Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXX

CHAPTER LXX

How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red,
and how he demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides
slew Launcelot's horse.

AND when the queen La Beale Isoud saw that Sir
Tristram was unhorsed, and she wist not where he was,
then she wept greatly.  But Sir Tristram, when he was
ready, came dashing lightly into the field, and then La
Beale Isoud espied him.  And so he did great deeds of
arms; with one spear, that was great, Sir Tristram smote
down five knights or ever he stint.  Then Sir Launcelot
espied him readily, that it was Sir Tristram, and then he
repented him that he had smitten him down; and so
Sir Launcelot went out of the press to repose him and
lightly he came again.  And now when Sir Tristram
came into the press, through his great force he put Sir
Palomides upon his horse, and Sir Gareth, and Sir
Dinadan, and then they began to do marvellously; but
Sir Palomides nor none of his two fellows knew not who
had holpen them on horseback again.  But ever Sir
Tristram was nigh them and succoured them, and they
[knew] not him, because he was changed into red armour:
and all this while Sir Launcelot was away.

So when La Beale Isoud knew Sir Tristram again
upon his horse-back she was passing glad, and then she
laughed and made good cheer.  And as it happened, Sir
Palomides looked up toward her where she lay in the
window, and he espied how she laughed; and therewith
he took such a rejoicing that he smote down, what with
his spear and with his sword, all that ever he met;
for through the sight of her he was so enamoured in
her love that he seemed at that time, that an both Sir
Tristram and Sir Launcelot had been both against him
they should have won no worship of him; and in his
heart, as the book saith, Sir Palomides wished that with
his worship he might have ado with Sir Tristram before
all men, because of La Beale Isoud.  Then Sir Palomides
began to double his strength, and he did so marvellously
that all men had wonder of him, and ever he cast up
his eye unto La Beale Isoud.  And when he saw her
make such cheer he fared like a lion, that there might
no man withstand him; and then Sir Tristram beheld
him, how that Sir Palomides bestirred him; and then he
said unto Sir Dinadan:  So God me help, Sir Palomides
is a passing good knight and a well enduring, but such
deeds saw I him never do, nor never heard I tell that
ever he did so much in one day.  It is his day, said
Dinadan; and he would say no more unto Sir Tristram;
but to himself he said:  An if ye knew for whose love
he doth all those deeds of arms, soon would Sir Tristram
abate his courage.  Alas, said Sir Tristram, that Sir
Palomides is not christened.  So said King Arthur, and
so said all those that beheld him.  Then all people gave
him the prize, as for the best knight that day, that he
passed Sir Launcelot outher Sir Tristram.  Well, said
Dinadan to himself, all this worship that Sir Palomides
hath here this day he may thank the Queen Isoud, for
had she been away this day Sir Palomides had not gotten
the prize this day.

Right so came into the field Sir Launcelot du Lake,
and saw and heard the noise and cry and the great
worship that Sir Palomides had.  He dressed him against
Sir Palomides, with a great mighty spear and a long, and
thought to smite him down.  And when Sir Palomides
saw Sir Launcelot come upon him so fast, he ran upon
Sir Launcelot as fast with his sword as he might; and
as Sir Launcelot should have stricken him he smote his
spear aside, and smote it a-two with his sword.  And
Sir Palomides rushed unto Sir Launcelot, and thought
to have put him to a shame; and with his sword he
smote his horse's neck that Sir Launcelot rode upon, and
then Sir Launcelot fell to the earth.  Then was the cry
huge and great:  See how Sir Palomides the Saracen hath
smitten down Sir Launcelot's horse.  Right then were
there many knights wroth with Sir Palomides because he
had done that deed; therefore many knights held there
against that it was unknightly done in a tournament to
kill an horse wilfully, but that it had been done in plain
battle, life for life.