Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXVI

CHAPTER LXVI

How Sir Palomides jousted with Sir Galihodin, and after
with Sir Gawaine, and smote them down.


THEN this squire departed and told Galihodin; and then
he dressed his shield, and put forth a spear, and Sir
Palomides another; and there Sir Palomides smote
Galihodin so hard that he smote both horse and man to
the earth.  And there he had an horrible fall.  And then
came there another knight, and in the same wise he
served him; and so he served the third and the fourth,
that he smote them over their horses' croups, and always
Sir Palomides' spear was whole.  Then came six knights
more of Galihodin's men, and would have been avenged
upon Sir Palomides.  Let be, said Sir Galihodin, not so
hardy, none of you all meddle with this knight, for he
is a man of great bount and honour, and if he would ye
were not able to meddle with him.  And right so they
held them still.  And ever Sir Palomides was ready to
joust; and when he saw they would no more he rode
unto Sir Tristram.  Right well have ye done, said Sir
Tristram, and worshipfully have ye done as a good
knight should.  This Galihodin was nigh cousin unto
Galahalt, the haut prince; and this Galihodin was a king
within the country of Surluse.

So as Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and La Beale Isoud
rode together they saw afore them four knights, and every
man had his spear in his hand: the first was Sir Gawaine,
the second Sir Uwaine, the third Sir Sagramore le Desirous,
and the fourth was Dodinas le Savage.  When Sir Palomides
beheld them, that the four knights were ready to
joust, he prayed Sir Tristram to give him leave to have
ado with them all so long as he might hold him on horseback.
And if that I be smitten down I pray you revenge
me.  Well, said Sir Tristram, I will as ye will, and ye are
not so fain to have worship but I would as fain increase
your worship.  And therewithal Sir Gawaine put forth
his spear, and Sir Palomides another; and so they came
so eagerly together that Sir Palomides smote Sir Gawaine
to the earth, horse and all; and in the same wise he served
Uwaine, Sir Dodinas, and Sagramore.  All these four
knights Sir Palomides smote down with divers spears
And then Sir Tristram departed toward Lonazep.

And when they were departed then came thither
Galihodin with his ten knights unto Sir Gawaine, and
there he told him all how he had sped.  I marvel, said
Sir Gawaine, what knights they be, that are so arrayed
in green.  And that knight upon the white horse smote
me down, said Galihodin, and my three fellows.  And so
he did to me, said Gawaine; and well I wot, said Sir
Gawaine, that either he upon the white horse is Sir Tristram
or else Sir Palomides, and that gay beseen lady is Queen
Isoud.  Thus they talked of one thing and of other.

And in the meanwhile Sir Tristram passed on till that
he came to the well where his two pavilions were set; and
there they alighted, and there they saw many pavilions
and great array.  Then Sir Tristram left there Sir Palomides
and Sir Gareth with La Beale Isoud, and Sir
Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode to Lonazep to hearken
tidings; and Sir Tristram rode upon Sir Palomides' white
horse.  And when he came into the castle Sir Dinadan
heard a great horn blow, and to the horn drew many
knights.  Then Sir Tristram asked a knight:  What
meaneth the blast of that horn?  Sir, said that knight,
it is all those that shall hold against King Arthur at this
tournament.  The first is the King of Ireland, and the
King of Surluse, the King of Listinoise, the King of
Northumberland, and the King of the best part of Wales,
with many other countries.  And these draw them to a
council, to understand what governance they shall be of;
but the King of Ireland, whose name was Marhalt, and
father to the good knight Sir Marhaus that Sir Tristram
slew, had all the speech that Sir Tristram might hear it.
He said:  Lords and fellows, let us look to ourself, for
wit ye well King Arthur is sure of many good knights,
or else he would not with so few knights have ado
with us; therefore by my counsel let every king have a
standard and a cognisance by himself, that every knight
draw to their natural lord, and then may every king and
captain help his knights if they have need.  When Sir
Tristram had heard all their counsel he rode unto King
Arthur for to hear of his counsel.