So when he had dined Sir Tristram asked his arms, and departed. And so
they rode on their ways, and within a while Sir Dinadan saw where came
a knight well armed and well horsed, without shield. Sir Tristram, said
Sir Dinadan, take keep to yourself, for I dare undertake yonder cometh
your host that will have ado with you. Let him come, said Sir Tristram,
I shall abide him as well as I may. Anon the knight, when he came nigh
Sir Tristram, he cried and bade him abide and keep him. So they hurtled
together, but Sir Tristram smote the other knight so sore that he bare
him over his horse’s croup. That knight arose lightly and took his
horse again, and so rode fiercely to Sir Tristram, and smote him twice
hard upon the helm. Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I pray you leave off
and smite me no more, for I would be loath to deal with you an I might
choose, for I have your meat and your drink within my body. For all
that he would not leave; and then Sir Tristram gave him such a buffet
upon the helm that he fell up-so-down from his horse, that the blood
brast out at the ventails of his helm, and so he lay still likely to be
dead. Then Sir Tristram said: Me repenteth of this buffet that I smote
so sore, for as I suppose he is dead. And so they left him and rode on
their ways.
So they had not ridden but a while, but they saw riding against them
two full likely knights, well armed and well horsed, and goodly
servants about them. The one was Berrant le Apres, and he was called
the King with the Hundred Knights; and the other was Sir Segwarides,
which were renowned two noble knights. So as they came either by other
the king looked upon Sir Dinadan, that at that time he had Sir
Tristram’s helm upon his shoulder, the which helm the king had seen
to-fore with the Queen of Northgalis, and that queen the king loved as
paramour; and that helm the Queen of Northgalis had given to La Beale
Isoud, and the queen La Beale Isoud gave it to Sir Tristram. Sir
knight, said Berrant, where had ye that helm? What would ye? said Sir
Dinadan. For I will have ado with thee, said the king, for the love of
her that owed that helm, and therefore keep you. So they departed and
came together with all their mights of their horses, and there the King
with the Hundred Knights smote Sir Dinadan, horse and all, to the
earth; and then he commanded his servant: Go and take thou his helm
off, and keep it. So the varlet went to unbuckle his helm. What helm,
what wilt thou do? said Sir Tristram, leave that helm. To what intent,
said the king, will ye, sir knight, meddle with that helm? Wit you
well, said Sir Tristram, that helm shall not depart from me or it be
dearer bought. Then make you ready, said Sir Berrant unto Sir Tristram.
So they hurtled together, and there Sir Tristram smote him down over
his horse’s tail; and then the king arose lightly, and gat his horse
lightly again. And then he struck fiercely at Sir Tristram many great
strokes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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