So God me help,said Sir Tristram unto La Beale Isoud,it is passing well said of you and nobly counselled;and now I well understand that ye love me;and like as ye have counselled me I will do a part thereafter.But there shall no man nor child ride with me,but myself.And so will I ride on Tuesday next coming,and no more harness of war but my spear and my sword.
CHAPTER XII
How Sir Tristram departed unarmed and met with Sir Palomides,and how they smote each other,and how Sir Palomides forbare him.
AND so when the day came Sir Tristram took his leave at La Beale Isoud,and she sent with him four knights,and within half a mile he sent them again:and within a mile after Sir Tristram saw afore him where Sir Palomides had stricken down a knight,and almost wounded him to the death.Then Sir Tristram repented him that he was not armed,and then he hoved still.With that Sir Palomides knew Sir Tristram,and cried on high:Sir Tristram,now be we met,for or we depart we will redress our old sores.
As for that,said Sir Tristram,there was yet never Christian man might make his boast that ever I fled from him;and wit ye well,Sir Palomides,thou that art a Saracen shall never make thy boast that Sir Tristram de Liones shall flee from thee.And therewith Sir Tristram made his horse to run,and with all his might he came straight upon Sir Palomides,and brast his spear upon him an hundred pieces.And forthwithal Sir Tristram drew his sword.And then he turned his horse and struck at Palomides six great strokes upon his helm;and then Sir Palomides stood still,and beheld Sir Tristram,and marvelled of his woodness,and of his folly.And then Sir Palomides said to himself:An Sir Tristram were armed,it were hard to cease him of this battle,and if Iturn again and slay him I am ashamed wheresomever that I go.
Then Sir Tristram spake and said:Thou coward knight,what castest thou to do;why wilt thou not do battle with me?for have thou no doubt I shall endure all thy malice.Ah,Sir Tristram,said Palomides,full well thou wottest I may not fight with thee for shame,for thou art here naked and I am armed,and if I slay thee,dishonour shall be mine.And well thou wottest,said Sir Palomides to Sir Tristram,I know thy strength and thy hardiness to endure against a good knight.That is truth,said Sir Tristram,I understand thy valiantness well.Ye say well,said Sir Palomides;now,I require you,tell me a question that I shall say to you.Tell me what it is,said Sir Tristram,and I shall answer you the truth,as God me help.I put case,said Sir Palomides,that ye were armed at all rights as well as I am,and I naked as ye be,what would you do to me now,by your true knighthood?
Ah,said Sir Tristram,now I understand thee well,Sir Palomides,for now must I say mine own judgment,and as God me bless,that I shall say shall not be said for no fear that I have of thee.But this is all:wit Sir Palomides,as at this time thou shouldest depart from me,for I would not have ado with thee.No more will I,said Palomides,and therefore ride forth on thy way.As for that I may choose,said Sir Tristram,either to ride or to abide.But Sir Palomides,said Sir Tristram,I marvel of one thing,that thou that art so good a knight,that thou wilt not be christened,and thy brother,Sir Safere,hath been christened many a day.
CHAPTER XIII
How that Sir Tristram gat him harness of a knight which was hurt,and how he overthrew Sir Palomides.
AS for that,said Sir Palomides,I may not yet be christened for one avow that I have made many years agone;howbeit in my heart I believe in Jesu Christ and his mild mother Mary;but I have but one battle to do,and when that is done I will be baptised with a good will.By my head,said Tristram,as for one battle thou shalt not seek it no longer.For God defend,said Sir Tristram,that through my default thou shouldst longer live thus a Saracen,for yonder is a knight that ye,Sir Palomides,have hurt and smitten down.Now help me that I were armed in his armour,and I shall soon fulfil thine avows.
As ye will,said Palomides,so it shall be.
So they rode both unto that knight that sat upon a bank,and then Sir Tristram saluted him,and he weakly saluted him again.Sir knight,said Sir Tristram,I require you tell me your right name.Sir,he said,my name is Sir Galleron of Galway,and knight of the Table Round.