Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXVIII

CHAPTER LXVIII

How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of the
noble feats that they did in that tourneying.

NOW upon what party, said Tristram, is it best we be
withal as to-morn?  Sir, said Palomides, ye shall have
mine advice to be against King Arthur as to-morn, for on
his party will be Sir Launcelot and many good knights of
his blood with him.  And the more men of worship that
they be, the more worship we shall win.  That is full
knightly spoken, said Sir Tristram; and right so as ye
counsel me, so will we do.  In the name of God, said they
all.  So that night they were lodged with the best.  And
on the morn when it was day they were arrayed all in
green trappings, shields and spears, and La Beale Isoud in
the same colour, and her three damosels.  And right so
these four knights came into the field endlong and through.
And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as she should stand
and behold all the jousts in a bay window; but always she
was wimpled that no man might see her visage.  And then
these three knights rode straight unto the party of the
King of Scots.

When King Arthur had seen them do all this he asked
Sir Launcelot what were these knights and that queen.
Sir, said Launcelot, I cannot say you in certain, but if Sir
Tristram be in this country, or Sir Palomides, wit ye well
it be they m certain, and La Beale Isoud.  Then Arthur
called to him Sir Kay and said:  Go lightly and wit how
many knights there be here lacking of the Table Round,
for by the sieges thou mayst know.  So went Sir Kay
and saw by the writings in the sieges that there lacked ten
knights.  And these be their names that be not here.  Sir
Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir
Epinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male
Taile, and Sir Pelleas the noble knight.  Well, said Arthur,
some of these I dare undertake are here this day against us.

Then came therein two brethren, cousins unto Sir
Gawaine, the one hight Sir Edward, that other hight Sir
Sadok, the which were two good knights; and they asked
of King Arthur that they might have the first jousts, for
they were of Orkney.  I am pleased, said King Arthur.
Then Sir Edward encountered with the King of Scots, in
whose party was Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides; and Sir
Edward smote the King of Scots quite from his horse, and
Sir Sadok smote down the King of North Wales, and gave
him a wonder great fall, that there was a great cry on King
Arthur's party, and that made Sir Palomides passing wroth.
And so Sir Palomides dressed his shield and his spear, and
with all his might he met with Sir Edward of Orkney,
that he smote him so hard that his horse might not stand
on his feet, and so they hurtled to the earth; and then
with the same spear Sir Palomides smote down Sir Sadok
over his horse's croup.  O Jesu, said Arthur, what knight
is that arrayed all in green? he jousteth mightily.  Wit
you well, said Sir Gawaine, he is a good knight, and yet
shall ye see him joust better or he depart.  And yet shall
ye see, said Sir Gawaine, another bigger knight, in the
same colour, than he is; for that same knight, said Sir
Gawaine, that smote down right now my four cousins, he
smote me down within these two days, and seven fellows
more.

This meanwhile as they stood thus talking there came
into the place Sir Tristram upon a black horse, and or
ever he stint he smote down with one spear four good
knights of Orkney that were of the kin of Sir Gawaine;
and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan everych of them smote
down a good knight.  Jesu, said Arthur, yonder knight
upon the black horse doth mightily and marvellously well.
Abide you, said Sir Gawaine; that knight with the black
horse began not yet.  Then Sir Tristram made to horse
again the two kings that Edward and Sadok had unhorsed
at the beginning.  And then Sir Tristram drew his sword
and rode into the thickest of the press against them of
Orkney; and there he smote down knights, and rashed off
helms, and pulled away their shields, and hurtled down
many knights: he fared so that Sir Arthur and all knights
had great marvel when they saw one knight do so great
deeds of arms.  And Sir Palomides failed not upon the
other side, but did so marvellously well that all men had
wonder.  For there King Arthur likened Sir Tristram that
was on the black horse like to a wood lion, and likened
Sir Palomides upon the white horse unto a wood leopard,
and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan unto eager wolves.  But
the custom was such among them that none of the kings
would help other, but all the fellowship of every standard
to help other as they might; but ever Sir Tristram did so
much deeds of arms that they of Orkney waxed weary of
him, and so withdrew them unto Lonazep