Sir Uwaine smote down the King’s son of Scots; and Sir Lucanere ran
against the King of Wales, and they brake their spears all to pieces;
and they were so fierce both, that they hurtled together that both fell
to the earth. Then they of Orkney horsed again Sir Lucanere. And then
came in Sir Tristram de Liones; and then Sir Tristram smote down Sir
Uwaine and Sir Lucanere; and Sir Palomides smote down other two knights
and Sir Gareth smote down other two knights. Then said Sir Arthur unto
Sir Launcelot: See yonder three knights do passingly well, and namely
the first that jousted. Sir, said Launcelot, that knight began not yet
but ye shall see him this day do marvellously. And then came into the
place the duke’s son of Orkney, and then they began to do many deeds of
arms.
When Sir Tristram saw them so begin, he said to Palomides: How feel ye
yourself? may ye do this day as ye did yesterday? Nay, said Palomides,
I feel myself so weary, and so sore bruised of the deeds of yesterday,
that I may not endure as I did yesterday. That me repenteth, said Sir
Tristram, for I shall lack you this day. Sir Palomides said: Trust not
to me, for I may not do as I did. All these words said Palomides for to
beguile Sir Tristram. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Gareth, then must
I trust upon you; wherefore I pray you be not far from me to rescue me.
An need be, said Sir Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I may do.
Then Sir Palomides rode by himself; and then in despite of Sir Tristram
he put himself in the thickest press among them of Orkney, and there he
did so marvellously deeds of arms that all men had wonder of him, for
there might none stand him a stroke.
When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palomides do such deeds, he marvelled and
said to himself: He is weary of my company. So Sir Tristram beheld him
a great while and did but little else, for the noise and cry was so
huge and great that Sir Tristram marvelled from whence came the
strength that Sir Palomides had there in the field. Sir, said Sir
Gareth unto Sir Tristram, remember ye not of the words that Sir Dinadan
said to you yesterday, when he called you a coward; forsooth, sir, he
said it for none ill, for ye are the man in the world that he most
loveth, and all that he said was for your worship. And therefore, said
Sir Gareth to Sir Tristram, let me know this day what ye be; and wonder
ye not so upon Sir Palomides, for he enforceth himself to win all the
worship and honour from you. I may well believe it, said Sir Tristram.
And sithen I understand his evil will and his envy, ye shall see, if
that I enforce myself, that the noise shall be left that now is upon
him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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