Lady Bragwaine,ye shall ride with me till that tournament be done at the Castle of Maidens,and then shall bear letters and tidings with you.And then Sir Tristram took his horse and sought lodging,and there he met with a good ancient knight and prayed him to lodge with him.Right so came Gouvernail unto Sir Tristram,that was glad of that lady.So this old knight's name was Sir Pellounes,and he told of the great tournament that should be at the Castle of Maidens.And there Sir Launcelot and thirty-two knights of his blood had ordained shields of Cornwall.
And right so there came one unto Sir Pellounes,and told him that Sir Persides de Bloise was come home;then that knight held up his hands and thanked God of his coming home.And there Sir Pellounes told Sir Tristram that in two years he had not seen his son,Sir Persides.Sir,said Sir Tristram,I know your son well enough for a good knight.
So on a time Sir Tristram and Sir Persides came to their lodging both at once,and so they unarmed them,and put upon them their clothing.And then these two knights each welcomed other.And when Sir Persides understood that Sir Tristram was of Cornwall,he said he was once in Cornwall:And there I jousted afore King Mark;and so it happed me at that time to overthrow ten knights,and then came to me Sir Tristram de Liones and overthrew me,and took my lady away from me,and that shall I never forget,but Ishall remember me an ever I see my time.Ah,said Sir Tristram,now I understand that ye hate Sir Tristram.What deem ye,ween ye that Sir Tristram is not able to withstand your malice?Yes,said Sir Persides,I know well that Sir Tristram is a noble knight and a much better knight than I,yet shall I not owe him my good will.Right as they stood thus talking at a bay-window of that castle,they saw many knights riding to and fro toward the tournament.And then was Sir Tristram ware of a likely knight riding upon a great black horse,and a black-covered shield.What knight is that,said Sir Tristram,with the black horse and the black shield?he seemeth a good knight.I know him well,said Sir Persides,he is one of the best knights of the world.Then is it Sir Launcelot,said Tristram.Nay,said Sir Persides,it is Sir Palomides,that is yet unchristened.
CHAPTER XXVIII
How Sir Tristram had a fall with Sir Palomides,and how Launcelot overthrew two knights.
THEN they saw much people of the country salute Sir Palomides.
And within a while after there came a squire of the castle,that told Sir Pellounes that was lord of that castle,that a knight with a black shield had smitten down thirteen knights.Fair brother,said Sir Tristram unto Sir Persides,let us cast upon us cloaks,and let us go see the play.Not so,said Sir Persides,we will not go like knaves thither,but we will ride like men and good knights to withstand our enemies.So they armed them,and took their horses and great spears,and thither they went thereas many knights assayed themself before the tournament.And anon Sir Palomides saw Sir Persides,and then he sent a squire unto him and said:Go thou to the yonder knight with the green shield and therein a lion of gold,and say him Irequire him to joust with me,and tell him that my name is Sir Palomides.When Sir Persides understood that request of Sir Palomides,he made him ready,and there anon they met together,but Sir Persides had a fall.Then Sir Tristram dressed him to be revenged upon Sir Palomides,and that saw Sir Palomides that was ready and so was not Sir Tristram,and took him at an advantage and smote him over his horse's tail when he had no spear in his rest.Then stert up Sir Tristram and took his horse lightly,and was wroth out of measure,and sore ashamed of that fall.Then Sir Tristram sent unto Sir Palomides by Gouvernail,and prayed him to joust with him at his request.Nay,said Sir Palomides,as at this time I will not joust with that knight,for I know him better than he weeneth.And if he be wroth he may right it to-morn at the Castle of Maidens,where he may see me and many other knights.
With that came Sir Dinadan,and when he saw Sir Tristram wroth he list not to jape.Lo,said Sir Dinadan,here may a man prove,be a man never so good yet may he have a fall,and he was never so wise but he might be overseen,and he rideth well that never fell.So Sir Tristram was passing wroth,and said to Sir Persides and to Sir Dinadan:I will revenge me.Right so as they stood talking there,there came by Sir Tristram a likely knight riding passing soberly and heavily with a black shield.
What knight is that?said Sir Tristram unto Sir Persides.I know him well,said Sir Persides,for his name is Sir Briant of North Wales;so he passed on among other knights of North Wales.And there came in Sir Launcelot du Lake with a shield of the arms of Cornwall,and he sent a squire unto Sir Briant,and required him to joust with him.Well,said Sir Briant,sithen Iam required to joust I will do what I may;and there Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Briant from his horse a great fall.And then Sir Tristram marvelled what knight he was that bare the shield of Cornwall.Whatsoever he be,said Sir Dinadan,Iwarrant you he is of King Ban's blood,the which be knights of the most noble prowess in the world,for to account so many for so many.Then there came two knights of Northgalis,that one hight Hew de la Montaine,and the other Sir Madok de la Montaine,and they challenged Sir Launcelot foot-hot.Sir Launcelot not refusing them but made him ready,with one spear he smote them down both over their horses'croups;and so Sir Launcelot rode his way.By the good lord,said Sir Tristram,he is a good knight that beareth the shield of Cornwall,and meseemeth he rideth in the best manner that ever I saw knight ride.