第 二百三十 章 · How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was,

. How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was,

and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir

Tristram.

And when he came to the land he took off his harness, and sat roaring

and crying as a man out of his mind. Right so came a damosel even by

Sir Palomides, that was sent from Sir Gawaine and his brother unto Sir

Mordred, that lay sick in the same place with that old knight where Sir

Tristram was. For, as the French book saith, Sir Persides hurt so Sir

Mordred a ten days afore; and had it not been for the love of Sir

Gawaine and his brother, Sir Persides had slain Sir Mordred. And so

this damosel came by Sir Palomides, and she and he had language

together, the which pleased neither of them; and so the damosel rode

her ways till she came to the old knight’s place, and there she told

that old knight how she met with the woodest knight by adventure that

ever she met withal. What bare he in his shield? said Sir Tristram. It

was indented with white and black, said the damosel. Ah, said Sir

Tristram, that was Sir Palomides, the good knight. For well I know him,

said Sir Tristram, for one of the best knights living in this realm.

Then that old knight took a little hackney, and rode for Sir Palomides,

and brought him unto his own manor; and full well knew Sir Tristram Sir

Palomides, but he said but little, for at that time Sir Tristram was

walking upon his feet, and well amended of his hurts; and always when

Sir Palomides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full marvellously,

and ever him seemed that he had seen him. Then would he say unto Sir

Dinadan: An ever I may meet with Sir Tristram he shall not escape mine

hands. I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, that ye boast behind Sir Tristram,

for it is but late that he was in your hands, and ye in his hands; why

would ye not hold him when ye had him? for I saw myself twice or thrice

that ye gat but little worship of Sir Tristram. Then was Sir Palomides

ashamed. So leave we them a little while in the old castle with the old

knight Sir Darras.

Now shall we speak of King Arthur, that said to Sir Launcelot: Had not

ye been we had not lost Sir Tristram, for he was here daily unto the

time ye met with him, and in an evil time, said Arthur, ye encountered

with him. My lord Arthur, said Launcelot, ye put upon me that I should

be cause of his departition; God knoweth it was against my will. But

when men be hot in deeds of arms oft they hurt their friends as well as

their foes. And my lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall understand that

Sir Tristram is a man that I am loath to offend, for he hath done for

me more than ever I did for him as yet. But then Sir Launcelot made

bring forth a book: and then Sir Launcelot said: Here we are ten

knights that will swear upon a book never to rest one night where we

rest another this twelvemonth until that we find Sir Tristram. And as

for me, said Sir Launcelot, I promise you upon this book that an I may

meet with him, either with fairness or foulness I shall bring him to

this court, or else I shall die therefore. And the names of these ten

knights that had undertaken this quest were these following: First was

Sir Launcelot, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis,

and Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Lucan the Butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir Galihud

Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the

court of King Arthur, and so they rode upon their quest together until

they came to a cross where departed four ways, and there departed the

fellowship in four to seek Sir Tristram.

And as Sir Launcelot rode by adventure he met with Dame Bragwaine that

was sent into that country to seek Sir Tristram, and she fled as fast

as her palfrey might go. So Sir Launcelot met with her and asked her

why she fled. Ah, fair knight, said Dame Bragwaine, I flee for dread of

my life, for here followeth me Sir Breuse Saunce Pité to slay me. Hold

you nigh me, said Sir Launcelot. Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse

Saunce Pité, Sir Launcelot cried unto him, and said: False knight,

destroyer of ladies and damosels, now thy last days be come. When Sir

Breuse Saunce Pité saw Sir Launcelot’s shield he knew it well, for at

that time he bare not the arms of Cornwall, but he bare his own shield.

And then Sir Breuse fled, and Sir Launcelot followed after him. But Sir

Breuse was so well horsed that when him list to flee he might well

flee, and also abide when him list. And then Sir Launcelot returned

unto Dame Bragwaine, and she thanked him of his great labour.