Bab Bab 241 · How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten

. How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten

him down, and many other knights of the Round Table.

And so Sir Tristram rode long after this strong knight. And at the last

he saw where lay a lady overthwart a dead knight. Fair lady, said Sir

Tristram, who hath slain your lord? Sir, she said, here came a knight

riding, as my lord and I rested us here, and asked him of whence he

was, and my lord said of Arthur’s court. Therefore, said the strong

knight, I will joust with thee, for I hate all these that be of

Arthur’s court. And my lord that lieth here dead amounted upon his

horse, and the strong knight and my lord encountered together, and

there he smote my lord throughout with his spear, and thus he hath

brought me in great woe and damage. That me repenteth, said Sir

Tristram, of your great anger; an it please you tell me your husband’s

name. Sir, said she, his name was Galardoun, that would have proved a

good knight. So departed Sir Tristram from that dolorous lady, and had

much evil lodging. Then on the third day Sir Tristram met with Sir

Gawaine and with Sir Bleoberis in a forest at a lodge, and either were

sore wounded. Then Sir Tristram asked Sir Gawaine and Sir Bleoberis if

they met with such a knight, with such a cognisance, with a covered

shield. Fair sir, said these knights, such a knight met with us to our

great damage. And first he smote down my fellow, Sir Bleoberis, and

sore wounded him because he bade me I should not have ado with him, for

why he was overstrong for me. That strong knight took his words at

scorn, and said he said it for mockery. And then they rode together,

and so he hurt my fellow. And when he had done so I might not for shame

but I must joust with him. And at the first course he smote me down and

my horse to the earth. And there he had almost slain me, and from us he

took his horse and departed, and in an evil time we met with him. Fair

knights, said Sir Tristram, so he met with me, and with another knight

that hight Palomides, and he smote us both down with one spear, and

hurt us right sore. By my faith, said Sir Gawaine, by my counsel ye

shall let him pass and seek him no further; for at the next feast of

the Round Table, upon pain of my head ye shall find him there. By my

faith, said Sir Tristram, I shall never rest till that I find him. And

then Sir Gawaine asked him his name. Then he said: My name is Sir

Tristram. And so either told other their names, and then departed Sir

Tristram and rode his way.

And by fortune in a meadow Sir Tristram met with Sir Kay, the

Seneschal, and Sir Dinadan. What tidings with you, said Sir Tristram,

with you knights? Not good, said these knights. Why so? said Sir

Tristram; I pray you tell me, for I ride to seek a knight. What

cognisance beareth he? said Sir Kay. He beareth, said Sir Tristram, a

covered shield close with cloth. By my head, said Sir Kay, that is the

same knight that met with us, for this night we were lodged within a

widow’s house, and there was that knight lodged; and when he wist we

were of Arthur’s court he spoke great villainy by the king, and

specially by the Queen Guenever, and then on the morn was waged battle

with him for that cause. And at the first recounter, said Sir Kay, he

smote me down from my horse and hurt me passing sore; and when my

fellow, Sir Dinadan, saw me smitten down and hurt he would not revenge

me, but fled from me; and thus he departed. And then Sir Tristram asked

them their names, and so either told other their names. And so Sir

Tristram departed from Sir Kay, and from Sir Dinadan, and so he passed

through a great forest into a plain, till he was ware of a priory, and

there he reposed him with a good man six days.