Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXIV

CHAPTER LXIV

Of the battle between Sir Palomides and the two brethren,
and how the two brethren were slain.


THEN they departed, and the two brethren came against
Sir Palomides, and he against them, as fast as their horses
might run.  And by fortune Sir Palomides smote Helake
through his shield and through the breast more than a
fathom.  All this while Sir Helius held up his spear, and
for pride and orgulit he would not smite Sir Palomides
with his spear; but when he saw his brother lie on the
earth, and saw he might not help himself, then he said
unto Sir Palomides:  Help thyself.  And therewith he
came hurtling unto Sir Palomides with his spear, and
smote him quite from his saddle.  Then Sir Helius rode
over Sir Palomides twice or thrice.  And therewith Sir
Palomides was ashamed, and gat the horse of Sir Helius
by the bridle, and therewithal the horse areared, and Sir
Palomides halp after, and so they fell both to the earth;
but anon Sir Helius stert up lightly, and there he smote
Sir Palomides a great stroke upon the helm, that he
kneeled upon his own knee.  Then they lashed together
many sad strokes, and traced and traversed now backward,
now sideling, hurtling together like two boars, and that
same time they fell both grovelling to the earth.

Thus they fought still without any reposing two hours,
and never breathed; and then Sir Palomides waxed faint
and weary, and Sir Helius waxed passing strong, and
doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Palomides overthwart
and endlong all the field, that they of the city when they
saw Sir Palomides in this case they wept and cried, and
made great dole, and the other party made as great joy.
Alas, said the men of the city, that this noble knight
should thus be slain for our king's sake.  And as they
were thus weeping and crying, Sir Palomides that had
suffered an hundred strokes, that it was wonder that he
stood on his feet, at the last Sir Palomides beheld as he
might the common people, how they wept for him; and
then he said to himself:  Ah, fie for shame, Sir Palomides,
why hangest thou thy head so low; and therewith he bare
up his shield, and looked Sir Helius in the visage, and he
smote him a great stroke upon the helm, and after that
another and another.  And then he smote Sir Helius with
such a might that he fell to the earth grovelling; and
then he raced off his helm from his head, and there he
smote him such a buffet that he departed his head from
the body.  And then were the people of the city the
joyfullest people that might be.  So they brought him to
his lodging with great solemnity, and there all the people
became his men.  And then Sir Palomides prayed them
all to take keep unto all the lordship of King Hermance:
For, fair sirs, wit ye well I may not as at this time abide
with you, for I must in all haste be with my lord King
Arthur at the Castle of Lonazep, the which I have
promised.  Then was the people full heavy at his
departing, for all that city proffered Sir Palomides the
third part of their goods so that he would abide with
them; but in no wise as at that time he would not
abide.

And so Sir Palomides departed, and so he came unto
the castle thereas Sir Ebel was lieutenant.  And when they
in the castle wist how Sir Palomides had sped, there was a
joyful meiny; and so Sir Palomides departed, and came
to the castle of Lonazep.  And when he wist that Sir
Tristram was not there he took his way over Humber,
and came unto Joyous Gard, whereas Sir Tristram was
and La Beale Isoud.  Sir Tristram had commanded that
what knight errant came within the Joyous Gard, as in
the town, that they should warn Sir Tristram.  So there
came a man of the town, and told Sir Tristram how there
was a knight in the town, a passing goodly man.  What
manner of man is he, said Sir Tristram, and what sign
beareth he?  So the man told Sir Tristram all the tokens
of him.  That is Palomides, said Dinadan.  It may well
be, said Sir Tristram.  Go ye to him, said Sir Tristram
unto Dinadan.  So Dinadan went unto Sir Palomides,
and there either made other great joy, and so they lay
together that night.  And on the morn early came Sir
Tristram and Sir Gareth, and took them in their beds, and
so they arose and brake their fast.