THEN all the estates and degrees high and low said of Sir Launcelot great worship,for the honour that he did unto Sir Tristram;and for that honour doing to Sir Tristram he was at that time more praised and renowned than an he had overthrown five hundred knights;and all the people wholly for this gentleness,first the estates both high and low,and after the commonalty cried at once:Sir Launcelot hath won the field whosoever say nay.Then was Sir Launcelot wroth and ashamed,and so therewithal he rode to King Arthur.Alas,said the king,we are all dismayed that Sir Tristram is thus departed from us.By God,said King Arthur,he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw hold spear or sword in hand,and the most courteoust knight in his fighting;for full hard I saw him,said King Arthur,when he smote Sir Palomides upon the helm thrice,that he abashed his helm with his strokes,and also he said:Here is a stroke for Sir Tristram,and thus thrice he said.Then King Arthur,Sir Launcelot,and Sir Dodinas le Savage took their horses to seek Sir Tristram,and by the means of Sir Persides he had told King Arthur where Sir Tristram was in his pavilion.But when they came there,Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan were gone.
Then King Arthur and Sir Launcelot were heavy,and returned again to the Castle of Maidens making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram,and his sudden departing.So God me help,said King Arthur,I am more heavy that I cannot meet with him than for all the hurts that all my knights have had at the tournament.Right so came Sir Gaheris and told King Arthur how Sir Tristram had smitten down Sir Palomides,and it was at Sir Palomides'own request.Alas,said King Arthur,that was great dishonour to Sir Palomides,inasmuch as Sir Tristram was sore wounded,and now may we all,kings,and knights,and men of worship,say that Sir Tristram may be called a noble knight,and one of the best knights that ever I saw the days of my life.For I will that ye all,kings and knights,know,said King Arthur,that I never saw knight do so marvellously as he hath done these three days;for he was the first that began and that longest held on,save this last day.And though he was hurt,it was a manly adventure of two noble knights,and when two noble men encounter needs must the one have the worse,like as God will suffer at that time.As for me,said Sir Launcelot,for all the lands that ever my father left me I would not have hurt Sir Tristram an I had known him at that time;that I hurt him was for I saw not his shield.For an I had seen his black shield,I would not have meddled with him for many causes;for late he did as much for me as ever did knight,and that is well known that he had ado with thirty knights,and no help save Sir Dinadan.And one thing shall Ipromise,said Sir Launcelot,Sir Palomides shall repent it as in his unkindly dealing for to follow that noble knight that Iby mishap hurted thus.Sir Launcelot said all the worship that might be said by Sir Tristram.Then King Arthur made a great feast to all that would come.And thus we let pass King Arthur,and a little we will turn unto Sir Palomides,that after he had a fall of Sir Tristram,he was nigh-hand araged out of his wit for despite of Sir Tristram.And so he followed him by adventure.
And as he came by a river,in his woodness he would have made his horse to have leapt over;and the horse failed footing and fell in the river,wherefore Sir Palomides was adread lest he should have been drowned;and then he avoided his horse,and swam to the land,and let his horse go down by adventure.
CHAPTER XXXVI
How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was,and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir Tristram.
AND when he came to the land he took off his harness,and sat roaring and crying as a man out of his mind.Right so came a damosel even by Sir Palomides,that was sent from Sir Gawaine and his brother unto Sir Mordred,that lay sick in the same place with that old knight where Sir Tristram was.For,as the French book saith,Sir Persides hurt so Sir Mordred a ten days afore;and had it hot been for the love of Sir Gawaine and his brother,Sir Persides had slain Sir Mordred.And so this damosel came by Sir Palomides,and she and he had language together,the which pleased neither of them;and so the damosel rode her ways till she came to the old knight's place,and there she told that old knight how she met with the woodest knight by adventure that ever she met withal.What bare he in his shield?said Sir Tristram.
It was indented with white and black,said the damosel.Ah,said Sir Tristram,that was Sir Palomides,the good knight.For well I know him,said Sir Tristram,for one of the best knights living in this realm.Then that old knight took a little hackney,and rode for Sir Palomides,and brought him unto his own manor;and full well knew Sir Tristram Sir Palomides,but he said but little,for at that time Sir Tristram was walking upon his feet,and well amended of his hurts;and always when Sir Palomides saw Sir Tristram he would behold him full marvellously,and ever him seemed that he had seen him.Then would he say unto Sir Dinadan:An ever I may meet with Sir Tristram he shall not escape mine hands.I marvel,said Sir Dinadan,that ye boast behind Sir Tristram,for it is but late that he was in your hands,and ye in his hands;why would ye not hold him when ye had him?for I saw myself twice or thrice that ye gat but little worship of Sir Tristram.Then was Sir Palomides ashamed.So leave we them a little while in the old castle with the old knight Sir Darras.
Now shall we speak of King Arthur,that said to Sir Launcelot: