Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXXIX

CHAPTER LXXIX

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day, and
how King Arthur was unhorsed.

THEN Sir Tristram let call Sir Palomides, and bade him
make him ready, for it was time to go to the field.  When
they were ready they were armed, and clothed all in red,
both Isoud and all they; and so they led her passing
freshly through the field, into the priory where was her
lodging.  And then they heard three blasts blow, and every
king and knight dressed him unto the field.  And the first
that was ready to joust was Sir Palomides and Sir Kainus
le Strange, a knight of the Table Round.  And so they
two encountered together, but Sir Palomides smote Sir
Kainus so hard that he smote him quite over his horse's
croup.  And forthwithal Sir Palomides smote down another
knight, and brake then his spear, and pulled out his sword
and did wonderly well.  And then the noise began greatly
upon Sir Palomides.  Lo, said King Arthur, yonder
Palomides beginneth to play his pageant.  So God me
help, said Arthur, he is a passing good knight.  And
right as they stood talking thus, in came Sir Tristram as
thunder, and he encountered with Sir Kay the Seneschal,
and there he smote him down quite from his horse; and
with that same spear Sir Tristram smote down three knights
more, and then he pulled out his sword and did marvellously.
Then the noise and cry changed from Sir Palomides and
turned to Sir Tristram, and all the people cried:  O
Tristram, O Tristram.  And then was Sir Palomides clean
forgotten.

How now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, yonder rideth
a knight that playeth his pageants.  So God me help, said
Arthur to Launcelot, ye shall see this day that yonder two
knights shall here do this day wonders.  Sir, said Launcelot,
the one knight waiteth upon the other, and enforceth
himself through envy to pass the noble knight Sir Tristram,
and he knoweth not of the privy envy the which Sir
Palomides hath to him; for all that the noble Sir Tristram
doth is through clean knighthood.  And then Sir Gareth
and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of arms, as two
noble knights, so that King Arthur spake of them great
honour and worship; and the kings and knights of Sir
Tristram's side did passingly well, and held them truly
together.  Then Sir Arthur and Sir Launcelot took their
horses and dressed them, and gat into the thickest of the
press.  And there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down
King Arthur, and then Sir Launcelot would have rescued
him, but there were so many upon Sir Launcelot that they
pulled him down from his horse.  And then the King of
Ireland and the King of Scots with their knights did their
pain to take King Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner.
When Sir Launcelot heard them say so, he fared as it had
been an hungry lion, for he fared so that no knight durst
nigh him.

Then came Sir Ector de Maris, and he bare a spear
against Sir Palomides, and brast it upon him all to shivers.
And then Sir Ector came again and gave Sir Palomides
such a dash with a sword that he stooped down upon his
saddle bow.  And forthwithal Sir Ector pulled down Sir
Palomides under his feet; and then Sir Ector de Maris
gat Sir Launcelot du Lake an horse, and brought it to him,
and bade him mount upon him; but Sir Palomides leapt
afore and gat the horse by the bridle, and leapt into the
saddle.  So God me help, said Launcelot, ye are better
worthy to have that horse than I.  Then Sir Ector brought
Sir Launcelot another horse.  Gramercy, said Launcelot
unto his brother.  And so when he was horsed again, with
one spear he smote down four knights.  And then Sir
Launcelot brought to King Arthur one of the best of the
four horses.  Then Sir Launcelot with King Arthur and
a few of his knights of Sir Launcelot's kin did marvellous
deeds; for that time, as the book recordeth, Sir Launcelot
smote down and pulled down thirty knights.  Notwithstanding
the other party held them so fast together that
King Arthur and his knights were overmatched.  And
when Sir Tristram saw that, what labour King Arthur
and his knights, and in especial the noble deeds that Sir
Launcelot did with his own hands, he marvelled greatly.