บทที่ บทที่ 291 · How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir Tristram rode

. How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir Tristram rode

armed, and how he met with Sir Palomides.

So on a day La Beale Isoud said unto Sir Tristram: I marvel me much,

said she, that ye remember not yourself, how ye be here in a strange

country, and here be many perilous knights; and well ye wot that King

Mark is full of treason; and that ye will ride thus to chase and to

hunt unarmed ye might be destroyed. My fair lady and my love, I cry you

mercy, I will no more do so. So then Sir Tristram rode daily a-hunting

armed, and his men bearing his shield and his spear. So on a day a

little afore the month of May, Sir Tristram chased an hart passing

eagerly, and so the hart passed by a fair well. And then Sir Tristram

alighted and put off his helm to drink of that bubbly water. Right so

he heard and saw the Questing Beast come to the well. When Sir Tristram

saw that beast he put on his helm, for he deemed he should hear of Sir

Palomides, for that beast was his quest. Right so Sir Tristram saw

where came a knight armed, upon a noble courser, and he saluted him,

and they spake of many things; and this knight’s name was Breuse Saunce

Pité. And right so withal there came unto them the noble knight Sir

Palomides, and either saluted other, and spake fair to other.

Fair knights, said Sir Palomides, I can tell you tidings. What is that?

said those knights. Sirs, wit ye well that King Mark is put in prison

by his own knights, and all was for love of Sir Tristram; for King Mark

had put Sir Tristram twice in prison, and once Sir Percivale delivered

the noble knight Sir Tristram out of prison. And at the last time Queen

La Beale Isoud delivered him, and went clearly away with him into this

realm; and all this while King Mark, the false traitor, is in prison.

Is this truth? said Palomides; then shall we hastily hear of Sir

Tristram. And as for to say that I love La Beale Isoud paramours, I

dare make good that I do, and that she hath my service above all other

ladies, and shall have the term of my life.

And right so as they stood talking they saw afore them where came a

knight all armed, on a great horse, and one of his men bare his shield,

and the other his spear. And anon as that knight espied them he gat his

shield and his spear and dressed him to joust. Fair fellows, said Sir

Tristram, yonder is a knight will joust with us, let see which of us

shall encounter with him, for I see well he is of the court of King

Arthur. It shall not be long or he be met withal, said Sir Palomides,

for I found never no knight in my quest of this glasting beast, but an

he would joust I never refused him. As well may I, said Breuse Saunce

Pité, follow that beast as ye. Then shall ye do battle with me, said

Palomides.

So Sir Palomides dressed him unto that other knight, Sir Bleoberis,

that was a full noble knight, nigh kin unto Sir Launcelot. And so they

met so hard that Sir Palomides fell to the earth, horse and all. Then

Sir Bleoberis cried aloud and said thus: Make thee ready thou false

traitor knight, Breuse Saunce Pité, for wit thou certainly I will have

ado with thee to the utterance for the noble knights and ladies that

thou hast falsely betrayed. When this false knight and traitor, Breuse

Saunce Pité, heard him say so, he took his horse by the bridle and fled

his way as fast as ever his horse might run, for sore he was of him

afeard. When Sir Bleoberis saw him flee he followed fast after, through

thick and through thin. And by fortune as Sir Breuse fled, he saw even

afore him three knights of the Table Round, of the which the one hight

Sir Ector de Maris, the other hight Sir Percivale de Galis, the third

hight Sir Harry le Fise Lake, a good knight and an hardy. And as for

Sir Percivale, he was called that time of his time one of the best

knights of the world, and the best assured. When Breuse saw these

knights he rode straight unto them, and cried unto them and prayed them

of rescues. What need have ye? said Sir Ector. Ah, fair knights, said

Sir Breuse, here followeth me the most traitor knight, and most coward,

and most of villainy; his name is Breuse Saunce Pité, and if he may get

me he will slay me without mercy and pity. Abide with us, said Sir

Percivale, and we shall warrant you.

Then were they ware of Sir Bleoberis that came riding all that he

might. Then Sir Ector put himself forth to joust afore them all. When

Sir Bleoberis saw that they were four knights and he but himself, he

stood in a doubt whether he would turn or hold his way. Then he said to

himself: I am a knight of the Table Round, and rather than I should

shame mine oath and my blood I will hold my way whatsoever fall

thereof. And then Sir Ector dressed his spear, and smote either other

passing sore, but Sir Ector fell to the earth. That saw Sir Percivale,

and he dressed his horse toward him all that he might drive, but Sir

Percivale had such a stroke that horse and man fell to the earth. When

Sir Harry saw that they were both to the earth then he said to himself:

Never was Breuse of such prowess. So Sir Harry dressed his horse, and

they met together so strongly that both the horses and knights fell to

the earth, but Sir Bleoberis’ horse began to recover again. That saw

Breuse and he came hurtling, and smote him over and over, and would

have slain him as he lay on the ground. Then Sir Harry le Fise Lake

arose lightly, and took the bridle of Sir Breuse’s horse, and said: Fie

for shame! strike never a knight when he is at the earth, for this

knight may be called no shameful knight of his deeds, for yet as men

may see thereas he lieth on the ground he hath done worshipfully, and

put to the worse passing good knights. Therefore will I not let, said

Sir Breuse. Thou shalt not choose, said Sir Harry, as at this time.

Then when Sir Breuse saw that he might not choose nor have his will he

spake fair. Then Sir Harry let him go. And then anon he made his horse

to run over Sir Bleoberis, and rashed him to the earth like if he would

have slain him. When Sir Harry saw him do so villainously he cried:

Traitor knight, leave off for shame. And as Sir Harry would have taken

his horse to fight with Sir Breuse, then Sir Breuse ran upon him as he

was half upon his horse, and smote him down, horse and man, to the

earth, and had near slain Sir Harry, the good knight. That saw Sir

Percivale, and then he cried: Traitor knight what dost thou? And when

Sir Percivale was upon his horse Sir Breuse took his horse and fled all

that ever he might, and Sir Percivale and Sir Harry followed after him

fast, but ever the longer they chased the farther were they behind.

Then they turned again and came to Sir Ector de Maris and to Sir

Bleoberis. Ah, fair knights, said Bleoberis, why have ye succoured that

false knight and traitor? Why said Sir Harry, what knight is he? for

well I wot it is a false knight, said Sir Harry, and a coward and a

felonious knight. Sir, said Bleoberis, he is the most coward knight,

and a devourer of ladies and a destroyer of good knights and especially

of Arthur’s. What is your name? said Sir Ector. My name is Sir

Bleoberis de Ganis. Alas, fair cousin, said Ector, forgive it me, for I

am Sir Ector de Maris. Then Sir Percivale and Sir Harry made great joy

that they met with Bleoberis, but all they were heavy that Sir Breuse

was escaped them, whereof they made great dole.