Chương Chương 234 · How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir

. How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir

Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered.

Now leave we off this tale, and speak we of Sir Dinas that had within

the castle a paramour, and she loved another knight better than him.

And so when Sir Dinas went out a-hunting she slipped down by a towel,

and took with her two brachets, and so she yede to the knight that she

loved, and he her again. And when Sir Dinas came home and missed his

paramour and his brachets, then was he the more wrother for his

brachets than for the lady. So then he rode after the knight that had

his paramour, and bade him turn and joust. So Sir Dinas smote him down,

that with the fall he brake his leg and his arm. And then his lady and

paramour cried Sir Dinas mercy, and said she would love him better than

ever she did. Nay, said Sir Dinas, I shall never trust them that once

betrayed me, and therefore, as ye have begun, so end, for I will never

meddle with you. And so Sir Dinas departed, and took his brachets with

him, and so rode to his castle.

Now will we turn unto Sir Launcelot, that was right heavy that he could

never hear no tidings of Sir Tristram, for all this while he was in

prison with Sir Darras, Palomides, and Dinadan. Then Dame Bragwaine

took her leave to go into Cornwall, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, and Sir

Gaheris rode to seek Sir Tristram in the country of Surluse.

Now speaketh this tale of Sir Tristram and of his two fellows, for

every day Sir Palomides brawled and said language against Sir Tristram.

I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, of thee, Sir Palomides, an thou haddest Sir

Tristram here thou wouldst do him no harm; for an a wolf and a sheep

were together in a prison the wolf would suffer the sheep to be in

peace. And wit thou well, said Sir Dinadan, this same is Sir Tristram

at a word, and now must thou do thy best with him, and let see now if

ye can skift it with your hands. Then was Sir Palomides abashed and

said little. Sir Palomides, then said Sir Tristram, I have heard much

of your maugre against me, but I will not meddle with you as at this

time by my will, because I dread the lord of this place that hath us in

governance; for an I dread him not more than I do thee, soon it should

be skift: so they peaced themself. Right so came in a damosel and said:

Knights, be of good cheer, for ye are sure of your lives, and that I

heard say my lord, Sir Darras. Then were they glad all three, for daily

they weened they should have died.

Then soon after this Sir Tristram fell sick that he weened to have

died; then Sir Dinadan wept, and so did Sir Palomides under them both

making great sorrow. So a damosel came in to them and found them

mourning. Then she went unto Sir Darras, and told him how that mighty

knight that bare the black shield was likely to die. That shall not be,

said Sir Darras, for God defend when knights come to me for succour

that I should suffer them to die within my prison. Therefore, said Sir

Darras to the damosel, fetch that knight and his fellows afore me. And

then anon Sir Darras saw Sir Tristram brought afore him. He said: Sir

knight, me repenteth of thy sickness for thou art called a full noble

knight, and so it seemeth by thee; and wit ye well it shall never be

said that Sir Darras shall destroy such a noble knight as thou art in

prison, howbeit that thou hast slain three of my sons whereby I was

greatly aggrieved. But now shalt thou go and thy fellows, and your

harness and horses have been fair and clean kept, and ye shall go where

it liketh you, upon this covenant, that thou, knight, wilt promise me

to be good friend to my sons two that be now alive, and also that thou

tell me thy name. Sir, said he, as for me my name is Sir Tristram de

Liones, and in Cornwall was I born, and nephew I am unto King Mark. And

as for the death of your sons I might not do withal, for an they had

been the next kin that I have I might have done none otherwise. And if

I had slain them by treason or treachery I had been worthy to have

died. All this I consider, said Sir Darras, that all that ye did was by

force of knighthood, and that was the cause I would not put you to

death. But sith ye be Sir Tristram, the good knight, I pray you

heartily to be my good friend and to my sons. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I

promise you by the faith of my body, ever while I live I will do you

service, for ye have done to us but as a natural knight ought to do.

Then Sir Tristram reposed him there till that he was amended of his

sickness; and when he was big and strong they took their leave, and

every knight took their horses, and so departed and rode together till

they came to a cross way. Now fellows, said Sir Tristram, here will we

depart in sundry ways. And because Sir Dinadan had the first adventure

of him I will begin.