Bab Bab 231 · How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were

. How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were

taken and put in prison.

Now will we speak of Sir Lucan the butler, that by fortune he came

riding to the same place thereas was Sir Tristram, and in he came in

none other intent but to ask harbour. Then the porter asked what was

his name. Tell your lord that my name is Sir Lucan, the butler, a

Knight of the Round Table. So the porter went unto Sir Darras, lord of

the place, and told him who was there to ask harbour. Nay, nay, said

Sir Daname, that was nephew to Sir Darras, say him that he shall not be

lodged here, but let him wit that I, Sir Daname, will meet with him

anon, and bid him make him ready. So Sir Daname came forth on

horseback, and there they met together with spears, and Sir Lucan smote

down Sir Daname over his horse’s croup, and then he fled into that

place, and Sir Lucan rode after him, and asked after him many times.

Then Sir Dinadan said to Sir Tristram: It is shame to see the lord’s

cousin of this place defoiled. Abide, said Sir Tristram, and I shall

redress it. And in the meanwhile Sir Dinadan was on horseback, and he

jousted with Lucan the butler, and there Sir Lucan smote Dinadan

through the thick of the thigh, and so he rode his way; and Sir

Tristram was wroth that Sir Dinadan was hurt, and followed after, and

thought to avenge him; and within a while he overtook Sir Lucan, and

bade him turn; and so they met together so that Sir Tristram hurt Sir

Lucan passing sore and gave him a fall. With that came Sir Uwaine, a

gentle knight, and when he saw Sir Lucan so hurt he called Sir Tristram

to joust with him. Fair knight, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name I

require you. Sir knight, wit ye well my name is Sir Uwaine le Fise de

Roy Ureine. Ah, said Sir Tristram, by my will I would not have ado with

you at no time. Ye shall not so, said Sir Uwaine, but ye shall have ado

with me. And then Sir Tristram saw none other bote, but rode against

him, and overthrew Sir Uwaine and hurt him in the side, and so he

departed unto his lodging again. And when Sir Dinadan understood that

Sir Tristram had hurt Sir Lucan he would have ridden after Sir Lucan

for to have slain him, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him. Then Sir

Uwaine let ordain an horse litter, and brought Sir Lucan to the abbey

of Ganis, and the castle thereby hight the Castle of Ganis, of the

which Sir Bleoberis was lord. And at that castle Sir Launcelot promised

all his fellows to meet in the quest of Sir Tristram.

So when Sir Tristram was come to his lodging there came a damosel that

told Sir Darras that three of his sons were slain at that tournament,

and two grievously wounded that they were never like to help themself.

And all this was done by a noble knight that bare the black shield, and

that was he that bare the prize. Then came there one and told Sir

Darras that the same knight was within, him that bare the black shield.

Then Sir Darras yede unto Sir Tristram’s chamber, and there he found

his shield and showed it to the damosel. Ah sir, said the damosel, that

same is he that slew your three sons. Then without any tarrying Sir

Darras put Sir Tristram, and Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan, within a

strong prison, and there Sir Tristram was like to have died of great

sickness; and every day Sir Palomides would reprove Sir Tristram of old

hate betwixt them. And ever Sir Tristram spake fair and said little.

But when Sir Palomides saw the falling of sickness of Sir Tristram,

then was he heavy for him, and comforted him in all the best wise he

could. And as the French book saith, there came forty knights to Sir

Darras that were of his own kin, and they would have slain Sir Tristram

and his two fellows, but Sir Darras would not suffer that, but kept

them in prison, and meat and drink they had. So Sir Tristram endured

there great pain, for sickness had undertaken him, and that is the

greatest pain a prisoner may have. For all the while a prisoner may

have his health of body he may endure under the mercy of God and in

hope of good deliverance; but when sickness toucheth a prisoner’s body,

then may a prisoner say all wealth is him bereft, and then he hath

cause to wail and to weep. Right so did Sir Tristram when sickness had

undertaken him, for then he took such sorrow that he had almost slain

himself.