Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER XXV

CHAPTER XXV

How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight
fleeing, and how they both were overthrown, and of Sir
Dinadan.


NOW leave we of Sir Lamorak, and speak of Sir Gawaine's
brethren, and specially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.
As they rode on their adventures they met with a knight
fleeing, sore wounded; and they asked him what tidings.
Fair knights, said he, here cometh a knight after me that
will slay me.  With that came Sir Dinadan riding to them
by adventure, but he would promise them no help.  But
Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred promised him to rescue
him.  Therewithal came that knight straight unto them,
and anon he proffered to joust.  That saw Sir Mordred
and rode to him, but he struck Mordred over his horse's
tail.  That saw Sir Agravaine, and straight he rode toward
that knight, and right so as he served Mordred so he
served Agravaine, and said to them:  Sirs, wit ye well both
that I am Breuse Saunce Pit, that hath done this to you.
And yet he rode over Agravaine five or six times.  When
Dinadan saw this, he must needs joust with him for shame.
And so Dinadan and he encountered together, that with
pure strength Sir Dinadan smote him over his horse's tail
Then he took his horse and fled, for he was on foot one
of the valiantest knights in Arthur's days, and a great
destroyer of all good knights.

Then rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir Mordred and unto Sir
Agravaine.  Sir knight, said they all, well have ye done,
and well have ye revenged us, wherefore we pray you tell
us your name.  Fair sirs, ye ought to know my name, the
which is called Sir Dinadan.  When they understood that it
was Dinadan they were more wroth than they were before,
for they hated him out of measure because of Sir Lamorak.
For Dinadan had such a custom that he loved all good
knights that were valiant, and he hated all those that were
destroyers of good knights.  And there were none that
hated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers.
Then spake the hurt knight that Breuse Saunce Pit had
chased, his name was Dalan, and said:  If thou be Dinadan
thou slewest my father.  It may well be so, said Dinadan,
but then it was in my defence and at his request.  By my
head, said Dalan, thou shalt die therefore, and therewith
he dressed his spear and his shield.  And to make the
shorter tale, Sir Dinadan smote him down off his horse,
that his neck was nigh broken.  And in the same wise he
smote Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine.  And after, in the
quest of the Sangreal, cowardly and feloniously they slew
Dinadan, the which was great damage, for he was a great
bourder and a passing good knight.

And so Sir Dinadan rode to a castle that hight Beale-
Valet.  And there he found Sir Palomides that was not
yet whole of the wound that Sir Lamorak gave him.  And
there Dinadan told Palomides all the tidings that he heard
and saw of Sir Tristram, and how he was gone with King
Mark, and with him he hath all his will and desire.
Therewith Sir Palomides waxed wroth, for he loved La
Beale Isoud.  And then he wist well that Sir Tristram
enjoyed her.