Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK X CHAPTER LXXXIV

CHAPTER LXXXIV

How Sir Palomides and Sir Safere conducted Sir Epinogris
to his castle, and of other adventures.

THEN Sir Palomides took the lady by the hand and
brought her to Sir Epinogris, and there was great joy
betwixt them, for either swooned for joy.  When they
were met:  Fair knight and lady, said Sir Safere, it were
pity to depart you; Jesu send you joy either of other.
Gramercy, gentle knight, said Epinogris; and much more
thanks be to my lord Sir Palomides, that thus hath
through his prowess made me to get my lady.  Then Sir
Epinogris required Sir Palomides and Sir Safere, his
brother, to ride with them unto his castle, for the safeguard
of his person.  Sir, said Palomides, we will be ready to
conduct you because that ye are sore wounded; and so
was Epinogris and his lady horsed, and his lady behind
him upon a soft ambler.  And then they rode unto his
castle, where they had great cheer and joy, as great as ever
Sir Palomides and Sir Safere had in their life-days.

So on the morn Sir Safere and Sir Palomides departed,
day until after noon.  And at the last they heard a great
weeping and a great noise down in a manor.  Sir, said
then Sir Safere, let us wit what noise this is.  I will well,
said Sir Palomides.  And so they rode forth till that they
came to a fair gate of a manor, and there sat an old man
saying his prayers and beads.  Then Sir Palomides and
Sir Safere alighted and left their horses, and went within
the gates, and there they saw full many goodly men
weeping.  Fair sirs, said Palomides, wherefore weep ye and
make this sorrow?  Anon one of the knights of the castle
beheld Sir Palomides and knew him, and then went to his
fellows and said:  Fair fellows, wit ye well all, we have in
this castle the same knight that slew our lord at Lonazep,
for I know him well; it is Sir Palomides.  Then they
went unto harness, all that might bear harness, some on
horseback and some on foot, to the number of three score.
And when they were ready they came freshly upon Sir
Palomides and upon Sir Safere with a great noise, and said
thus:  Keep thee, Sir Palomides, for thou art known, and
by right thou must be dead, for thou hast slain our lord;
and therefore wit ye well we will slay thee, therefore
defend thee.

Then Sir Palomides and Sir Safere, the one set his back
to the other, and gave many great strokes, and took many
great strokes; and thus they fought with a twenty knights
and forty gentlemen and yeomen nigh two hours.  But
at the last though they were loath, Sir Palomides and Sir
Safere were taken and yolden, and put in a strong prison;
and within three days twelve knights passed upon them,
and they found Sir Palomides guilty, and Sir Safere not
guilty, of their lord's death.  And when Sir Safere should
be delivered there was great dole betwixt Sir Palomides
and him, and many piteous complaints that Sir Safere
made at his departing, there is no maker can rehearse the
tenth part.  Fair brother, said Palomides, let be thy dolour
and thy sorrow.  And if I be ordained to die a shameful
death, welcome be it; but an I had wist of this death that
I am deemed unto, I should never have been yolden.  So
Sir Safere departed from his brother with the greatest
dolour and sorrow that ever made knight.

And on the morn they of the castle ordained twelve
knights to ride with Sir Palomides unto the father of the
same knight that Sir Palomides slew; and so they bound
his legs under an old steed's belly.  And then they rode
with Sir Palomides unto a castle by the seaside, that hight
Pelownes, and there Sir Palomides should have justice.
Thus was their ordinance; and so they rode with Sir
Palomides fast by the castle of Joyous Gard.  And as
they passed by that castle there came riding out of that
castle by them one that knew Sir Palomides.  And when
that knight saw Sir Palomides bounden upon a crooked
courser, the knight asked Sir Palomides for what cause he
was led so.  Ah, my fair fellow and knight, said Palomides,
I ride toward my death for the slaying of a knight at a
tournament of Lonazep; and if I had not departed from
my lord Sir Tristram, as I ought not to have done, now
might I have been sure to have had my life saved; but I
pray you, sir knight, recommend me unto my lord, Sir
Tristram, and unto my lady, Queen Isoud, and say to
them if ever I trespassed to them I ask them forgiveness.
And also I beseech you recommend me unto my lord,
King Arthur, and to all the fellowship of the Round
Table, unto my power.  Then that knight wept for pity
of Sir Palomides; and therewithal he rode unto Joyous
Gard as fast as his horse might run, and lightly that
knight descended down off his horse and went unto Sir
Tristram, and there he told him all as ye have heard, and
ever the knight wept as he had been mad.