Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER XX

CHAPTER XX

How it was told Sir Launcelot that Dagonet chased King
Mark, and how a knight overthrew him and six knights.

Now turn we again.  When Sir Ganis and Sir Brandiles
with his fellows came to the court of King Arthur they
told the king, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, how Sir
Dagonet, the fool, chased King Mark through the forest,
and how the strong knight smote them down all seven
with one spear.  There was great laughing and japing
at King Mark and at Sir Dagonet.  But all these knights
could not tell what knight it was that rescued King
Mark.  Then they asked King Mark if that he knew
him, and he answered and said:  He named himself the
Knight that followed the Questing Beast, and on that
name he sent one of my varlets to a place where was his
mother; and when she heard from whence he came she
made passing great dole, and discovered to my varlet
his name, and said:  Oh, my dear son, Sir Palomides,
why wilt thou not see me?  And therefore, sir, said King
Mark, it is to understand his name is Sir Palomides, a
noble knight.  Then were all these seven knights glad
that they knew his name.

Now turn we again, for on the morn they took their
horses, both Sir Lamorak, Palomides, and Dinadan, with
their squires and varlets, till they saw a fair castle that
stood on a mountain well closed, and thither they rode,
and there they found a knight that hight Galahalt, that
was lord of that castle, and there they had great cheer
and were well eased.  Sir Dinadan, said Sir Lamorak,
what will ye do?  Oh sir, said Dinadan, I will to-morrow
to the court of King Arthur.  By my head, said Sir
Palomides, I will not ride these three days, for I am sore
hurt, and much have I bled, and therefore I will repose
me here.  Truly, said Sir Lamorak, and I will abide here
with you; and when ye ride, then will I ride, unless that
ye tarry over long; then will I take my horse.  Therefore
I pray you, Sir Dinadan, abide and ride with us.  Faithfully,
said Dinadan, I will not abide, for I have such a
talent to see Sir Tristram that I may not abide long
from him.  Ah, Dinadan, said Sir Palomides, now do I
understand that ye love my mortal enemy, and therefore
how should I trust you.  Well, said Dinadan, I love my
lord Sir Tristram, above all other, and him will I serve
and do honour.  So shall I, said Sir Lamorak, in all that
may lie in my power.

So on the morn Sir Dinadan rode unto the court of
King Arthur; and by the way as he rode he saw where
stood an errant knight, and made him ready for to joust.
Not so, said Dinadan, for I have no will to joust.  With
me shall ye joust, said the knight, or that ye pass this
way.  Whether ask ye jousts, by love or by hate? The
knight answered: Wit ye well I ask it for love, and not
for hate.  It may well be so, said Sir Dinadan, but ye
proffer me hard love when ye will joust with me with a
sharp spear.  But, fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, sith ye
will joust with me, meet with me in the court of King
Arthur, and there shall I joust with you.  Well, said
the knight, sith ye will not joust with me, I pray you
tell me your name.  Sir knight, said he, my name is Sir
Dinadan.  Ah, said the knight, full well know I you
for a good knight and a gentle, and wit you well I love
you heartily.  Then shall there be no jousts, said
Dinadan, betwixt us.  So they departed.  And the same
day he came to Camelot, where lay King Arthur.  And
there he saluted the king and the queen, Sir Launcelot,
and Sir Tristram; and all the court was glad of Sir
Dinadan, for he was gentle, wise, and courteous, and a
good knight.  And in especial, the valiant knight Sir
Tristram loved Sir Dinadan passing well above all other
knights save Sir Launcelot.

Then the king asked Sir Dinadan what adventures
he had seen.  Sir, said Dinadan, I have seen many
adventures, and of some King Mark knoweth, but not
all.  Then the king hearkened Sir Dinadan, how he told
that Sir Palomides and he were afore the castle of
Morgan le Fay, and how Sir Lamorak took the jousts
afore them, and how he forjousted twelve knights, and
of them four he slew, and how after he smote down Sir
Palomides and me both.  t I may not believe that, said
the king, for Sir Palomides is a passing good knight.
That is very truth, said Sir Dinadan, but yet I saw him
better proved, hand for hand.  And then he told the
king all that battle, and how Sir Palomides was more
weaker, and more hurt, and more lost of his blood.  And
without doubt, said Sir Dinadan, had the battle longer
lasted, Palomides had been slain.  O Jesu, said King
Arthur, this is to me a great marvel.  Sir, said Tristram,
marvel ye nothing thereof, for at mine advice there is
not a valianter knight in the world living, for I know
his might.  And now I will say you, I was never so
weary of knight but if it were Sir Launcelot.  And
there is no knight in the world except Sir Launcelot that
did so well as Sir Lamorak.  So God me help, said the
king, I would that knight, Sir Lamorak, came to this
Court.  Sir, said Dinadan, he will be here in short space,
and Sir Palomides both, but I fear that Palomides may
not yet travel.