Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER X

CHAPTER X

How Sir Berluse met with King Mark, and how
Sir Dinadan took his part.

THEN was King Mark sore ashamed, and said but little
again.  But when Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan wist that
he was King Mark they were sorry of his fellowship.
So after supper they went to lodging.  So on the morn
they arose early, and King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode
together; and three mile from their lodging there met
with them three knights, and Sir Berluse was one, and
that other his two cousins.  Sir Berluse saw King Mark,
and then he cried on high:  Traitor, keep thee from me
for wit thou well that I am Berluse.  Sir knight, said Sir
Dinadan, I counsel you to leave off at this time, for he is
riding to King Arthur; and because I have promised to
conduct him to my lord King Arthur needs must I take
a part with him; howbeit I love not his condition, and
fain I would be from him.  Well, Dinadan, said Sir
Berluse, me repenteth that ye will take part with him,
but now do your best.  And then he hurtled to King
Mark, and smote him sore upon the shield, that he bare
him clean out of his saddle to the earth.  That saw Sir
Dinadan, and he feutred his spear, and ran to one of
Berluse's fellows, and smote him down off his saddle.
Then Dinadan turned his horse, and smote the third
knight in the same wise to the earth, for Sir Dinadan
was a good knight on horseback; and there began a great
battle, for Berluse and his fellows held them together
strongly on foot.  And so through the great force of Sir
Dinadan King Mark had Berluse to the earth, and his
two fellows fled; and had not been Sir Dinadan King
Mark would have slain him.  And so Sir Dinadan
rescued him of his life, for King Mark was but a
murderer.  And then they took their horses and departed
and left Sir Berluse there sore wounded.

Then King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode forth a four
leagues English, till that they came to a bridge where
hoved a knight on horseback, armed and ready to joust.
Lo, said Sir Dinadan unto King Mark, yonder hoveth a
knight that will joust, for there shall none pass this
bridge but he must joust with that knight.  It is well,
said King Mark, for this jousts falleth with thee.  Sir
Dinadan knew the knight well that he was a noble knight,
and fain he would have jousted, but he had had liefer
King Mark had jousted with him, but by no mean King
Mark would not joust.  Then Sir Dinadan might not
refuse him in no manner.  And then either dressed their
spears and their shields, and smote together, so that
through fine force Sir Dinadan was smitten to the earth;
and lightly he rose up and gat his horse, and required
that knight to do battle with swords.  And he answered
and said:  Fair knight, as at this time I may not have ado
with you no more, for the custom of this passage is such.
Then was Sir Dinadan passing wroth that he might not be
revenged of that knight; and so he departed, and in no
wise would that knight tell his name.  But ever Sir
Dinadan thought he should know him by his shield that
it should be Sir Tor.