And when La Beale Isoud saw Sir Gareth bruised in the face she asked
him what ailed him. Madam, said Sir Gareth, I had a great buffet, and
as I suppose I gave another, but none of my fellows, God thank them,
would not rescue me. Forsooth, said Palomides, it longed not to none of
us as this day to joust, for there have not this day jousted no proved
knights, and needly ye would joust. And when the other party saw ye
proffered yourself to joust they sent one to you, a passing good knight
of his age, for I know him well, his name is Selises; and worshipfully
ye met with him, and neither of you are dishonoured, and therefore
refresh yourself that ye may be ready and whole to joust to-morrow. As
for that, said Gareth, I shall not fail you an I may bestride mine
horse.
CHAPTER LXVIII. How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of the
noble feats that they did in that tourneying.
Now upon what party, said Tristram, is it best we be withal as to-morn?
Sir, said Palomides, ye shall have mine advice to be against King
Arthur as to-morn, for on his party will be Sir Launcelot and many good
knights of his blood with him. And the more men of worship that they
be, the more worship we shall win. That is full knightly spoken, said
Sir Tristram; and right so as ye counsel me, so will we do. In the name
of God, said they all. So that night they were lodged with the best.
And on the morn when it was day they were arrayed all in green
trappings, shields and spears, and La Beale Isoud in the same colour,
and her three damosels. And right so these four knights came into the
field endlong and through. And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as
she should stand and behold all the jousts in a bay window; but always
she was wimpled that no man might see her visage. And then these three
knights rode straight unto the party of the King of Scots.
When King Arthur had seen them do all this he asked Sir Launcelot what
were these knights and that queen. Sir, said Launcelot, I cannot say
you in certain, but if Sir Tristram be in this country, or Sir
Palomides, wit ye well it be they m certain, and La Beale Isoud. Then
Arthur called to him Sir Kay and said: Go lightly and wit how many
knights there be here lacking of the Table Round, for by the sieges
thou mayst know. So went Sir Kay and saw by the writings in the sieges
that there lacked ten knights. And these be their names that be not
here. Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir
Epinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male Taile, and Sir
Pelleas the noble knight. Well, said Arthur, some of these I dare
undertake are here this day against us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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