Bab Bab 321 · How Sir Palomides brought Sir Epinogris his lady; and

. How Sir Palomides brought Sir Epinogris his lady; and

how Sir Palomides and Sir Safere were assailed.

Nay, nay, said Epinogris, your sorrow is but japes to my sorrow; for I

rejoiced my lady and won her with my hands, and lost her again: alas

that day! Thus first I won her, said Epinogris; my lady was an earl’s

daughter, and as the earl and two knights came from the tournament of

Lonazep, for her sake I set upon this earl and on his two knights, my

lady there being present; and so by fortune there I slew the earl and

one of the knights, and the other knight fled, and so that night I had

my lady. And on the morn as she and I reposed us at this well-side

there came there to me an errant knight, his name was Sir Helior le

Preuse, an hardy knight, and this Sir Helior challenged me to fight for

my lady. And then we went to battle first upon horse and after on foot,

but at the last Sir Helior wounded me so that he left me for dead, and

so he took my lady with him; and thus my sorrow is more than yours, for

I have rejoiced and ye rejoiced never. That is truth, said Palomides,

but sith I can never recover myself I shall promise you if I can meet

with Sir Helior I shall get you your lady again, or else he shall beat

me.

Then Sir Palomides made Sir Epinogris to take his horse, and so they

rode to an hermitage, and there Sir Epinogris rested him. And in the

meanwhile Sir Palomides walked privily out to rest him under the

leaves, and there beside he saw a knight come riding with a shield that

he had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear beforehand; and there came after

him a ten knights, and so these ten knights hoved under the leaves for

heat. And anon after there came a knight with a green shield and

therein a white lion, leading a lady upon a palfrey. Then this knight

with the green shield that seemed to be master of the ten knights, he

rode fiercely after Sir Helior, for it was he that hurt Sir Epinogris.

And when he came nigh Sir Helior he bade him defend his lady. I will

defend her, said Helior, unto my power. And so they ran together so

mightily that either of these knights smote other down, horse and all,

to the earth; and then they won up lightly and drew their swords and

their shields, and lashed together mightily more than an hour. All this

Sir Palomides saw and beheld, but ever at the last the knight with Sir

Ector’s shield was bigger, and at the last this knight smote Sir Helior

down, and then that knight unlaced his helm to have stricken off his

head. And then he cried mercy, and prayed him to save his life, and

bade him take his lady. Then Sir Palomides dressed him up, because he

wist well that that same lady was Epinogris’ lady, and he promised him

to help him.

Then Sir Palomides went straight to that lady, and took her by the

hand, and asked her whether she knew a knight that hight Epinogris.

Alas, she said, that ever he knew me or I him, for I have for his sake

lost my worship, and also his life grieveth me most of all. Not so,

lady, said Palomides, come on with me, for here is Epinogris in this

hermitage. Ah! well is me, said the lady, an he be alive. Whither wilt

thou with that lady? said the knight with Sir Ector’s shield. I will do

with her what me list, said Palomides. Wit you well, said that knight,

thou speakest over large, though thou seemest me to have at advantage,

because thou sawest me do battle but late. Thou weenest, sir knight, to

have that lady away from me so lightly? nay, think it never not; an

thou were as good a knight as is Sir Launcelot, or as is Sir Tristram,

or Sir Palomides, but thou shalt win her dearer than ever did I. And so

they went unto battle upon foot, and there they gave many sad strokes,

and either wounded other passing sore, and thus they fought still more

than an hour.

Then Sir Palomides had marvel what knight he might be that was so

strong and so well breathed during, and thus said Palomides: Knight, I

require thee tell me thy name. Wit thou well, said that knight, I dare

tell thee my name, so that thou wilt tell me thy name. I will, said

Palomides. Truly, said that knight, my name is Safere, son of King

Astlabor, and Sir Palomides and Sir Segwarides are my brethren. Now,

and wit thou well, my name is Sir Palomides. Then Sir Safere kneeled

down upon his knees, and prayed him of mercy; and then they unlaced

their helms and either kissed other weeping. And in the meanwhile Sir

Epinogris arose out of his bed, and heard them by the strokes, and so

he armed him to help Sir Palomides if need were.