Historic Tales: The Romance of Reality. Vol. 13 (of 15), King Arthur (1)Malory, Thomas, Sir
General
Historic Tales: The Romance of Reality. Vol. 13 (of 15), King Arthur (1)
Malory, Thomas, Sir
Arthurian romances; Malory, Thomas, Sir, active 15th century. Morte d'Arthur -- Adaptations
"That was Palamides. The poor fellow has lost his wits through his bad
luck. I beg that you bring him to your castle, Sir Darras."
This the old knight did, for the frenzy of the Saracen had now passed,
and he readily accompanied him. On reaching the castle he looked
curiously at Tristram, whom he felt sure he had seen before, but could
not place him in his mind. But his anger against his fortunate rival
continued, and he boasted proudly to Dinadan of what he would do when he
met that fellow Tristram.
"It seems to me," answered Dinadan, "that you met him not long since,
and got little good of him. Why did you not hold him when you had him in
your hands? You were too easy with the fellow not to pummel him when you
had so fine an opportunity."
This scornful reply silenced the boastful Saracen, who fell into an
angry moodiness.
Meanwhile King Arthur was sore at heart at the disappearance of
Tristram, and spoke in reproach to Lancelot as being the cause of his
loss.
"My liege Arthur," answered Lancelot, "you do me ill justice in this.
When men are hot in battle they may well hurt their friends as well as
their foes. As for Tristram, there is no man living whom I would rather
help. If you desire, I will make one of ten knights who will go in
search of him, and not rest two nights in the same place for a year
until we find him."
This offer pleased the king, who quickly chose nine other knights for
the quest, and made them all swear upon the Scriptures to do as Lancelot
had proposed.
With dawn of the next day these ten knights armed themselves, and rode
from the Castle of Maidens, continuing in company until they came to a
roadside cross, from which ran out four highways. Here they separated
into four parties, each of which followed one of the highways. And far
and wide they rode through field and forest for many days in quest of
the brave knight of Cornwall.
Of them all, Sir Lucan, the butler, came nearest to good fortune, for
chance brought him to the castle of the old knight, Sir Darras. Here he
asked harbor, sending in his name by the porter.
"He shall not rest here unless he first joust with me," cried Sir
Daname, the old knight's nephew. "Bid him make ready, for he must earn
his lodging."
But better had Daname held his peace, for Lucan smote him over his
horse's croup, and followed him hotly when he fled into the castle.
"This is a shame to our host," said Dinadan. "Let me try conclusions
with our doughty butler. It will not do to let him take our castle by
storm."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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