forthwithal he ran after their horses and

brought them again one by one, and right so, wet as they were, he made

them leap up and ride their ways. Thus Sir Tristram endured there an

half year naked, and would never come in town nor village. The

meanwhile the damosel that Sir Palomides sent to seek Sir Tristram, she

yede unto Sir Palomides and told him all the mischief that Sir Tristram

endured. Alas, said Sir Palomides, it is great pity that ever so noble

a knight should be so mischieved for the love of a lady; but

nevertheless, I will go and seek him, and comfort him an I may. Then a

little before that time La Beale Isoud had commanded Sir Kehydius out

of the country of Cornwall. So Sir Kehydius departed with a dolorous

heart, and by adventure he met with Sir Palomides, and they

enfellowshipped together; and either complained to other of their hot

love that they loved La Beale Isoud. Now let us, said Sir Palomides,

seek Sir Tristram, that loved her as well as we, and let us prove

whether we may recover him. So they rode into that forest, and three

days and three nights they would never take their lodging, but ever

sought Sir Tristram.

And upon a time, by adventure, they met with King Mark that was ridden

from his men all alone. When they saw him Sir Palomides knew him, but

Sir Kehydius knew him not. Ah, false king, said Sir Palomides, it is

pity thou hast thy life, for thou art a destroyer of all worshipful

knights, and by thy mischief and thy vengeance thou hast destroyed that

most noble knight, Sir Tristram de Liones. And therefore defend thee,

said Sir Palomides, for thou shalt die this day. That were shame, said

King Mark, for ye two are armed and I am unarmed. As for that, said Sir

Palomides, I shall find a remedy therefore; here is a knight with me,

and thou shalt have his harness. Nay, said King Mark, I will not have

ado with you, for cause have ye none to me; for all the misease that

Sir Tristram hath was for a letter that he found; for as to me I did to

him no displeasure, and God knoweth I am full sorry for his disease and

malady. So when the king had thus excused him they were friends, and

King Mark would have had them unto Tintagil; but Sir Palomides would

not, but turned unto the realm of Logris, and Sir Kehydius said that he

would go into Brittany.

Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, that when he and his squires were

upon horseback he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to array

them so, because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto the

keepers of beasts and all to-beat them. Sir Tristram saw them beat that

were wont to give him meat and drink, then he ran thither and gat Sir

Dagonet by the head, and gave him such a fall to the earth that he

bruised him sore so that he lay still. And then he wrast his sword out

of his hand, and therewith he ran to one of his squires and smote off

his head, and the other fled. And so Sir Tristram took his way with

that sword in his hand, running as he had been wild wood. Then Sir

Dagonet rode to King Mark and told him how he had sped in that forest.

And therefore, said Sir Dagonet, beware, King Mark, that thou come not

about that well in the forest, for there is a fool naked, and that fool

and I fool met together, and he had almost slain me. Ah, said King

Mark, that is Sir Matto le Breune, that fell out of his wit because he

lost his lady; for when Sir Gaheris smote down Sir Matto and won his

lady of him, never since was he in his mind, and that was pity, for he

was a good knight.