Bab Bab 313 · How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir

. How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir

Dinadan, and changed his array into black.

Then came King Arthur, and the King of Northgalis, and Sir Launcelot du

Lake; and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these

three knights came into the field with Sir Launcelot. And then Sir

Launcelot with the three knights of his kin did so great deeds of arms

that all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot. And so they beat the King

of Wales and the King of Scots far aback, and made them to avoid the

field; but Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field and

endured all that ever there came, that all men had wonder that any

knight might endure so many strokes. But ever Sir Launcelot, and his

three kinsmen by the commandment of Sir Launcelot, forbare Sir

Tristram. Then said Sir Arthur: Is that Sir Palomides that endureth so

well? Nay, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well it is the good knight Sir

Tristram, for yonder ye may see Sir Palomides beholdeth and hoveth, and

doth little or nought. And sir, ye shall understand that Sir Tristram

weeneth this day to beat us all out of the field. And as for me, said

Sir Launcelot, I shall not beat him, beat him whoso will. Sir, said

Launcelot unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Palomides hoveth yonder, as

though he were in a dream; wit ye well he is full heavy that Tristram

doth such deeds of arms. Then is he but a fool, said Arthur, for never

was Sir Palomides, nor never shall be, of such prowess as Sir Tristram.

And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram, and cometh in with him upon

his side he is a false knight.

As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir Tristram rode privily out

of the press, that none espied him but La Beale Isoud and Sir

Palomides, for they two would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.

And when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions he found Sir Dinadan in his

bed asleep. Awake, said Tristram, ye ought to be ashamed so to sleep

when knights have ado in the field. Then Sir Dinadan arose lightly and

said: What will ye that I shall do? Make you ready, said Sir Tristram,

to ride with me into the field. So when Sir Dinadan was armed he looked

upon Sir Tristram’s helm and on his shield, and when he saw so many

strokes upon his helm and upon his shield he said: In good time was I

thus asleep, for had I been with you I must needs for shame there have

followed you; more for shame than any prowess that is in me; that I see

well now by those strokes that I should have been truly beaten as I was

yesterday. Leave your japes, said Sir Tristram, and come off, that [we]

were in the field again. What, said Sir Dinadan, is your heart up?

yesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed. So then Sir Tristram was

arrayed in black harness. O Jesu, said Dinadan, what aileth you this

day? meseemeth ye be wilder than ye were yesterday. Then smiled Sir

Tristram and said to Dinadan: Await well upon me; if ye see me

overmatched look that ye be ever behind me, and I shall make you ready

way by God’s grace. So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their horses.

All this espied Sir Palomides, both their going and their coming, and

so did La Beale Isoud, for she knew Sir Tristram above all other.