Bab Bab 226 · How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a well, and brought

. How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a well, and brought

him with him to his lodging.

Then the King with the Hundred Knights withdrew his knights. And all

this while, and long to-fore, Sir Launcelot had watched upon Sir

Tristram with a very purpose to have fellowshipped with him. And then

suddenly Sir Tristram, Sir Dinadan, and Gouvernail, his man, rode their

way into the forest, that no man perceived where they went. So then

King Arthur blew unto lodging, and gave the King of Northgalis the

prize because Sir Tristram was upon his side. Then Sir Launcelot rode

here and there, so wood as lion that fauted his fill, because he had

lost Sir Tristram, and so he returned unto King Arthur. And then in all

the field was a noise that with the wind it might be heard two mile

thence, how the lords and ladies cried: The Knight with the Black

Shield hath won the field. Alas, said King Arthur, where is that knight

become? It is shame to all those in the field so to let him escape away

from you; but with gentleness and courtesy ye might have brought him

unto me to the Castle of Maidens. Then the noble King Arthur went unto

his knights and comforted them in the best wise that he could, and

said: My fair fellows, be not dismayed, howbeit ye have lost the field

this day. And many were hurt and sore wounded, and many were whole. My

fellows, said King Arthur, look that ye be of good cheer, for to-morn I

will be in the field with you and revenge you of your enemies. So that

night King Arthur and his knights reposed themself.

The damosel that came from La Beale Isoud unto Sir Tristram, all the

while the tournament was a-doing she was with Queen Guenever, and ever

the queen asked her for what cause she came into that country. Madam,

she answered, I come for none other cause but from my lady La Beale

Isoud to wit of your welfare. For in no wise she would not tell the

queen that she came for Sir Tristram’s sake. So this lady, Dame

Bragwaine, took her leave of Queen Guenever, and she rode after Sir

Tristram. And as she rode through the forest she heard a great cry;

then she commanded her squire to go into the forest to wit what was

that noise. And so he came to a well, and there he found a knight

bounden till a tree crying as he had been wood, and his horse and his

harness standing by him. And when he espied that squire, therewith he

abraid and brake himself loose, and took his sword in his hand, and ran

to have slain the squire. Then he took his horse and fled all that ever

he might unto Dame Bragwaine, and told her of his adventure. Then she

rode unto Sir Tristram’s pavilion, and told Sir Tristram what adventure

she had found in the forest. Alas, said Sir Tristram, upon my head

there is some good knight at mischief.

Then Sir Tristram took his horse and his sword and rode thither, and

there he heard how the knight complained unto himself and said: I,

woful knight Sir Palomides, what misadventure befalleth me, that thus

am defoiled with falsehood and treason, through Sir Bors and Sir Ector.

Alas, he said, why live I so long! And then he gat his sword in his

hands, and made many strange signs and tokens; and so through his

raging he threw his sword into that fountain. Then Sir Palomides wailed

and wrang his hands. And at the last for pure sorrow he ran into that

fountain, over his belly, and sought after his sword. Then Sir Tristram

saw that, and ran upon Sir Palomides, and held him in his arms fast.

What art thou, said Palomides, that holdeth me so? I am a man of this

forest that would thee none harm. Alas, said Sir Palomides, I may never

win worship where Sir Tristram is; for ever where he is an I be there,

then get I no worship; and if he be away for the most part I have the

gree, unless that Sir Launcelot be there or Sir Lamorak. Then Sir

Palomides said: Once in Ireland Sir Tristram put me to the worse, and

another time in Cornwall, and in other places in this land. What would

ye do, said Sir Tristram, an ye had Sir Tristram? I would fight with

him, said Sir Palomides, and ease my heart upon him; and yet, to say

thee sooth, Sir Tristram is the gentlest knight in this world living.

What will ye do, said Sir Tristram, will ye go with me to your lodging?

Nay, said he, I will go to the King with the Hundred Knights, for he

rescued me from Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector and else had I been

slain traitorly. Sir Tristram said him such kind words that Sir

Palomides went with him to his lodging. Then Gouvernail went to-fore,

and charged Dame Bragwaine to go out of the way to her lodging. And bid

ye Sir Persides that he make him no quarrels. And so they rode together

till they came to Sir Tristram’s pavilion, and there Sir Palomides had

all the cheer that might be had all that night. But in no wise Sir

Palomides might not know what was Sir Tristram; and so after supper

they yede to rest, and Sir Tristram for great travail slept till it was

day. And Sir Palomides might not sleep for anguish; and in the dawning

of the day he took his horse privily, and rode his way unto Sir Gaheris

and unto Sir Sagramore le Desirous, where they were in their pavilions;

for they three were fellows at the beginning of the tournament. And

then upon the morn the king blew unto the tournament upon the third

day.