Sir,said King Mark,right as your lordship will require me,unto my power,I will make a large amends.For he was a fair speaker,and false thereunder.Then for great pleasure of Sir Tristram,to make them twain accorded,the king withheld King Mark as at that time,and made a broken love-day between them.
CHAPTER XVI
How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palomides of the battle between Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristam.
NOW turn we again unto Sir Palomides,how Sir Dinadan comforted him in all that he might,from his great sorrow.
What knight are ye?said Sir Palomides.Sir,I am a knight-errant as ye be,that hath sought you long by your shield.Here is my shield,said Sir Palomides,wit ye well,an ye will ought,therewith I will defend it.Nay,said Sir Dinadan,I will not have ado with you but in good manner.And if ye will,ye shall find me soon ready.
Sir,said Sir Dinadan,whitherward ride you this way?By my head,said Sir Palomides,I wot not,but as fortune leadeth me.Heard ye or saw ye ought of Sir Tristram?
So God me help,of Sir Tristram I both heard and saw,and not for then we loved not inwardly well together,yet at my mischief Sir Tristram rescued me from my death;and yet,or he and I departed,by both our assents we assigned a day that we should have met at the stony grave that Merlin set beside Camelot,and there to have done battle together;howbeit I was letted,said Sir Palomides,that I might not hold my day,the which grieveth me sore;but I have a large excuse.For I was prisoner with a lord,and many other more,and that shall Sir Tristram right well understand,that I brake it not of fear of cowardice.And then Sir Palomides told Sir Dinadan the same day that they should have met.So God me help,said Sir Dinadan,that same day met Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram at the same grave of stone.And there was the most mightiest battle that ever was seen in this land betwixt two knights,for they fought more than two hours.And there they both bled so much blood that all men marvelled that ever they might endure it.And so at the last,by both their assents,they were made friends and sworn-brethren for ever,and no man can judge the better knight.And now is Sir Tristram made a knight of the Round Table,and he sitteth in the siege of the noble knight,Sir Marhaus.By my head,said Sir Palomides,Sir Tristram is far bigger than Sir Launcelot,and the hardier knight.Have ye assayed them both?said Sir Dinadan.I have seen Sir Tristram fight,said Sir Palomides,but never Sir Launcelot to my witting.But at the fountain where Sir Launcelot lay asleep,there with one spear he smote down Sir Tristram and me,said Palomides,but at that time they knew not either other.
Fair knight,said Sir Dinadan,as for Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram let them be,for the worst of them will not be lightly matched of no knights that I know living.No,said Sir Palomides,God defend,but an I had a quarrel to the better of them both I would with as good a will fight with him as with you.Sir,I require you tell me your name,and in good faith I shall hold you company till that we come to Camelot;and there shall ye have great worship now at this great tournament;for there shall be the Queen Guenever,and La Beale Isoud of Cornwall.Wit you well,sir knight,for the love of La Beale Isoud I will be there,and else not,but I will not have ado in King Arthur's court.Sir,said Dinadan,I shall ride with you and do you service,so you will tell me your name.Sir,ye shall understand my name is Sir Palomides,brother to Safere,the good and noble knight.And Sir Segwarides and I,we be Saracens born,of father and mother.Sir,said Sir Dinadan,I thank you much for the telling of your name.For I am glad of that I know your name,and I promise you by the faith of my body,ye shall not be hurt by me by my will,but rather be advanced.And thereto will I help you with all my power,I promise you,doubt ye not.And certainly on my life ye shall win great worship in the court of King Arthur,and be right welcome.So then they dressed on their helms and put on their shields,and mounted upon their horses,and took the broad way towards Camelot.And then were they ware of a castle that was fair and rich,and also passing strong as any was within this realm.
CHAPTER XVII
How Sir Lamorak jousted with divers knights of the castle wherein was Morgan le Fay.
SIR PALOMIDES,said Dinadan,here is a castle that I know well,and therein dwelleth Queen Morgan le Fay,King Arthur's sister;and King Arthur gave her this castle,the which he hath repented him sithen a thousand times,for sithen King Arthur and she have been at debate and strife;but this castle could he never get nor win of her by no manner of engine;and ever as she might she made war on King Arthur.And all dangerous knights she withholdeth with her,for to destroy all these knights that King Arthur loveth.And there shall no knight pass this way but he must joust with one knight,or with two,or with three.And if it hap that King Arthur's knight be beaten,he shall lose his horse and his harness and all that he hath,and hard,if that he escape,but that he shall be prisoner.So God me help,said Palomides,this is a shameful custom,and a villainous usance for a queen to use,and namely to make such war upon her own lord,that is called the Flower of Chivalry that is christian or heathen;and with all my heart I would destroy that shameful custom.And I will that all the world wit she shall have no service of me.And if she send out any knights,as I suppose she will,for to joust,they shall have both their hands full.And I shall not fail you,said Sir Dinadan,unto my puissance,upon my life.