Sir, said Palamides, I promised your Queen Isoud to bring again Dame
Bragwaine that she had lost, upon this covenant, that she should grant
me a boon that I would ask, and without grudging, outher advisement,
she granted me. What say ye, my lady? said the king. It is as he saith,
so God me help, said the queen; to say thee sooth I promised him his
asking for love and joy that I had to see her. Well, Madam, said the
king, and if ye were hasty to grant him what boon he would ask, I will
well that ye perform your promise. Then, said Palamides, I will that ye
wit that I will have your queen to lead her and govern her whereas me
list. Therewith the king stood still, and bethought him of Sir
Tristram, and deemed that he would rescue her. And then hastily the
king answered: Take her with the adventures that shall fall of it, for
as I suppose thou wilt not enjoy her no while. As for that, said
Palamides, I dare right well abide the adventure. And so, to make short
tale, Sir Palamides took her by the hand and said: Madam, grudge not to
go with me, for I desire nothing but your own promise. As for that,
said the queen, I fear not greatly to go with thee, howbeit thou hast
me at advantage upon my promise, for I doubt not I shall be
worshipfully rescued from thee. As for that, said Sir Palamides, be it
as it be may. So Queen Isoud was set behind Palamides, and rode his
way.
Anon the king sent after Sir Tristram, but in no wise he could be
found, for he was in the forest a-hunting; for that was always his
custom, but if he used arms, to chase and to hunt in the forests. Alas,
said the king, now I am shamed for ever, that by mine own assent my
lady and my queen shall be devoured. Then came forth a knight, his name
was Lambegus, and he was a knight of Sir Tristram. My lord, said this
knight, sith ye have trust in my lord, Sir Tristram, wit ye well for
his sake I will ride after your queen and rescue her, or else I shall
be beaten. Gramercy, said the king, as I live, Sir Lambegus, I shall
deserve it. And then Sir Lambegus armed him, and rode after as fast as
he might. And then within a while he overtook Sir Palamides. And then
Sir Palamides left the queen. What art thou, said Palamides, art thou
Tristram? Nay, he said, I am his servant, and my name is Sir Lambegus.
That me repenteth, said Palamides. I had liefer thou hadst been Sir
Tristram. I believe you well, said Lambegus, but when thou meetest with
Sir Tristram thou shalt have thy hands full. And then they hurtled
together and all to-brast their spears, and then they pulled out their
swords, and hewed on helms and hauberks. At the last Sir Palamides gave
Sir Lambegus such a wound that he fell down like a dead knight to the
earth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account