So as they stood on horseback afore the castle,there came a knight with a red shield,and two squires after him;and he came straight unto Sir Palomides,the good knight,and said to him:Fair and gentle knight-errant,I require thee for the love thou owest unto knighthood,that ye will not have ado here with these men of this castle;for this was Sir Lamorak that thus said.For Icame hither to seek this deed,and it is my request;and therefore I beseech you,knight,let me deal,and if I be beaten revenge me.In the name of God,said Palomides,let see how ye will speed,and we shall behold you.Then anon came forth a knight of the castle,and proffered to joust with the Knight with the Red Shield.Anon they encountered together,and he with the red shield smote him so hard that he bare him over to the earth.Therewith anon came another knight of the castle,and he was smitten so sore that he avoided his saddle.And forthwithal came the third knight,and the Knight with the Red Shield smote him to the earth.Then came Sir Palomides,and besought him that he might help him to joust.Fair knight,said he unto him,suffer me as at this time to have my will,for an they were twenty knights I shall not doubt them.And ever there were upon the walls of the castle many lords and ladies that cried and said:Well have ye jousted,Knight with the Red Shield.But as soon as the knight had smitten them down,his squire took their horses,and avoided their saddles and bridles of the horses,and turned them into the forest,and made the knights to be kept to the end of the jousts.Right so came out of the castle the fourth knight,and freshly proffered to joust with the Knight with the Red Shield:and he was ready,and he smote him so hard that horse and man fell to the earth,and the knight's back brake with the fall,and his neck also.O Jesu,said Sir Palomides,that yonder is a passing good knight,and the best jouster that ever Isaw.By my head,said Sir Dinadan,he is as good as ever was Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram,what knight somever he be.
CHAPTER XVIII
How Sir Palomides would have jousted for Sir Lamorak with the knights of the castle.
THEN forthwithal came a knight out of the castle,with a shield bended with black and with white.And anon the Knight with the Red Shield and he encountered so hard that he smote the knight of the castle through the bended shield and through the body,and brake the horse's back.Fair knight,said Sir Palomides,ye have overmuch on hand,therefore I pray you let me joust,for ye had need to be reposed.Why sir,said the knight,seem ye that I am weak and feeble?and sir,methinketh ye proffer me wrong,and to me shame,when I do well enough.Itell you now as I told you erst;for an they were twenty knights I shall beat them,and if I be beaten or slain then may ye revenge me.And if ye think that I be weary,and ye have an appetite to joust with me,I shall find you jousting enough.Sir,said Palomides,I said it not because I would joust with you,but meseemeth that ye have overmuch on hand.And therefore,an ye were gentle,said the Knight with the Red Shield,ye should not proffer me shame;therefore I require you to joust with me,and ye shall find that I am not weary.Sith ye require me,said Sir Palomides,take keep to yourself.Then they two knights came together as fast as their horses might run,and the knight smote Sir Palomides sore on the shield that the spear went into his side a great wound,and a perilous.And therewithal Sir Palomides avoided his saddle.And that knight turned unto Sir Dinadan;and when he saw him coming he cried aloud,and said:Sir,I will not have ado with you;but for that he let it not,but came straight upon him.So Sir Dinadan for shame put forth his spear and all to-shivered it upon the knight.
But he smote Sir Dinadan again so hard that he smote him clean from his saddle;but their horses he would not suffer his squires to meddle with,and because they were knights-errant.
Then he dressed him again to the castle,and jousted with seven knights more,and there was none of them might withstand him,but he bare him to the earth.And of these twelve knights he slew in plain jousts four.And the eight knights he made them to swear on the cross of a sword that they should never use the evil customs of the castle.And when he had made them to swear that oath he let them pass.And ever stood the lords and the ladies on the castle walls crying and saying:Knight with the Red Shield,ye have marvellously well done as ever we saw knight do.And therewith came a knight out of the castle unarmed,and said:Knight with the Red Shield,overmuch damage hast thou done to us this day,therefore return whither thou wilt,for here are no more will have ado with thee;for we repent sore that ever thou camest here,for by thee is fordone the old custom of this castle.
And with that word he turned again into the castle,and shut the gates.Then the Knight with the Red Shield turned and called his squires,and so passed forth on his way,and rode a great pace.
And when he was past Sir Palomides went to Sir Dinadan,and said:I had never such a shame of one knight that ever I met;and therefore I cast me to ride after him,and to be revenged with my sword,for a-horseback I deem I shall get no worship of him.Sir Palomides,said Dinadan,ye shall not meddle with him by my counsel,for ye shall get no worship of him;and for this cause,ye have seen him this day have had overmuch to do,and overmuch travailed.By almighty Jesu,said Palomides,I shall never be at ease till that Ihave had ado with him.Sir,said Dinadan,I shall give you my beholding.Well,said Palomides,then shall ye see how we shall redress our mights.So they took their horses of their varlets,and rode after the Knight with the Red Shield;and down in a valley beside a fountain they were ware where he was alighted to repose him,and had done off his helm for to drink at the well.
CHAPTER XIX
How Sir Lamorak jousted with Sir Palomides,and hurt him grievously.