THEN Sir Tristram let call Sir Palomides,and bade him make him ready,for it was time to go to the field.When they were ready they were armed,and clothed all in red,both Isoud and all they;and so they led her passing freshly through the field,into the priory where was her lodging.And then they heard three blasts blow,and every king and knight dressed him unto the field.And the first that was ready to joust was Sir Palomides and Sir Kainus le Strange,a knight of the Table Round.And so they two encountered together,but Sir Palomides smote Sir Kainus so hard that he smote him quite over his horse's croup.And forthwithal Sir Palomides smote down another knight,and brake then his spear,and pulled out his sword and did wonderly well.And then the noise began greatly upon Sir Palomides.Lo,said King Arthur,yonder Palomides beginneth to play his pageant.So God me help,said Arthur,he is a passing good knight.And right as they stood talking thus,in came Sir Tristram as thunder,and he encountered with Sir Kay the Seneschal,and there he smote him down quite from his horse;and with that same spear Sir Tristram smote down three knights more,and then he pulled out his sword and did marvellously.
Then the noise and cry changed from Sir Palomides and turned to Sir Tristram,and all the people cried:OTristram,O Tristram.And then was Sir Palomides clean forgotten.
How now,said Launcelot unto Arthur,yonder rideth a knight that playeth his pageants.So God me help,said Arthur to Launcelot,ye shall see this day that yonder two knights shall here do this day wonders.Sir,said Launcelot,the one knight waiteth upon the other,and enforceth himself through envy to pass the noble knight Sir Tristram,and he knoweth not of the privy envy the which Sir Palomides hath to him;for all that the noble Sir Tristram doth is through clean knighthood.And then Sir Gareth and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of arms,as two noble knights,so that King Arthur spake of them great honour and worship;and the kings and knights of Sir Tristram's side did passingly well,and held them truly together.Then Sir Arthur and Sir Launcelot took their horses and dressed them,and gat into the thickest of the press.And there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down King Arthur,and then Sir Launcelot would have rescued him,but there were so many upon Sir Launcelot that they pulled him down from his horse.And then the King of Ireland and the King of Scots with their knights did their pain to take King Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner.
When Sir Launcelot heard them say so,he fared as it had been an hungry lion,for he fared so that no knight durst nigh him.
Then came Sir Ector de Maris,and he bare a spear against Sir Palomides,and brast it upon him all to shivers.
And then Sir Ector came again and gave Sir Palomides such a dash with a sword that he stooped down upon his saddle bow.And forthwithal Sir Ector pulled down Sir Palomides under his feet;and then Sir Ector de Maris gat Sir Launcelot du Lake an horse,and brought it to him,and bade him mount upon him;but Sir Palomides leapt afore and gat the horse by the bridle,and leapt into the saddle.So God me help,said Launcelot,ye are better worthy to have that horse than I.Then Sir Ector brought Sir Launcelot another horse.Gramercy,said Launcelot unto his brother.And so when he was horsed again,with one spear he smote down four knights.And then Sir Launcelot brought to King Arthur one of the best of the four horses.Then Sir Launcelot with King Arthur and a few of his knights of Sir Launcelot's kin did marvellous deeds;for that time,as the book recordeth,Sir Launcelot smote down and pulled down thirty knights.Notwithstanding the other party held them so fast together that King Arthur and his knights were overmatched.And when Sir Tristram saw that,what labour King Arthur and his knights,and in especial the noble deeds that Sir Launcelot did with his own hands,he marvelled greatly.
CHAPTER LXXX
How Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur's side,and how Palomides would not.
THEN Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Palomides,Sir Gareth,and Sir Dinadan,and said thus to them:My fair fellows,wit ye well that I will turn unto King Arthur's party,for I saw never so few men do so well,and it will be shame unto us knights that be of the Round Table to see our lord King Arthur,and that noble knight Sir Launcelot,to be dishonoured.It will be well done,said Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan.Do your best,said Palomides,for I will not change my party that I came in withal.
That is for my sake,said Sir Tristram;God speed you in your journey.And so departed Sir Palomides from them.
Then Sir Tristram,Gareth,and Dinadan,turned with Sir Launcelot.And then Sir Launcelot smote down the King of Ireland quite from his horse;and so Sir Launcelot smote down the King of Scots,and the King of Wales;and then Sir Arthur ran unto Sir Palomides and smote him quite from his horse;and then Sir Tristram bare down all that he met.Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan did there as noble knights;then all the parties began to flee.Alas,said Palomides,that ever I should see this day,for now have I lost all the worship that I won;and then Sir Palomides went his way wailing,and so withdrew him till he came to a well,and there he put his horse from him,and did off his armour,and wailed and wept like as he had been a wood man.Then many knights gave the prize to Sir Tristram,and there were many that gave the prize unto Sir Launcelot.
Fair lords,said Sir Tristram,I thank you of the honour ye would give me,but I pray you heartily that ye would give your voice to Sir Launcelot,for by my faith said Sir Tristram,I will give Sir Launcelot my voice.But Sir Launcelot would not have it,and so the prize was given betwixt them both.