Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXXV

CHAPTER LXXV

How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir
Dinadan, and changed his array into black.

THEN came King Arthur, and the King of Northgalis,
and Sir Launcelot du Lake; and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors
de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these three knights came
into the field with Sir Launcelot.  And then Sir
Launcelot with the three knights of his kin did so great
deeds of arms that all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot.
And so they beat the King of Wales and the King of
Scots far aback, and made them to avoid the field; but
Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field and
endured all that ever there came, that all men had wonder
that any knight might endure so many strokes.  But
ever Sir Launcelot, and his three kinsmen by the commandment
of Sir Launcelot, forbare Sir Tristram.  Then
said Sir Arthur:  Is that Sir Palomides that endureth
so well?  Nay, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well it is
the good knight Sir Tristram, for yonder ye may see
Sir Palomides beholdeth and hoveth, and doth little
or nought.  And sir, ye shall understand that Sir
Tristram weeneth this day to beat us all out of the
field.  And as for me, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not
beat him, beat him whoso will.  Sir, said Launcelot
unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Palomides hoveth
yonder, as though he were in a dream; wit ye well
he is full heavy that Tristram doth such deeds of arms
Then is he but a fool, said Arthur, for never was Sir
Palomides, nor never shall be, of such prowess as Sir
Tristram.  And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram,
and cometh in with him upon his side he is a false
knight.

As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir
Tristram rode privily out of the press, that none espied
him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palomides, for they two
would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.  And
when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions he found Sir
Dinadan in his bed asleep.  Awake, said Tristram, ye
ought to be ashamed so to sleep when knights have
ado in the field.  Then Sir Dinadan arose lightly and
said:  What will ye that I shall do?  Make you
ready, said Sir Tristram, to ride with me into the field.
So when Sir Dinadan was armed he looked upon Sir
Tristram's helm and on his shield, and when he saw
so many strokes upon his helm and upon his shield he
said:  In good time was I thus asleep, for had I been
with you I must needs for shame there have followed
you; more for shame than any prowess that is in me;
that I see well now by those strokes that I should have
been truly beaten as I was yesterday.  Leave your japes,
said Sir Tristram, and come off, that [we] were in the
field again.  What, said Sir Dinadan, is your heart up?
yesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed.  So then
Sir Tristram was arrayed in black harness.  O Jesu,
said Dinadan, what aileth you this day? meseemeth
ye be wilder than ye were yesterday.  Then smiled
Sir Tristram and said to Dinadan:  Await well upon
me; if ye see me overmatched look that ye be ever
behind me, and I shall make you ready way by God's
grace.  So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their
horses.  All this espied Sir Palomides, both their going
and their coming, and so did La Beale Isoud, for she
knew Sir Tristram above all other.